Skills

Using A Fountain Pen

FieldCommunication
Went Obsolete1945
Made Obsolete ByThe ball point pen (biro)
Knowledge AssumedBasic writing or drawing
When usefulSigning certificates, calligraphy, etc.

Fountain pens remain popular in Europe and elsewhere, but for day-to-day usage they have been supplanted by the ball point pen (also known as a biro), due to the extreme advantages the ball point offers in cost and maintenance. Compared to the fountain pen, a ballpoint pen is only a fraction of the price, and requires no special care - a disposable fountain pen would be almost unthinkable. Nevertheless, Pilot produces its Varsity line of disposable steel-nibbed fountain pens, priced comparably to good rollerballs.

Using a fountain pen requires more skill than a ball point pen, due to the nature of the ink and the care with which a fountain pen must be maintained. Nevertheless, they remain popular in some sectors due to tradition and aesthetics. Schoolchildren in Europe, for example, are still expected to write their homework with a fountain pen, and legal documents are still signed with fountain pens due to the superior ink in a fountain pen.

To use a fountain pen, assuming that it is in good repair, first fill it either by inserting cartridges(newer) or by operating its filling mechanism while the nib and section are inserted into a bottle of ink(old pens, can be a lever on the side, unscrewing the top, pressing a piston etc.) Excess ink should be wiped with a soft cloth. Writing with a fountain pen should be effortless, no pressure is needed and too much pressure can damage the nib. Storing a pen should be either with nib upright or horizontally. Do not drop a pen, especially with the cap off, the nib can be damaged and at the least ink will get everywhere. Do not shake a fountain pen, if it is not flowing correctly it may need cleaning or repair.