Fountain Pen

1/31/2019 Fountain pen - Wikipedia
Fountain pen
A fountain pen is a nib pen that, unlike its predecessor, the dip pen, contains
an internal reservoir of liquid ink. The pen draws ink from the reservoir
through a feed to the nib and deposits it on paper via a combination of gravity
and capillary action. Filling the reservoir with ink may be achieved manually,
via the use of a Pasteur pipette (eyedropper) or syringe, or via an internal
filling mechanism which creates suction (for example, through a piston
mechanism) or a vacuum to transfer ink directly through the nib into the
reservoir. Some pens employ removable reservoirs in the form of pre-filled ink
cartridges.[1]
Close-up of traditional fountain pen
with an iridium tip
Contents
History
Early prototypes of reservoir pens
European reservoir models
First patents
Mass-manufactured nibs
New patents and inventions
Pen leakage
Modern, demonstrator and
Further innovation
traditional fountain pens
Popular usage
Feed
Nibs
Nib plating
Nib tipping
Capillary action
Types of nibs
Nib flexibility
Different nib styles
Filling mechanisms Various contemporary and vintage
Eyedropper filler fountain pens (left to right) Pilot
Self-filling designs Justus 95, Pelikan Souverän
Piston filling innovation M1000, Montblanc Meisterstück
Modern filling mechanisms 149, Pilot Heritage 912, Parker
Duofold Centennial, Sheaffer
Cartridges
Standard international Snorkel Admiral, Lamy Dialog 3,
Welty, Parker Sonnet, Conway
Proprietary offerings
Stewart 55, Waterman Thorobred,
Concerns and alternatives
Mabie Todd Swan 3220
Inks
Today
Modern Fountain Pen Makers
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_pen 1/19
Notes and references

Bibliography
Further reading
External links
History
Early prototypes of reservoir pens

An early historical mention of what appears to be a reservoir pen dates back to the 10th century. According to Ali Abuzar
Mari (d. 974) in his Kitab al-Majalis wa 'l-musayarat, the Fatimid caliph Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah demanded a pen that
would not stain his hands or clothes, and was provided with a pen that held ink in a reservoir, allowing it to be held
upside-down without leaking.[2]
There is compelling evidence that a working fountain pen was constructed and used during the Renaissance by artist and
inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo's journals contain drawings with cross-sections of what appears to be a reservoir
pen that works by both gravity and capillary action. Historians also took note of the fact that the handwriting in the
inventor's surviving journals is of a consistent contrast throughout, rather than the characteristic fading pattern typical of
a quill pen caused by expending and re-dipping. While no physical item survives, several working models were
reconstructed in 2011 by artist Amerigo Bombara that have since been put on display in museums dedicated to
Leonardo.[3]
European reservoir models

The fountain pen was available in Europe in the 17th century, and is shown by
contemporary references. In Deliciae Physico-Mathematicae (a 1636
magazine), German inventor Daniel Schwenter described a pen made from two
quills. One quill served as a reservoir for ink inside the other quill. The ink was
sealed inside the quill with cork. Ink was squeezed through a small hole to the
writing point.[4] In 1663 Samuel Pepys referred to a metal pen "to carry ink".[5]
An early fountain pen patent
Noted Maryland historian Hester Dorsey Richardson (1862–1933)
awarded by the French Government
to the Romanian inventor Petrache documented a reference to "three silver fountain pens, worth 15 shillings" in
Poenaru on 25 May 1827 England during the reign of Charles II, c. 1649–1685.[6] By the early 18th
century such pens were already commonly known as "fountain pens".[7] Hester
Dorsey Richardson also found a 1734 notation made by Robert Morris the
elder in the ledger of the expenses of Robert Morris the younger, who was at the time in Philadelphia, for "one fountain
pen".[6] Perhaps the best known reference, however, is that of Nicholas Bion (1652–1733), whose illustrated description of
a "plume sans fin" published in 1709 in his treatise published in English in 1723 as "The Construction and Principal Uses
of Mathematical Instruments". The earliest datable pen of the form described by Bion is inscribed 1702, while other
examples bear French hallmarks as late as the early 19th century.
First patents
Progress in developing a reliable

pen was slow until the mid-19th
century because of an imperfect
understanding of the role that air
pressure plays in the operation of
pens. Furthermore, most inks were
highly corrosive and full of
sedimentary inclusions. The first
English patent for a fountain pen
was issued in May 1809 to
Frederick Fölsch, with a patent
covering (among other things) an
improved fountain pen feed issued
M. Klein and Henry W. Wynne to Joseph Bramah in September
received US patent #68445 in 1867 Deliciae physico-mathematicae,
1809. John Scheffer's patent of 1636
for an ink chamber and delivery
1819 was the first design to see
system in the handle of the fountain
pen commercial success, with a number
of surviving examples of his "Penographic" known. Another noteworthy
pioneer design was John Jacob Parker's, patented in 1832 – a self-filler with a
screw-operated piston.[8] The Romanian inventor Petrache Poenaru received a French patent on May 25, 1827, for the
invention of a fountain pen with a barrel made from a large swan quill.[9]
Mass-manufactured nibs
In 1828, Josiah Mason improved a cheap and efficient slip-in nib in Birmingham, England, which could be added to a
fountain pen and in 1830, with the invention of a new machine, William Joseph Gillott, William Mitchell, and James
Stephen Perry devised a way to mass manufacture robust, cheap steel pen nibs (Perry & Co).[10] This boosted the
Birmingham pen trade and by the 1850s, more than half the steel-nib pens manufactured in the world were made in
Birmingham. Thousands of skilled craftsmen were employed in the industry.[11] Many new manufacturing techniques
were perfected, enabling the city's factories to mass-produce their pens cheaply and efficiently. These were sold worldwide
to many who previously could not afford to write, thus encouraging the development of education and literacy.[12]
New patents and inventions

In 1848, American inventor Azel Storrs Lyman patented a pen with "a combined holder and nib".[13] From the 1850s,
there was a steadily accelerating stream of fountain pen patents and pens in production. However, it was only after three
key inventions were in place that the fountain pen became a widely popular writing instrument. Those were the iridium-
tipped gold nib, hard rubber, and free-flowing ink.[9]
The first fountain pens making use of all these key ingredients appeared in the 1850s. In the 1870s Duncan MacKinnon, a
Canadian living in New York City, and Alonzo T. Cross of Providence, Rhode Island, created stylographic pens with a
hollow, tubular nib and a wire acting as a valve.[14] Stylographic pens are now used mostly for drafting and technical
drawing but were very popular in the decade beginning in 1875. In the 1880s the era of the mass-produced fountain pen
finally began. The dominant American producers in this pioneer era were Waterman, of New York City, and Wirt, based in
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Waterman soon outstripped Wirt, along with many companies that sprang up to fill the new
and growing fountain pen market. Waterman remained the market leader until the early 1920s.[15]
At this time, fountain pens were almost all filled by unscrewing a portion of the
hollow barrel or holder and inserting the ink by means of an eyedropper – a
slow and messy procedure. Pens also tended to leak inside their caps and at the
joint where the barrel opened for filling.[16] Now that the materials' problems
had been overcome and the flow of ink while writing had been regulated, the
Waterman 42 Safety Pen, with
next problems to be solved were the creation of a simple, convenient self-filler
variation in materials (both red and
and the problem of leakage. In 1890, W. B. Purvis, an African-American,
black hard vulcanized rubbers or
patented a self-filler. Self-fillers began to arrive around the turn of the century; ebonite) and retracting nibs
the most successful of these was probably the Conklin crescent-filler, followed
by A. A. Waterman's twist-filler.[17][18] The tipping point, however, was the
runaway success of Walter A. Sheaffer's lever-filler, introduced in 1912,[19] paralleled by Parker's
roughly contemporary button-filler.
Pen leakage
Meanwhile, many inventors turned their attention to the problem of leakage.[20] Some of the
earliest solutions to this problem came in the form of a "safety" pen with a retractable point that
allowed the ink reservoir to be corked like a bottle. The most successful of these came from Francis
C. Brown of the Caw's Pen and Ink Co. and from Morris W. Moore of Boston.[21]
In 1898, George Safford Parker released the Parker Jointless, named so because its barrel was
single-piece to prevent leakage. The section assembly fit into the pen's end like a cork stopper; any
leaked ink was kept inside the nib.[22] Parker Duofold,
c. 1924
In 1908, Waterman began marketing a popular safety pen of its own.[23] For pens with non-
retractable nibs, the adoption of screw-on caps with inner caps that sealed around the nib by
bearing against the front of the section effectively solved the leakage problem (such pens were also marketed as "safety
pens", as with the Parker Jack Knife Safety and the Swan Safety Screw-Cap).[24][25]
Further innovation
In Europe, the German supplies company which came to be known as Pelikan
was started in 1838, and first introduced their pen in 1929.[26] This was based
upon the acquisition of patents for solid-ink fountain pens from the factory of
Slavoljub Penkala from Croatia (patented 1907, in mass production since 1911),
and the patent of the Hungarian Theodor Kovacs for the modern piston filler
by 1925.[27] Lever filler pen made of celluloid by
Mabie Todd & Co. New York (1927)
The decades that followed saw many technological innovations in the
manufacture of fountain pens. Celluloid gradually replaced hard rubber, which
enabled production in a much wider range of colors and designs.[28] At the same time, manufacturers experimented with
new filling systems. The inter-war period saw the introduction of some of the most notable models, such as the Parker
Duofold[29] and Vacumatic,[30] Sheaffer's Lifetime Balance series,[31] and the Pelikan 100.[32]
During the 1940s and 1950s, fountain pens retained their dominance: early ballpoint pens were expensive, were prone to
leaks and had irregular inkflow, while the fountain pen continued to benefit from the combination of mass production and
craftsmanship.(Bíró's patent, and other early patents on ball-point pens often used the term "ball-point fountain pen,"
because at the time the ball-point pen was considered a type of fountain pen; that is, a pen that held ink in an enclosed
reservoir.)[33] This period saw the launch of innovative models such as the Parker 51, the Aurora 88, the Sheaffer Snorkel,
and the Eversharp Skyline and (later) Skyliner, while the Esterbrook J series of lever-fill models with interchangeable steel
nibs offered inexpensive reliability to the masses.[34][35]
Popular usage
By the 1960s, refinements in ballpoint pen production gradually ensured its
dominance over the fountain pen for casual use.[36] Although cartridge-filler
fountain pens are still in common use in France, Italy, Germany, Austria,
India, and the United Kingdom, and are widely used by young students in most
private schools in England and at least one private school in Scotland,[37] a few
modern manufacturers (especially Montblanc, Graf von Faber-Castell and
Visconti) now depict the fountain pen as a collectible item or a status symbol,
rather than an everyday writing tool.[38] However, fountain pens continue to
have a growing following among many who view them as superior writing Lamy 2000 piston filler made of
instruments due to their relative smoothness and versatility. Retailers continue polycarbonate and stainless steel,
to sell fountain pens and inks for casual and calligraphic use. Recently, designed in 1966 and still in
fountain pens have made a resurgence, with many manufacturers of fountain production
pens saying sales are climbing. This has led to a new wave of casual use
fountain pens and custom ink manufacturers, who utilize online stores to
easily sell fountain pens to a wider audience.[39]
Feed
The feed of a fountain pen is the component that connects the nib of the pen
with its ink reservoir.[40]
It not only allows the ink to flow to the nib (in what is often described as a
"controlled leak") but also regulates the amount of air flowing backwards up to
the reservoir to replace this lost ink.[41]
It does this through the use of a series of narrow channels or "fissures" that run
down its lower edge. As ink flows down these fissures, air is simultaneously
allowed to flow upwards into the reservoir in an even exchange of volumes. The
feed allows ink to flow when the pen is being put to paper but ensures ink does
not flow when the pen is not in use. The feed makes use of capillary action; this
is noticeable when a pen is refilled with a brightly coloured ink. The ink is Diagram of the operation of a
taken up and into the feed by way of capillary action (and is often visible in modern fountain pen
clear demonstrator pens), but is not dispensed onto the paper until the nib
makes contact.[40]
How the feed is shaped may determine the wetness and flow of a particular pen. For this reason, feed material alone and
its surface roughness may have a significant effect on the way two pens of the same nib size write.[42][43]
Pen feeds are crucial to preventing ink from dripping or leaking. Feeds often feature finned structures intended for
buffering fountain pen ink. Buffering is the capacity to catch and temporary hold an overflow of ink caused by other
conditions than writing towards the nib. When a fountain pen nib receives such an overflow it will result in ink blobbing or
dripping also known as burping. A pen with a misconfigured feed might fail to deposit any ink whatsoever.[44]
Nibs
According to Mathur et al., "the modern fountain pen nib may be traced back
to the original gold nib which had a tiny fragment of ruby attached to form the
wear-point."[45] Following the discovery of the platinum group of metals which
include ruthenium, osmium and iridium, "a small quantity of iridium was
isolated and used on the iridium-tipped gold dip pen nibs of the 1830s."[45]
Today, nibs are usually made of stainless steel or gold alloys, with the most
popular gold content being 14 carat (58⅓%) and 18 carat (75%).[46] Titanium is
a less common metal used for making nibs. Gold is considered the optimum
metal for its flexibility and its resistance to corrosion, although gold's corrosion Detail of a Visconti stainless steel
resistance is less of an issue than in the past because of better stainless steel nib and feed with a finned ink
alloys and less corrosive inks.[46] Visconti uses a nib made out of palladium, as buffering structure at its rear half
it acts like gold, but is rarer and more exotic.
Nib plating
Further gold plating provides favorable wettability, which is the ability of a
solid surface to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in contact with it such
that it spreads over the surface.[47]
Nib tipping
Gold and most steel and titanium nibs are tipped with a hard, wear-resistant Tip of a fountain pen nib
alloy that typically includes metals from the platinum group. These metals
share qualities of extreme hardness and corrosion resistance. The tipping
material is often called "iridium", but there are few, if any, nib or pen
manufacturers that used tipping alloys containing iridium metal since the mid-
1950s.[48] The metals osmium, rhenium, ruthenium and tungsten are used
instead, generally as an alloy, with a little bit of osmium, rhenium, ruthenium
and tungsten in a mix of other materials, produced as tiny pellets which are
soldered or welded onto a nib tip prior to cutting the nib slit and grinding the
tip into its final shape.[49] Untipped steel and titanium points will wear more
rapidly due to abrasion by the paper.[46]
An example of a type of an italic nib
used in fountain pens. Often used to
Capillary action make art.
The nib usually has a tapering or parallel slit cut down its centre, to convey the
ink down the nib by capillary action, as well as a "breather hole" of varying
shape.[50] The breather hole has no actual function regarding controlling the ink or air flow. Its main function is to provide
an endpoint to the nib slit and forestall inaccuracies during nib slit cutting. Adding distance between the breather hole and
the nib tip adds elasticity or flexibility to the nib. The breather hole also acts as a stress relieving point, preventing the nib
from cracking longitudinally from the end of the slit as a result of repeated flexing during use.[40]
The whole nib narrows to a point where the ink is transferred to the paper. Broad calligraphy pens may have several slits
in the nib to increase ink flow and help distribute it evenly across the broad point. Nibs divided into three 'tines' are
commonly known as music nibs. This is because their line, which can be varied from broad to fine, is suited for writing
musical scores.[51]
Types of nibs
Although the most common nibs end in a round point of various sizes (extra fine, fine, medium, broad), various other nib
shapes are available. Examples of this are oblique, reverse oblique, stub, italic and 360-degree nibs.[50]
Broader nibs are used for less precise emphasis, with the benefit of a greater level of ink shading and/or sheen on less
absorbent paper. Finer nibs (e.g. EF and F) may be used for intricate corrections and alterations, at the expense of shading
and sheen. Oblique, reverse oblique, stub and italic nibs may be used for calligraphic purposes or for general handwritten
compositions. The line width of a particular nib may vary based on its country of origin; Japanese nibs are often thinner in
general.[52]
Nib flexibility
Flexibility is given to nibs in several ways. First, the thickness of the nib metal changes flex. When the nib alloy has been
pressed thick it will result in a hard nib, while thinly pressed nibs are more flexible. Nibs can be pressed so that they are
thinner at the tip and thicker at the feed to mitigate stiffness or to give a more controlled flex. Second, the curve of the nib
determines in part how stiff the nib will be.[53]
Nibs pressed into more deeply convex curves, or into three or five faceted curves, will be stiffer than flatter nibs. Third, the
"breather hole" size, shape, and position alter the stiffness. Heart shaped holes will improve flex as they widen, while
round, small holes stiffen the pen. Fourth, the length of the tines determines how far they can spread under pressure,
shorter tines make a stiffer nib. Fifth, the alloy used can affect stiffness: as mentioned before, gold is considered superior
for its flex compared to steel. Moreover, purer gold (18k and 21k) is softer than most lower gold concentration (14k)
alloys.[46]
Fountain pens dating from the first half of the 20th century are more likely to
have flexible nibs, suited to the favored handwriting styles of the period (e.g.
Copperplate script and Spencerian script). By the 1940s, writing preferences
had shifted towards stiffer nibs that could withstand the greater pressure
required for writing through carbon paper to create duplicate documents.[54]
Furthermore, competition between the major pen brands such as Parker and
Waterman, and the introduction of lifetime guarantees, meant that flexible
Mabie Todd Swan flexible 14k nib. nibs could no longer be supported profitably. In countries where this rivalry
was not present to the same degree, for example the UK and Germany, flexible
nibs are more common.[55]
Nowadays, stiff nibs are the norm as people exchange between fountain pens and other writing modes. These more closely
emulate the ballpoint pens modern users are experienced with. Despite being rigid and firm, the idea that steel nibs write
"horribly" is a misconception.[56] More flexible nibs can be easily damaged by ballpoint users who write with excessive
pressure. Ideally, a fountain pen's nib glides across the paper using the ink as a lubricant, and requires no pressure.
Good quality nibs that have been used appropriately are long lasting, often lasting longer than the lifetime of the original
owner. Many vintage pens with decades-old nibs can still be used today.[57]
Different nib styles

Other styles of fountain pen nibs include

hooded (e.g. Parker 51, Parker 61, 2007
Parker 100 and Hero 329),[58] inlaid (e.g.
Sheaffer Targa or Sheaffer P.F.M) or integral
Nib (Parker T-1 and Falcon, Pilot Myu 701),
which may also be ground to have different
writing characteristics.[59]
Hooded nib of a Hero Pen
Users are often cautioned not to lend or
The Integral Nib of a Parker 50 borrow fountain pens as the nib "wears in" at
(Falcon) an angle unique to each individual person.[55] A different user is likely to find
that a worn-in nib does not write satisfactorily in their hand and, furthermore,
creates a second wear surface, ruining the nib for the original user. This,
however, is not a point of concern in pens with modern, durable tipping material, as these pens take many years to
develop any significant wear.[55]
Filling mechanisms
Eyedropper filler
The reservoirs of the earliest fountain pens were mostly filled by eyedropper.
This was a cumbersome and potentially messy process, which led to the
commercial development of alternative methods that quickly dominated the
industry.[16] However, newer, more convenient filling mechanisms have never
entirely displaced "eyedropper-filling" pens in the marketplace, and they
remain widely manufactured today. For some the simplicity of the mechanism,
Left to Right: Gama Supreme
coupled with the large volume of ink it can encapsulate, compensates for the
eyedropper, Jinhao 159 and X750
inconvenience of ink transfer.[16]
using international standard
converters or ink cartridges and
After the eyedropper-filler era came the first generation of mass-produced self-
Lamy Studio stainless and Nexx M
fillers, almost all using a rubber sac to hold the ink. The sac was compressed using proprietary Lamy converters
and then released by various mechanisms to fill the pen.[60] or ink cartridges.
Self-filling designs
The Conklin crescent filler, introduced c. 1901, was one of the first mass-
produced self-filling pen designs. The crescent filling system employs an arch-
shaped crescent attached to a rigid metal pressure bar, with the crescent
portion protruding from the pen through a slot and the pressure bar inside the A squeeze filler by Hero
barrel. A second component, a C-shaped hard rubber ring, is located between
the crescent and the barrel.[61]
Ordinarily, the ring blocks the crescent from pushing down. To fill the pen, one simply turns the ring around the barrel
until the crescent matches up to the hole in the ring, allowing one to push down the crescent and squeeze the internal
sac.[62]
Several other filling mechanisms were introduced to compete, such as the coin-filler (where a coin or 'medallion' was
supplied along with the pen), match-filler (using a matchstick) and a 'blow-filler' which unsurprisingly required the pen
owner to blow into the barrel to depress the internal sac.[1]
Piston filling innovation

In 1907, Walter A. Sheaffer patented the Lever filler, using a hinged lever set into the pen barrel which pressed down onto
a bar which in turn compressed the rubber sac inside, creating a vacuum to force ink into the pen. Introduced in 1912, this
innovation was rapidly imitated by the other major pen makers. Parker introduced the button filler, which had a button
hidden beneath a blind cap on the end of the barrel; when pressed, it acted on a pressure bar inside to depress the ink
sac.[19]
Following the crescent filler came a series of systems of increasing complexity, reaching their apogee in the Sheaffer
Snorkel, introduced in 1952. The Sheaffer "Snorkel" system filled the ink sac through a retractable tube above and behind
the pen point. This eliminated the need to dunk the point in ink, and the subsequent need to wipe it.[63] With the advent of
the modern plastic ink cartridge in the early 1950s, though, most of these systems were phased out in favour of
convenience (but reduced capacity).
Screw-mechanism piston-fillers were made as early as the 1820s, but the mechanism's modern popularity begins with the
original Pelikan of 1929, based upon a Croatian patent. The basic idea is simple: turn a knob at the end of the pen, and a
screw mechanism draws a piston up the barrel, sucking in ink. Thus they were easier to fill. This is also why this filling
mechanism is very popular in today's fountain pens. Some of the earlier models had to dedicate as much as half of the pen
length to the mechanism.[64] The advent of telescoping pistons has improved this; the Touchdown Filler was introduced
by Sheaffer in 1949. It was advertised as an "Exclusive Pneumatic Down-stroke Filler."[65]
To fill it, a knob at the end of the barrel is unscrewed and the attached plunger is drawn out to its full length. The nib is
immersed in ink, the plunger is pushed in, compressing and then releasing the ink sac by means of air pressure. The nib is
kept in the ink for approximately 10 seconds to allow the reservoir to fill. This mechanism is very closely modeled after a
similar pneumatic filler introduced by Chilton over a decade earlier.[66]
Modern filling mechanisms

A capillary filling system was introduced by Parker in the Parker 61 in 1956.[67]
There were no moving parts: the ink reservoir within the barrel was open at the
upper end, but contained a tightly rolled length of slotted, flexible plastic. To
fill, the barrel was unscrewed, the exposed open end of the reservoir was
placed in ink and the interstices of the plastic sheet and slots initiated capillary
action, drawing up and retaining the ink. The outside of the reservoir was
coated with Teflon, a repellent compound that released excess ink as it was
withdrawn. Ink was transferred through a further capillary tube to the nib. No
method of flushing the device was offered, and because of problems from Schmidt K5 piston-style standard
clogging with dried and hardened ink, production was eventually stopped.[68] international size fountain pen
converter, containing a user inserted
Around the year 2000, Pelikan introduced a filling system involving a valve in 2.5 mm diameter Marine grade 316
the blind end of the pen, which mates with a specially designed ink bottle.[69] stainless steel bearing ball
Thus docked, ink is then squeezed into the pen barrel (which, lacking any
mechanism other than the valve itself, has nearly the capacity of an eyedropper-fill pen of the same size). This system had
been implemented only in their "Level" line, which was discontinued in 2006.[69]
Most pens today use either a piston filler, squeeze-bar filler or cartridge.[1] Many pens are also compatible with a
converter, which has the same fitting as the pen's cartridge and has a filling mechanism and a reservoir attached to it.[1]
This enables a pen to either fill from cartridges, or from a bottle of ink. The most common type of converters are piston-
style, but many other varieties may be found today. Piston-style converters generally have a transparent round tubular ink
reservoir. Fountain pen inks feature differing surface tensions that can cause an ink to adhere or "stick" against the inside
of the reservoir. Common solutions for this problem are adding a small (rust-proof) ink agitating object like a 316 or 904L
stainless steel or zirconium dioxide bearing ball, spring or hollow tube in the tubular reservoir to mechanically promote
free movement of the contained ink and ink/air exchange during writing. Adding a very small amount of surfactant like
Triton X-100 used in Kodak Photo-Flo 200 wetting agent to the ink will chemically promote free movement of the
contained ink and ink/air exchange during writing. However ink might react adversely to adding a surfactant.
Vacuum fillers, such as those used by Pilot in the Custom 823, utilize air pressure to fill the ink chamber. In this case,
while the nib is submerged in ink, a plunger is pushed down the empty chamber to create a vacuum in the space behind it.
The end of the chamber has a section wider than the rest, and when the plunger passes this point, the difference in air
pressure in the area behind the plunger and the area ahead of it is suddenly evened out and ink rushes in behind the
plunger to fill the chamber.[70]
Cartridges
A patent for an ink cartridge system for fountain pens was filed in 1890. In the early 20th century, cartridges were made
from glass and thin copper tubing. However, the concept only became successful and popular after the introduction of
moulded plastic cartridges, firstly by Waterman in 1953.[71] Modern plastic cartridges can contain small ridges on the
inside to promote free movement of the contained ink and ink/air exchange during writing. Often cartridges are closed
with a small ball that gets pressed into the cartridge during insertion into the pen. This ball also aids free movement of the
contained ink.
Standard international
Most European fountain pen brands (for example Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell,
Michel Perchin, DuPont, Montegrappa, Stipula, Pelikan, Montblanc, Europen,
Monteverde, Sigma, Delta, Italix and Rotring) and some pen brands of other
continents (for example Acura, Bexley, Retro51, Tombow and Platinum (with
adaptor)) use so called "international cartridges" (AKA "European
cartridges" or "standard cartridges" or "universal cartridges"), in short (38 mm
Dimensions of short International
in length, about 0.75 ml of capacity) or long (72 mm, 1.50 ml) sizes, or both. It
Ink Cartridge
is to some extent a standard, so the international cartridges of any
manufacturer can be used in most fountain pens that accept international
cartridges.[72]
Also, converters that are meant to replace international cartridges can be used in most fountain pens that accept
international cartridges. Some very compact fountain pens (for example Waterman Ici et La and Monteverde Diva) accept
only short international cartridges.[73] Converters can not be used in them (except for so-called mini-converters by
Monteverde). Some pens (such as the modern Waterman models) have intentional fittings which prevent the usage of
short cartridges. Such pens can only take a proprietary cartridge from the same manufacturer, in this case the long
Waterman cartridges.[74]
Proprietary offerings
Many fountain pen manufacturers have developed their own proprietary
cartridges, for example Parker, Lamy, Sheaffer, Cross, Sailor, Platinum,
Platignum, Waterman and Namiki. Fountain pens from Aurora, Hero, Duke
and Uranus accept the same cartridges and converters that Parker uses and
vice versa (Lamy cartridges, though not officially, are known to interchange
with Parker cartridges also). Cartridges of Aurora are slightly different from
cartridges by Parker.[75]
Parker Vector stainless steel with
Corresponding converters to be used instead of such proprietary cartridges are proprietary Quink cartridges
usually made by the same company that made the fountain pen itself. Some containing 1.4 ml ink
very compact fountain pens accept only proprietary cartridges made by the
same company that made that pen, for example Sheaffer Agio Compact and
Sheaffer Prelude Compact. It is not possible to use a converter in them at all. In such pens the only practical way to use
another brand of ink is to fill empty cartridges with bottled ink using a syringe.[75]
Standard international cartridges are closed by a small ball, held inside the ink exit hole by glue or by a very thin layer of
plastic. When the cartridge is pressed into the pen, a small pin pushes in the ball, which falls inside the cartridge. The
Parker and Lamy cartridges do not have such a ball. They are closed by a piece of plastic, which is broken by a sharp pin
when inserted in the pen.[72]
Concerns and alternatives

Pen manufacturers using a proprietary cartridge (which in almost all cases are the more expensive ones like the ones
mentioned above) tend to discourage the use of cheaper[76] internationally standardised short/long cartridges or
adaptations thereof due to their variance in ink quality in the cartridges which may not offer as much performance, or be
of lesser quality than the manufacturer of the pen; ink that has been designed specifically for the pen. In addition, cheaper
ink tends to take longer to dry on paper, may skip or produce uneven colour on the page and less "tolerant" on lower,
thinner grades of paper (e.g. 75gs/m).[76]
While cartridges are mess-free and more convenient to refill than bottle filling, converter and bottle filling systems are still
sold. Non-cartridge filling systems tend to be slightly more economical in the long run since ink is generally less expensive
in bottles than in cartridges. Advocates of bottle-based filling systems also cite less waste of plastic for the environment, a
wider selection of inks, easier cleaning of pens (as drawing the ink in through the nib helps dissolve old ink), and the
ability to check and refill inks at any time.[77]
Inks
Inks intended for use with fountain pens are water-based. These inks are commonly available in bottles. Plastic cartridges
came into use in the 1960s, but bottled inks are still the mainstay for most fountain pen enthusiasts. Bottled inks usually
cost less than an equivalent amount in cartridges and afford a wider variety of colors and properties.[78]
Fountain pens are not as tightly coupled with their inks as ballpoints or gel pens are, yet some care must be taken when
selecting their inks. Contemporary fountain pen inks are almost exclusively dye-based because pigment particles usually
clog the narrow passages.[78][77]
Traditional iron gall inks intended for dip pens are not suitable for fountain
pens as they will corrode the pen (a phenomenon known as flash corrosion)
and destroy the functionality of the fountain pen.[76] Instead, modern
surrogate iron gall formulas are offered for fountain pens. These modern iron
gall inks contain a small amount of ferro gallic compounds, but are gentler for
the inside of a fountain pen, but can still be corrosive if left in the pen for a
long period.[76] To avoid corrosion on delicate metal parts and ink clogging a
more thorough than usual cleaning regime – which requires the ink to be
A bottle of green ink
flushed out regularly with water – is sometimes advised by manufacturers or
resellers.[79]
Some pigmented inks do exist for fountain pens, but these are uncommon. Normal India ink cannot be used in fountain
pens because it contains shellac as a binder which would very quickly clog such pens.[80]
Inks ideally should be fairly free-flowing, free of sediment, and non-corrosive, though this generally excludes permanence
and prevents large-scale commercial use of some colored dyes. Proper care and selection of ink will prevent most
problems.[76]
Today
While no longer the primary
writing instrument in modern
times, fountain pens are still used
for important official works such as
signing valuable documents.[81]
Today, fountain pens are often
treated as luxury goods and
sometimes as status symbols.
A 1970s model metal and plastic
Fountain pens may serve as an
fountain pen
everyday writing instrument, much
like the common ballpoint pen.[55]
Good quality steel and gold pens are available inexpensively today, particularly
in Europe and China, and there are "disposable" fountain pens such as the
The Pilot Varsity, an inexpensive
Pilot Varsity. In France, in particular, the use of fountain pens is widespread.
disposable fountain pen.
To avoid mistakes, special ink can be used that can be made invisible by
applying an ink eraser.
Fountain pens can serve various artistic purposes such as expressive

penmanship and calligraphy, pen and ink artwork, and professional art and
design. Many users also favor the air of timeless elegance, personalization and
sentimentality associated with fountain pens,[82] which computers and
ballpoint pens seem to lack,[83] and often state that once they start using
fountain pens, ballpoints become awkward to use due to the extra motor effort
needed and lack of expressiveness.
For ergonomics, fountain pens may relieve physiological stress from writing; A modern celluloid fountain pen
alternatives such as the ballpoint pen can induce more pain and damage to fitted with a vintage nib
those with arthritis. Some also believe they could improve academic
performance.[84] In some countries, fountain pens are usual in lower school grades, believed to teach children better
control over writing as many common mistakes of people not used to handwriting (like too much pressure or incorrect
hold) feel unnatural or are almost impossible when using traditional pen tips.[85][86]
Some fountain pens are prized as works of art. Ornate pens may be made of
precious metals and jewels with cloisonné designs. Some are inlaid with
lacquer designs in a process known as maki-e.[87] Avid communities of pen
enthusiasts collect and use antique and modern pens and also collect and
exchange information about old and modern inks, ink bottles, and inkwells.
Collectors may decide to use the antiques in addition to showcasing them in
closed spaces such as glass displays.[88] In 2007, collectors got "seriously A modern fountain pen, writing in
cursive script
hooked" when a set of Montblancs went for $290,000 each in a fundraiser
event for the Princess Grace Foundation in Monaco. Each of these Montblanc
pens came with 996 diamonds and 92 rubies. It has been speculated that most collectors hail from the United States of
America and China, though pen dealers in England say the trend is likely to sweep England imminently.[89]
News outlets report that, rather than declining, fountain pen sales have been steadily rising over the last decade.[90] There
is a clear resurgence in the appeal and culture of the fountain pen, whether for purposes of collection, enjoyment or as a
"lifestyle item".[91] Many agree that the "personal touch" of a fountain pen has led to such a resurgence with modern
consumers looking for an alternative in a world of digital products and services.[92]
Amazon reported "sales so far this year [2012] have doubled compared with the same period in 2011. They are four times
higher than 2010."[90] The popularity of fountain pens continues to show growth. In 2017 the market-research firm
Euromonitor reported that fountain pen retail sales were up 2.1% reaching $1.046 billion.[93]
Modern Fountain Pen Makers

Japanese Fountain Pen Makers:
Namiki
Pilot
Platinum
Sailor
European Fountain Pen Makers:
Aurora
Inoxcrom
Diplomat
Faber-Castell
Kaweco
Lamy
Montblanc
Montegrappa
Nettuno
OMAS
ONLINE
Pelikan
Pineider
Stipula
Thornton's Luxury Goods
Visconti
Waterman
Hauser
Chinese Fountain Pen Makers:
Hero
Jinhao
PenBBS
Moonman
Taiwanese Fountain Pen Makers:
OPUS88
TWSBI
American Fountain Pen Makers:
Conklin
Edison Pens
Esterbrook
Thornton's Luxury Goods
Franklin-Christoph
Karas Kustoms
Nemosine
Noodler's
Monteverde
Parker
See also
Demonstrator pen
Fountain pen inks
Inkwell
IAMPETH
Category: Fountain pen and ink manufacturers
List of pen types, brands and companies
List of terms about pen and ink
Notes and references

1. Binder, Richard. "Filling Systems: Overview of How They Work and How to Fill Them" (http://www.richardspens.com/?
page=ref/fillers/fillers.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
2. Bosworth, C. E. (1981). "A Mediaeval Islamic Prototype of the Fountain Pen?" (https://academic.oup.com/jss/article-a
bstract/26/2/229/1692343/A-MEDIAEVAL-ISLAMIC-PROTOTYPE-OF-THE-FOUNTAIN-PEN). Journal of Semitic
Studies. 26 (1): 229–234. doi:10.1093/jss/26.2.229 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjss%2F26.2.229). "We wish to
construct a pen which can be used for writing without having recourse to an ink-holder and whose ink will be
contained inside it. A person can fill it with ink and write whatever he likes. The writer can put it in his sleeve or
anywhere he wishes and it will not stain nor will any drop of ink leak out of it. The ink will flow only when there is an
intention to write. We are unaware of anyone previously ever constructing (a pen such as this) and an indication of
'penetrating wisdom' to whoever contemplates it and realises its exact significance and purpose. I exclaimed, 'Is this
possible?' He replied, 'It is possible if God so wills'."
3. "La penna di Leonardo alla sala regia" (http://www.tusciaweb.eu/2011/09/la-penna-di-leonardo-alla-sala-regia/).

Tusciaweb.eu (in Italian). September 7, 2011. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
4. Schwenter, Daniel, Deliciae physico-mathematicae … (Nürnberg, (Germany): Jeremias Dümler, 1636), vol. 1, pp.
519–520 (https://books.google.com/books?id=wINSAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA519#v=onepage&q&f=false) : "Die III Auffgab.
Ein schön Secret, eine Feder zu zurichten, welche Dinten hält, und so viel lässet als man bedürfftig." (The third
exercise. A nice secret: to prepare a pen which holds ink and lets [flow] as much as one requires. [with illustration])
5. Pepys, Samuel (August 1663). Diary entries from August 1663 (Pepys' Diary) (http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/166
3/08/). Samuel Pepys. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
6. Richardson, Hester Dorsey (1913). "Chapter XLVII: The Fountain Pen in the Time of Charles II". Side-lights on
Maryland History, with Sketches of Early Maryland Families. Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins Co. pp. 216–17.
ISBN 0-8063-1468-0.
7. Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Zechariah iv. 2 (1710), describing a type of self-replenishing oil
lamp: "Without any further Care they [i.e. the lamps] received Oil as fast as they wasted it, ('as in those which we call
Fountain Inkhorns, or Fountain Pens')".
8. "Who Invented The Fountain Pen?" (http://www.vintagepens.com/FAQhistory/who_invented_fountain_pen.shtml).
Vintage Pens. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
9. "Who Invented The Fountain Pen?" (https://www.bestfountainpen.com/who-invented-the-fountain-pen). Best Fountain
Pen. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
10. "Perry and Co" (http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Perry_and_Co). Grace's Guide. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
11. "Birmingham Heritage" (http://www.birminghamheritage.org.uk/pentrade.html). www.birminghamheritage.org.uk.
Retrieved 27 July 2016.
12. "The Manufacture of Steel Pens in Birmingham". The Illustrated London News. 18 (471). 22 February 1851.
13. The Times (London, England), 15 September 1885, p. 6: Obituary
14. "Stylographic Pens" (http://www.vintagepens.com/stylos.shtml). Vintage Pens. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
15. Binder, Richard. "Significant Pens of the Twentieth Century" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/misc/significant.htm).
Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
16. Binder, Richard. "Filling System Histories: Here's Mud in Your Eye(dropper)" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/
fillers/ed.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
17. "Filling Instructions: Twist-Fillers" (http://www.vintagepens.com/filling_instructions_twist-fillers.shtml). Vintage Pens.
18. "Crescent Filler" (http://www.hisnibs.com/crescent.htm). His Nibs. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
19. Binder, Richard. "Filling System Histories: Lever Look Back" (http://www.richardspens.com/?
page=ref/fillers/lever.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
20. Binder, Richard. "Fillers: Wring It Out!" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/fillers/twist.htm). Richard Binder's Pens.
21. "Safety Pens" (http://www.vintagepens.com/safety_pens.shtml). Vintage Pens.
22. "Middle-Joint, End-Joint & 'Jointless' Eyedroppers" (https://www.vintagepens.com/middle-joint_eyedroppers.shtml).
www.vintagepens.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
23. "Waterman Safeties" (http://www.vintagepens.com/Waterman_safeties.shtml). Vintage Pens.
24. Binder, Richard. "Design Features: Safety Pens" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/design/safeties.htm). Richard
Binder's Pens. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
25. "The Mabie Todd Swan Safety Screw Cap Eyedropper Filler" (https://goodwriterspens.com/2011/05/07/the-mabie-tod
d-swan-safety-screw-cap-eyedropper-filler/). Good Writers' Pens. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
26. Propas, Rick. "The PENguin – Pelikan, Parker and Other High Quality Fountain Pens" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0160726185620/http://www.thepenguinpen.com/pelikan/pelikan_history.jsp). The PENguin. Archived from the original
(http://www.thepenguinpen.com/pelikan/pelikan_history.jsp) on 2016-07-26. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
27. "1929–1950 – The piston filling mechanism – Pelikan" (http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCM
S.93699./the-piston-filling-mechanism). Pelikan. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
28. Nishimura, David. "What is celluloid, and why is it not the same as cellulose nitrate/nitrocellulose?" (http://www.vintag
epens.com/FAQmfr/celluloid.shtml). Vintage Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
29. "Parker Pens Penography: DUOFOLD" (http://parkerpens.net/duofold.html). Parker Pens. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
30. Binder, Richard. "The Parker Vacumatic" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/vac.htm). Richard Binder's Pens.
31. Binder, Richard. "Sheaffer's Balance" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/balance.htm). Richard Binder's Pens.
32. "Dating a Pelikan" (https://thepelikansperch.com/database/dating-a-pelikan/). The Pelikan's Perch. 25 August 2014.
33. "History of the pen" (http://www.rickconner.net/penspotters/history.html). Rick Conner. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
34. "Sheaffer Snorkel 1952–1959" (http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferSnorkel.htm). Pen Hero.
35. "J Series Pens" (http://www.esterbrook.net/j.shtml). Esterbrook. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
36. "Pens – Overview" (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/pens/overview). Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
37. "Fountain pens boost 'self-esteem' " (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6143844.stm).
BBC News. November 13, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
38. "When Buying Fountain Pens, Splurging (a Little) Is Totally Worth It" (https://www.wired.com/2014/09/fountain-pen-hi-l
ow/). Wired. Condé Nast. September 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
39. Brocklehurst, Steven (2012-05-22). "Why are fountain pen sales rising?" (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18071
830). BBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
40. "How Fountain Pens Work" (http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-fountain-pens-work.html). Explain That Stuff.
41. Binder, Richard. "Feeds: Revolution, Evolution, and Devolution" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/feeds/evolut
ion.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
42. Gilmour, Jono (25 August 2012). "Fountain Pen Guide Series, Session 1: Nibs, Feeds, and How They Come
Together" (http://www.pentorium.com/2012/08/25/fountain-pen-guide-series-session-1-nibs-feeds-and-how-they-come
-together/). Pentorium.
43. Feeds made of Plastic …and not hard rubber (https://fountainpendesign.wordpress.com/feed-supply-ink-function-fout
ain-pen/feeds-made-of-plastic/)
44. Conner, Rick. "Construction of a fountain pen" (http://www.rickconner.net/penspotters/construction.html). Rick Conner.
45. Mathur, P.; Mathur, K.; Mathur, S. Developments and Changes in Science Based Technologies (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=2mCEAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA128). ISBN 1-4828-1398-X. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
46. Binder, Richard. "To the Point: Nib Materials" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/materials.htm). Richard
47. "Steel vs. Gold Fountain Pen Nibs" (http://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/steel-vs-gold-fountain-pen-nibs/). Pen Heaven.
48. "Where's the Iridium?" (http://www.nibs.com/article4.html). The Nibster. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
49. Mottishaw, J. (1999). "How can we talk about Iridium?" (http://www.nibs.com/article5.html). The PENnant. XIII (2).
50. Binder, Richard. "Nibs I: The Basics" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/nibs/primer.htm). Richard Binder's
Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
51. Binder, Richard. "To the Point: Making Music with a Pen" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/music.htm).
52. Binder, Richard. "Nibs II: Beyond the Basics with Specialty Nibs" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/nibs/beyond.htm).
53. "Grading Flex Nibs" (http://www.vintagepen.net/grading-flex-nibs.html). VintagePen. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
54. Binder, Richard. "Rethinking The Value of Steel Nibs" (http://www.richardspens.com/xf/2011/05.htm). Richard Binder's
55. "Fountain Pen Guide" (https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/fountain-pen-guide/). Gentleman's Gazette. Retrieved

27 July 2016.
56. Binder, Richard. "To the Point: Steal the Steel" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=xf/2011/05.htm). Richard
57. "How to Collect and Buy Vintage Fountain Pens" (http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/11/19/writing-with-history-how-
to-collect-and-buy-vintage-fountain-pens/). The Art of Manliness. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
58. Binder, Richard. "To the Point: Nibz 'n the Hood" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/hood.htm). Richard
59. Binder, Richard. "Design Features: Integral Nibs" (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/design/integral_nibs.htm). Richard
60. Binder, Richard. "Filling System Histories: Capillary Pens – the Perfect Filler?" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=r
ef/fillers/capillary.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
61. "Conklin Crescent Fillers" (http://www.vintagepens.com/Conklin_crescent_fillers.shtml). Vintage Pens. Retrieved
26 July 2016.
62. "Conklin – Crescent Filler Collection" (http://www.conklinpens.com/crescent_filler_collection_page.html). Conklin
63. "Sheaffer Snorkel 1952–1959" (http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferSnorkel.htm). Pen Hero.
64. "1929–1950 – The piston filling mechanism" (http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.93699./th
e-piston-filling-mechanism). Pelikan. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
65. "PenHero.com – PenGallery – Sheaffer Touchdown Filling System" (http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/Sh
eafferTouchdownGuide.htm). Pen Hero. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
66. Binder, Richard. "How to Restore the Touchdown Filling System" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/repair/touc
hdown.htm). Richard Binder's Pens. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
67. Match, Richard (September 1956). "Things you never knew about your pen". Popular Science Monthly. New York.
169 (3): 278. "it drinks its fill automatically, by a reverse application of our old friend capillary action"
68. Conner, Rick (2005-01-20). "Parker 61" (http://www.rickconner.net/penoply/park.06.html). PRick Conner. Retrieved
2008-08-08.
69. Binder, Richard. "Design Features: What Were They Thinking?" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/design/what
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70. "Fountain Pen Filling Systems Explained - JetPens.com" (https://www.jetpens.com/blog/fountain-pen-filling-systems-e
xplained/pt/912). www.jetpens.com. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
71. Nishimura, David. "Early Cartridge Pens" (http://www.vintagepens.com/early_cartridge_pens.shtm). Vintage Pens.
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72. Goulet, Brian (30 June 2016). "Who Invented Standard International Cartridges? – Q&A Slices" (https://www.youtube.
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73. "Fountain Pen Converters" (http://www.nibs.com/fountain-pen-converters.htm). Nibs. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
74. "Which Ink Cartridges Can Be Used With Which Fountain Pens?" (http://www.nibs.com/FAQInkCartridges.htm). Nibs.
75. "Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges" (http://www.nibs.com/fountain-pen-ink-cartridges.htm). Nibs. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
76. Binder, Richard. "Inks: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/care/inks.htm).
77. "Cartridge vs. converter" (https://goldspotpens.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/cartridge-vs-converter.html). Goldspot Pens.
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79. "Pen maintenance" (http://www.nibs.com/PenMaintenance.htm). Nibs. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
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81. "Seal the Deal: The Mightest Fountain Pens" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/msolomon/2015/06/17/best-luxury-fountai
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82. Yoko Hani (24 December 2006). "Find out why a fountain pen 'personalizes' your prose" (https://www.japantimes.co.j
p/life/2006/12/24/to-be-sorted/find-out-why-a-fountain-pen-personalizes-your-prose). Japan Times. "the key word I
was left with was 'personal' – not only because a fountain pen will over time change to suit your writing style, but
because – unlike a typewriter or a keyboard – it will reflect your moods and feelings in the actual form of your writing"
83. Yoko Hani (24 December 2006). "Find out why a fountain pen 'personalizes' your prose" (https://www.japantimes.co.j
p/life/2006/12/24/to-be-sorted/find-out-why-a-fountain-pen-personalizes-your-prose). Japan Times. "the unique
feature of fountain pens that differentiates them from workaday ballpoints – let alone pencils. Also, ballpoints are in
their best condition when they are brand new, whereas fountain pens get better the more you use them, Toshifumi
Iijima, another of the museum's staff explained."
84. Mcginty, Stephen (November 13, 2006). "School brings back pens so pupils get write stuff" (http://news.scotsman.co
m/teaching/School-brings-back-pens-so.2826355.jp). Edinburgh: news.scotsman.com. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
"The school believes that mastering stylish handwriting with a fountain pen raises academic performance and boosts
self-esteem."
85. "Goulet Pens Blog: The 7 Biggest Fountain Pen Mistakes" (http://blog.gouletpens.com/2016/02/the-7-biggest-fountain
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86. "The Beginner's Guide to Fountain Pens (By a True Beginner)" (http://www.penaddict.com/blog/2015/10/1/the-beginn
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87. "Penna Magazine – Namiki Maki-e Guide" (http://www.pennamagazine.com/en/vintage_pens/namiki-maki-e-buyers-g
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88. Morrison, Lennox. "The fascination with fountain pens" (http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20141204-a-fascination-with
-fountain-pens). BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
89. Think Ink: Why Pen Prices Are Soaring. 2010.
90. Brocklehurst, Steven (22 May 2012). "Why are fountain pen sales rising?" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-180
71830). BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
91. Canham, Jacqui (20 July 2007). "Write way to earn a profit: Fountain pens are gaining popularity as" (https://www.ind
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d-investments-5334080.html). The Independent. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
92. Hall, James (23 May 2012). "Fountain pen sales double" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailand
consumer/9283229/Fountain-pen-sales-double.html). The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
93. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-fountain-pen-sales-20170206-story.html
Bibliography
Finlay, Michael (1990). Western Writing Implements in the Age of the Quill Pen. Wheteral: Plains Books. ISBN 1-
872477-00-3.
Fischler, George; Schneider, Stuart (1992). Fountain Pens and Pencils. New York: Shiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-88740-
346-8.
Lambrou, Andreas (2003). Fountain Pens of the World. New York: Philip Wilson Publisher. ISBN 0-302-00668-0.
Park, JongJin (2013). Fountain Pens. Seoul: LBIG Media Publishing. ISBN 978-89-94819-09-9.
Further reading
Lambrou, Andreas (2005). Fountain Pens of the World (https://books.google.com/?id=GyReAAAACAAJ&dq=fountain
+pen). ISBN 978-0-85667-615-4.
Erano, Paul (2004). Fountain Pens Past and Present (https://books.google.com/?id=nzWeWMdXL2YC&dq=fountain+
pen). ISBN 978-1-57432-385-6.
External links
Reddit Fountain Pens (https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/)
The Fountain Pen Network (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/)
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Notes and references

Early prototypes of reservoir pens

European reservoir models

Progress in developing a reliable

New patents and inventions

Different nib styles

Other styles of fountain pen nibs include

Piston filling innovation

Modern filling mechanisms

Concerns and alternatives

Fountain pens can serve various artistic purposes such as expressive

Modern Fountain Pen Makers

Notes and references

3. "La penna di Leonardo alla sala regia" (http://www.tusciaweb.eu/2011/09/la-penna-di-leonardo-alla-sala-regia/).

55. "Fountain Pen Guide" (https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/fountain-pen-guide/). Gentleman's Gazette. Retrieved

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This page was last edited on 27 January 2019, at 14:25 (UTC).

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