Fountain Pen Fads?

[TSherbs]

Inks so pale and lifeless they look like the after shot of a water resistance test.

Not sure this is a fad; Quink Washable Blue has been sold for years.
...

Ha!

word


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[catbert]

... The fad that springs to my mind is the Repackage The Same Ink In Smaller Bottles And Charge More one. Not a good fad.

Like Sailor did after everyone gave their stubby wide-mouthed bottles (which I prefer) a kicking?

And speaking of Sailor, though not exclusively:

Limited edition inks.

[silverlifter]

Last thing: the precipitous rise in "catch and release", people who don't know what they want and buybuybuy and sellsellsell constantly. Remarkable.

You see this amongst all the collectables: watches, knives, etc.

I don't think it is a case of them not knowing what they want, I think it is more that the "hobby" is actually online shopping and the only way to (partially) fund it is to move stuff along as quickly as possible, so that you can post "I'll take it!" and get that sweet, sweet, endorphin hit.

[TSherbs]

.

I don't think it is a case of them not knowing what they want, I think it is more that the "hobby" is actually online shopping and the only way to (partially) fund it is to move stuff along as quickly as possible, so that you can post "I'll take it!" and get that sweet, sweet, endorphin hit.

true story



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[Jon Szanto]

Inks so pale and lifeless they look like the after shot of a water resistance test.

Not sure this is a fad; Quink Washable Blue has been sold for years.
...

Ha!

word

And right up there is Sheaffer Skrip Blue, though maybe the most recent are a little darker. For decades, their washable blue (#42?) was always the lightest thing, but the bizarre part was that it was readable and held up. I've posted, more than once in the past, a journal assignment I found of mine from 1966, using that ink in a Sheaffer school pen, and it is still totally readable!

[Jon Szanto]

You see this amongst all the collectables: watches, knives, etc.

I don't think it is a case of them not knowing what they want, I think it is more that the "hobby" is actually online shopping and the only way to (partially) fund it is to move stuff along as quickly as possible, so that you can post "I'll take it!" and get that sweet, sweet, endorphin hit.

Thanks, that's a great perspective, as I'm not around other hobbies.

[penwash]

Artisanal swirly acrylic.

Plus, "minimalist" a-stick-of-acrylic-on-lathe. And suddenly you can claim making "bespoke" pens.

I've been saying that for ages, but I usually get slammed for doing so.

I didn't want to mention this, and now that I did, it came out like a complaint.

Truthfully, my real wish on this, is for these good-with-lathe people, to not be satisfied cranking out colorful, but plain (zero trims, zero accents, or imagination for that matter) sticks one after another.

I mean, go study why Conklin (the original) or Carter pens are beautiful, why Swan pens have a lot of people chasing it even after 100 years. And if you're super good, find out how to produce super fine chasing patterns that Chilton and Eisenstadt was able to produce a century ago. Challenge yourself to produce a fountain pen that doesn't look like that of the next guy with a lathe.

Then, you can call yourself a "bespoke" craftsman (or woman).

To be fair, there are a few very creative custom pen makers out there, and ironically, I don't recall them calling their pens "bespoke".

[Jon Szanto]

To be fair, there are a few very creative custom pen makers out there, and ironically, I don't recall them calling their pens "bespoke".

John Albert Lawrence, and Renee Meeks (Scriptorium Pens), come to mind immediately. Lots of variation, celebration of materials new and old, and interesting hardware designs.

[fountainpenkid]

Artisanal swirly acrylic.

Plus, "minimalist" a-stick-of-acrylic-on-lathe. And suddenly you can claim making "bespoke" pens.

This is a strange trend...featureless "stick" shaped pens with massive stepdowns. It feels so primitive--a return to the aesthetic beginnings of FPs. I've never understood it.

[FredRydr]

...pens with massive stepdowns....

I never did like those, even if they're designed to create a smooth transition from cap to barrel...when they're capped! I want the smooth transition to be from section to barrel.

[An old bloke]

...pens with massive stepdowns....

I never did like those, even if they're designed to create a smooth transition from cap to barrel...when they're capped! I want the smooth transition to be from section to barrel.

Exactly. Pens are for writing. That they are attractive is -- or should be -- secondary to function.

[An old bloke]

Scheduled disassembly of pens.

Only for the psychotically OCDs.

Apparently someone, who I will not identify, considers the above comment inappropriate and insensitive. I offer my sincere apologies to this individual and anyone else who may find it offensive. My only defence is that I have a psychology education and background, and have worked in the field for a portion of my working life (diagnosis and counselling primarily). I do not believe I am insensitive to the feelings of those are dealing with emotional or mental disorders. I however, do not take myself so seriously that I am easily offended, and with that tend to find humour where perhaps I shouldn't.

Please accept this as an apology if I have offended you with this or any other comment offered lightheartedly.

[Jerome Tarshis]

Inks so pale and lifeless they look like the after shot of a water resistance test.

Not sure this is a fad; Quink Washable Blue has been sold for years.
...

Ha!

word

And right up there is Sheaffer Skrip Blue, though maybe the most recent are a little darker. For decades, their washable blue (#42?) was always the lightest thing, but the bizarre part was that it was readable and held up. I've posted, more than once in the past, a journal assignment I found of mine from 1966, using that ink in a Sheaffer school pen, and it is still totally readable!

It held up for me, too, on long-ago paper. Since 1966 the quality of ordinary notebook paper has gone down precipitously, and what you write on it in the blue inks of yesteryear may virtually disappear in a short time. That's in part why I've switched to black inks.

[christof]

...The ones that come to my mind are shimmer inks and cheap flex nib pens? What other fads have I missed?

...endless "limited" and "special" editions for stately sums
...pens made of heavy metal
...pens made of heavy metal that oxidize in your hand (!)
..."demonstrator" pens made of transparent plastic to demonstrate...whatever.
...
...urushi...

[Fermata]

Indestructible Pens, often demonstrated at non pen events, they can pierce drinks cans and even be used as a screwdriver

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JML-Classic.../dp/B077N4NWS3

...................and the opposite end of the spectrum, pens that have more in common with jewellery than a quality writing instrument where writing performance is the priority.

[top pen]

I don't know if premium inks may be one in time. I.e inks in a fancy bottle. Obviously everyone likes a nice ink but is there ay difference in the cost of raw materials of a CDA ink vs a standard cheap Diamine ink?

[Roe D Hym]

animals in pens such as the pilot animal pen with leopard accents. jinhao shark pens.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Big stacked nibs.

I need to see one.

[pajaro]

Scheduled disassembly of pens.

As applied to Parker 51s, where the poster would take the pen completely apart for cleaning. Particularly popular on FPN. Yeah, I always thought this psychotic.

I have a 51 I bought new in 1970. Never had the hood off. Used laundry white ink and India ink in it when I was in USAF, and flushed the pen after. Still the best working 51 of the many I have had. Proud to say I don't take them apart unless they break.

[penwash]

Big stacked nibs.

I need to see one.

These are actually pretty good-looking, with some aesthetic considerations: https://www.montywinnfield.com/collections/nibs

The one I saw in person looks like they stack-welded a bunch of cheap nibs and line the slit with an industrial steel ruler.