I’ve written about handwriting- and how it helps the brain. I’ve written how it’s a skill (and a talent) that is falling by the wayside due to today’s (mis-guided) approaches to educating our young.
Yet, fountain pen usage (or, at least, purchases) seems to be coming back. My beloved Parker Pen (OK, it’s owned by Rubbermaid, nowadays- and no longer offers lifetime warranties), which has been manufacturing pens for 125 years, is reporting an upswing in sales (about 5% year-to-year increases over the past five years). Amazon is part of the reason this is happening (since there are so few fine pen shops left in this world)- with sales four times what they were in 2010.
But, the real reason is because technology has relegated it from a working tool to one of status. It’s now a luxury item, a niche with panache. No price wars, no battle for the bottom. Instead, folks are rebelling against the ubiquitous eMail and want the feel of a solid pen in their hand to write their messages.
It helps that we no longer have to dip our pen into ink every two minutes or so. Whether one uses real ink (of course!) or those confounded cartridges (horrors- the ink colors are so pedestrian), we can write at least a few pages before we need to refill the pen.
In the US, Waterman (1883), Parker (1888) and Shaeffer (1913) led the field- with Parker the king of the bunch- until the fall of fountain pens in the late 60’s. (It is interesting that Shaeffer is now part of Bic and Waterman and Parker are both Rubbermaid offerings, along with Liquid Paper, Sharpie, and PaperMate.) Of course, Germany picked up the slack with MontBlanc (no, it’s NOT French)- and Europe is still where the fountain pen has the biggest market share.
But, I still love writing with my
fountain pens- and just ordered another one to replace mine, which was crushed in an accident and no longer works to my satisfaction…And, this time my fountain pen will be red and not black.
I love the idea of fountain pens, but my penmanship is so horrible that dozens of physicians around the globe ask me to hand-ghostwrite their prescriptions for them 😉
Tor Constantino recently posted..The $5.37 “Caption This” Contest: Vol. 3
Tor:
I am so glad folks like you exist – to insure clients like mine can sell their prescription writing software with ease. 🙂
(Yes, I, too, have been taught to write illegibly. [I refused to comply.] I think the logic behind the concept was to place the blame for errors on someone else!)
I had to snort laugh at Tor’s comment! 🙂 I left you a link on your post in myblogworld that kind of goes with this post. That said, I used to own a “glass quill” It was made of blown glass and you dipped it in a well of ink to write with it. I loved it! It taught me to slow down and think before I wrote. I lost it in a tragic accident which involved my butt and a seat. 🙁 I may very well pick one up when I can find one again, it might make for interesting art now. Type writing ruined my penmanship for a long time, but I find that painting has helped me regain the lost muscle control! Love this post!
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Lisa, you saw my reply to Tor, I presume…
When I lived in Charlottesville, Lewis Glaser was still alive. He was a “quill” maker par excellence- supplying the US government and dignitaries with his wares. (Let us not forget- EVER- that Thomas Jefferson is alive and well and the mayor of Charlottesville to this day- some 200 years past his death….) I loved watching him and had the opportunity to use one of his creations.
But, I need the fountain pen- since I lack the patience to continually re-ink my nib (which is why I retired the pen of 4 decades that I still retain…)
Roy
I can’t remember the last time I used a fountain pen. I think my parents had one when I was a child but I don’t think I have ever purchased one.
I use “gel” pens when I make greeting cards. The mark is a little darker than a regular ink pen.
You have just about convinced me that I need a fountain pen, Roy. Very interesting post.
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Ah, Janette, you are missing out. I, too, use Gel pens when I need to make an “impression” for client deposits. But, I lack the control I get from holding and writing with the fountain pen- and my writing reflects that difference…
Given your other business, I strongly recommend you try one on for size!
I love the romance of the idea of using a fountain pen. I bought ages ago and it is somewhere in my kitchen “junk” draw – somewhere in the back with the accompanying cartridges (leaking, I believe). I think I got discouraged when I found it didn’t miraculously improve my handwriting. But now I am inspired to pull it out, try again (probably need new cartridges) and maybe clean up the drawer too!
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I, too, have a junk drawer- but I would never have my pen found in such a place. And, I don’t use cartridges, Alessa, but raw ink…
I’m glad I’ve inspired you- and it seems a whole bunch others- to re-consider the use of the instrument….
Ah, I haven’t used a fountain pen since my handwriting class in school! It really does have a lovely feel to it. It’s funny that you wrote this at this time Roy. I have been crafting cards for some time and for a while had taken to printing out messages to put in the cards but have had mention that people who receive them prefer the personal look of having the message written by hand.
I wonder if, with out impersonal email and printing of everything we will soon see a revival of the pen as people strive to make a deeper connection with each other?
I am with Janette, you have just about convinced me to purchase a fountain pen…and you can get it in red? well now..that’s like icing on a cake!
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I send out handwritten notes to each new client and to everyone with whom I have interacted for more than 15 minutes, Bonnie. (In other words, a quick intro at a networking meeting- no, but everyone else-yes.) It reminds folks that as “techie” as I am, that there is a personal touch involved.
I had green Esterbrooks as a kid. We also had the bottle of stuff that was supposed to make mistakes disappear from the page. Usually the page went with it in the process. My writing was horrible that I was always docked for penmanship. I was always in a hurry. I still am and my computer typing is a mass of speed and reversals and the same mistake and reversals. I also am very fond of the arrow keys to fix mistakes when I proof (a thing not possible on this comment page unfortunately). Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Roy.
I was one of the dorks who rewrote his notes at home- in two different color inks (both fountain pens- red and black), Ann. Until I turned 13, when I retyped them. But, I still used the fountain pen. I’m guessing because I not only adore how the written word appears with such “dressing”, but because I recall happier moments with my great grandfather showing me how to write…
Roy
I haven’t played with a fountain pen for years. My favorite journaling pen ran out last week and will be looking for a refill for it. Perhaps I should invest in a fountain pen? Will ponder that question….
You will enjoy the control- and the feeling- you get by writing with a (good) fountain pen, PeggyLee! Go for it!
Back in elementary school (yes, that far back) I won an award and trophy for my penmanship. I love the fountain pen Roy! It brings back memories. I can see how getting back to ‘writing’ rather being on this ‘box’ is appealing to people.
Thank you for sharing the history of this good ole pen. Never knew all those companies had been involved.
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And, while they are increasing sales, it’s sad to see how many of them are no longer independent. (Oh, I know, Lynn, many companies have been subsumed. That doesn’t mean we have to like it 🙂 )
The sad thing: schools are starting to drop writing in cursive. I wrote about that awhile ago on Bornstoryteller.
To back it up: I was in an elementary school a few weeks ago, and a few teachers were talking about that. They were GLAD they did not have to, and I quote, “waste time with teaching cursive writing” anymore.
Sad. Very sad.
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Yes, we have both reported (complained? railed against?) this stupid idea. Fine motor control is critical; the ability to “tickle the mind” by employing handwriting is lost among the number crunchers, whose only function I can see is to save money at the expense of our children!
Roy
I can’t remember the last time I used fountain pens!
I remember in college, our literature professor wanted our assignments submitted in fountain / ink pens because “the story unfolds in ink”. And yes, my fingers were in for quite some surprise when I sat down to write Lit. Assignments. But I still haven’t found my calling for fountain pens. I love writing with pencils, I don’t know why. Maybe erasers make all the difference! 😉
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Pencils certainly have erasers. They also have flimsy points that break incessantly, Hajra- unless you like the blunt edged versions (which I detest).
One challenge with my fountain pen now is that the ink dried up. I have carried that bottle for a long time. But using the pen, while it love its feel and weight, I rarely use it. I know where my Parker is and my Waterman and neither are black. Enjoy your new red fountain pen.
Roberta Budvietas, recently posted..3 Ways to Keep Motivated
I am, Roberta, thanks! But, I’ve never had the ink in my bottle dry up (and this bottle is probably a year old by now)!
After reading this blog i understood about the importance of parker pen in our life.The reliability of this model gave Parker its reputation for the most dependable pens of the market.I like engraved parker pens.thanks for sharing it.
First of all, it is a pleasure to met you, Pawan- and thanks for your comment.
I, too, carry my Parker fountain pen everywhere…even though I use a computer or tablet for everything.
BTW, can you engrave old pens?
I always prefered for that type of fountain pen because i like it because not i used it but also about its low price.Thanks Roy for remembering this knowledge again. I will always use only customized parker pens.
I still use mine! I hope you enjoy yours (and mine IS a Parker…)