Fountain Pens, Inks and Paper – my current tools of the trade
Pelikan 400
As I am trying to optimize my writing equipment as much as possible I’m now down to this: Five fountain pens, two inks and one brand of paper.
Paper, has long been a problem for me. Even though Sweden is a paper-producing country we have no domestic quality paper suitable for letter-writing. Previously I had to order paper from England, but the shipping costs were often substantial. I was very pleased to find that I could have Clairefontaine “Pollen” Ivory, sheets, cards and envelopes delivered from http://www.skapamer.se more or less overnight! Basically I need no other paper qualities for fine writing!
Ink. The only two inks I use are: Rohrer & Klingner, Iron-Gall-Ink “Salix” and “Scabiosa”. They are equally classy and elegant, fast drying and water resistant.
OK, over to the Pens:
In my shirt-pocket I’m carrying a Sailor Professional Gear Slim, (Sapporo), with a H-M 14 K nib. It writes like a dream, it has the perfect size, it posts securely, the cap never unscrews itself and the clip is sturdy and, in opposite to the Pelikan clips, never catch the sweatshirt while undressing. (My Pelikans have more than once caught the clothing and hit the ground, or floor.) The one disadvantage is the low capacity of the converter, but with checking the level before I’m leaving home, it is no big problem.
For taking notes at work I use a Airmail 80, an inexpensive eye-dropper filled, Indian pen with a hard rubber feed and a fine nib with some amount of “give”. It takes more than 2 ml of ink. It writes very well, and is no bigger economical loss if dropped nib down. I’ve purchased it from http://www.fountainpenrevolution.com . (I recommend the orange color as the red has a more plastic looks.)
For signing documents at work, and for calligraphy writing, I use a Pelikan M200, with a Richard Binder cursive italic nib. http://www.richardspens.com
For writing letters, and for writing for pleasure I use two pens. First a Pelikan 400, green striped, with a 14 K F nib from the early 50s. Then another favorite, Parker Vacumatic, 3rd Gen, 1946, with a 14 K fine . These pens needs no further presentation. They are two classy and Classic Pens.
Well that was just my two cents, Your Mileage May Wary, and your comments are welcome!
(You may wish to click on the pictures…)
Sailor Sapporo (Sailor Professional Gear Slim)
Airmail 80
Pelikan M200
Parker Vacumatic 1946
