Quality Fountain Pens

A fountain pen is often considered to be an extension of one's personality and as a result, is considered to be a very personal item. It is primarily because of this that for most fountain pen owners, the quality of the pen is of utmost importance. The quality of a fountain pen lies not just in its nib and how smoothly it writes on paper but also depends on the grip of the pen, its size and of course, the quality of materials used in manufacturing the exteriors of the pen.

The quality of a fountain pen is also reflective of its price. While most run off the mill ball point pens are cheaper and can be thrown away, a fountain pen inspite of not being very expensive is something that most people like to treasure. The price of a good quality fountain pen depends greatly on the quality of the nib. If the nib is made of gold or any other precious mineral, and is quite smooth to write, prices tend to be higher.

The other important features that determine the quality of a fountain pen are its size and ink capacity. Most buyers prefer pens of standard sizes that easily fit into their pockets but there are others who prefer to own pens of unique shapes, designs and sizes. While preference for a particular size varies from individual to individual, amount of ink that can be stored is of a particular amount which helps in maintaining standardization. Pens with plunger fillers or cartridges are considered to be of high quality as they have more ink storing capacity. Prices for quality fountain pens range between a few dollars to around $300 or more.

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Making Fountain Pens

Fountain pens have been manufactured ever since the 18th century. However, with improvements in science and technology, the manufacturing techniques too have undergone significant changes.

There are many phases involved in the making of fountain pens. First, large bands of metal are fed into automated machines to stamp out small circles. These circles of brass are then shaped into the pen parts by compressing the metal into various moulds, to provide it strength and durability. This process produces each specific pen part. The parts are then cleaned properly so as to remove the excess oils used in this process called stamping.

The cleaned parts then go for cutting. In this stage, the stamped-out barrels and caps are cut to the exact measurements of each particular pen. Even though this is an automatic process, some pieces are cut by hand operated machines. From the cutting stage, the metal pen pieces next go on to the polishing stage. The barrels and caps are placed on spindles and pass under circular polishing brushes to remove oil used during polishing.

After this process, the top line pens go to receive gold or platinum plating on various parts, while the other pens go directly to the nib fitting stage. For the top line pens, nib making is a highly specialized, manual process while for normal pens it is usually automatic. The nib metal is fed into a presser that compresses the metal and this gives the nib a tapered thickness whilst developing the spring of the nib. The tip is then coated with a mixture of hard metals and the ball is manually welded into the nib. It is then cut to create the forks that are later calibrated after being engraved. Most pen makers even make the non metal parts of the pens in their factories along with the ink cartridge bodies.

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Limited Edition Fountain Pens

Limited edition fountain pens are superior varieties of pens that are not commonly available. Only a specific number of such pens are produced in order to maintain exclusivity. These pens are usually collectibles and are commonly in the possession of pen collectors or pen museums. They are generally more expensive than the regular fountain pens, as the latter are produced for usage by common people. For limited edition pens, every aspect of the pen is carefully looked into. Starting from the outer covering of the pen to the high quality nibs and special ink reservoirs, every material used in the making is class apart.

To maintain their exclusivity, various big pen making companies have their own range of unique limited edition fountain pens. These pens are made of all sorts of unique materials, ranging from the seats of various ball stadiums to specially hand crafted gold, silver or platinum moulds. There is an authentication that comes with each pen so as to ensure that they are genuine.

If one was to buy a Yankee stadium pen, made from the seats of the stadium, it would cost around $125. Similarly, a pen from Polo grounds and Fenway Park would cost around $150. While pens made from the seats of Comiskey Park, Atlanta Fulton City and the Baltimore Memorial are priced at $95, pens made from the seats of the Milwaukee County stadium are approximately $80. This range of limited edition fountain pens is not manufactured by all pen makers but by only a few top notch pen making brands.

Limited edition fountain pens are for those people who like to use pens that have their own individual identity, are exclusive and give the joy of fine writing as well.

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Platinum Fountain Pens

Platinum fountain pens have their exteriors made of platinum. Their cap and body are plated with platinum so that the pen and the nib do not tarnish. Certain platinum fountain pens also have platinum cases in which they are placed to provide them extra protection. The inner mechanisms of these platinum fountain pens however, are the same as the ordinary fountain pens. These pens are usually equipped with converters and fillers of international standards so that any ink or cartridge can be used.

The platinum fountain pen sets are excellent gift items, for they can also be personalized. The name of the person to whom it is being gifted, or a logo of the special occasion, is often engraved on them. Such engravings are usually available for a minimal additional cost. Apart from being gift items, platinum fountain pens are collectibles as well. Many people who collect pens have antique and vintage platinum fountain pens. As a result of their platinum bodies, these pens can withstand enormous pressures and are unaffected by weather changes and hence, remain intact for years to come.

Platinum plated fountain pens are made by all major pen producing companies but are somewhat limited in edition as they are more expensive than the regular fountain pens. Prices of these platinum fountain pens, not just depends on the amount and quality of platinum used for the outer body but also on the material of the nib. In case of gold nib, the price automatically shoots up. Prices also depend on the accessories which are sold along with the pen like pen stands that may also be made of platinum, platinum ink pots and platinum plated pen cases. These pens are not available freely in the market and are usually either auctioned or produced on demand.

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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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