Because I’m not a connoisseur collector of anything, my collections tend to come and go. I’d call myself a catalog-er more than a collector, meaning that I tend to collect a type of thing for the joy of learning about it, and to make a catalog or website of those things, then I release the physical things back into the stream of the world. I may then turn my attention to collecting something else, or I might turn back to some other interest I had put on hold. The knowledge is always more important than the things.
The List
This list is in the order the pens appear in the case, except for the Sheaffer desk set, which isn’t in the case (see separate picture below), and the written line is from the pen mentioned.
While it is true that none of my pens are notable, I’m very new to the concept of collecting any kind of pen. I haven’t ventured over the one hundred dollar mark, yet. I’m still learning what’s out there and getting a feel for different type of fountain pen, which is why my selection is so eclectic.
My Pilot Metropolitan and Pilot Capless pens I’ve used for general writing, journaling, and business. Some of the others I’ve received as gifts or picked up somewhere over the years. I’ve done a lot of workhorse writing with G2 pens the last twenty years, so the first Metropolitans I bought were rollers before I started dabbling with fountain pens again.
Lately I’ve purchased some pens just to try something different. The Sheaffer Admiral Snorkel, the Parker 45, the Jinhao Dadao, and the Montblanc 144 are all examples of that. Some are just handsome pens, like the orange Gullor, the Sheaffer Taranis, and the Conway Stewart Dinkie 550. The desk set has it’s own story, which I shared in THIS article.
Here are the fountain pens in their little home.
I am enjoying playing with fountain pens and inks. I’m sure I’ll continue adding new pens to try. I do have some “Holy Grail” ideas and have identified a trinity to acquire and take on a long-term test drive. Since I’m a driver, not a fender polisher, my three to try out are:
- Montblanc Meisterstück 149 (Medium)
- Pilot Custom 823, Transparent Brown (Broad)
- Pelikan Souverän M1000, Black/Green (Medium)
Likely, I will buy them used so I can use them hard, pull them apart, and not worry about messing them up. It is a job interview for these pens, after-all, not a beauty contest. I’ve already found a slightly ugly 149 in Japan for under $300, so let the games begin!
Do you buy your fountain pens for show or for go? New or used? Spotless or blemished? What’s your favorite writer?