Pens and Paper

I finally got me a Waterman Edson ...

I've wanted one of these for many years, just because I think they're drop-dead gorgeous. They're hard to find in a fine point, and I came very close in several pen stores, but most just carried the medium nib.

Then I got sent to Montreal on a work event, and had a couple of hours to myself. One Google search later and I had found Stylo. I initially went in just to get a refill for my fineliner, but of course I had to look around. And then I saw it ... and then it was the fine point. Well, I know when I've lost the battle.

This also comes in black and silver, which is actually more expensive, but I don't like the look of it; I prefer the classic blue and gold. And I'm happy to say that after waiting so long, the Edson lived up to my expectations. It's a lovely pen for writing, it's well-balanced, and I'm just thrilled with it.

Waterman C/F: The beginning of the modern era

I've always wanted a Waterman C/F, and I finally found this lovely gold-plated one at Fountain Pen Hospital. The C/F hit the market in 1953, while this one's a 1972.

It stands for Cartridge Fill, and was the first successful pen to use a drop-in cartridge, instead of drawing up ink out of a bottle. I've always wanted one because I think the inlaid nib looks good. The pen was designed by Harley J. Earl, who was more famous for styling cars over at General Motors.

You can't buy C/F cartridges anymore, but fortunately, this one came equipped with a converter, which is hard to find. Even it's an oddball thing, with a rubber tip and squeeze mechanism. The pen works quite well, too.

You can find out more about the C/F over at Richard's Pens.

More on the Parker 21 ...

I'm glad to say that the Parker 21 I received is back in the saddle again. I cleaned it, let it dry thoroughly, and then filled it with Quink (I figured Parker ink in a Parker pen is the best course of action).

It still didn't want to write, so I stored it nib-down for a few days, and it now works very well. I know nothing about pen repair - other than putting a pen in a box and handing it over to someone who does - so I was glad that this simple course of action got everything moving again. It's a nice pen, but not really worth the cost of repair.

Although most of my pens are new, there is something delightful about writing with an old pen. How many miles of ink did it lay down in its day? What words did it write?

I use a couple of old pens quite a bit. I had a Sheaffer Snorkel desk pen that I used for a few years, but now it doesn't seem to draw ink (that one's worth repair, so I'll have to send it in). I have an old Merlin that was new-old-stock and it writes beautifully. And I do all my banking in a ledger, rather than on the computer, with a 1923 lever-action Waterman. I'm not rich, but writing with such a lovely gold-nibbed pen sure makes me feel like I am.