Why do you have all these fountian pens?

**silverlifter** · July 7th, 2021, 09:15 PM

Paul Erano did an online talk as part of the St Louis Pen Show, titled "Building a Fountain Pen Collection". During the Q&A, he recounted this anecdote about reasons for collecting fountain pens, and I thought it was wonderful: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=UdrYppo4S1M&t=4489

"You're basically a custodian".

**Jon Szanto** · July 7th, 2021, 09:38 PM

Aw, thanks Silver! I checked out just that brief section but am going to check out the entire piece tomorrow. Paul is one of the main reasons I love to go to the 2 West coast shows, and the last time I saw him was in Feb of 2020 in LA. I was introduced to him fairly early in my pen years and it has been a privilege to get to know him and learn from him in so many ways. One of the great pen collectors of our time.

**Chip** · July 8th, 2021, 04:09 PM

My grandfather loved fountain pens—always Sheaffer— and I got one of his desk pens, with the white dot and onyx slab stand.

Later, a favorite prof gave me his Osmiroid italic pen, which was cranky as hell. I used it to write letters and journals for years.

When I started writing and getting published, I'd buy a pen to commemorate each poem or article or book. Then friends started sending me old pens they'd found in junk shops. I'd restore the ones worth the effort and give them back a nice restored pen at Christmas.

All of which has added up to a decent collection.

**Yazeh** · July 8th, 2021, 06:08 PM

Interesting concept / justification.
At a different time, I knew of rare plant collectors, and stories that their inheritors got rid of all that rubbish at their parting to a different realm..

**penwash** · July 8th, 2021, 06:25 PM

Quote from the interview: "I never met a dumb collector in my life, they tend to be intelligent, thoughtful people, and they have a lot of interest other than fountain pens..."

That's exactly my experience as well.
I'm glad that someone who has as much influence in this hobby as Mr. Erano also think that way.

I hope a lot of beginners can listen to this interview. Good stuff!

**Jon Szanto** · July 8th, 2021, 06:41 PM

I will be more than willing to bring up a point with Paul the next time I see him: “How does he view the change in collecting, and collectors, from what it has been in the last four or five decades?” Because there is a change in progress.

P.S. Tonight I get to watch the whole thing, in case he answered it!