DESPITE what you may think in these days of keyboards and voice recognition technology, the fountain pen is not dead. In fact, it is making a comeback.
And today, November 3, we salute the humble handwriting tool for National Fountain Pen Day.
"Fountain pens are well and truly back in fashion - a trend that we have new technology to thank for," said Pilot Pen Australia marketing manager John Johnston.
"Social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest are full of beautiful images and videos of fountain pens, and there are hundreds of online forums, podcasts and YouTube tutorials on how to find the perfect fountain pen and how to care for it.
"In 2017, this classic writing instrument and valuable collector's item has reached new heights of popularity for its elegance and prestige."
Some fountain pen facts:
1. History
Attempts to develop a self-feeding pen that did not require sharpening or to be dipped in ink (like the quill pen) were made as far back as the beginning of the 10th century. It wasn't until 1884 that Lewis Edson Waterman, a New York insurance agent, made the first practical fountain pen, which was the first pen to hold its own ink within a self-contained reservoir.
2. The basics are brilliant
Although there's a variety of different styles of fountain pens available on the market, most have the same basic components as the original invention: a nib, a barrel (which holds the ink reservoir), and a cap to protect the nib - although capless styles with retractable nibs are available these days.
3. Fountain pens are pen royalty
The fountain pen is often referred to as the "king of all writing instruments" due to its complex design and structure. Ink flows from the reservoir to the nib at a balanced rate of flow by means of a force called capillary attraction.
4. The best ones have gold nibs
The best fountain pens are considered to be those with gold nibs, as the soft metal can slowly adjust and adapt to your writing style over time. In 1918, Pilot Pen became the first company in Japan to manufacture a fountain pen with a gold nib.
5. Cap's off to retractable pens
In 1964, Pilot Pen's engineers created the world's first capless fountain pen, featuring a high-quality mechanism which allows the nib to retract inside the pen, protecting it from harm while still looking sleek and stylish. More than 50 years later, Pilot Pen's capless range is a sought-after premium fountain pen.
6. Discussions are all online
If you want to connect with other fountain pen fans, they are just a click away. Social media and online forums are soaring with images and group discussions about fountain pens. The hashtag #fountainpen has more than 570,000 posts on Instagram, and there are several closed Facebook forums, such as Fountain Pens Australia or Fountainpennetwork, where fans connect.
7. Sales are booming
Fountain pen sales are increasing in Australia and globally, particularly in the prestige category. Pilot Pen Australia has seen a significant increase in sales of its prestige range of fountain pens in the past 12 months. The recently published report Office Products in Australia, 2016-2018 (Penfold Research) reveals that unit imports of fountain pens and stylograph pens increased by 134 per cent from 2014-15.
8. They are collectable
The most expensive fountain pen in the world was a unique one-off edition that retailed at $1.7 million. Many fountain pens are hand-crafted and are collector's items. Pilot Pen's prestigious Namiki Maki-e Fountain Pens fall within this exclusive category. The Namiki Emperor Collection has fountains pens that retail in excess of $10,000.
9. Sharing is not caring
A fountain pen nib, even those made with stainless steel, will over time adapt to the handwriting style of the user, which means a fountain pen should only be used by its owner for the best, smoothest result.