Thoughts Before Filling

I have an upcoming short trip planned, and I really want to bring a pen with me, but as I’m flying this time, I’m always a tad worried someone will be having a bad day and my pen will get confiscated. While considering what pens I own that I could part with should something go wrong I decided, instead, to pick up a new one, and since St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner I picked up this green pen and toss in some Irish Green ink as well.

Thoughts Before Filling

Simple calculus here: I bought a new pen, I have nothing in the red spectrum, and I have not used this Akkerman ink in a long while (plus the ink looks like it matches the body of the pen). Here goes!

Thoughts Before Filling

This pen is still in my top ten pens, yet I cannot remember when last I used it. This caused me to put it back in rotation. Absent is a brown ink in my rotation, and I keep thinking I have this ink in a bottle, yet it turns out I only have a sample, and until today I had not tried it out. In the end, this was an easy decision, and one I am looking forward to.

Thoughts Before Filling

I have but a small collection of Lamy pens, and I thought I was done with what I had, but when I saw this one I decided to treat myself. I’m not positive the ink will be a good match, but it’s been a while since I’ve used it, and I want to put it back in rotation again, so…here we go!

Thoughts Before Filling

I took my time choosing the ink for this pen. Ottoman Azure was what my gut told me would match, and after doing dip tests of half a dozen inks it was the one I chose. Already I enjoy writing with this pen, as I have with all my Vac700 models. There’s a chance this one stays in rotation for months.

There are few occasions in which I will break from my habit of writing a pen dry before cleaning and changing ink: Christmas is one of those occasions. My ink palette, while mostly satisfactory, was not festive; blues and oranges do not, in my mind, signify Christmas. It was time for a change.

Red and green are the obvious colors for the season. I have many reds in my collection, but one stands out: J. Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite. This ink not only has a golden sheen but it has gold flecks suspended in the ink. Writing with this ink imparts a glitter of gold to each letter, bringing to my mind the gifts the three Wise Men brought to Jesus (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). I’m rather more limited in my selection of green ink, but I recently bought a sample of Diamine’s Magical Forest. Where Rouge Hematite has gold flecks, Magical Forest has silver (and yes, Silver Bells does get stuck in my head from time-to-time while using this ink). Together both inks, with their twinkling and sparkling flecks, call to mind fond childhood memories of flickering lights on our Christmas trees.

While red and green are traditional Christmas colors, I had a few more colors I wanted to indulge in this festive season. It’s been a while since I used Pilot Iroshizuku’s Momiji. This is generally regarded as a pink color, but to me it’s always been more of a soft red than a true pink. There’s a softness and gentleness to the color reminiscent of those classic Hallmark moments we all hope to have at Christmas.

Purple is also not traditional, and yet it is an imperial color, and at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, He was mockingly clothed in purple since He was called the king of the Jews. That calls to mind one of my favorite Christmas songs, Handel’s Messiah, which quotes Revelation 19:16 proclaiming that Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” So I say purple is an appropriate color for the season, and to that end I’m giving Akkerman #13 Simplisties Violet a try.

My final choice was not about the Christmas season at all. Sure, one could make a tenuous connection between vineyards and burgundy and Christmas cheer, but the truth is my wife bought me this bottle of ink not too long ago and I wanted to use it in honor of her. If anything connects this ink to Christmas it is that it was a gift given to me out of love. That is enough reason to use any ink.

* * *

I will be lucky to get caught up with my correspondence, let alone create Christmas cards. So while I may not have the time this Christmas to express my warmest wishes in my best italic (all but one of the pens in my current rotation have an italic nib), at the very least I shall fill my Hobonichi Techo with the joyful colors of Christmas this December.

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It is a known fact that fountain pens can leak on airplanes. It has been documented and advice has been given (keep the pens nib up during take-off and/or fly with them empty or so full there is no air bubble). I was to put this advice to the test on a recent business trip to Nashville, TN. But which pens do I bring?

Traveling causes quite a lot of stress and the last thing I want to worry about is losing (or have confiscated) an irreplaceable pen. Additionally, I would hate it if one of my more expensive pens were targeted, as replacing one of those would mean months of saving. Those two criteria ruled out some of my favorites. What was left were not left-overs by any means. In fact, most of my TWSBI collection was available, so they got to go. I had already decided on my Prera, and that brought me to five pens. Considering my plan was to transport my pens in my Franklin-Christoph Penvelope Six I had only one slot left. Since two of my co-workers were bringing their Lamy pens (a Safari and a Studio) I decided to bring my Lamy 2000.

With the pens selected the only thing left was to top them off with an ink syringe and head to the airport. Happily the TSA were not interested in my pens, so no confiscation to worry about. The next hurdle was take-off. Firmly secured in the seat pouch in front of me, my penvelope rode with me. I had hoped I would have a reason to try and use my pens while flying, but not this trip.

When I got to my hotel I inspected my pens: only the Lamy 2000 had a little ink in the cap. No other pens had leaks. I was impressed considering I had two take-offs. The return trip was better: nothing leaked, despite having used the pens in Nashville.

While I hope I will not need to take to the skies anytime soon, I am happy with the results. Flying with fountain pens was not problematic in the least.

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My company is having an off-site meeting next week; in fact I fly out tomorrow. I do not know what kind of notes I will be taking, but surveying my currently inked pens two things were lacking. First, I have been itching to try the custom italic nib I ground on my TWSBI Vac 700, and what better time than an airplane ride. The vacuum mechanism has a gasket that seals the reservoir off from the feed, which makes me feel comfortable bringing it with me on a plane. Second, I want to have a pen with red ink, and I have low confidence that my Konrad won’t leak during take-off. So, my Pilot Prera returns to duty with Noodler’s Park Red.

Related

• Pen Rotation: Bad Blue Vac 700
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The CEO of my company is coming to town. It is because of me that he has begun his own journey into fountain pens. I could hardly do anything but invite him for a pen meet over dinner. To that end, I asked if there were any requests as to which pens I bring. So it was that I filled a few favorite pens and radically increased my currently inked count to ten.

The following pens were chosen:

This is going to tide me over for a while. Although, I have a business trip coming up and I want to see how my Vac 700 fares on a plane….

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In the early days of my fountain pen journey I frequently used Levenger’s Raven Black ink. In part it was for the archival quality of the ink, but also because black is a standard ink color, and at the time I didn’t want to be prevented from using my fountain pens due to ink color. Along my journey I determined that I prefer any color of ink except black. But here I am, with a pen full of a black ink, and I’m not rushing to empty and refill my pen.

Why & How I Got It

Quite simply, this bottle of ink came with my Pelikan M805 Stresemann. The price was too good to pass up, even if it hadn’t come with a bottle of ink. The ink came with the pen, and apart from that there was no other way this bottle would have been added to my inkventory.

Appearance

This ink looks less like a black ink and more like an incredibly dark grey ink. It reminds me of the color of a single piece of gravel that is wet and drying in the sun: it is both dark and black-like but subtly shifts into the grey spectrum. It is probably best described as a blank ink that shades with hints of grey. A couple of years back I began looking for a grey ink because it is a color not available to ballpoints, and yet was close enough to black that I might get away with the substitution. While I do not regret the grey ink I chose this is another excellent choice for a black ink that behaves differently from the standard black.

In the Pen

So far the ink has been perfect as far as the flow and wetness. I have it in my Pelikan M805 and Pelikan’s nibs have a reputation of writing wet. Conversely, their inks are known to be a bit dry. Personally I find these two play together well.

* * *

All in all I am impressed with this ink on its first go. I love that it shades and shows some grey. I like that it is neither too dry nor too wet in my M805. It passed the first test: I will write this pen dry. The real test is will I use it again once this pen runs dry?

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• Ink: Pelikan Edelstein Onyx
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Quietly, but assuredly, my currently inked pens reached nine. At the same time my life grew busy in arenas that limited, rather than expanded, my use of my pens. This trend appears to be continuing, despite my best efforts. Thus it was time to retire some pens, for now, and return my inventory of full pens to a more reasonable six.

A Hard Goodbye

Of the four that left it was hardest to set aside my Scriptorium Pens Idyll. It is my best overall pen and hasn’t been without ink since I got it. It was a constant companion at my desk, sitting on its own, away from the other pens, upon its pen rest. Now that spot on my desk is empty.

No More Cartridge/Converters

Curiously, and not consciously, all my currently inked pens are piston fillers. With the exit of both my Idyll and my TWSBI Micarta the cartridge/converter contingent is missing. Part of the reason the Idyll did not return to immediate use is due to the ink capacity on my piston fillers and their current fill levels: unless I am using iron gall ink, or I cannot stand an ink, I write my pens dry.

Maintain the Monoline

Coincidentally, I replaced my only non-italic pen with another like it: my M805 Stresemann takes over for my Aurora Optima Demonstrator. They both have medium nibs and both are piston fillers. Stylistically it also replaces my M605, which happened to go empty as its two-weak iron gall deadline hit.

Going Forward

I expect this current state of affairs will last a few weeks. My Lamy 2000 will likely run dry first, but I might simply refill it unless I want to try my sample of Sailor Jentle Doyou.

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By my understanding, there was a time when the fountain pen was common, standard, possibly even the de facto writing instrument. That time, if it truly existed, is in the past. Because of this, there is — for me at least — a romantic appeal surrounding the fountain pen. They harken back to a time when life was “simpler” (is life ever simple?): a time when men wore fedoras and suits, were private investigators (or bull whip carrying archeologists), and families smiled at each other while eating a pot roast. For me, there has always been a soupçon of sophistication surrounding the fountain pen, and that was what initially drew me into this hobby.

Beyond romanticized feelings there are reasons I persist with fountain pens. If I am to be honest, there is nothing sophisticated about writing a TODO list, nor a shopping list (imagine Phillip Marlow or Sam Spade writing “diaper rash cream” in neat, perfect, Palmer Method cursive). Yet in and amongst a domesticated life these simple, even elegant, tools still call out to me with their aesthetics, depth of expression, choice of nib, and an unparalleled writing experience.

Aesthetics

Fountain pens appeal to the senses more so than other writing instruments. It is not uncommon to refer to a fountain pen as a work of art. Indeed, some are, especially those that are hand painted or have inlaid adornments. Apart from that there is a tactile aspect that is surprisingly deep if not subtle. The feel of the material, the presence of the pen as it sits in your hand, its girth and length, weight and balance, all contribute to an overall experience. When one finds that perfect blend, when the pen no longer stands between your thought and its realization upon paper, it is hard, if not impossible, to go back to any other writing instrument. Beyond even this is the feeling of using the pen. There are nibs so smooth it feels as if your pen is hydroplaning on the ink it is laying down. Other nibs are tuned such that you can feel the paper through your pen as you write, as if each individual fiber were speaking to you in a penman’s braille.

Let us not forget sound. I have some pens that have the most delightful sound when posting or capping the pen. I’ve often looked for an excuse to use these pens for the sheer joy of listening to them. Then there is the sound of the nib on the paper: a rhythmic swishing not unlike a swashbuckler defending his honor. It is almost as lovely as the machine-gun staccato of a type-writer at full speed.

Finally there is the matter of the olfactory senses. Most pens, in and of themselves, are odorless, as are most inks. However, there do exist scented inks which offer a pleasing aroma to the wielder of the pen. These are perhaps not common, but they exist, are not hard to come by online, and add something a little special.

Depth of Expression

Fountain pens allow a level of self-expression rarely found in writing. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some small, fit for pocket or a purse. Some are large and have an incredible ink capacity for those long writing sessions. Often they are available in an array of colors from under-the-radar stealth looks, to vibrant eye-catching finishes. A personal favorite of mine are the demonstrators; these are pens that are either translucent or transparent. These pens allow any and all to see how a fountain pen works, from the filling mechanism to feed, and show off how much of what kind of ink you have.

There are hundreds of inks out there in a dizzying array of colors. Some are waterproof, some are forgery resistant, some have gold flecks suspended in them, some change color under blacklight, bleach, or even water. With so many options one can choose an ink that best expresses his or her mood, personality, sentiment, and/or feelings. This aspect is one of the stronger appeals to fountain pens and allows for an incredible range of expression, not to mention a lifetime of enjoyment and discovery.

Choice of Nib

The nib, more than any other part of the pen, matters the most, for it is the part of the pen that touches the paper. It is what determines how much ink you apply to the page, especially how wide of an ink path it leaves behind. Here is where fountain pens offer some amazing variety. These days the standard writing implement is a monoliner: the line produced does not vary in thickness regardless of the direction of the stroke. This includes fountain pens; however, fountain pens do offer more choices in this regard.

There are edged nibs, more commonly referred to as stubs, italics, or cursive italics. These happen to be my preferred nib. They offer a vertical stroke that is thicker than its horizontal stroke. This is more or less required if you want to practice any form of italic, celtic, foundational, blackletter, et cetera. Many of the styles associated with Calligraphy require an edged pen. By no means must one use a calligraphic style with these nibs. Many people with whom I correspond use a stub or italic nib, to great effect, with their normal cursive.

There are flexible nibs, which allow the downstroke to vary in width with applied pressure. This requires a bit more skill than many of us were taught in school. Flexible nibs were once fairly common as were styles of handwriting that took advantage of this ability. Consider the Declaration of Independence (and John Hancock’s famous signature) or the United States Constitution both of which are beautiful and employ a writing point that is flexible. My favorite pen video on YouTube is one that shows off a Spencerian nib modification:

There are other types of nibs as well, such as the architect’s point: they are the opposite of an italic nib in that their horizontal stroke is wider than the vertical stroke. There are nibs that can change their stroke characteristics based on the angle of the pen. Then there are the fude de mannen nibs which mimic a brush. There are even pens that exchange the traditional metal nib for a brush, but are otherwise a fountain pen.

Unparalleled Writing Experience

As I alluded to earlier, fountain pens, for me, are mostly about the experience of writing. There is something magical when the right pen, right nib, right ink, and right paper meet. That may sound like a fussy equation, with too many variables. Honestly, there have been times where the wrong kind of paper ruined my otherwise crisp writing, or the ink in the pen clashed with my mood. It was an all too common experience in my early days, but now it rarely happens. These days my pen glides across the page the way I want it to, and the freedom I feel is sometimes euphoric. The experience provided with fountain pens is combinatory. It’s more than just the pen, or just the ink. At times the thrill comes from subtleties and nuance, at others it’s the energetic vibrance of a swoosh, flourish, or artistic ink splatter. When words flow effortlessly onto the page in a style, size, and color of one’s choosing it is hard to accept anything else.

* * *

In this digital age fountain pens may not be for everyone, but they offer an array of delight and enjoyment. They appeal to our senses. They allow us to express ourselves beyond black or blue. They call to mind important documents from history. They are romanticized, elegant, stately, art, mightier than the sword. They are a tool which brings me delight each and every time I use them. Why fountain pens: because I like them.

This is a pen that was hard to resist; I tried. Having already been introduced to the Souverän model with my M605 I had a sense of what I was getting into. Still, this is an M805 which is longer, thicker, has a larger nib, and the piston is made of brass instead of plastic. After receiving some advice via an Instagram post I decided to give the M800 series a try. Here are my first impressions of my M805 Stresemann.

Why I Got It

I love the look of my M605 Black-Blue. To date it is the most beautiful pen in my collection. Unfortunately it is also a tad too slender for ultimate comfort. Having been introduced to oversized pens I now know that I like fairly thick pens. With that revelation an M800 series pen was on my “some day” list. When the M805 Stresemann was announced I immediately was attracted to its quiet, muted tones. When one became available on the FPN Classifieds for an exceptional price a deal was struck.

Presentation

Normally I don’t care how a pen is presented. I don’t relish the notion of paying for a fancy box that I must dispose of, or store (I store them all). In this case I was somewhat excited to get the packaging, mostly because this pen came with a bottle of Pelikan Edelstein Onyx. I am given to understand not all M805 Stresemanns came with a bottle of ink, and even then, they are more expensive than the deal I got. So in this instance I’m rather pleased.

I don’t have any other circular pen boxes; most of my boxes are rectangular. There is something appealing to this box. Maybe it is because I have nothing else like it, or maybe there is something about circles themselves that I am drawn to, either way I’m drawn to this box. There is some heft to the box, enough so that I feel confident that when the box is set down it won’t be accidentally moved. The bottom has some felt which helps to add a some friction and grip to it. The pen, and ink, were well protected and I will admit it was quite a treat to open it all.

Appearance

Pictures aren’t always representative especially when it comes to some pen materials. I know that my M605 looks richer in person than in any photo I have seen. Some of the photos of this pen made it look bland and boring, which was not what I expected from Pelikan. I assumed, rightly as it turned out, that the grey strips have a depth to them that wasn’t captured well in those original photos I saw. It wasn’t until owners began posting their own photos that I was able to see the nuances I was expecting.

In person the pen does not disappoint. It has a stately bearing; this is a serious pen for serious writing. And yet, there is nothing about it that prevents one from using it for more casual scribbles. It feels formal, but not stuffy, like a good comfortable suit that you’d wear both at home and out at events.

In the Hand

I have not yet filled the pen with ink (what is wrong with me?!), but I have held it in my hand and felt the balance. The piston mechanism adds a noticeable weight to the pen, a weight I found missing in the M605. I’m not yet worried about the pen being too back heavy. I have to post my M605 and I don’t believe I will be posting this pen; I expect the difference in weight and balance between the M605’s cap and the M805’s piston to be negligible. What I like about this pen is that it has a presence in the hand. I’m still shocked at how light the M605 feels, but the M805 matches my expectations.

The Nib

Since I bought this pen from a private party I didn’t have any nib options; it is a factory medium, but one day I hope to replace it with, or re-grind it to, a 0.5mm italic. That said I will give the medium nib a chance; I have two other medium nibs I cannot bear to modify. I’m curious to see how this one compares to those and if it too will earn the right to remain unmodified.

This nib, unlike my M605 nib, is monotone: it is entirely rhodium plated. Normally I prefer duotone nibs, but on this pen would clash with the overall aesthetics.

* * *

So far, I am happy with my purchase. It has lived up to my expectations as far as it can without being used. I will fill it soon, probably with the included Onyx ink. Then, maybe, I’ll give the pen a Second Look.

Related

• Pen: Pelikan Souverän M805 Stresemann