Fountain Pen Mania

I have a confession to make. I collect fountain pens. Most of the younger generation (and some of the oldsters) don’t have the foggiest idea what a fountain pen is all about.

Most folks think a fountain pen is something from Mont Blanc which is sold in upscale luxury stores for hundreds to thousands of dollars.

The fact of the matter is that fountain pens can be purchased for as little as $3.00. Pilot Varsity makes a disposable fountain pen that many people feel writes as well as a much more expensive pen. There are even YouTube videos showing you how to refill these disposable pens.

I have pens made primarily in Germany, Japan, India, Taiwan, and China. I do own two vintage Mont Blanc pens made in the 1970’s. One I’ve owned for over thirty years and the other was purchased recently.

A good starter pen is the LAMY Safari. These pens come in a number of colors and run around $25-30.

Another great starter pen is the Diamond 580 from TWISBI. This pen runs around $50.

If you’re going to spring for a fountain pen, you might as well get some quality paper. I recommend Clairefontaine. This is a French company that has been making paper since the 1858. It’s the perfect paper for a fountain pen.

Last, but far from least, you’re going to need ink. You can buy it by the bottle. I recommend Noodler’s Heart of Darkness. This is a very black ink which bonds to the paper and is literally forgery proof.

All of these items are available at Goulet Pens

Want to learn more about fountain pens, check out the Fountain Pen Network.