One writer explores the enduring appeal of fountain pens as practical tools, feats of engineering, and works of art.
It’s funny to think that my relationship with fountain pens wasn’t love at first sight. Far from it, actually. When my father first purchased a Parker Vector for me in grade school, I quickly grew frustrated trying to use it. For those who don’t know, most fountain pens write at a 40 to 50 degree tilt. I was obstinate back then, as children tend to be, and didn’t understand how important this was; I kept trying to use it like a ballpoint when it clearly wasn’t one. I gave up, and at some point lost the pen at school, felt bad but eventually forgot about it.
It wasn’t until I saw the exact model again in middle school, nestled within its display case at a local bookstore, that I decided to give it another try. I came home, inked it up the way my father taught me, and began to write at a specific angle, practicing in my clumsy cursive. When the pen’s tip (or “nib”) touched the paper, ink began to flow in steady, vibrant blue lines, and I felt something stir within me. The texture of the paper on the metal nib, the soft and pleasant scratching noise produced by this interaction, the easy loops and swirls: suddenly it wasn’t just about what I was writing, but how I was writing it. The tactility of the process soothed me; it was (and still is) unlike anything I’ve experienced.
I’m waxing poetic here, but those who’ve ever fallen in love—with an object, a hobby, an idea—will understand that it can’t be helped. This marked the beginning of a fountain pen hobby that has lasted over a decade and that I continue to enjoy.
Necessity: The Mother Of Invention
I won’t bore you with the entire evolution of the fountain pen—it’s a long one with an untraceable start. Before the creation of the modern fountain pen, there were dip pens that needed a separate reservoir of ink. The set up wasn’t travel-friendly, as one might imagine, which is why the need for an all-in-one pen arose.
The fountain pen has no sole creator, since its invention is the result of collective efforts (Leonardo Da Vinci reportedly had viable designs of a “portable” inked pen in his journals). That said, penmaker Frederick Fölsch’s 1809 patent would be the progenitor of all succeeding innovations: while his designs aren’t widely used, they got the ball rolling.
However, most sources will say that it was traveling salesman Lewis Waterman—founder of the namesake pen brand Waterman—who designed and patented the first “modern” fountain pen in 1884, which successfully used capillary action to function.
The Workings Of A Pen
Fountain pens today aren’t vastly different from their earlier models, and that’s the beauty of it. Why fix something that isn’t broken? Roughly 141 years after Waterman’s patent, they continue to be marvelous, pocket-sized feats of engineering. Ink flows from the pen through capillary action, a process that allows liquid to travel on its own through narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces like gravity (the same phenomenon that allows water to travel around a plant’s system).
Fountain pens have what’s called a “feed” that connects the ink reservoir to the nib. The feed is usually split into three narrow channels for ink flow and a larger channel for air intake. Meanwhile, the metal nib has a slit cut in the middle to pull down the ink from the feed and put it to paper. When you write, most of the work is done by capillary action: ink goes out through the feed’s three narrow channels, and air goes in through the bigger one. This airflow allows the liquid to come out in steady amounts, preventing it from uncontrollably spilling out. As a result, ink is released without the writer needing to exert pressure on the pen tip.
Embracing The Perfectly Imperfect
Fountain pens aren’t perfect, but their avid users will tell you that’s part of the charm. It’s difficult to identify definite pros and cons to using them, if only because one person’s con can be another person’s pro, and vice versa; but here are a few off the top of my head.
Pro: They’re Reusable And Durable
Fountain pens make for wonderfully pretentious heirlooms should you wish to pass them on—I jest, but there’s truth to this statement. When I say because, with a modicum of care, most fountain pens truly last. I’m still using a Sheaffer Imperial that belonged to my late granduncle, and the Parker Vector my father gave me over a decade ago.
Your pen may outlive you with the proper care (morbid, but nice to know), and it will still work beautifully. I can’t say the same for the dozens of disposable ballpens I’ve owned.
If you intend to purchase a pen, I’d recommend ones that already have a converter or ink filling system. The most common converters are piston and squeeze types: some brands prefer one over the other, while some give customers the freedom to choose theirs.
Squeeze converters work like little rubber droppers that siphon ink, while piston converters are hard, often transparent tubes with a mechanism that can be pulled or twisted to draw ink. I prefer piston converters: I find them easier to clean and more durable.
Pro: They’re Economical In The Long Run
Since they’re reusable and will likely last for years, fountain pens are quite economical in the long run, or at the very least, convenient. All you need is a few bottles of ink (or just one really big bottle of ink) and you’re good to go.
Most inks come in 30 mL to 50 mL bottles, and the average converter usually holds 0.7 to 1.5 mL of ink—which can cover several pages of writing. Unless you intend to write an entire manuscript in longhand, one bottle can last for months, even more than a year if you have multiple, which saves you countless trips to the bookstore or stationery shop whenever your pen runs out of juice.
Will the initial investment be a large one? Not necessarily. Contrary to popular belief, not all fountain pens are exorbitantly priced. While the more premium models usually promise an unparalleled writing experience, this doesn’t mean economical lines don’t hold a candle.
Any pen, as long as it’s well-made, can write well regardless of cost. Take the Taiwanese penmaker TWSBI, which creates a broad range of well-priced pens that write impeccably—a reason why it’s the darling brand of new and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
Pro: They’re Beautiful And Highly Customizable
If we’re just talking about aesthetics, fountain pens are works of art. Even if you don’t plan to use them, you have to admit they carry a certain gravitas, a je nais se quoi. They deserve the praise: while there are more contemporary designs in the market, most heritage brands continue to sell older designs because they’re perfect just the way they are.
Take German brand LAMY’s “LAMY 2000,” a 1966 masterpiece by Gerd A. Müller with a sleek, bauhaus-inspired look that still feels fresh. The Montblanc Meisterstück hasn’t changed the spirit of its iconic 1949 designs, either. There’s also Leonardo Officina Italiana, a boutique brand that carries on a 50-year tradition of individually handcrafted fountain pens in eye-catching color combinations. Every part of a fountain pen can carry visual elements inspired by the gothic, art deco, and even impressionist movements—there’s no shortage of beautiful designs in the market.
Fountain pens are also highly customizable. They offer different nib sizes, like extra fine (marked by the abbreviation “EF”), medium (“M”), as well as broad (“B”). Some have parts that can be modified or switched out, and most will allow you to change the color of your ink whenever you’d like. In other cases, people even avail of “nib grinding,” a process that changes the shape and writing angle of the nib, by nibmeisters (experts who specialize in this delicate art).
Pro: They’re Easy (And Fun) To Write With
To repeat an earlier point, these pens are incredibly fun to write with. They might seem prescriptive with their specific angles, but once you get the hang of it, the feeling is, for lack of a better word, satisfying.
Capillary action also reduces pressure, allowing your hand to relax. This trains you to write with more precision and intention. I’ve found that over the years, my handwriting has significantly improved because of this (it’s not a guarantee, but it’s a nice bonus). Most people think that you need to write in cursive when using a fountain pen, but that’s not the case: plenty of users enjoy the experience with print-style handwriting.
Con: They Need A Little More Care
Although fountain pens are generally durable, they do require a certain amount of maintenance and care, but it’s nothing too difficult.
It’s always best to maintain them with a monthly cleaning, or more frequent cleanings if you’re changing ink brands and colors. Start by siphoning water with the converter (as you would ink), then expel it until the water runs clear. Next, soak the nib, feed, and converter overnight in a mixture of water and one to two drops of dishwashing soap. Afterward, leave them to dry on tissue or rags. This usually does the trick, but there are more comprehensive guides online.
Another weakness is the nib. If you drop a pen nib-first on the ground, expect that it won’t be the same, as it may get damaged; so take extra care when uncapping or using them. Although I’m a complete klutz, it’s never happened to me, so I can at least say a little caution goes a long way.
Con: They’re Not Completely Versatile
Fountain pens can’t be used on all kinds of paper—use them on incompatible paper, and the ink may “feather” (bleed and warp excessively), or the paper itself might tear apart. However, as someone who has tested a number of pens and inks, I can say that they work decently on bond paper, Veco notebooks, and even certain pad papers. You don’t have to buy from expensive brands to use the pens. It’s all a matter of testing what works best with your particular model.
If you’re really looking for compatibility, there are dedicated brands of paper that are specifically made for writing with pen and ink. Japan reigns supreme among papermakers with brands like Hobonichi, Traveler’s Notebook, and Midori. France’s Rhodia and Claire Fontaine are also excellent brands for pen-friendly paper.
Con: They Can Get Messy
Using fountain pens can get a little messy. They bleed and smudge sometimes when you’re using, refilling, or cleaning them, but I think it’s all part of the allure, the way a book becomes frayed at the edges and develops that spine mark. It’s something that distinguishes the pen owner, a badge of honor that shows how much they use and love their tool.
Here To Stay
We’re constantly surrounded by advanced technology, so much so that the fountain pen might pale in comparison. But this juxtaposition actually creates the opposite effect: it highlights an object that, largely, has managed to remain the same, even in a world so different from the one it came from. That’s truly something to marvel at in an age of rapid consumption and automation.
There’s also the messiness or imperfections inherent in using the pen. No one is exempt from getting splotches of ink on their fingers and scratching out a misspelled word; it’s a tradition that spans centuries and connects us to every other person who has ever put their thoughts on paper.
Some things never change: that’s an adage both comforting and magical in the history of human existence, and isn’t it amazing to have it embodied by something as quotidian as a writing instrument in your hand?
