What happened to fountain pens?

[DrearyLane]

When I was at secondary school, all work had to be in fountain pens. Ink everywhere, collection of those tiny plastic balls from the cartridges were seen as a “win” and it was a pain to write quickly. Whether to use a classic Parker (which your parents thought was posh but actually harder to find a cartridge in an emergency for) or a stationary box special - still remember my lovely green jungle themed one.

in the past 30 years (The time span between me leaving school and DS starting secondary) they’ve gone.. completely. He doesn’t even recognise what one is.

When did the tide turn? (I’m very grateful it did)

My problem with fountain pens is that they dry out if you don't use them regularly. I prefer gel pens now; handwriting looks as good as with a fountain pen, but it's quicker to write with it.

People used to use them to sign documents because 'wet ink' doesn't fade the way biro does. -
but even that is done electronically now

I disagree. I’m a lefty and always use a fountain pen

Oh they really aren’t! I have lots, nothing expensive! Except for my lamy 2000. But it’s the inks I love, so many lovely colours. See —crack— sorry Cult Pens gets a shout, but now I go to Amsterdam regularly, I haunt Akkermans and want to go to Den Haag for Appelbooms.. Sadly, despite learning to write with one my writing is abominable.

Oh and the “alt trendy” kids at school love a Lamy.

I use mine every day and have a set in my classroom which students are allowed to borrow. They're not dead in my neck of the woods.

I left secondary school in 1989. Never used a fountain pen. Got one gif my 18th birthday, but preferred matching rollerball. Given a choice, I'm like to write in pencil best. Always got ink on my fingers with a fountain pen, even with cartridges. Never got my pen licence at primary school!

Op why did not simply buy your ds one? I got dc one for Xmas

Where did all the fountain pains go? Well, quite a lot of them came to live at my house. With both ink and cartridge accessories. I bloody love fountain pens. I find that my imagination flows more freely in ink.

Cult Pens is a dangerously attractive website to visit.

So is Pure Pens. I have yet to make it to their shop, but a nice person from there posted me a selection of inks last week. Then I had to buy a couple of extra pens in case the shimmery inks blocked my expensive nibs. It turns out, I needn't have worried.

I love a fountain pen.

I've been a teacher for nearly 30 years and fountain pens were already pretty much a thing of the past when I started. They're popular in my household though. Dh and I both use them and 18yo dd is a massive fan. She has several, with different coloured inks. Ds doesn't like them. We don't use cartridges though, just bottles of ink. We all use Lamy ones.

I'm not being funny but when did you last go into school? Some kids can't afford a bic biro and have any stationary, let alone a fountain pen! X

I had a beautiful stationery set for when I started middle school that included a biro, fountain pen and propelling pencil, they were tortoiseshell with gold nibs/settings and had a really good weight to them. I like the idea of a fillable one rather than one with cartridges, what do I search for to find one of those and does anyone have a particular brand that wouldn't break the bank but be decent?

I use lamy and kaweco. My students like using my lamy ones.

I have several and use them daily. Most are Lamy, but I have a Waterman, Parkers and a couple of other makes. I have different coloured inks in each.

I do all my written work in them, and use them for writing diaries, calendars and even shopping lists.

I can't remember the last time I used a BIC or Biro.

They're surprisingly popular with my students (undergrad), bit like vinyl.

I'm left handed.

No problem at all using fountain pens.

You can get left handed nibs - Lamy in particular do really good ones that you can buy separately and swap to replace the normal ones they come with.

DC1 and 3 both use them. DC2 (left handed) doesn’t, though I have offered a left handed nib.

I'm a left handed Lamy lover. I use fountain pens all the time (teacher). I have a large collection of colourful pens and lovely bright inks.

I loved my Parker pens, with their rounded tip, so much less scratchy than a standard fountain pen. But yeah, more expensive cartridges with no balls! Plus am I right in remembering that ink erasers didn't work on parker ink?

@EdithGrantham search for converter or piston filler fountain pens. Piston fillers hold more ink, but are usually more expensive. I personally like Twsbi fountain pens. They’re not beautiful, but kind of fun and good quality for the price.

It worked on one particular mid blue cartridge (also the worst colour) - I liked the blue-black ink as we weren't allowed to use black for anything and they didn't work on that.

Didn't like the smell of the erasers at all - I'd draw a line through errors rather than have that stink.

Oh, also remember that a lot of the blue inks couldn't be photocopied, which is why forms said complete in black.

@SparkleHard ahem, I think my TWSBI diamond smoke rose gold demonstrator both cheap and pretty!

I like gel pens and I have a fountain pen for letters and cards.

Yes, I still send letters and cards. People (say they) like them.

I love my Lamy safari. DS15 has one at school (that’s literally all he takes though, his ‘pencil case’ is a pen in his pocket. Fucking teens.)

I don’t think they are dying out - lots of kids at DS10s primary have them too.