Fountain pen

Wiser Web Wednesday

/ Pete Denison / Leave a comment

Wiser Web Wednesday – a weekly link to posts which piqued my interest from around the web:

JimSeven
James Hoffmann’s thoughts on creating a new occasional coffee magazine:

…most publications were more focused on the trade side of things rather than trying to tell the stories we have to the interested members of the coffee drinking public.

Though the print copy looks fantastic, I ordered the eBook version and believe me, this publication is a great read (independent writing; no ads). Check out more details and links to ordering options here:
Introducing Longberry Magazine

The Cramped
Continuing a recent stream of thought on penmanship, might I say ease up on the grip and pressure people! Your stone paper notebook in particular will thank you:
Penmanship for the Heavy Handed

Pens! Paper! Pencils!
If you are looking to get some reasonably priced vintage fountain pens, Parker is a decent place to start. A great review from Ian and some really impressive photos as well:
Parker 45 fountain pen review

Inktronics
Speaking of reasonably priced pens, a new best entry-level pen? Now available in an F as well as M nib, the Pilot Metropolitan makes a play for this title. A well-balanced , well written review:
Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Review

The Well-Appointed Desk
If you need any more convincing, another favourable review of the Metropolitan:
Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Review

Quotebook
Originally I’d planned to give the final word to The Cramped (who you should really follow on Twitter), for one of my favourite quotes of recent times:

Should I lose all my important writing, I’d prefer being able to say it died in the flames of an unquenchable fire, or the merciless gusts of a tornado, or rapids of river water beating down the front door during a flash flood. If the writing matters at all to me, it deserves something a little better than, “I forgot to press Ctrl-S.”

However in saving the above to my Quotebook (a fantastic app for doing just that – saving quotes), I noticed some exciting news – Quotebook 3 is on the way, which is a complete redesign by developer Lickability for iOS7 (iPhone and iPad). You can sign up to be notified, however I will most likely write-up my impressions here once it is released. In the meantime, the current version has been pulled from the App Store:
Quotebook 3: Coming Soon

My Fountain Pen Day

/ Pete Denison / 16 Comments

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This Friday, November 1 is the second annual Fountain Pen Day.

My original “fountain pen day”? That was sixteen years ago, the 20th day of September 1997, when I received the gift of a pen from my beautiful wife. The very same pen is with me every day, and is a constant joy and delight to use.

The irony is not lost on me as I write on a touchscreen keyboard about something so, well…traditional and analogue. However, this is the world we live in. As far as fountain pens go I entered at the deep end, the pen in question being a Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique, which has been a star performer since day one. The pen described by Montblanc:

Fountain pen with piston converter, 14 K gold nib with rhodium-plated inlay, barrel and cap made of black precious resin inlaid with Montblanc emblem, gold-plated clip and rings

Over the past sixteen years, I have used a limited range of inks, never venturing beyond the Montblanc variety, usually black or blue-black. Currently it is inked with Montblanc Midnight Blue. The nib is medium, and although a little broad for everyday work use, this is how I like it – something I use for enjoyment, not utility.

Why do those of us who use fountain pens do so? I’m sure we all have our reasons, however for myself, I would venture to say the answer would be similar to asking why I roast my own coffee – for the opportunity to be involved in what I am doing. To be a part of what is being produced, and influence the end result. My hand writing is far from perfect, and I often sit back and smile as I struggle to produce uniformity – for it’s in the struggle where you will find the worth, the reward. The never-ending search for a perfectly formed, written line is like the perfectly roasted bean and brewed cup, tantalisingly close but by necessity always beyond reach, for if ever truly achieved…

It is the slight imperfections in our endeavours that define us all and make us unique. The cup that just misses or the tail on the q being a little too short. The journey from line to line will take you towards it. Where? To somewhere you can only go in that moment of angle, pressure, ink flow and concentration. When to reposition your hand, whether the pen is rotated to the nib sweet spot, if I’m going to hit that fleck in the paper that may throw off my rhythm.

Frustrating? Absolutely.
Hopeless? At times.
Inspiring? Always.

The perfect piece of written prose in perfect cursive? Never. This pen as the perfect companion for a lifelong writing journey? Yes indeed.

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Another perfect companion for a life journey on that same “fountain pen day”? Absolutely. That day sixteen years ago was my wedding day.