Hello From Ontario, Canada

Welcome to DFS, Sean, and enjoy your stay.  We have a wonderful contingent of Canadians here.  I, too, am a fountain pen enthusiast.

What are your favourite pens and inks?

My overall favorite brand of ink is Diamine.  I also have three bottles of Akkerman ink and the bottles they come in have to be my favorites.  I like all different colors from Diamine Denim and Ancient Copper to J. Herbin Rouille d'Ancre to Sheaffer Red to Noodler's Apache Sunset to Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun (gray) and a whole bunch more.

My favorite modern pens are my TWSBIs, Nemosine Singularities, and Kaweco Sports (one of which is my everyday carry).  Favorite vintage pens include two Conklin Crescent Fillers from the 1920s, and various Esterbrooks from the Dollar Pens to the Transitionals and through the J-series.  There is also a Parker Vacumatic that I really enjoy.

There are other pens and inks that I have but cannot think of them off the top of my head.

Diamine is a good brand. They have a wonderful variety of colours and behave very well. Akkerman is another great company. I've had especially good luck with their Dutch Masters series. My current go-to ink brands are Sailor (behaviour and properties are unmatched), Pelikan, Visconti, Robert Oster, KWZI, Akkerman, De Atramentis, and Rohrer & Klingner. Awesome stuff out there.

I also love TWSBI's and carry two Diamond 580's with me at all times. My current favourite pen is a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age with a Stub nib. I've never written with something so well balanced and beautiful. The palladium nib is outstanding too.

I haven't taken the plunge into vintage but those crescent fillers look interesting. Did you have to refurbish the older pens?

That's awesome. Rush is a great band. It's rare when a band consists of some of the best players on their respective instruments. I'm a huge Pink Floyd and King Crimson fan. As well as a variety of metal bands.

The talent in Rush is truly mind-boggling. Looks like you have some favorites in a somewhat similar vein. There are so many good bands out there that I just decided to list my favorite.

What are your favourite pens and inks?

My overall favorite brand of ink is Diamine.  I also have three bottles of Akkerman ink and the bottles they come in have to be my favorites.  I like all different colors from Diamine Denim and Ancient Copper to J. Herbin Rouille d'Ancre to Sheaffer Red to Noodler's Apache Sunset to Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun (gray) and a whole bunch more.

My favorite modern pens are my TWSBIs, Nemosine Singularities, and Kaweco Sports (one of which is my everyday carry).  Favorite vintage pens include two Conklin Crescent Fillers from the 1920s, and various Esterbrooks from the Dollar Pens to the Transitionals and through the J-series.  There is also a Parker Vacumatic that I really enjoy.

There are other pens and inks that I have but cannot think of them off the top of my head.

Diamine is a good brand. They have a wonderful variety of colours and behave very well. Akkerman is another great company. I've had especially good luck with their Dutch Masters series. My current go-to ink brands are Sailor (behaviour and properties are unmatched), Pelikan, Visconti, Robert Oster, KWZI, Akkerman, De Atramentis, and Rohrer & Klingner. Awesome stuff out there.

I also love TWSBI's and carry two Diamond 580's with me at all times. My current favourite pen is a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age with a Stub nib. I've never written with something so well balanced and beautiful. The palladium nib is outstanding too.

I haven't taken the plunge into vintage but those crescent fillers look interesting. Did you have to refurbish the older pens?

I just purchased my first Robert Oster ink at Anderson Pens and have not yet tried it.  I am not really a fan of Roher & Klingner.  I don't know if you have ever heard of Anderson Pens in Appleton, Wisconsin but I had the opportunity to go there with my friend, Pam, last Wednesday and it was a great experience.

That's awesome. Rush is a great band. It's rare when a band consists of some of the best players on their respective instruments. I'm a huge Pink Floyd and King Crimson fan. As well as a variety of metal bands.

The talent in Rush is truly mind-boggling. Looks like you have some favorites in a somewhat similar vein. There are so many good bands out there that I just decided to list my favorite.

I agree. Did you ever read Clockwork Angels?
Yes, there are quite a few amazing bands. Maybe we can exchange our favourites sometime.

I just purchased my first Robert Oster ink at Anderson Pens and have not yet tried it.  I am not really a fan of Roher & Klingner.  I don't know if you have ever heard of Anderson Pens in Appleton, Wisconsin but I had the opportunity to go there with my friend, Pam, last Wednesday and it was a great experience.

Which Oster did you get?

That sounds like a great trip. I'd love to visit a store of that prestige. Yes, I have heard of Anderson Pens. I've ordered a few products from them over the years. Great service. Unfortunately I live about 3 hours from the closest city so I don't get to browse too many B&M's.

I just purchased my first Robert Oster ink at Anderson Pens and have not yet tried it.  I am not really a fan of Roher & Klingner.  I don't know if you have ever heard of Anderson Pens in Appleton, Wisconsin but I had the opportunity to go there with my friend, Pam, last Wednesday and it was a great experience.

Which Oster did you get?

That sounds like a great trip. I'd love to visit a store of that prestige. Yes, I have heard of Anderson Pens. I've ordered a few products from them over the years. Great service. Unfortunately I live about 3 hours from the closest city so I don't get to browse too many B&M's.

I got the Melon Tea Robert Oster.  I liked it as a different color but suitable for day to day writing.

The only reason I was able to get to Anderson Pens is because I was visiting my friend and she lives in a very rural area of northeast Wisconsin, about an hour and a half from Appleton.  Because she loves fountain pens, inks, and paper, too, the trip to the pen shop was just about a given.  By the way, Lisa Anderson was so gregarious and answered all of my questions and Brian Anderson graciously agreed to go outside with Pam and me to take our picture.  Did I mention that it was raining a little when I asked him.  As you can see from the photos, the shop is beautifully laid out and the ink section is amazing.

I agree. Did you ever read Clockwork Angels?
Yes, there are quite a few amazing bands. Maybe we can exchange our favourites sometime.

I never did read Clockwork Angels. Some fan I am…
Yes, let’s talk other favorites soon, it’s always interesting to see if I’ve been missing out on something good. And I might have a few for you to check out.

(Before I forget: Private messaging starts working once you hit the 15 post mark, just in case you have wondered. The limitation had to be put in place because of spammers.)

Hello all,

Been wet shaving for over five years and still love it. I'm a musician, fountain pen enthusiast, and animal lover. Glad to meet your acquaintance. I look forward to interacting on this site and getting to know its members. I have wayyyy to many shaving products and can't wait for you guys to recommend more.

Have a great day,
Sean

Welcome Sean!

You're in good company when it comes to mountains of wet shaving products. Some gents here not only have mountains, but a sea of soaps!

Hope to see you around the forums and read about your insights

My favourite pen was used by me for about 30 years in my business as a Title Searcher. It is a Parker Vacumatic. It is very short - only 4-1/2" with its cap on.
I still use it but it is nominally in retirement. Total years of loyal duty 47. It was made in Toronto.

My present daily use pen is a German Lamy, It is not quite like the Parker but then nothing can be like an old familiar friend. It has a triangular grip so it will not roll about in my stiff and neuropathy numbed fingers.

The only other pen is new. I have always made it a policy never to buy anything on impulse.
When I saw a photo of this Xezo Maestro with its abalone shell multi coloured body and gold trim my resolve dissolved instantly. It has a thicker than usual barrel so holding it presents no difficulties. Its nib writes a little thicker and juicier than my Parker and Lamy which have extra fine nibs. But I like it.

I try to use each pen at least once a day to keep them from drying up.

I do not really collect pens. They just accumulated over the years, None of the others are special.

Sean, are you familiar with Wonder Pens? Liz and Jon Chan, a young couple, started a small fountain pen business in their apartment about 4 or 5 years ago. Liz suggested the Lamy for me. I have always been grateful for that.
Their little shop has expanded twice and they have a wonderful and fascinating selection of all things connected with fountain pens and their use. Their shop is here in Toronto on Dundas St. East.
wonderpens.ca

Mickey

[Image: IMGP7262.jpg]

Left to right:
Parker Vacumatic - Jinhao (I think - for red ink) - Xezo Maestro - Lamy
Lying down in front a collapsible pencil with infinite twist lead control rather than push.
All are mounted on an old phone stand converted for their comfort and safety,

I never used coloured inks other than red for danger or beware.
I used Quink Ink all those years. I never considered that one might be better than the other. About 4 months ago I was making beet borscht and thought it would make a splendid deep red ink. So I washed out one pen and filled it with borscht no beets or potatoes or sour cream though,
What came out of the pen was an anemic sickly pale pink. Very disappointing.