When I entered school in first grade the classrooms had desks that must have been there since the turn of the century. They were dark brown, the desk top was full width of the seat, an opening under the desktop that would hold all our books, and something that confused me. There was a hole at the top right about two inches in diameter. I found later it used to hold an ink bottle for fountain pens.
We didn't use fountain pens in school, but many people wrote with them at the time. My grandfather wrote with one always. He loved his fountain pen. He loved his pen even when it leaked onto his shirt and ruined it (in between his mutterings of 'sons a bitches').
I'll bet men of old loved their quill pens too and I'm sure they had their favorites.
These days I'm not sure how many people love their pens. Fountain pens were a mechanical wonder from quills and ball points were a wonder from fountain pens. No more leaking (unless they were the very first), no more ink wells, and the ink lasts quite a while. But few really care for them unless they were special pens and a gift.
Today you can get those pens for pennies apiece. A whole row of Bics for a buck or two.
The popular thing today are the gell pens. I don't like gell pens. I don't care for the line they make and they run out of ink too quickly. My favorite is the Paper Mate with the large refill - and they must be retractable.
Good ball point retractables aren't easy to find. In an entire aisle of pens I have to look closely for one of those.
Pencils I still like. Between the wooden pencils and the mechanical, I like the wooden ones even though they need frequent sharpening. The lead in the mechanical pencils break on me. Then I have to twist out more and run the end over paper to take off the sharp edges. I have a rotary sharpener for pencils, so there's no problem.
My biggest problem with pens now is people stealing (borrowing) them. To me, its stealing. I always have a pen with me and others know it or ask if I have one. You have to consciously keep your eyes on your pen or they will simply steal it. Have you noticed that? Why will perfectly moral people who never stole anything steal your pen in a second? I think that's why most people buy cheap pens - pen thieves.
I don't remember my grandfather ever saying someone stole his fountain pen.
I wonder if anyone uses a fountain pen today. Probably not.
I also wonder why people don't carry pens today. I'm always needing to write something down - I can't be the only one. The reason has to be pen thieves. My wife doesn't carry them and I asked her why. She said she's always losing them and why should she? Her reply is "you always have one".
beyondtheveil posted on Oct 04, 2008
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Comments
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diabolicdame said on Oct 04, 2008....
When I was in school, they made it compulsary for us to use fountain pens for a whole year in fourth grade. They said ball pens ruin one's handwriting so kids must write with a fountain pen before they write with a ball pen (we were only allowed pencils until the third grade).. the thing I still remember is that it was actually fun.. because you could hear the pen scratching the paper.. I liked that. And I loved the smell of ink in the ink pot! -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 04, 2008....
diabolic- You know, there may be something to learning to write with fountain pens first. You would definitely have to be more careful, write more slowly. I can't remember when we began using ink pens, but fourth grade sounds about right. Ink does smell good, doesn't it? -
quietone said on Oct 04, 2008....
Yes I sat at those kinds of desks as a kid also. I did know what the hole was for too. I do carry a pen with me in my purse. I do get my pen stolen at work all the time. I think people just pick it up and "forget" that it was yours to begin with.. and then they end up with like 30 pens on their desk! I thought it funny when you mentioned the smell of ink, I like it too. But better than that is a nice fresh magic marker.. the fat kind! For writing I prefer a very fine ball point. -
PAPERBACKWRITER said on Oct 04, 2008....
I went to school in the Philippines; we started with pencils in elementary school and if I remember it right change to ball pens in 5th grade.
Here in Germany, they use pencils in kindergarden until 2nd grade and use fountain pen from 3rd grade until higher education. I assume it is the same in Holland, where we will soon be living (have to remember to ask!).
I prefer writing with a fountain pen. It lends fluidity to the thoughts I want to put on paper. Also I notice my penmanship is much more confident with it. lol... I don´t know if that makes sense.
:) paper ~
p.s. I enjoy your interesting posts, dearest beyond... such a pity that most of the time i am too tired to write comprehensible thoughts down... I just have to contend myself to reading
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secretlife said on Oct 04, 2008....
my kids insisted on mechanical pencils and retractable pens this year.i don't care for writing in pencil at all, and rarely ever do. i like retractable pens, but rarely have one of those. i'm the person who goes to Staples in September every year, and buys 50 packs of blue, black and red bic pens. These last me the entire year.Oh, and I always have a pen or two in my purse.But then again, i'm one of these pen stealers! I do it without even realizing it!!!!!! -
mobil said on Oct 04, 2008....
We had the ink wells on our little desks too beyond. I remember the teachers telling us of the boys behind them sticking their ponytails in them.I used a fountain pen allot as a kid, was always interested in their operation. A fountain pen left a very distingushed looking writing on the paper.I love a mechanical pencil too, won't have the wooden ones around anymore. -
moonriver said on Oct 04, 2008....
hi beyond -- among the zillions of things that sophie and i share with a passion, it's love of pens that we have exactly down pat 100%, even down to the colors and brands.
both of us have carried a local notoriety as "a walking office supplies store" -- both she and i always carry a small kitbag in our backpack, which contains pencils, erasers, paper clips, a tiny stapler, a tiny pencil sharpener, pens of miscellaneous colors. plus another clear plastic case with misc notepads... we evolved this habit because of our training in extended rural field work where we literally kept mobile office right there inside our backpacks... :-)
i wrote with a fountain pen (gift from my parents) in elementary school. remember my "it doesnt make sense" blog? it had to be written with a fountain pen, otherwise it didn't really make sense haha. then there's my separate obsession with drawing materials, which i also blogged about in "green ink and drums." right now i'm using a tech pen (staedtler 0.3) that has been with me for 6 years, 2 refillable gel pens and a mechanical pencil (you can see a pic of them in my mountain trek photos batch c), and trillions of drawing pencils, pas crayons, highlight pens, marking pens, cd markers -- you get the idea ... :-)
when i was the editor of a regional weekly, pens would be regularly lost in the office. i rarely lost any, since i knew the truth and was very careful. unknown to most, in every office there's a stealthy, quietly moving black hole that regularly sucks in any pen just lying around, never to be seen again in this universe. i imagine reincarnating in an alternative universe and finding out that in every alternative office there's a white spout (reverse of black hole, hehe), and all the lost pens of our universe pouring out like crazy. that would be pen-addict heaven indeed, wouldnt it? :-)
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skald said on Oct 04, 2008....
I write very bady with a fountain pen but when I was in grade school we were not allowed to use biro pens. We had to use fountain pens. I had an expensive fountain pen in the 6th grade and it was stolen from me.I got another and it was also stolen. My parents punished me, thinking I had lost it.This was so solemn then. My uncle gave me a pen then. Well when I came to highshcool we could use biros and was I glad. Still my husband gave me a fountain pen which I used for a long time, much later of course. But this pen had caspels, you did not pump the ink up, in to the pen. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 04, 2008....
quiet- What seems strange to me is that they will quickly hand back anything but a pen. Why pens are up for grabs is beyond me. I have to buy those things, you know.
paper- That's amazing about the use of fountain pens in Europe. I thought they had pretty much died out everywhere. It does my heart good. I've thought about getting one but I write little save mostly for jotting things down. Makes me happy you like my posts.
secret- A pen thief! I was wondering who would admit it. The reason I don't like Bics is because of the removable tops which also have the clamp for carrying in the shirt pocket. If you lose it, what do you do? I use pencils a lot with drawing out my projects - there's usually erasing to do. By the way, when you reach into your purse and grab a pen, do you wonder who you swiped it from? My wife does often.
mobil- I remember the teachers telling us about the ponytail thing. Maybe that's why they got rid of fountain pens. I still like them, just don't have much of a use for one. Wooden pens work best for me over mechanical. Besides drawing like I said to secret, I mark wood and lumber with them. The others just won't cut it.
mrmoon- I knew well you would have a very close attachment to pens and pencils, especially pencils, I thought. And the ink smell. I remember a discussion with you about being around printing and loving the smell.
As for the stealthy, quietly moving black hole, great name for the professional pen thief. That's why in every office I've seen, the desks have a special (sometimes decorative) pen holder which is the final resting place of that person's pens before being sucked up by someone else's pen holder (thief's black hole to the other universe).
My pens are constantly being swiped by my family for "just a minute" and are never seen again no matter how hard we look. Do you know where they go? Its kind of like the "other sock".
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moonriver said on Oct 04, 2008....
there are black holes that specialize in just one item, my friend. there are pen-eating black holes, sock-and-hankie black holes, and nowadays, even gas-money black holes. lol.
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 04, 2008....
skald- I had experiences like you only with expensive ball pens. I'm sure they didn't cost as much as your fountain pens, but after a while they got me the cheap 'Bic' pens because of "losing" them. The more I read on this post, the more I want a fountain pen. I might just go ahead and get one. It may make me write more. -
gingersoul said on Oct 04, 2008....
BeyBey....oh, you are talking with a notorious pen thief.....:-)
I used to steal pens, pencils (along with diaries and books) in my youth.
And you guessed right...my love was all for fountain pens and wooden pencils..
I used to have a precious mini collection of them...in the time and during my many movings many of them disappeared...but i still have few...
My friends knew that they would have made me very happy giving one of them as as b-day gifts. Ink is something that brings me back so many memories...my drawing technique is mostly with ink...colored or black.......
(I am actually writing a post about one of my drawing...check it out later... ok?)
When i go shopping for shool supplies i always insist for my daughter to buy the old fashioned stuff...but she is all high tech...mechanical and glittered pencils for her...sigh....
So i bought a set of wooden pencils for myself and guess what...she wanted to use them...lol...
I always carry pens with me too...if i change purse i transfer my pens in the new one....
Can i confess you that if i find a pretty pen in my office i usually keep it?...I know... i am that bad...lol..
As Paper pointed out...yes, luckily in Europe the love for fountain pens is still strong..
I started to write in elementary with one of them....my father had several beautiful ones...with madreperla body, wooden ones....simply beautiful....
The smell of ink is something equally dear to me too...
In one of the newspaper i worked they had still the original ink press machine first years of 1900......and once in a while they would run it...i simply loved to watch the process of printing newspapers with that machine...
And the smell...so nice..
Moon........sock-and-hankie black holes...so true.....lol..
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 04, 2008....
ginsoulthenotoriouspenthief- Thanks for the warning, I know to hide my pens around you. You artist types probably grab every pen and pencil in sight.
My grandfather and uncle worked for newspapers all their life. When I was a kid, they would take me in the back and watch every step of the process. And the smell of that ink, I can still smell it.
When you mentioned a collection, I'll bet collecting fountain pens is widespread. I'm going to look into pen collecting and see how popular it is. What a neat collection that would make. I'd like to see your drawing, by the way.
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MissMimi said on Oct 04, 2008....
I am very picky about what kind of pen I use. Like you, beyond, I do not like the new gel pens. Most pens are just uncomfortable. My hands ache constantly, and it's getting harder and harder to hold a pen. The thicker pens work best. To be honest, I very rarely write anymore. I used to be a perfectionist about my penmanship. Now my writing looks like a wobbly old woman's. -
Lucytorial said on Oct 04, 2008....
I've had my favourite pens for god, years. They are artist felt .02 fine tip always in black. Pencils are pencils you have to have a wooden pencil, nothing quite has the same warm soft feel like wood. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 05, 2008....
mimi- I used to be concerned about my penmanship too. That concern kind of dried up after I quit writing letters or anything for others to read. Now I write too fast and have a problem reading it sometimes. Some of the new pens have a thick rubber-like covering toward the point. They may be easier for you to hold.
lucy- I feel the same about wooden pencils, they just feel natural, I guess. I use medium point because I don't like my writing with fine point. That's strange, I know, but my writing looks crappy with a fine point.
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MissMimi said on Oct 05, 2008....
Yes, exactly, beyond. The rubber coated ones are my favorite. When I find one I like, I guard it with my life.There's also nothing quite like a a nice sharp no.2 pencil. I always loved the beginning of the school year because I had a whole collection of brand new pencils and crayons. I love the way they smell. I know, I'm weird, what can I say? ;) -
RollingC said on Oct 05, 2008....
This brings back memories of the first thru third grade.Used fountain pens in school until then and switched to ball points later but kept the fountain pen for many years though.Rc -
uniquely-ironic said on Oct 05, 2008....
I despise the mechanical pencils. Like you the led breaks or it tears the paper. The erasers always seem to be yucky too. I much prefer a no.2 soft lead pencil even if it needs sharpening. I don't seem to use them very often though.As for pens, I like the rollerball gel pens. They have a nice flow. The ones I like are the medium tip black with caps. I seem to be able to destroy retractible pens. No matter how careful I am they inevitably fly apart and then I can't seem to find the pieces to put it together.I also like a good quality felt tip if I'm writing something "artsy" like name tags, place cards, invitations etc. I think sharpies fall into this too, and I have a love of marks-a-lot chiseled permanent markers.I do carry pens with me. I constantly have people trying to walk off with them too, so I've become downright rude about retrieving them the minute a borrower is done with it. -
beyondtheveil said on Oct 05, 2008....
mimi- When I was young I never opened a box of crayons and used one without smelling them first. That's not weird of us, they smell good.
rolling- Funny how everybody else used fountain pens early on but us.
unique- Those #2 soft leads are my favorite. The gels do have a nice flow but run out of ink too quickly. Also, I've smeared the ink with gels and it looks bad on checks. I'm like you with pen thieves, you have to watch them like a hawk.
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moonriver said on Oct 05, 2008....
beyond -- have you tried this pilot gtec c4 gel pen? it's what i've been using for some years now. a little pricey but worth every cent imo. 10 colors to choose from, refills always available, and steady ink supply too. but i agree with you -- don't use it for signing checks etc, because the ink doesn't quite seep into security paper, and then you'll have to blow-dry it first to avoid smearing.
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beyondtheveil said on Oct 05, 2008....
moon- Normally for every day use I use medium point because my handwriting looks better. That's not really a point of vanity. For some reason, with fine points I write faster and my writing can start to look goofy. Goofy is as goofy does.
But I do have times fine points come in handy and its usually in labeling. It seems I'm always labeling something. And colors too - that could come in handy. The price of those pens isn't bad at all. My Paper Mates with large refills are more expensive.
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gingersoul said on Oct 05, 2008....
Moon and BeyBey.......following the link...... .the Pelican is what i grew up with....
I still remember the excitement to open a new little jar....when they started to sell also colored ink i was in heaven....:-)
But my desire was all for possessing one Montblanc...
After all they call themselves...soulcrafters.....if you go to their website....it is like a spiritual experience....lol.....that cello kills me anytime....
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moonriver said on Oct 05, 2008....
ginger, beyond -- i think i used a total of three fountain pens from 4th grade to freshman high (which was when i stopped using them and shifted to plebeian ball pens ... too much bother in a competitive class environment where we were trained to work fast, no time for artsy flourishes and ink-fill breaks).
all my three fountain pens and the inks were locally made, leaky and kludgy. i remember, though, looking dreamily at the show cases in office supply stores that displayed foreign brands like pelikan and parker. montblancs were something i could only see in glitzy ads of foreign mags. my father had a sheaffer.
when my tastes for high-quality pens resumed from 3rd year high onwards, it was for technical pens that i used both for scientific drawings, map-making, and for my personal art work. mars staedtler, rotring, faber-castell -- i think i've pretty much used all these brands at one time or another, from point 0.1 to point 1.0.
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queenparanoia said on Oct 06, 2008....
lol @ your wife...anyway, i always wonder why my penmanship is better when i write using a pen than a pencil. weird...