Fountain Pens

The pen is mightier than the sword ? these famous words referred to the fountain pen, as that is what was in used at the time. A nice fountain pen is not only a writing instrument, but also is a signature of the taste of a person. Most fountain pen users prefer writing with fountain pens only, as those offer a wide range of ink color choice and smooth writing. Fountain pens require less hand pressure for writing and it?s possible to write for a long time with less fatigue. The style and look of fountain pens are both very appealing. The cost is also relatively lower since ballpoint pens are lost or misplaced in no time and have high refill costs. Even a higher end fountain pen worth $200 or $300 would cost a few cents a week considering its long life of twenty to thirty years.

The fountain pen contains several parts: the nib, the feed, the round barrel that holds the nib and the feed, the reservoir that holds ink and a cap or lid that is screwed to the outer surface of the reservoir and prevents ink from spilling. There is a clip attached to the cap that enables the pen to be clipped to shirt or coat pocket. The solid metal clips of fountain pens are better than plastic clips of most ball point pens.

By capillary action and gravity, ink flows down the feed. The slit in the nib channels down the ink to the nib point. The small whole at the beginning of the slit allows air to help the capillary action. Ink is filled with a dropper in to the reservoir or ink cartridges are used inside the reservoir to supply ink to the nib. The body of the pen is normally made up of plastic, hard rubber, metal and celluloid.

Fountain pens are available in an infinite number of designs. Nibs of gold and silver add to the cost and beauty of the pens. Many companies are actively involved in manufacturing fountain pens, adding more variety and colorful designs. Fountain pens are manufactured and marketed by Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Cross, Pilot, Caran D? Ache and others.



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Fountain Pen Repair

Like all implements, fountain pens may need repairs after prolonged or faulty use. But the good part is that almost everything about a fountain pen is repairable. A few basic repairs can be done at home, and some repairs may require an expert?s services. Amateur enthusiasts have spoiled good pens by fiddling with them at their homes. So it?s always advisable to seek out an expert?s help when in doubt. Vintage pens may be in fragile conditions. So it?s strongly recommended that an individual should never set to repair vintage pens on his own. However, some fountain pen users are good at repairing a few minor problems through their experience and information from other users.

The nib is not likely to wear down during a pen?s lifetime since iridium is used as nib tips. But the tines of the nib may become uneven and produce scratchy writing. In such a case, the nib should be studied under a microscope, which would show that either the tines are bent forward or backward. It can be carefully setback to the correct position. Gentle pressure should be exerted while setting it; otherwise the tines could break.

When ink doesn?t flow properly, the gap between the tines should be checked and cleaned with a razor blade. The feed also should be cleaned along with the nib. This would clear any dirt that might have accumulated. If left for a long time unused, fountain pens with ink inside could get clogged. The pen should be washed with water for sometime and then cleaned.

Ink sacs may perforate and start leaking. The cap or the barrel may develop cracks. These are clearly an expert?s domain. Apart from setting faults right, an expert pen repairer can retip the nib to italic, oblique and stub according to the needs of the user.



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Fountain Pen Refills

Fountain pens can be refilled by different methods. In the USA, patents were issued for Button, Click, Lever, Matchstick and coin methods of refill. All these methods were used to put a little pressure and deflate the sac or internal plate to allow ink to flow in and out. The vintage pens may require eyedropper fillers. There are self-filling pens that have a sac in the pens. Upon squeezing the sac, the pen gets filled or emptied of ink. The latest method is the use of cartridges or international cartridges; cartridges are known as international cartridges because of the large number of European companies who use them in the fountain pens. There is also the piston filler. This method uses a piston in the pen, which is driven up or down inside the barrel of the pen by twisting a knob at the end of the pen. Today, most pens use piston fillers or cartridges. There are converters that can convert the cartridge refill pen to a piston refill one.

The eyedropper filler ink pens have the maximum capacity to hold ink, with the least capacity attributed to the piston refills pens. The piston sometimes occupies half of the pen?s barrel, leaving less room for holding ink. But the eyedropper method could be messy.

International cartridges of all makes can be used in some fountain pens, while others accept only cartridges of their own brand. There are some fountain pens in which a converter cannot be fit. The only way to use different ink in these pens is to fill the cartridge with a syringe. There is a wide range of inks that one can chose from when refilling a pen. Ink bottles of different shapes and designs are in the offering. Fountain pen users store refills to avoid the risk of running out of ink. Some users love the idea of refilling a pen cartridge by themselves, even if it means getting a little messy with ink.



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Fountain Pen History

The urge to write and draw can be dated back to the early ages of human civilization. Caves discovered by archeologists are proof of the attempts of the primitive men to draw and write. From engraving on stone plates and cave walls to writing on palm leaves and hieroglyph inscriptions, mankind has been trying to preserve its thoughts using various implements: sharp stones, reeds, metals and quills.

The invention of ink and paper changed the mode of writing by scratching. Quills were dipped in a reservoir of ink and used for writing. Holding a thin quill didn?t suit to writing for long hours. It struck the early inventors that the hollow channel in a bird?s feather can store ink for writing. The fountain pen in its raw form was born.

The first mention of fountain pen can be traced to the Egyptians. Hassan El Basha Mamoud an Egyptian scholar translated a manuscript from Fatimid dynasty dating to 969 AD, which talks about using a pen without an inkpot. A pen was made of gold and presented before the caliph. It had its own ink reservoir. But the pen leaked, and hence a better one was ordered. The same pen with modifications was presented. This time, there was no ink spill when the pen was tilted to all sides. The pen wrote fluidly on contact with paper, and ink disappeared as soon as the pen was lifted from the surface of paper to the amazement of the onlookers. Except for the writing on the manuscript, there was no other evidence that such a writing implement was ever used.

The earliest fountain pen was designed by M. Bion, a Frenchman, in 1702. There were many producers of fountain pens in the early 1800s. John Scheffer, a Britishman, mass-produced fountain pens that were half quill and half metal. The ink was stored in sheep?s gut. But all such early attempts at holding ink in hard rubber tubes with a metal nib at the bottom were messy.

?Necessity is the mother of invention,? and it?s wonderful how path breaking inventions are made. Lewis Waterman, the inventor of the fountain pen used widely, determined to do something after a valuable contract document was destroyed by spilling ink from the pen he used?an insurance salesman turned into an inventor. Waterman patented the fountain pen in 1884, and started mass-producing it. The fountain pen in its true form was born.



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Fountain Pen Cases

The love for fountain pens is not restricted to the pens alone. Along with the pens come the pen cases. Every fountain pen deserves a good home. Pen cases protect the pens from loosing their sheen by rolling around on the desk or drawer. Designed to hold the pens in various ways, pen cases are a treat to watch. Exquisitely crafted pen cases are a statement of good taste. It makes sense to preserve precious vintage pens in cases and boxes.

Pen cases are available in the shape of an easel, upright-standing frames, cheroot box-like cases with transparent glass tops, cups and many more. While the closed cases primarily serve the purpose of preserving the pens from dust and abrasion, open cases highlight the beauty of the pens on display and make the pens available at one?s fingertips. Triangular-shaped pen cases with smoked plastic covers are a variety seen in the market. Pen pillows, made from wood and Wajima urushi lacquer are also being manufactured by Japanese companies.

Pen cases are made of wood, leather, metal and glass with detailed attention to aesthetics. A designer pen case adds to the elegance of the study table or an office desk.

Some people make used coke cans their pen cases or stands. But not the fountain pen lover. A person who loves fountain pens would surely find a suitable case to preserve or showcase his pen collection. Personalized pen cases made of leather studded with precious metals and gems are found with the affluent pen lovers.

Pen cases are used not only for display or preserving purposes. Fountain pens in lovely cases are a wonderful gift item. Be it Christmastime or Hanukkah, fountain pens in a case are a perfect gift.

Fountain Pens provides detailed information on Fountain Pens, Fountain Pen Cases, Fountain Pen Refills, Fountain Pen History and more. Fountain Pens is affliated with Fountain Pens.