21-FEB-2012
My collection
Here is my collection (so far). Writing with a fountain pen is truly a joy.
30-JUL-2011
Wood body fountain pens
Aren't they beautiful? The body was carved out from maple woods. The nibs were made with gold plated Iridium.
30-JUL-2011
Wood
The box was carved out from a solid piece of rosewood, the same material as the pen's body. Isn't a fountain pen good to look at? When was the last time we admire a ball point pen in its paper box?
30-JUL-2011
The inks!!!!!
Unlike ball point pens where we are limited to the color of the available inks decided by the manufacturers. The colors of fountain pen inks are almost limitless to suit different moods, different audience or simply just for being different.
Different shades of blue, black, green, purple, red are available. If we still can't find one that suits us, we can mix our own. The blue is too light for our taste? Mix in a few drops of black. The red is too bright? Mix in a few drops of blue. We can create almost any tint that is limited only by our imagination...
Different inks also have slightly different flow rate. One that's well suited for a fine point nib may flow too freely when used with a broad point nib and one that's good for a broad point nib may be too restrictive when used with a fine point nib. Plus everything in between...
13-AUG-2011
Noodler Bulletproof Ink : Bad Belted Kingfisher
This is Noodler's Bulletproof series of ink. This one is dark blue. It's not just waterproof, but also tamperproof. The ink bonds to paper and once dried, it cannot be altered by water, bleach, alcohol etc...
13-AUG-2011
Quick test of Noodler Bulletproof ink on paper
This is just a quick test. The ink was Noodler's Bulletproof 'Bad Belted Kingfisher'. The words were written on a piece of printer paper then let dried for about 5 minutes. I then ran hot water from a faucet continuously about 2 inches above the writing for about 1 minute. The color seemed to lighten but the bottom picture was taken immediately after the hot water test and the paper was still wet. Amazing!!
The top picture was taken before the hot water test. The bottom picture was taken after the hot water test.
This ink can even resist bleach, paint thinner, alcohol and other chemical. Now finally I can sign my checks and address my envelopes using fountain pens!
30-JUL-2011
Pilot Vanishing Point Retractable Fountain Pen
This the world's first retractable fountain pen, by Pilot, Japan. It has a full size metal body and a 18 karat pure gold nib. Its nib is opened and closed like a ball point pen by pressing the large button that opens a small trap door that seals the nib and ink. One of my favorite. It was originally launched in Japan in the 1960s' and went through several generations of refinements in 50+ years. The nibs can be replaced in 15 seconds and are available in FINE, MEDIUM and BROAD.
30-JUL-2011
The Parker model 45 Fountain Pen
The Parker model 45 is a utilitarian fountain pen. Like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, it does everything well but nothing exceptional. It's reliable, simple and inexpensive. It's something that I wouldn't mind putting it on the bottom of my backpack and carrying it around...
30-JUL-2011
Unnamed beauty
I bought this unnamed beauty from eBay. There is no brand name or country of origin anywhere on the pen, but the nib did say 'Iridium Gold - Germany' and it's pretty smooth, not quite like writing on glass, but close.