I was born in the wrong time period, of this I'm certain.
However, I had the good fortune to encounter Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, Agatha Christie's mysteries and Robert Stevenson's Treasure Island at an early age, which were no doubt instrumental in preserving some part of my sanity.
Books and movies and television series set in the "here and now" hold little interest for me. Once in a very long while, I'll come across one that catches my eye, but that's extremely rare. At one point, my fascination with the past as depicted in 18th, 19th and early 20th century novels reached such a pitch that, while reading, I made lists of any furniture, everyday objects, foods and drinks, customs, habits and traditions mentioned... Dabbing vinegar on the forehead to relieve a headache – I find this utterly fascinating!
Much as I love such old-world concepts as hansom cabs, gas-lit streets, train travel, telegrams and church fêtes, I must resign myself to existing without them. There is, however, one old-fangled object that can be – and indeed is – part of my daily life: the fountain pen.
"Hang on," I can hear you think, "they still make fountain pens?" Yes! There's no need to spend a fortune on a vintage pen, as new ones are currently manufactured, in Germany and Japan for example, at a very reasonable cost (though some high-end or exclusive models can command astronomical prices).
Of course, a fountain pen is never going to be as cheap as a disposable pen. It also requires more careful handling; you really shouldn't throw a fountain pen around, carry it every which way, or drop it on the floor with impunity. And once the ink runs out, the pen has to be cleaned (or at least flushed out), then refilled, which can be a messy experience for the clumsiest among us. I've luckily avoided any major spills thus far, but I've accepted that ink-stained fingers are now inevitable.
So why use something that's both more expensive and less straightforward to use than just any pen you can pick up anywhere? It's probably fair to say that there are as many reasons as there are fountain pen users, so I'll tell you why I personally write with them.
Firstly, fountain pens are beautiful. Look at the photo below; can you think of a ballpoint pen that can rival this?
Secondly, I enjoy writing – I mean the physical act of holding a writing instrument between my fingers and moving it across a smooth paper surface. Ordinary pens simply don't provide me with an enjoyable writing experience; they drag on the paper and cause my fingers to cramp, they cough up ink blobs... *shudder* A few years ago, I started experiencing joint pains in my elbows, hands and fingers, rendering it difficult for me to do simple things like make the bed or hold a jug of water. I had to take regular breaks from typing because my fingers would seize and refuse to straighten. As you can imagine, writing became very uncomfortable. However, a fountain pen nib glides on the paper without any pressure (in fact, applying pressure would cause damage to the nib), so it's possible to write for longer without hand fatigue or cramps.
Thirdly, although a fountain pen costs more at the time of purchase than a disposable pen, with minimum care and precautions it'll last for many years, replacing dozens of cheap plastic writing instruments that would end up in the trash. It's a good investment and it's better for the environment.
I suppose that for a paper fetishist (ahem), the fact that most fountain pen inks "force" you to use good quality paper to avoid feathering would be an advantage...
There is also a quest of sorts involved in using a fountain pen. It's such a joy to find a pen that feels just right in your hand, that makes you want to write and keep on writing! I also love the amazing variety of inks available, in every colour and every shade imaginable. Testing multiple samples in the search for what will become your signature ink can be frustrating, but it can lead to unexpected discoveries. And while I do have a few favourites, I don't think I've come across THE perfect ink... yet.
I know this post is a little out of the blue, but I just thought I'd share my love of fountain pens in case anyone has an interest in this topic. If you have questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them to the best of my ability, and to point you in the right direction if necessary!
