Throughout the history of mankind, there have been numerous methods of writing from feather to pen. Writing methods and penmanship equipment have always evolved towards comfortability due to major demand for it, but there are some people who use a less comfortable, but elegant method of writing, the fountain pen. Since it is not a popular writing instrument nowadays, many people do not know what it is. So, what is a fountain pen and why are there people who still use this utensil when there exist better writing instruments?
The fountain pen is a writing instrument invented by a Frenchman named Nicolas Bion in the 17th century, but it never became a major writing instrument. The father of the modern fountain pen would be credited to Lewis E. Waterman. He was a financial consultant in the 19th century. In 1883, he was about to make a contract with a customer, but the ink from the dipping pen dropped onto the contract paper and the contract was voided. To solve this problem, he came up with a solution which was the pen using a capillary action to stabilize the flow of ink. Following this, he made a fountain pen company named after him, and his creation became a major writing instrument in the market until the 1960s when ballpoint pens took the throne.
The fountain pen’s mechanical composition is simple. It consists of the following pieces: nib, feed, barrel, inkwell, and the cap. When pressure is applied to the nib, the ink from the ink channel in the feed flows towards the slit in the nib due to the capillary action. The ink later moves to the tip of the nib and becomes trace on paper. The barrel is to protect the inkwell, and the cap is to protect the nib from the outside environment and the ink from evaporating. The nib is typically made from stainless metal such as gold or stainless steel. An 18k gold nib is often considered the best due to the moderate flexibility and low reactivity of the material. The tip of the nib is usually coated with iridium because it is resistant to abrasion. The feed is made with plastic or hard rubber for vintages. The material of the barrel and the cap are the biggest contributing factors to a fountain pen’s price since any material is available for the barrel and the cap. It could be literally anything from plastic to gilded oakwood fossil. Luxury brands tend to use precious and rare materials such as ebony wood, amber, mammoth ivory, shagreen or resin. Fountain pens using rare materials could cost up to $5,000 USD or more depending on the rarity of the material.
Although the fountain pen was a common instrument in the 1900s, it is not commonly used nowadays due to popularization of the ballpoint pen and its comfortability. On the other hand, there are some people who use fountain pens due to the following benefits: First, it is easier to write with a fountain pen than with a pencil or a ballpoint pen since a fountain pen does not require friction in its mechanism. Secondly, it is easier to replace color or refill the ink. Last but not least, it has a unique appearance and aesthetic. Sometimes, people with disabilities affecting their hands use them since it requires less force to write. Also, there is another significant aspect of using fountain pens. When a fountain pen is used for a long period of time, the abrasion of iridium on the tip of the nib optimizes the nib to the writing habit of the owner. This kind of weathering is called “taming” like training an animal. This work of taming the nib creates an attachment like a long-worn leather jacket.
There are many methods of penmanship that are more comfortable or affordable than using fountain pens. However, the fountain pen is arguably one of the best and elegant methods when it comes to penmanship aesthetics. Properly tamed fountain pens could be almost irreplaceable to the owner and the attachment would be stronger when it is made with materials with rarity such as extraordinary woods. Although the overall industry of writing instruments is declining because of new methods of writing such as smartphones or other digital writing methods, fountain pen makers will not vanish from the market due to the unique appearance of fountain pens.
References
Bion, N. and Stone, E. (2014) The construction and principal uses of mathematical instruments: Translated from the French of M. bion, chief instrument-maker to the French king. to which are added, the construction and uses of such instruments as are omitted by M. Bion, particularly of those invented or improved by the English. United States: Gale ECCO Print Editions. [Accessed 1 Jan. 2023].
Woodford, C. (2018). Fountain pens. [online] Available at: https://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-fountain-pens-work.html. [Accessed 2 Jan. 2023].
Richard’s Pens. (2018). To the Point: Nib Materials. [online] Available at: http://www.richardspens.com/ref/ttp/materials.htm [Accessed 2 Jan. 2023].
