Article: A Fountain Pen Odyssey: From School Days to Stationery Obsession
A Fountain Pen Odyssey: From School Days to Stationery Obsession
A Doctor's Love for the Lost Art of Fountain Pens
Schools in India in the 70s frowned at ball point pens for several reasons. Fountain pens were encouraged: cheaper, sustainable, wider choice of colors (though one had to have a pen for each color), less hand pressure and strain, and they were expected to improve handwriting. That was the reason for the beginning.
I preferred the blue inks available at the time and liked the red and green to highlight my notes. Hero and Camlin were the brands available in India, and I still have one of each tucked away somewhere in God know what unusable state of repair. One with a huge ink dropper filling mechanism and the other with a rubber bladder that's got sticky over the years and messed up the inside of the body completely. The 80s took me to Japan and various other countries where I visited fountain pen factories (and of course brought home several). There was no looking back after that. 75 to 80 pens and over 50 ink colors later, I won't put myself down as a collector or expert; just an enthusiast and avid user. I use other types of pens only when fountain pens don't work.
Yes, they need maintenance, regular washing and cleaning, a dedicated pocket, soft lined pouches for the prized possessions, etc, etc. It's all worth the writing experience, even though I don't write as much these days. Letters have shifted to email, notes have moved on to pdf files, not much time for casual writing, and I still have about 10 to 15 pens and 30 to 40 inks to reminisce the days of pen, ink and paper.
I'm a doctor, diversified primarily into medical education. The fountain pen paraphernalia is always an interesting ice breaker with students, parents, teachers, co-workers, and visitors to my office. The smiles and curiosity this little indulgence of mine raises never fails to amuse me or brighten the rest of my day. That is in addition to the joy of writing.
If you're considering trying a fountain pen, I encourage you to explore the various options available. With the right pen, you'll discover a writing experience that is both satisfying and enjoyable. Once you've found your perfect match, you may find it difficult to go back to the mundane ballpoint or rollerball.
I've used fountain pens since I was 8 years old. Over the almost 5 decades I've collected many of my favorites and many new acquisitions. Even 2 pens from Sean's handmade heritage pens, from about 8 years ago. Here's what I felt was unique with these 2 special pens in my collection. I could choose the resin that went into the body and cap. This selection was done with several changes as I was made aware of newer materials in stock. The end result was a pair of pens that are special, personal, uniquely one of a kind, and a reminder of the special friendship I have with the craftsman, Sean! None of my other 75+ pens offers me that sentiment! From the quality standpoint, I have no complaints.
The nib was personally tested and fitted by Sean and writes like a charm with just the perfect amount of feedback that I like. It's weighted just right for my hands without the cap being posted. For longer writing periods posting the cap weighs it down just a tad to reduce hand strain and (here's another feature) - offer a significant line variation due to the nib being lifted off the paper ever so lightly. Awesome! I use the pens extensively and I'm not really careful about the other articles that fit into the same pocket. Yet the lacquer coating of the resin hasn't worn out and still has a shine to it. Overall it's brilliant machining, high quality components, infinitely customisable, put together with the same passion you'd like to write with. The best pen purchase and usage experience I've had from any mastercraftsman of fountain pens.
Dr. Dinesh Maskeri is a Professor with over 23 years of teaching experience in government and private medical colleges internationally.
Dr. Professor Dinesh Maskeri
Dean Anna Medical College
Mauritius
