R M Abercrombie ®

Fountain Pens

Put aside that ballpoint and consider the fountain pen, once ubiquitous and now consigned to the quaint domains of calligraphists and aficionados. What was lost with its quiet slide into obscurity?

The fountain pen is to paper as brush is to canvas—its use is an art form; the result can be artwork. The ballpoint is a mechanical device born of soulless expediency, wherein grace finds itself sacrificed to convenience and productivity. The force required to propel it across paper precludes finesse and inhibits style. It conveys thought to paper in a perfunctory manner and leaves little room for individuality. A fountain pen imbues the written word with the unique character and flair of its writer.

With the fountain pen, there is no question of recycling. An empty fountain pen is not cast away but refilled, unlike the dead ballpoint or its empty cartridges. A well-maintained fountain pen is an heirloom, the ultimate in sustainability.

Acquire one of these forgotten instruments, admire its form and beauty, fill it with ink and use it to write a kind note to someone. Enjoy how words flow with grace from its nib, and then enjoy the satisfaction of having created something with your own hand, and in your own style.

R M Abercrombie
November 2007