Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    Has anyone here gotten more enjoyment out of a reduced collection?

    I have about 60 fountain pens and I am contemplating a smaller collection. Not necessarily upgrading pens just reducing and eliminating some so I can focus more on favorites.

    I am imagining keeping 10 premium pens in the $500-$2,000 range and a handful of lower priced pens.
    1. Namiki Emperor
    2. 149 Calligraphy
    3. Nakaya
    4. Danitrio
    5. Cartier Louis Cartier
    6. Caran D'Ache Leman
    7. Aurora Optima
    8. Ohto Hutt Design 7
    9. Hakase
    10. Yard-O-Led Grand Vic
    11. Platinum 3776 Karakusa

    ...ugh I didn't quite make it to 10.

  2. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Huge Massives For This Useful Post:

    amk (August 9th, 2023), BlkWhiteFilmPix (August 9th, 2023), Chrissy (August 9th, 2023), fountainpenkid (August 5th, 2023), Jon Szanto (August 8th, 2023), Lloyd (August 2nd, 2023)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    163
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 81 Times in 45 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    I think this makes sense and that looks like a great selection, even if 11!
    Good luck,

  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    482
    Thanks
    2,481
    Thanked 243 Times in 136 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    I think that’s a great selection of pens for the direction you are taking. I would consider whether there is anything else in your collection which, whilst maybe not a favourite, would be difficult to replace (like another Hakase for example ). I would keep those too. I’d also want to make sure I had an EDC that I would not be afraid to lose like a Lamy 2k in case I needed it.

  5. #4
    Senior Member joolstacho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Posts
    117
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 91 Times in 41 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    Send the other 49 down here to me Hugh... take 'em off your hands and they'll be in good hands! :-)

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to joolstacho For This Useful Post:

    Carpio (August 8th, 2023), Lloyd (August 2nd, 2023)

  7. #5
    Senior Member welch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    1,031
    Thanks
    1,504
    Thanked 510 Times in 344 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    I find that I use one of two P-51s every day: an aerometric "full" 51, a 51 Special, and a couple of 51 vacumatics. I gave a pair of 51 aerometrics to a friend in California, plus a P-61 c/c and a good modern Japanese pen. I still have too many, even though I have put aside three P-51 sets for the grand-children.

    I still have a couple dozen P-51s and P-61s, but I'd like many of the rest of my fountain pens to go to people just starting to use them, people paying full price for new pens. People who might want a few pens and who will write with them.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to welch For This Useful Post:

    fountainpenkid (August 8th, 2023)

  9. #6
    Senior Member fountainpenkid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Nouvelle Angleterre
    Posts
    3,675
    Thanks
    3,483
    Thanked 1,222 Times in 598 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    For me, having pens that I don’t get to use enough (i.e. at least once a week) makes me anxious. This means I can only have about 8 pens, and even that is pushing it. At the moment I have 4 small Omas, 1 Aurora Novum, 1 Pelikan m400, and 1 Parker “51”. It is enough to have variety, but not so much to feel like I’m often neglecting pens. I am sure this number would increase if I used my pens for more legitimate things.
    Last edited by fountainpenkid; August 8th, 2023 at 08:49 AM.
    Will
    If my p.m box is full, feel free to email me at dabantur@gmail.com.

  10. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    6,793
    Thanks
    642
    Thanked 898 Times in 690 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    I've given several fountain pens away to the grandchildren and some Wing Sung 601's to friends for special occasions. I've kept most of the Esterbrooks except for some duplicates that I restored. I continue to enjoy daily use, one at a time.
    “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

  11. #8
    Senior Member BlkWhiteFilmPix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Looking up at the sky
    Posts
    539
    Thanks
    1,076
    Thanked 788 Times in 335 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Fountain Pens and the Paradox of Choice - More Enjoyment From Small Collection?

    ... "I am contemplating a smaller collection. Not necessarily upgrading pens just reducing and eliminating some so I can focus more on favorites."

    After buying a MB 149 curved nib calligraphy pen earlier this year, I sold several pens on this forum that I was not using. For every thing that comes in, something now has to go out.

    That allows me to better enjoy my favorites and and find a home that would appreciate the others.

    --------


    "...ugh I didn't quite make it to 10."

    11 rounded down would be 10, right?
    Bob

    Making the world a more peaceful place, one fine art print and one handwritten letter at a time.

    Paper cuts through the noise – Richard Moross, MOO CEO

    Indiana Jones used a notebook in the map room, not an app.

    www.bobsoltys.net/fountainpens

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to BlkWhiteFilmPix For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (August 9th, 2023), JulieParadise (August 9th, 2023)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •