I was born in 1955 in Pittsburgh, PA, where I currently reside with my wife and two children and work as a senior manager in state government.
My first fountain pen was a vintage mandarin Duofold Sr. in the original box picked up at a flea market for 50 cents back in the 1970s. Talk about beginner's luck! But I didn't know anything about how to get the ink sac replaced in those pre-internet days, and the Duofold and I parted ways when I was offered one hundred dollars for it a decade later. I regretted selling it almost immediately. I didn't buy another fountain pen until about 7 years ago, and I have been a collector ever since.
Although I have perhaps a dozen or so modern fountain pens, my real interests lie with vintage pens from the big four. I especially like Parker 51 pens because they are abundant, come in a wide variety of cap and color variations, and write dependably, often after just a simple flushing.
Most weekends you can find me prowling the flea markets and estate sales looking for the latest additions to my collection. With the help and encouragement of others on Pentrace, I am beginning to do some of my own restoration work. It is so satisfying to find a forgotten and neglected pen, and to bring it back to its former beauty and utility.
Other interests : Collecting and listening to vintage records and reading, especially non-fiction and biographies.
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