In high-tech world, fountain pens endure
The disposable ballpoint pen is so cheap and convenient that it's hard to believe there was a time that pens, in particular fountain pens, were a valued fashion accessory that reflected social status, personality, and tastes.
But there are still those who prefer old-fashioned writing instruments. "We were taught to write with fountain pens, and I got hooked on them and have been using them ever since," says Sandra King, the vice president for marketing, communication, and public affairs at Bentley College, who has been collecting fountain pens since she was a 10-year-old school girl in Jamaica.
Her collection ranges from a cool fire-engine red Ferrari commemoration pen of unknown origin to a silver, Italian-made Montegrappa . "A fine pen gives you a sense of classiness and beauty, the way the ink flows across the paper. It makes you feel like you're connecting with what you're writing," says King.
Today's $220 million "fine writing instrument" market is typically aimed at career climbers, according to the International Pen Association, a Kingwood, Texas, trade group. Montblanc, Waterman, Cross, and Parker lead the pack of some 40 manufacturers, with thousands of models, most available in fountain pen as well as roller ball and ball pen.
Fred Rosenthal of the venerable Bromfield Pen Shop in downtown Boston says fountain pens are typically filled with ink or cartridge and use a flexible nib, adding more depth and personality to your writing.
A roller ball is "in between a fountain pen and ball pen," using the same technology as a ball pen (a small rotating ball disperses ink as you write), but relies on wetter ink, making smudging more likely.
The type of pen you choose is a matter of personal choice. Rosenthal, for example, is left-handed and therefore avoids roller balls, since the ink often smears on his hand. His current favorite is a $200 Giuliano Mazzuoli brushed chrome Moka. The designer, he says, was inspired by a European coffeepot, so it tapers from the top to middle, then out again. "It's a cute little pen that fits nicely in my pocket and is easy to carry around," Rosenthal says.
Always try out any pen before you buy it, paying attention to how the nib or ball feels as it glides across paper. The pen should feel balanced in your hand, not too dainty or oversized. A pen that is too heavy can be tiresome to hold, whereas a slender pen might be too small for your grip.
Consider the availability of ink, as not all refills or inks are easily available in stores. And be sure the pen's stroke, whether broad or fine, suits your purposes. If you will be using the pen to sign documents, for example, you may want a pen with a broader line.
Terry Wiederlight, chairman of the International Pen Association and president of the Fountain Pen Hospital in New York, says the fun comes in choosing your pen's style. Prices ranging from $5 to $150,000 or higher. Wiederlight says some pens are encrusted with jewels and precious metals; others are hand-painted. More modern versions come in plastics, woods, and enamels. Popular today are vintage pen "reissues," as well as limited edition pens.
But best of all, a fine pen, when brandished by its bearer in a boardroom, courtroom, trading floor, or doctor's office, elevates the art of closing a deal. "I have customers who tell me how many deals they've sealed because of a beautiful pen," says Rosenthal. "A pen says a lot about a person."
