I Used To Loathe Ballpoints

​I used to loathe ballpoints, and I still do. Now it doesn't matter because I rarely use a writing instrument. 

I do use my finger a lot. And I type a lot. And I have been trying dictation lately. Too soon to say if that will be a ’keeper’. Next up will be an Apple Pen.
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Back in the day I had a callous on the side of my finger from all the drafting/writing. That hasn't been an issue for at least 20 years, even though I used a pen every day until early 2013. There was less and less to write down every year. Replaced by software and mobile devices. Before 2014 I didn't even own a shirt that didn't have a breast pocket. 

If you like ballpoint pens, or use them daily, you may not be able to relate to this next part.

Fountain Pens
That's right I love fountain pens. For twenty-five years I carried one every day. Even during periods when I was into graphite there was a fountain pen in my shirt pocket.

See legend below *

I'm too practical to own a lot of fountain pens. I have about ten that I have accumulated over those 25 years. It started with a Parker, silver barrel pen that I used up. The internal part of the snap-on cap broke. I ’fixed’ it with the cap from the matching roller ball pen. I broke that cap too. So I took it to a specialty shop. They cleaned and fixed it with parts from the roller ball pen. And I received the sad news that when that broke, I was done, because parts weren't available. Unless I wanted to have someone make parts. I don't love fountain pens that much.

During that period I acquired a Mont Blanc. The fat one. I really liked that pen, but it was high maintenance. Under-filling or over-filling the pen had consequences. No ink or **plenty** of ink. The specialty shop couldn't find anything wrong. Pilot error was the verdict. 

Next was a classic Pelican. I think it cost more than the Mont Blanc, which I had received as a gift. No complaints about the Pelican. But I always thought of it like it was the good china - special occasions. Silly.

Of course, I got the Levenger catalog monthly, and kept up with developments in the fountain pen scene. 

​That's where I discovered the Namiki Vanishing Point pens. I’m on my third one. I lost the first one. That is so unlike me, that it is more likely that it was stolen. So I bought another one. Eventually I ’needed’ another one for red ink. This is my favorite pen. You click the pen to deploy the fountain pen tip - just like a roller ball - and it writes like a dream.

Here’s one on Amazon.

Pilot Pens bought Namiki and raised the price $40. Still worth every penny.

So what's with the loathing of ball point pens?

I may be a snob, but don’t you care what your writing looks like?

click to visit Amazon

* My pens, left to right.

• Parker - silver barrel fountain pen 
• Mont Blanc - the fat one
• Pelican - the 'good china'
• Namiki #1 - Vanishing Point with patterned gray barrel
• Namiki #2 - Vanishing Point with green barrel for red ink
• Waterman - very nice pen, but couldn't compete with Namiki
• Waterman - a special series silver pen with a fatal flaw, the cap screws on
• Parker - 'woman's' pen inherited from my wife's family, really good looking, but fine point with screw cap
• Huber - nurse's pen worn on a chain, cool antique
• No brand - a 3" novelty 'pen knife' hidden in barrel of crappy ball point

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