6 replies to this topic

[Sam C]

Hello All:
I am another newbie recruited to join from the Columbus meeting. Just started using fountain pens about 4 years ago and I guess I finally broke down and decided I'm transitioning from a user to building a small collection about a year ago. The outpouring of friendly advise and fellowship in Ohio convinced me I should get out more and meet some of the great folks involved in this hobby. My only prior shows were DC '09 and a half day in Boston '10. So my primary exposure to the good people of pendom was the handful of retailers I had met via a show and/or internet. Columbus was my first chance to take a few days and enjoy the more comprehensive pen culture. One great aspect of the show was connecting a face to some folk who were mainly know via internet or Email.
So far my primary pen interests are Pelikan, Oversized Balance, Omas, Wahl, and Oversized Vacumatic. There are so many fantastic pens out there - its tough for me to limit myself too much -- so occasionally I will pick up other brands or even "no-names" that have a great nib or interesting celluloid.
I will likely be more of a sponge on the board - observing and soaking up the wealth of information dripping off the pages. I may warm up to some other posts once I get a sense of how this Board works. Being a lousy typer is a serious handicap - at least if I take the time to ask a question you will know I'm seriously interested.
Thanks in advance to all the pros out there {especially David} who selflessly make this service available to the pen community.
Looking forward to learning and meeting some of you as I grow into this hobby!
Sam C.

[Hugh]

Hi Sam,
Welcome!! Don't hesitate to "get involved"....the pen hobby is really about learning as much as acquiring/owning ...the former being much cheaper!! ...and this is a very good place to ask questions ( especially vac ones) and be fairly confident the answers are fairly accurate.

Regards
Hugh

[Sam C]

Thanks for encouragement, Hugh!
I have scanned David's vac site enough to be thoroughly convinced that mastery of even basic nomenclature would be a challenge. For now, I will try to stick to Oversized since the Black one I have suites my hand well. Eventually, I would like to get a silver set in Oversize- but it was not high enough on my priorty list to make the budget this year. I did splurge for a "user grade" Mandarin senior set (1925 I think?) at the Ohio show. As much as I love Parker products, I am attempting to avoid more than a representative sampling until I at least get my Oversized Balance group as full as I'd like it. Not that I'm going for a full array even there - just a pen of each color {not trying for all the clip / trim / filling mechanism permutations --at least NOT YET}.
As of now, my broadest goal is to obtain a set of Pelikan products that would form a sort of time line showing the evolution to the 1980's modern era M800s. Do not plan to be comprehensive, there are whole lines of there product in which I have NO interest at all.

GREAT ADVICE that learning cheaper than buying - and no doubt will improve the quality and future resale as David pointed out to me on some pens in OHIO. Not that I ever see myself as even a minor vendor - but like most, I would like to make the most out of trades or sales if upgrading or phasing out a segment of the pack.
Guess I hang on and enjoy the ride
Sam C.

[Admin]

Hi Sam,

Enjoyed our chats at Ohio, and good to see you popping up here. Yeah, always lots to learn, but that's part of the fun no doubt. Collecting old pens is trickier than just putting in an order for some modern item of interest, but then gaining skill is part of the game. Trust me, I've made about every error (usually relating to missed flaws or mixed parts) one can make. Foci of interest can vary/evolve, but fortunately for us there is enough variety out there to keep the game pretty fresh for decades.

regards

david

[Pedro]

Welcome, Sam! It was great to meet you and spend some time. Hope to talk to you soon, as soon as I get back home. Cheers!

[FmrLEO_GJ]

G'day and welcome Sam from DownUnder.

This is a great group of people with sound knowledge and willingness to share, or encourage you to learn as I have ever encountered.

Looking forward to more postings from you.

[Sam C]

In this day and age I may be the last dinosaur to to admit that they never previously participated in ANY sort of network board. I think I looked up an associate once using "linked in" when other search methods failed - but I would hardly say that counts.
I may have been missing out on some great interaction- its amazing how the world gets smaller in this setting!
Well, I'm going to get off this thread and take a bite of the "meat and potatoes" of this board ( perhaps not the best analogy given the recent holliday of excess -at least here in the states).
Thanks to ALL for such a warm welcome!
SC