The Fountain #018 - Are Fountain Pens Worth The Price?
Are fountain pens worth it?
If you’ve spent any time in the fountain pen world you will have quickly realised that fountain pen prices are not like regular pen prices.
While entry level pens are cheap, they quickly scale to some high numbers. Very high numbers at the top end. For a pen.
I bought my first 2 pens for approximately AUD$50 each. No, this isn’t cheap for a pen. But it is for a fountain pen.
I have purchased countless regular pens over the years. Pens that have written nicely and that I’ve loved using. I’ve even told myself that when this pen finally runs out of ink, I will buy refills. That’s how much I enjoyed writing with it.
But you know what? I never did buy a refill. I always ended up buying another pen.
With fountain pens, the thought process has been the same, however, the actions seem natural. And different.
When my fountain pen runs out of ink my immediate thought is do I have any refills? Or, which colour do I want to ink it with?
It is never about buying a new pen because my ink ran out.
And this is the key difference when buying and using a fountain pen. I buy it knowing I have a long term pen. I don’t think of rollerballs and ballpoints in the same way. And I don’t think it’s because of the price I paid for it, although that probably comes into it.
When I’m looking to buy a fountain pen, I’m looking for more than an instrument to “do a job” with. I’m looking for an instrument that feels comfortable in my hand and that is aesthetically pleasing. Something to inspire me as I use it.
It’s an investment in my writing future. And many pieces are works of art.
What price do you put on art?
I know this might sound silly to some. But you purchase a fountain pen with intention. With purpose. And for longevity. I can’t say the same about a regular pen.
I know I’m not alone here.
Until next time.
Maker
Esterbrook fountain pens
Esterbrook history
Resources
Esterbrook.net - online resource for Esterbrook pens
Fun Fact
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed by Lyndon B Johnson using 72 clear Lucite Esterbrook Fountain Pens, these were then gifted to attending dignitaries and supporters of the bill including; Robert F Kennedy (Attorney General at the time), Everett McKinley Dirksen, Hubert Humphrey, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
(from The Esterbrook Pen Company: From Cornwall to the Moon and Back...)
Tip
One question I see from those new to fountain pens is “how do I hold a fountain pen?”
This may seem a reasonable question due to the uniqueness of the pens. But there is too much thinking going on.
Do you ask “how do I drink this cup of coffee?”
As long as ink is flowing to the paper, you’re holding the pen exactly as you should be.
Don’t think. Do.
P.S.
Please reach out with any comments or suggestions for future editions.
Once a month, I will have a guest poster. It may be a review of a pen or ink, a recent shopping experience, or how they started with their first pen.
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