I am a former health care administrator, who became a junior high school history teacher 14 years ago. Both occupations have been a good place to see changes in society, I suppose, and both have been interesting.
I have been a fountain pen user since 1962 when friend showed up at school with a Wearever cartridge fountain pen. We went to a store after school, and I bought a Sheaffer cartridge student pen. I was taken with it immediatly, and never could get myself to like a ballpoint again.
My first "good" fountain pen was a Parker 45, followed by a Parker 75, for which I paid $25. A very large sum to spend on a pen, and my friends were horrified at the waste of money (though they all wanted to try the pen).
I confess I wanted a Montblanc 149, and dreamed of one for a long time. I finally ended up with two, paying $85 for the first one. It was scandalous.The pen has actually worked fairly well over the years. The second 149 gave me a great deal of trouble, but I still use them both once or twice a year.
I started getting vintage pens in the late 1980s, and learned to find them in antique shops and do my own repairs. I have had some very good finds over the years, and still come up with one or two each year. I have found a Wahl Eversharp Doric, a Gold Seal, and a Skyline 64 with a solid gold cap for $25.I have also found an oversized ebonized pearl Sheaffer balance, and several other balance and flat-topped Sheaffers. During the past 12 months, I have found several Vacumatics, a PFM, and , most recently, a mint condition Conklin Nozac.I have noticed prices keep going up, and many antique shop owners seem to want to charge much more than many pens are worth. It didn't used to be that way.
I like current pens as well, and seem to be collecting mostly Italian , due to the fact the Italians have taken over the market with their beautiful pens.I would love to see Sheaffer and Parker make a comeback, and I still have hopes they will find a way to do it.
I also like reading, and I buy books whenever I can. It seems that Pentrace is the ideal website for both pens and books, and I feel very fortunate it is available.
Links:
www.drudgereport.com
www.borders.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
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