The art of the pen.

You wouldn't believe how many shirts I ruined as a kid!

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I bought a Hemingway years ago but it was too precious so I sold it without ever using it.

 

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MB Jules Verne. One of my favorites.

 

Glad you folks still practice the art of penmanship. Most of us (me!) can do more than make chicken scratches.

 

Great looking pen!


No matter how nice a pen, my writing looks horrible. :-(

 

Wonderful observations.

Yes, my son-in-law treasures a box of notes written by his grandfather during the WWII. They are permanent mementos.

On one hand, I write much more because I use a keyboard; on the other hand, the permanence of my notes is much less certain.

And, I pity Mrs. Dostoevsky who, as I've heard the story told, recopied by hand three drafts of War and Peace for her husband.

 

how come? that Sheaffers Skrip was washable!

 

Now I know!

I still got in trouble with momma, anyway.

 

Good to see fellow fountain pen folks on here. Started with a Lamy Safari, went down the fountain pen hobby rabbit hole for a couple of years and peaked at a Namiki Maki-e. Handwriting still terrible, but I use FP to take notes every day.

 

Forgot to mention, IIRC Enzo used a Parker Duofold, and MB just released a special pen for him as well as the purple ink.

 

stumbled back on the thread; ought to mention that although I carry and use a Cross pencil and ballpoint pen I also carry and use a Sheaffer snorkel fountain pen that I bought in 1953 as a prize for getting an A in the first-year course in Trusts & Estates at Columbia Law School! Has what Sheaffer called a Triumph 14K nib. I think it cost around ten or twelve dollars ($10. bought a very good three-course dinner for two - a carafe of red wine, add $3. - in a modest but excellent French restaurant on New York City's west side in the 40s).

 

OK, I've got some old ones but not a 'collection'. Do any of you refurbish your own vintage pens? Is it worth it?

I'm thinking of getting a fat bodied one, but would prefer not to simply get an MB 149. Any suggestions?

Any pictures of what you like to write with?

Regards,

Art S.

 

ArtS, many thanks for resuscitating the thread! Meant to mention in my last post that during the first year of Sheaffer's production of its Snorkel fountain pens. the little tubes that emerges from the feed to suck ink into the pen were made of 14kt gold!
Now using an Omas Paragon, hand-fabricated in Italy, whose barrels are made of vegetal resin - one line is made of celluloid. 14kt gold nibs that are the heart of all fountain pens.

 

I was guilty of buying them as well, not collecting, just thought it was "cool" to pull out during meetings, and ruined many shirts, lol.

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I possess a Montblanc fountain pen bought in 1987, which has never been used or inked. Can anyone suggest where I might ascertain its value?

I have also been utilizing a Montblanc ball pen made of stainless steel and carbon fiber for the last thirty years.

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So, I've bought a few more old ones and want to try my hand at fixing them. There are plenty of resources on line but has anyone done it yet and, if so any preferences or guidance. My goal is doing less harm than good and I have little experience with celluloid.

My goal is to end up with few reliable/fun 100 year old Sheaffers pens (I like their look) with nibs of my choosing.

Regards,

Art S.

 

A true Renaissance man! Loves watches and pens, and can even repair them!

 

Not sure if that comment aimed at me. If it is, I think you are giving me too much credit; I just like the style and quality of the old stuff and, with a few exceptions, their value. Fixing it myself is either because it's enjoyable or just the simple, quick solution. Being able to not care if I have the latest and greatest, and prefer old stuff instead, simply means I have a bigger selection of quality stuff at a steep discount.

Regards,

Art S.

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Art, were you Navy? I ask because of the suggestive photos you posted

 

Wasn't able to serve due to a broken neck. I do advanced development stuff for them (and others) as a day job.

I'm guessing you're Navy? I'm trying to rescue a PT boat but that hasn't been going too well since covid.

Regards,

Art S.

 

Well, I still haven't started rebuilding any of the pens, but I got a few restored ones and a few I plan to restore, since I last posted.

The latest, that is inked, is a Sheaffer Balance (lifetime) oversized from 1929-1931. It has a ton of presence, I think it's about the size of an MB 149. It's the greenish pearlescent and black celluloid and after 90+ years the greenish pearlescent marbling has discolored into a lovely tortoiseshell appearance - which I like.

To me of the pre-WWII, early celluloid era, the Sheaffers are the best lookers but most, including this one, are no-nonsense writers - very reliable but no flash in the line it lays down. It's traditional, big, Sheaffer 14k nib works great but it has zero flex. I'm a bit torn, although they are rare, Sheaffer made flex and semi-flex nibs back then; as I don't do much writing, I don't need ink efficiency - do I find a flex nib for it?

Regards,

Art S.

 

I think I'm hoarding...

I now have two oversized 1929-1931 Sheaffer Ballance oversize, lifetime grade, pens. They're fine on the desk (or between the keyboard and screen of the laptop), but as pointed out earlier, don't travel neatly - oh well; I guess I'll enjoy the old ones at home.

Regards,

Art S.