TimeOut

My name is CaliforniaJed and I collect fountain pens! I went my whole life with zero interest in them, and then one night, innocently enough, I attend a post-Basel JLC dinner and I am seated next to the guy who runs the LA Fountain Pen Show! D@mn, now I'm...  

I don't consider myself a collector, but love and own four nice fountain pens: Caran d'Ache Léman Parker Premier Waterman Carene Lamy Palladium (portrayed below) Congrulations on yours! Marcelo ...  

I like that Lamy. Is that the 2000? Best,

The Palladium.

It's Lamy Studio Palladium.

Very cool, whatever it is called. Thanks for the clarification.

One vintage... One Souverän and one every day but one must have the Meisterstuck as well and one must always have something patriotic the Penkala fountain and ball point set...with "mystery" design...you can't tell one from another when closed What is not...  

At least the word for fountain pen in our languages is his name...

Penkala is synonym for ball point pen end fountain pen..my friend I have business proposition

I\'m in!

This was my thread -- I get a piece of the action, too! ;-)

... in addition to that for our beloved watches!! Interesting to read about the Penkala brand. I am not familiar with this brand and history, but of course had heard its name and knew the logo of the big eared man head. I would like to tell you about Mr. ... 

Learned something new today - thank you so much for this historic episode what makes this place so great!

On your upcoming 5000 posts! Thank you for the great pictures, the informative posts, your very courteous manner, and to many, many more!

... I was approaching the 5K! Thank you so much again my friend!! Best cordial regards, Abel.

For all the time, thought and content that went into the 5.000!

... I´m really surprised to reach that mark! Thank you so much again for calling my attention on this and for your kind words!! All the best, Abel.

First of all congrats on 5K mark and here's to many more!!! It was very interesting to read about Mr. Biro What we learn about Penkala is that he became renowned for further development of the mechanical pencil in 1906 —then called an "automatic pencil"—a... 

... for your salute on my 5K. It is with great pleasure that I participate in this great place and I am so thankful to nice friends like you that greeted me when I started posting some four years ago and offered friendship and shared their knowledge so ge... 

Pleasure is all mine It is good to share good things with good people as my friend said once to me and I think that this is important part of life Having you aboard this ship is pleasure and honor. Not many good people left around ...not in my "real" life... 

... Agree and share your feelings. And appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!! I wish we will able to meet some day soon! Most probably in Paris, and with a nice Vladesque friend we have there! All the best my friend! Best cordial regards, Abel.

but invitation to Mediterranean as is was is open ad infinitum Yours D P.S. Buenos Aires along NY and LA is on top of my bucket list One old captain from Dubrovnik that literally sailed the world when I asked him what is the best city in world expecting h... 

... city with some corners remembering some charming European places like Madrid or Paris as wealthy people in the 1920´s through 1930`s had their eyes in Europe taste and mode. It just needs to return to be the safe place it was not so long ago to be a t... 

That is, I stopped at 5; and you can too! One day at a time, just say No. Cazalea ...  

I don\'t think I\'ll get in too deep, but I\'m past 5! Best,

Glad you are enjoying the pens. Daos

And (most) are much easier on the bank account. Best,

even a line Yours D

I always enjoy reading you too! Daos

I don't really use these pens now as it's tedious to clean them but they look good in their boxes. It's fun to load and ink them ...  

Let me know I\'ll help you with the tour - one can even sleep in the former factory building these days. The high end ones get produced in Hannover still, while the rest got transferred elsewhere. Nice hobby, I have to say. For a long time - when I was a ... 

This is my latest Pelikan. ...  

That's a nice Souverin! Wish my penmanship was much better, I would definitely get into calligraphy. My favorite is my Cartier it writes really nice. -MW

"Parker story" Remember that among all "coloured ones" (half metal other different plastic colours) most "valuable" was all metal one and I) managed to get hold of one in trade for some toys from one kid That moment I should have known my future career...... 

Of childhood. Actually the post had me trawling the internet for Parker pens and Ballografs, so I may end up with some for sentimental reasons, too

I have a few... Parker, Pilot, Caran D'Ache, and looking forward to get my first Montblanc. Not that I really wqnt ot build a collection, but a few of them, for the pleasure of writing, as we write a lot, in our job, mon cher confrère... Here is one I lik...  

I like that Parker, too. Best,

I fully understand your passions, Have a great Sunday ...  

Didn\'t know you were into fountain pens They are a join to write in. Old school and really classical feeling

Handwriting calms me down, and gives me the time to appreciate the meaning of the words and sentences. I don't know how to explain, but it's a kind of feeling that typing would never give me. Montblanc Star Walker Carbon Pilot Cocoon Elysee of West German...  

And nice photos. Writing by hand seems to calm me a bit, too. It makes me think about what I write. I like TWSBIs, too. Here\'s my 580. ...  

One is never safe here All those pens to be checked out...

Ambassadors is the more accepted term, no?

I've had a number of fountain pens over the years... Sailor Sapporo... Lamy Studio Monteverde Tool Lamy Safari... but I never was really excited enough about collecting them I guess. Ride the fever, Jed! ...  

Each and every one of them is pretty amazing

Lovely pens! I too recently begun expanding my small fountain pen collection. My favorite is a Parker made out of silver which was handed down to me after my grandfather passed. But Montegrappa's Symphony and Lamy Studio are also favorites of mine. The be... 

Is to sit and write a letter to someone who would not expect To receive one from you.

as i can make one for myself It's really quite a lot of fun Ondrej ...  

Apart from some plastic ones, this one and some in carbon fibre and titanium, it's pretty much it. or at least i can't remember any other This i am really happy about - stainless damascus nib Ondrej ...  

Ballpoints ... modern ones, but i think they're pretty cool and decent for what you pay them. But what hits me most about your pics is the 'La Marczocco" coffee cup ... do you have any pictures of the machine ? Is it your machine ? They're simply the best... 

It features regularly as a prop to CaliforniaJed\'s pictures

It is a killer combination, and I've had no remorse at the purchase. I sold my La Spaziale Vivaldi II when I made the purchase. I enjoyed that machine immensely, but in all candor my espresso took a huge leap forward with the new machine and grinder. I do... 

...  

.. for real men ! One day i'll have my own Marzocco ... i have a client selling these machines and teaching Barista - stuff ... But for now i'll keep on dreaming ... Bim

.. be a lot cheaper than buying one A lot of Purists to visit in Cali it seems Bim

... and discover so many horological friends sharing a similar passion for writing instruments. I have been collecting pens for more than 30 years, specially Fountain Pens. Both modern and vintage. Among vintage, I got a nice collection of Parker 51, whic...  

... You know, I started collecting pens a lot earlier than watches! I´m a new comer to watches, but an old hand at pens. I had abandoned collecting pens for many years (though I kept writing with them daily), but some four or five years ago I found all my... 

Truly stunning, in fact. I have been admiring those pens for a few weeks, but I have only seen pictures. Glad to know you think so highly of them. Best, CaliforniaJed

... a converter/cartridge ink system only whereas in a high end fountain pen it is expected to have a self filling system like piston fill (employed among others by MB and Pelikan, for example) but otherwise it is a custom made, highly finished masterpiec... 

... I usually stay when in Paris, but for one reason or another I had never been able to visit! A Big Shame!! Anyway it is so well known World wide among fountain pen lovers! I hope in my next visit I will devote a little time to visit him. You know him I... 

... you could go one of these days and take a look to Nakayas. I think he offered them in the past. I feel you will love them!! Un abrazo mi buen amigo!! Abel.

Wow, Dexter, who knew?! May have have links to your blogs? Will you be my fountain pen spiritual guide? ;-) Best, CaliforniaJed

... that it is written in Spanish only. I hope you´ll find the visual information of interest anyway. You will find a very complete collection and info about Parker 51 in the one devoted exclusively to this legendary pen. I need to work again in my blogs ... 

What are the pens in the third picture? They are stunning! I see you also collect the old MonteGrappa like me. How do you like your Hemingway. I always wanted one but never made the move. (They are so pricey!)

... a (non original) Katana. They are made of ebonite (hard rubber) as in old times but covered with Urushi laquer following an ancient technique. They are true jewells being its only drawback that they have a converter or cartridge filling systems. Pen P... 

Thank you so much for your kind and elaborate reply. Now you have me all fired up on these Nakaya pens. They are very unusual and extremely attractive. I had a look in their website and I see a lot of models I like. Is there one you would recommend over t... 

Just a few years ago after many decades of using and collecting fountain pens I discovered Japanese pens thanks to the enthusiasm and passion of a good friend and fellow collector here. I had never paid the due attention to them previously and it was disc... 

What a great introduction post. Now you have me tempted even more to explore this manufacture. The aesthetics really strike my taste very deeply! Also thank you for your wonderful PM. This is a great help in steering in the right direction. It has just co... 

... before jumping on these beautiful pens. Your next visit to Japan could be a superb opportunity to take contact with them! Thanks a lot again for your generous comments! Abel

...  

But I rely on a MB 149 with a broad nib to sign most documents now I stopped buying pens as I started buying more watches but miss going to pen shows Julian

... I have met many guys who collect both watches and fountain pens, or being collectors speciallized in only one of these objects had a good gathering of the other and enjoyed them so much. Beautiful pieces you show, specially those Duofolds and the Vacu... 

Here are a few from my humble stable ...