Seriously, I love the "Not throwing a pen away because it is empty" thing. Apart from the feeling of "Oh I really enjoyed using that pen now it's useless" thing, there is also the more ecologically friendly vibe, because I'm not just contributing to the humongous waste of plastic that is discarded everyday. Also most Fountain Pen ink comes in Glass bottles, is made from non-petroleum products. Even the pens themselves aren't always made from petroleum product.
Best win ever: converting a student with a missing digit in his writing hand to fountain pens. Now, he loves to write!! And he gives me credit for that!
Today I started a design class (bringing my Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco) and was so thrilled when my professor suddenly pulled out an Aurora fountain pen and talked about how he sometimes likes to use fountain pens in his work! It was a green Aurora Ipsilon or something very similar--I caught him for a brief conversation afterward and we both shared a "Aren't [FPs] great??" moment. Made my day!
I'm a sidewriter leftie and I've retrained myself to be an underwriter. Now when I was at a fountain pen store the other day I mentioned that I needed an ink that dried fast, because I am a leftie and smearing issues. When I was test writing some pens (the Waterman Hémisphère, for those interested) the retailer told me that I wouldn't have any problems because my writing angle was remarkably good. Seriously: I wanted to do a backflip right there.
Retraining your hand placement & writing I'm sure is difficult, so I can imagine it'd be a huge fist pump moment when you're starting to feel comfortable the new way. Congrats! - Colin
thanks! it truly is a pain to do it, but it does pay off. No more agonizing hand cramps from writing for hours ( I wrote both my final thesises by hand, unfortunately with a ballpoint and it was painful like you wouldn't believe). I've been studying for six hours consecutively now and still no pain whille writing. It must be true love.
That's awesome! My roommate is leftie and was a side writer - the moment he started gripping a fountain pen he started underwriting instinctively. He smudges less with less cramps, which he's now down the fountain pen rabbit hole lol.
Right? I’ve had a few clients tell me “oh an expensive pen to sign this contract. Mmm fannnncy!” With a huge smile on their face. Little do they know it’s just a $70 waterman expert 😊 not knowing their are pens that are in the $1000s range that I’d love to own.
I'm really looking forward to writing with fountain pens more often. I have fibromyalgia so writing with regular pens and pencils has pretty much become a form of torture for me. I think fountain pens will make writing enjoyable again 😊
Definitely that writing-rediscovery! My handwriting has been horrible since I was a kid and since getting into fountain pens (only ~3 months in), I've been working on my writing on a daily. Seeing the difference+improvements is very rewarding.
I had a bottle of ages old(mid 70s) Blue(said royal on the bottle but was a but darker) that had the perfect metallic bronze shine to it in light. Me being the dumbass I am, I left it out in the sunlight on my table. It faded but it became this perfect gentle greyish blue, which I adored even more. Sadly it ran out a few months ago.
I LOVE finding that "perfect" letter. It's like discovering a new species or land within yourself. It's like defining a part of your soul inscribed on paper... Definitely my favorite things about fountain pens and writing in general! :) SO AMAZING!
Win: Perfectly tuning your nib. Every pen I have needed some smoothing and tine alignment. When it is perfectly adjusted and writes at its peak, that tactile sync is the pinnacle of writing.
What really got me in to fountain pens wasn't how I thought writing with them would be like, but rather the beauty of the pens themselves, I love how they look and then when I finally got one, writing with it is honestly one of my favorite things to do.
I had a crack at it. I'm not the best and my software is somewhat limited, but I at least tried to have it be simple and relevantly colored, although perhaps not quite the Goulet Blue. plus.google.com/106020670359764929559/posts/BtJZu2JLkvs E: Also, perhaps the border is a bit unnecessary, but it was useful in screenshotting it as the software had trouble exporting. Grandma-level workarounds FTW!
I'm left-handed, and I used to write over my line, holding my pen like a crab and with a forward slant. Now I've almost developed a good underline, backwarted slant just so I don't smudge, but the transition period from up-and-forward to under-and-backward was painstaking. Only the day I felt like my handwriting was alright enough to use, I got very excited, and this was a complete win for me, because I never could have imagined my handwriting to improve.
I'm EXTREMELY happy to hear the last 'win'--the joy of writing a 'perfect letter'. I thought I was the only person that silly. (In grade school, I failed penmanship because I wouldn't turn in my work if all of the letters/numbers weren't absolutely perfect.) My poor wife just doesn't get it when I get geeked out because my signature turned out especially good because of how 'that Y' looks. She just gives me that look that translates to a virtual pat on the head and a disinterested "That's nice dear." But I made a perfect Y and she can never take that away!
Many, many years ago, I was really into fountain pens, and somewhat got my younger brother interested in them. Alas, resources were scarce, and we lost "interest" in pens. About a year ago, independent of each other, we both got back into fountain pens. It was fun!
The feeling when you find that perfect nib, ink paper combo that enhances your writing. You want to write forever. Ideas appear on the paper in front of you. They look beautiful. Then you wake up from your dream, the search continues.
It feels so good to write with a fountain pen (Noodler's Ahab) filled with a great ink (Noodler's Green) on great paper (Clairfontain stationary pad & matching envelopes) that you really have a hard time STOPPING. Thus explains my recent letter to my sister. Only 16 1/3 pages long because I had to make myself stop writing that time because the envelopes would not take that large of a letter. Put it into a 5x7 manila envelop instead with 3 stamps to make sure it wasn't returned for insufficient postage. LOLOL.
I'm in a super dense history class and just got into pens last semester, but i definitely most enjoy writing lowercase g and y! It's especially satisfying when I have to write so fast and for so long in that class. I picked up the little flourish/loop on both of those tails a while ago and a fountain pen just really lets it shine
"It would be difficult to find another man who lived so entirely for his duties. It is not enough to say that Akakiy laboured with zeal: no, he laboured with love. In his copying, he found a varied and agreeable employment. Enjoyment was written on his face: some letters were even favourites with him; and when he encountered these, he smiled, winked, and worked with his lips, till it seemed as though each letter might be read in his face, as his pen traced it. If his pay had been in proportion to his zeal, he would, perhaps, to his great surprise, have been made even a councillor of state. But he worked, as his companions, the wits, put it, like a horse in a mill." From N. Gogol, "The overcoat".
As a lefty I am jealous of other people's handwriting, but that wont stop me from enjoying the experience that you can only get from using a fountain pen, especially since I just ordered a Monteverde Mount Fuji.
Meeting a stranger in my country who also loves fountain pens is pretty much like finding a gold needle in a haystack! I love the no pressure as well as creating a bond with my pen things(not throwing away after a while), these are the reasons why despite being one of the pen haters, now I love to write with FPs!
I just saw this video today. I know it’s a few years old already, but I couldn’t help but comment because every point applies so perfectly to my fountain pen life. I especially liked the comment regarding the satisfaction you get when writing that perfect letter. However mine is not just one letter, it is a word. There is something special for me about writing the word “anyway”.
I GET THIS SO MUCH! there's nothing more satisfying! I got oxblood by diamine for my visconti opera metal monza and let me tell you, it was the best fit and I felt so happy. And finding people with fountain pens is the most exciting thing! My favorite letters to write are "a" and "h"
I am a lefty, and although i have to write at a strange angle and severely struggle with smudging I absolutely am addicted to fountain pens! They are so beautiful and smooth, and nothing beats when you find that one pen that writes smooth as glass with no skipping (even with a strange grip). Fountain pens are well worth the lefty struggles i deal with when using them.
One of my best days while using my FP at work. A gentlemen with a British accent said "it's nice to see someone writing with proper pen." Or I get "is that a real fountain pen? I haven't seen one of those since I was a little kid in school."
What a terrific and thoroughly enjoyable video, Brian! You neatly articulated so many of the things I love about my fountain pen addiction. And when I saw my orange Conklin Duragraph with six orange ink samples, among them my personal choice Noodler's Habanera, that sealed it for me. I'd love to see more like this.
I was in one of the only schools in my city where you didn’t use fountain pens to learn to write. I’ve had lots of problems with hand cramps etc etc and recently discovered that fountain pens might help. I bought a platinum preppy to test that and man I am hooked. I am now looking to step up my fountain pen game and am probably going to the LAMY safari. I just love the way the fountain pen makes my writing look so neat and consistent and that I can write for pages without getting any cramp or fatigue in my hand 😍.
I can relate to being the person in the family obsessed with pens. I’ve only started getting into fountain pens for the past two weeks. I always thought as a lefty they would be too hard for me to use, but from day one I was writing underhanded and haven’t had any smudging issues. My two big wins so far was finding a Lamy Safari at a bookstore for $1 and seeing an old picture of my grandfather using a fountain pen. He died when I was 4 so I never got to know him well. Using a fountain pen makes me feel more connected to family.
I love the “inky “ fingers.....such lovely penmanship.....very inspiring video....Thanks for all the information your company puts out there , is very appreciated.
I remember when I was first learning cursive in school. I loved writing the letter T, it was fun! I didn't get that feeling again until I started practicing with my new pen and finally solved the dreaded "wr" combination.
This is fantastic. I'm new to fountain pens and have loved a few of these things and now can't wait to find fellow fountain pen lovers someday somewhere in real life!
I am retired and travel quite a bit in my RV; I keep a journal/diary, often making entries outside my RV, or in a restaurant while waiting for my order. Very often, a passerby will see what I'm doing and voice their curiosity about my pen and handwriting (which is not all that great!), wanting to know how I learned to write as I do and where I found a fountain pen to use. Most folks are surprised that good handwriting, ink, and fountain pens are not as rare as unicorns, but are readily available if one but seeks them out. So many have asked to try my pen, from which I demur, as you might well expect, but I always carry an inexpensive "loaner" and a tiny dipping bottle of ink so they can experience what I do when writing. I know a few who have gone on to buy their own pens -- and one who has started collecting them! It is greatly satisfying to spread the word, as it were, and using a fountain pen on public is a great conversation starter. P.S. -- It is my honor to be in possession of the Parker Vacumatic that my father used in grammar school in the 1920s. The bladder long ago gave up the ghost, and I know that there are reputable craftsmen who could repair it, but I won't do it -- I keep it just as my father gave it to me long, long ago. I am satisfied to use it as a dipping pen from time to time, cleaning the nib carefully after each use, remembering my father every time I touch that pen.
That smoothness/low pressure needed are the reason I got hooked on fountain pens the first time I tried one. It feels absolutely effortless even with something as inexpensive as a Pilot Metropolitan. I want to add one related Fountain Pen Win on this topic: Using a fountain pen and realizing it doesn't skip/cut out the way even nice rollerballs can. Seeing your writing come out as consistently smooth and liquid is an amazing feeling (and saves you from having to go back and fill in annoying skips!).
Thank you Brian. Great video. One of my favorite combinations is my Lamy 2000 and Diamine Graphite. And thanks for admitting you find specific letters satisfying to write. D, P and B tend to make me smile. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
There's many nice things about pens, but ultimately the most important one is just that it's comfortable to write with. I could not do journaling everyday with a ballpoint, but I can write as much as I want with a fountain. Turns out in almost every situation, journaling helps us deal with our feelings and confront our problems, leading to higher quality of life. But it's hard to do that if after half a page you're annoyed your hand hurts. I used to do all my creative writing on the computer, and when I started programming I couldn't take anymore screen time and so only wrote short poems. Fountain pens have gotten me back into the long form. All that to say, it's not really about the pen, it's about having a quality tool for doing what you like. Ballpoint can be like cooking with a dull knife. Similarly, cooking will always ultimately be about you, not your knife.
First time trying fountain pens with Tomoe River paper and looking the ink dry. It shows colours and shades I had never imagined. Then trying a lot of other types of paper (japanese paper, german, french,…) and observing the differences of the same ink and pen in different papers.
I'm a newby to the fountain pen community but I'm totally hooked! I splurged today on a beautiful seaglass Edison, and I can hardly wait to hold it in my hand!! I have a friend who unbeknownst to him actually turned me on to this awesome world of the glorious fountain pen. Yeah, that first Lamy Safari was all it took. Alas and yaaay! I'll never go back to that silly ballpoint. That almost sounds like a cuss word now.
Ha! I know what you mean. Can't even mention ballpoints around the GPC office. But you're going to love the Edison Seaglass, it's even prettier in person! - Colin
This was great stuff...I had to share it with my friends...I'm 68 and I've loved fountain pens and collected them since age 11...I have books I write about my youth with a little art...they're all about having fun and they take your stress away...
I honestly filled my first fountain pen via the nib one time before I started filling up the converter from the bottle and got perfect fills. You can also get to experiment with the smooth change of colors between two inks if you don't clean it out. Now i use a syringe for it, less mess.
I can actually relate to No. 3 haha. We had a German exchange student my senior year of high school and I noticed him writing with a green Lamy Safari and I pulled out my blue Lamy Safari and we both had a moment of appreciation despite hardly ever talking to each other before.
A huge win is always when other people notice your writing’s color or pen looks incredible - nothing tops a fountain pen when it comes to style. There’s a fountain pen for every look.
"Re"discovering writing is a big one for me. Very big. When I was young, writing was something I barely tolerated because I had to. Paper-Mates, Bics Stics, and occasionally you could force me to use a woodcase pencil. Now I have an actual wooden box full of pens. Fountain pens were a large part of allowing me to understand that writing can be fun. The endless diversity of pen, ink, and paper choices contributes! Just recently, I discovered a new favorite ink (Diamine Twilight), shimmer inks, and a cheap notebook at the local dollar store that actually works well on FPs. As does discovering an ink that shades when put through a fine or EF nib. I'm always hearing that fines and EFs just don't shade, but so far I've already found a few inks that exhibit a joyful shading property when put through finer point pens. There's also the experimental and tinkerer's side. Fixing a rough and dry nib. My first eyedropper conversion. * On the same pen. Not throwing away your pen because you ran it out isn't as "much" a thing for me, simply because I find it difficult to not LOSE a pen in the time it takes me to run it empty. That said, the earth-lover in me loves that my pens are a durable product that'll stay by my side for years to come yet. But because I love my fountian pens, I find that I take a significantly greater effort into not losing them. Which of course means that I'm a lot more likely to reach for the ink bottle than the pen box. Unless I just want to use another pen today. (I'm extremely indecisive...)
Absolutely loved this video content.. This guy actually expressed all of the inner feelings of a fountain pen lover.. It is like he is pulling one after the other hidden things inside your heart attached to your fountain pen' s love..
Never thought I would use a shimmering ink, till this video. Brian when you were showing the different angles the light can hit the ink and the reflection that you get, I thought hey I need to try some.
I feel fuzzy fuzzy. Thats for that warm feeling. The bent nib in the mistakes video really got to me. This one helped. Its like counselling to the trauma of the bent nib.
I think I started drooling a little watching those writing clips. I like to think my handwriting is pretty good, but dude... That's on a whole different level.
I'm late at this one, but: Having people say: nice pen! and being able to say more about it than where you bought it and what it cost. Writing stuff down, not because you have to but because you like to. Having a terrible leftie handwriting and getting back to fountain pens after two decades or so. Now enjoy writing for the first time in my life. Writing with a stub nib for the first time. Picked up my first 1.1 and 1.9 yesterday, love it with Pelikan 4001 violet!
I have a pair of perfectly paired Pilot Preras. Soft Blue (solid body) with J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche, and Slate Grey (solid body) with R&K Verdigris. Two of my favorite ink colors have finally found their perfect pens :)
And if you're meeting with someone, or going somewhere (like a job interview) you have 2 additional headaches: 1. Which pen should I bring with me? Does it match my image? What can it tell about me? 2. What ink should I use? Is it OK for this occasion? Even if you know that your opponent won't get it at all.
LOVE this video! This is great! Also - looking at older videos lately and have to comment that you are looking so healthy and so much better than some of the older videos. This is definitely meant to be a compliment - not a negative. LOL
I'm sure Brian will appreciate hearing that! He lost a lot of weight a few years back, here's a video if you're curious at all: ruclips.net/video/e8V_u8BmflY/видео.html. - Colin
Hey Brian. Firstly, I love your videos. I was wondering what pens you usually carry around with you daily (probably a vanishing point). Maybe you could do some EDC videos. Keep up the good work!
Here's a video of his EDC pens: ruclips.net/video/LeACgHp1fec/видео.html, Still accurate 3 years later, but he does use a Visconti Homo Sapiens quite a bit now as well. - Colin
was using a pencil when this happened but at some point in middle school i figured out that i could write the letters “g” and “y” in cursive when handwriting and now i LOVE writing those letters
Really into pens. I choose my pens (fountain pen or not) really carefully and it pisses me off when someone uses my pen and forgets to return it. I don't lend my pens to my colleagues for a long time anymore. One more joy about fountain pens and gel pens is the way the ink catches the light and shines till it dries. Really all these wins, my heart leaps with joy. 😍
Hi I'm wondering how the pilot custom 74 fine compares to the pilot metropolitan fine. Is it about the same, or is the custom 74 slightly broader. Thanks!
The Metropolitan definitely leaves a finer line. The softness of the gold nib on the 74 lends itself to a slightly broader stroke. You can compare them yourself using our Nib Nook (www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook). - Colin
"I love getting letters from you. Nobody writes personal letters anymore." A great way to stand out and be different, in a positive fashion. Work on your penmanship and the fluidity and novel color of ink choices...be different! If you have had a job interview and you send a "Thank you letter" for the interview afterwards (yes, as a matter of protocol you are supposed to do that) and it's written well, legibly and with a bit of flair (not written WITH a Flair Pen) with nice ink and on good paper stock...they will remember you...to your benefit.
I was in Korea (other side of the world for me, right?) and met the responsible of the project I went to work on, and when we had to write down a few "what to do now" notes, we both took out our Lamy Safaris. A non-fountain pen person will never know how it feels.
Great video! As someone who is new to fountain pens I kept admiring one of my co-workers using one and decide to jump in, then we got another co-worker on board! It's fun when we are talking about pens and a customer overhears and they are into pens as well. So cool considering we work in a gun club. We have one customer who comes in weekly and brings several pens from his collection to share with us. The bug definitely gets ya!
I love this video. The first goulet video I saw was the 7 mistakes and t sparked my interest for fountain pens. This video just perfectly sums up my first month or so with fountain pens and all of my happy moments
Seriously, I love the "Not throwing a pen away because it is empty" thing. Apart from the feeling of "Oh I really enjoyed using that pen now it's useless" thing, there is also the more ecologically friendly vibe, because I'm not just contributing to the humongous waste of plastic that is discarded everyday. Also most Fountain Pen ink comes in Glass bottles, is made from non-petroleum products. Even the pens themselves aren't always made from petroleum product.
@@cosmicpowers1685 Keep a spare G2, never lend your fountain pen before they show their fountain pen first
@@cosmicpowers1685 they're cheaper in the long run if you can stop yourself from buying inks and new pens
This right here is why I fell in love with fountain pens again after 20 years - the eco factor. Plus, they’re classy ☺️
Best win ever: converting a student with a missing digit in his writing hand to fountain pens. Now, he loves to write!! And he gives me credit for that!
Not to pry but which digit? Its a mental image thing.
Awesome! I imagine it's easier for him since you don't need as much pressure. c:
@@ARF_average I second this
Today I started a design class (bringing my Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco) and was so thrilled when my professor suddenly pulled out an Aurora fountain pen and talked about how he sometimes likes to use fountain pens in his work! It was a green Aurora Ipsilon or something very similar--I caught him for a brief conversation afterward and we both shared a "Aren't [FPs] great??" moment. Made my day!
I'm a sidewriter leftie and I've retrained myself to be an underwriter. Now when I was at a fountain pen store the other day I mentioned that I needed an ink that dried fast, because I am a leftie and smearing issues. When I was test writing some pens (the Waterman Hémisphère, for those interested) the retailer told me that I wouldn't have any problems because my writing angle was remarkably good. Seriously: I wanted to do a backflip right there.
Retraining your hand placement & writing I'm sure is difficult, so I can imagine it'd be a huge fist pump moment when you're starting to feel comfortable the new way. Congrats! - Colin
thanks! it truly is a pain to do it, but it does pay off. No more agonizing hand cramps from writing for hours ( I wrote both my final thesises by hand, unfortunately with a ballpoint and it was painful like you wouldn't believe). I've been studying for six hours consecutively now and still no pain whille writing. It must be true love.
That's awesome! My roommate is leftie and was a side writer - the moment he started gripping a fountain pen he started underwriting instinctively. He smudges less with less cramps, which he's now down the fountain pen rabbit hole lol.
I love it when non-fountain pen users comment on my pen as well. "Wow, cool pen!"
It's always a great feeling.
Great video! Thanks!
Right? I’ve had a few clients tell me “oh an expensive pen to sign this contract. Mmm fannnncy!” With a huge smile on their face. Little do they know it’s just a $70 waterman expert 😊 not knowing their are pens that are in the $1000s range that I’d love to own.
I carry several “cheapy ” fountain pens with me so I can give them away. I’m loving the sharks and swans from Gullor right now for just that purpose.
#8 Discovering GouletPens
Really @zunedog31
I would not have gotten into pens if it wasn't for Brian Goulet. One of my favourite hobbies.
Another one for people who are restricted to black, blue and blue black inks is when you realise you can use different colour inks BEST WIN EVER
Finding out that there are literally 100s of shades and colors out there for fountain pen inks was a discovery that changed my world 😇😇😇
I'm really looking forward to writing with fountain pens more often. I have fibromyalgia so writing with regular pens and pencils has pretty much become a form of torture for me. I think fountain pens will make writing enjoyable again 😊
2 years later, i gotta ask, how are you doing? did it help?
Definitely that writing-rediscovery! My handwriting has been horrible since I was a kid and since getting into fountain pens (only ~3 months in), I've been working on my writing on a daily. Seeing the difference+improvements is very rewarding.
I remember discovering every one of these points and to this day, they still make me smile👍🏻
Absolutely. I'm pumped when I write the perfect W or L, so satisfying. - Colin
01:37 Can anyone please tell me the name of this ink?
I had a bottle of ages old(mid 70s) Blue(said royal on the bottle but was a but darker) that had the perfect metallic bronze shine to it in light. Me being the dumbass I am, I left it out in the sunlight on my table. It faded but it became this perfect gentle greyish blue, which I adored even more. Sadly it ran out a few months ago.
Hi Brian,
Your excitement in this video was palpable and infectious. Lots of fun to watch, and relatable to many of us here, I think! Thanks.
I LOVE finding that "perfect" letter. It's like discovering a new species or land within yourself. It's like defining a part of your soul inscribed on paper... Definitely my favorite things about fountain pens and writing in general! :) SO AMAZING!
Carl Yeung yes . For me it's r k and X with flourishes and embellishments . Or just a bit more extra than usual .
Win: Perfectly tuning your nib. Every pen I have needed some smoothing and tine alignment. When it is perfectly adjusted and writes at its peak, that tactile sync is the pinnacle of writing.
What really got me in to fountain pens wasn't how I thought writing with them would be like, but rather the beauty of the pens themselves, I love how they look and then when I finally got one, writing with it is honestly one of my favorite things to do.
Finding that one pen that feels like an extension of your hand!
Agreed, great win! Do you have any pens that have achieved that for you? - Colin
@@Gouletpens for me it's the Pelikan souveran m805
Yep. I'm "that one person in the office who's really into pens." I wave my pen freak flag proudly. ;)
Awesome, maybe we need to make an official pen flag for you to wave? :) - Colin
I had a crack at it. I'm not the best and my software is somewhat limited, but I at least tried to have it be simple and relevantly colored, although perhaps not quite the Goulet Blue. plus.google.com/106020670359764929559/posts/BtJZu2JLkvs
E: Also, perhaps the border is a bit unnecessary, but it was useful in screenshotting it as the software had trouble exporting. Grandma-level workarounds FTW!
I love it! :) Awesome idea!
Thanks! I'm quite pleased with how it came out in the end.
I'm left-handed, and I used to write over my line, holding my pen like a crab and with a forward slant. Now I've almost developed a good underline, backwarted slant just so I don't smudge, but the transition period from up-and-forward to under-and-backward was painstaking. Only the day I felt like my handwriting was alright enough to use, I got very excited, and this was a complete win for me, because I never could have imagined my handwriting to improve.
I'm EXTREMELY happy to hear the last 'win'--the joy of writing a 'perfect letter'. I thought I was the only person that silly. (In grade school, I failed penmanship because I wouldn't turn in my work if all of the letters/numbers weren't absolutely perfect.) My poor wife just doesn't get it when I get geeked out because my signature turned out especially good because of how 'that Y' looks. She just gives me that look that translates to a virtual pat on the head and a disinterested "That's nice dear." But I made a perfect Y and she can never take that away!
More people love this moment than you realize! M & W are my favorite letters to write, I give a little fist pump when they come out well. - Colin
Many, many years ago, I was really into fountain pens, and somewhat got my younger brother interested in them. Alas, resources were scarce, and we lost "interest" in pens. About a year ago, independent of each other, we both got back into fountain pens. It was fun!
The feeling when you find that perfect nib, ink paper combo that enhances your writing. You want to write forever. Ideas appear on the paper in front of you. They look beautiful. Then you wake up from your dream, the search continues.
Haha, you had me going, and then you woke up. All too accurate. :) - Colin
It feels so good to write with a fountain pen (Noodler's Ahab) filled with a great ink (Noodler's Green) on great paper (Clairfontain stationary pad & matching envelopes) that you really have a hard time STOPPING. Thus explains my recent letter to my sister. Only 16 1/3 pages long because I had to make myself stop writing that time because the envelopes would not take that large of a letter. Put it into a 5x7 manila envelop instead with 3 stamps to make sure it wasn't returned for insufficient postage. LOLOL.
01:37 Can anyone please tell me the name of this ink?
Love that one Brian thank you. I have an 8th catching the pen before it hits the floor uncapped for whatever reason it rolled off the table :)
You feel like a Jedi, don't you? Great win! - Colin
@@Gouletpens Whaaaaatttt!!!??? A Star Wars geek? I need an autograph =D
I'm in a super dense history class and just got into pens last semester, but i definitely most enjoy writing lowercase g and y! It's especially satisfying when I have to write so fast and for so long in that class. I picked up the little flourish/loop on both of those tails a while ago and a fountain pen just really lets it shine
"It would be difficult to find another man who lived so entirely for his duties. It is not enough to say that Akakiy laboured with zeal: no, he laboured with love. In his copying, he found a varied and agreeable employment. Enjoyment was written on his face: some letters were even favourites with him; and when he encountered these, he smiled, winked, and worked with his lips, till it seemed as though each letter might be read in his face, as his pen traced it. If his pay had been in proportion to his zeal, he would, perhaps, to his great surprise, have been made even a councillor of state. But he worked, as his companions, the wits, put it, like a horse in a mill." From N. Gogol, "The overcoat".
As a lefty I am jealous of other people's handwriting, but that wont stop me from enjoying the experience that you can only get from using a fountain pen, especially since I just ordered a Monteverde Mount Fuji.
fountain pen win #1- "out for delivery"
Great addition! Even better when you work here, so fast. :) - Colin
Experiencing #5 is really fun, and it really does open up a conversation.
oh yeah the letter thing definitely! lowercase fs and capitol Ss for me!
Meeting a stranger in my country who also loves fountain pens is pretty much like finding a gold needle in a haystack! I love the no pressure as well as creating a bond with my pen things(not throwing away after a while), these are the reasons why despite being one of the pen haters, now I love to write with FPs!
I just saw this video today. I know it’s a few years old already, but I couldn’t help but comment because every point applies so perfectly to my fountain pen life. I especially liked the comment regarding the satisfaction you get when writing that perfect letter. However mine is not just one letter, it is a word. There is something special for me about writing the word “anyway”.
Interesting! I'm going to write anyway now and see if it resonates with me. Glad this video hit those fountain pen feelings for you. - Colin
This was really nice :D
a+ for positivity!
The funniest thing is that in school one of my classmates asked me why I always have so many colours on my hands.😂😂😂
Tan Andy LOL
I GET THIS SO MUCH! there's nothing more satisfying! I got oxblood by diamine for my visconti opera metal monza and let me tell you, it was the best fit and I felt so happy. And finding people with fountain pens is the most exciting thing!
My favorite letters to write are "a" and "h"
I love the sound they make while gliding on paper....❤......so satisfying....
Thanks for the Lefties information. It has enabled me to to enjoy the world of fountain pens.
I am a lefty, and although i have to write at a strange angle and severely struggle with smudging I absolutely am addicted to fountain pens! They are so beautiful and smooth, and nothing beats when you find that one pen that writes smooth as glass with no skipping (even with a strange grip). Fountain pens are well worth the lefty struggles i deal with when using them.
Well, that's good you persevere through the leftie struggles! Finding that perfect pen/ink combo is well worth it. :) - Colin
It's videos like these that make me happy to support your company. I can tell that there's a genuine joy in sharing your hobby.
Sheening and shading when I saw it made me fall in love with inks
One of my best days while using my FP at work. A gentlemen with a British accent said "it's nice to see someone writing with proper pen." Or I get "is that a real fountain pen? I haven't seen one of those since I was a little kid in school."
What a terrific and thoroughly enjoyable video, Brian! You neatly articulated so many of the things I love about my fountain pen addiction. And when I saw my orange Conklin Duragraph with six orange ink samples, among them my personal choice Noodler's Habanera, that sealed it for me. I'd love to see more like this.
We have a few more videos in the pipeline! Thanks for the support & feedback. - Colin
I was in one of the only schools in my city where you didn’t use fountain pens to learn to write. I’ve had lots of problems with hand cramps etc etc and recently discovered that fountain pens might help. I bought a platinum preppy to test that and man I am hooked. I am now looking to step up my fountain pen game and am probably going to the LAMY safari. I just love the way the fountain pen makes my writing look so neat and consistent and that I can write for pages without getting any cramp or fatigue in my hand 😍.
I can relate to being the person in the family obsessed with pens. I’ve only started getting into fountain pens for the past two weeks. I always thought as a lefty they would be too hard for me to use, but from day one I was writing underhanded and haven’t had any smudging issues.
My two big wins so far was finding a Lamy Safari at a bookstore for $1 and seeing an old picture of my grandfather using a fountain pen. He died when I was 4 so I never got to know him well. Using a fountain pen makes me feel more connected to family.
I really love having a matching ink, to each of my pens!!!
I love the “inky “ fingers.....such lovely penmanship.....very inspiring video....Thanks for all the information your company puts out there , is very appreciated.
I love using a new ink and cleaning the nib for the first time and seeing the new color.
I remember when I was first learning cursive in school. I loved writing the letter T, it was fun! I didn't get that feeling again until I started practicing with my new pen and finally solved the dreaded "wr" combination.
This is fantastic. I'm new to fountain pens and have loved a few of these things and now can't wait to find fellow fountain pen lovers someday somewhere in real life!
It'll be a magical moment for sure! :) - Colin
I am retired and travel quite a bit in my RV; I keep a journal/diary, often making entries outside my RV, or in a restaurant while waiting for my order.
Very often, a passerby will see what I'm doing and voice their curiosity about my pen and handwriting (which is not all that great!), wanting to know how I learned to write as I do and where I found a fountain pen to use.
Most folks are surprised that good handwriting, ink, and fountain pens are not as rare as unicorns, but are readily available if one but seeks them out.
So many have asked to try my pen, from which I demur, as you might well expect, but I always carry an inexpensive "loaner" and a tiny dipping bottle of ink so they can experience what I do when writing.
I know a few who have gone on to buy their own pens -- and one who has started collecting them!
It is greatly satisfying to spread the word, as it were, and using a fountain pen on public is a great conversation starter.
P.S. -- It is my honor to be in possession of the Parker Vacumatic that my father used in grammar school in the 1920s. The bladder long ago gave up the ghost, and I know that there are reputable craftsmen who could repair it, but I won't do it -- I keep it just as my father gave it to me long, long ago. I am satisfied to use it as a dipping pen from time to time, cleaning the nib carefully after each use, remembering my father every time I touch that pen.
That smoothness/low pressure needed are the reason I got hooked on fountain pens the first time I tried one. It feels absolutely effortless even with something as inexpensive as a Pilot Metropolitan. I want to add one related Fountain Pen Win on this topic: Using a fountain pen and realizing it doesn't skip/cut out the way even nice rollerballs can. Seeing your writing come out as consistently smooth and liquid is an amazing feeling (and saves you from having to go back and fill in annoying skips!).
The smearing one is spot on. Felt amazing once I learned how to not smear my writing as a lefty.
Thank you Brian. Great video. One of my favorite combinations is my Lamy 2000 and Diamine Graphite. And thanks for admitting you find specific letters satisfying to write. D, P and B tend to make me smile. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
Nice combo, Graphite is a sun ink to write with, especially with a finer nib, looks like a pencil! :) - Colin
There's many nice things about pens, but ultimately the most important one is just that it's comfortable to write with. I could not do journaling everyday with a ballpoint, but I can write as much as I want with a fountain. Turns out in almost every situation, journaling helps us deal with our feelings and confront our problems, leading to higher quality of life. But it's hard to do that if after half a page you're annoyed your hand hurts. I used to do all my creative writing on the computer, and when I started programming I couldn't take anymore screen time and so only wrote short poems. Fountain pens have gotten me back into the long form. All that to say, it's not really about the pen, it's about having a quality tool for doing what you like. Ballpoint can be like cooking with a dull knife. Similarly, cooking will always ultimately be about you, not your knife.
First time trying fountain pens with Tomoe River paper and looking the ink dry. It shows colours and shades I had never imagined. Then trying a lot of other types of paper (japanese paper, german, french,…) and observing the differences of the same ink and pen in different papers.
Can really agree with finding someone else who uses a fountain pen. It’s so rare for a teenager to find an other teenager who uses fountain pen.
I'm a newby to the fountain pen community but I'm totally hooked! I splurged today on a beautiful seaglass Edison, and I can hardly wait to hold it in my hand!! I have a friend who unbeknownst to him actually turned me on to this awesome world of the glorious fountain pen. Yeah, that first Lamy Safari was all it took. Alas and yaaay! I'll never go back to that silly ballpoint. That almost sounds like a cuss word now.
Ha! I know what you mean. Can't even mention ballpoints around the GPC office. But you're going to love the Edison Seaglass, it's even prettier in person! - Colin
This was great stuff...I had to share it with my friends...I'm 68 and I've loved fountain pens and collected them since age 11...I have books I write about my youth with a little art...they're all about having fun and they take your stress away...
Hello Brian,Great videos mate.Keep up the good work.
Needed this video today...time to break out the fountain pens again after taking a bit of a break.
My moment came when I discovered filling my pens with a syringe....why did it take me so long to figure that one out!!??!
I honestly filled my first fountain pen via the nib one time before I started filling up the converter from the bottle and got perfect fills. You can also get to experiment with the smooth change of colors between two inks if you don't clean it out. Now i use a syringe for it, less mess.
Thing is, if you fill it with the nib you won't experience initial flow issues since ink will be in the pen!
I guess I've been lucky because I haven't had that problem. At least not enough to notice ;-)
I can actually relate to No. 3 haha. We had a German exchange student my senior year of high school and I noticed him writing with a green Lamy Safari and I pulled out my blue Lamy Safari and we both had a moment of appreciation despite hardly ever talking to each other before.
When your favorite company drops a new ink
The moment when you finally notice and can feel the difference between a steel nib and a gold one...
A huge win is always when other people notice your writing’s color or pen looks incredible - nothing tops a fountain pen when it comes to style. There’s a fountain pen for every look.
Love the video. I'm going to get my first fountain pen soon
Anyone else's fav letter to write is lowercase f? Just me?
Me too!
Same!
"Re"discovering writing is a big one for me. Very big.
When I was young, writing was something I barely tolerated because I had to. Paper-Mates, Bics Stics, and occasionally you could force me to use a woodcase pencil.
Now I have an actual wooden box full of pens. Fountain pens were a large part of allowing me to understand that writing can be fun.
The endless diversity of pen, ink, and paper choices contributes!
Just recently, I discovered a new favorite ink (Diamine Twilight), shimmer inks, and a cheap notebook at the local dollar store that actually works well on FPs.
As does discovering an ink that shades when put through a fine or EF nib.
I'm always hearing that fines and EFs just don't shade, but so far I've already found a few inks that exhibit a joyful shading property when put through finer point pens.
There's also the experimental and tinkerer's side.
Fixing a rough and dry nib.
My first eyedropper conversion.
* On the same pen.
Not throwing away your pen because you ran it out isn't as "much" a thing for me, simply because I find it difficult to not LOSE a pen in the time it takes me to run it empty.
That said, the earth-lover in me loves that my pens are a durable product that'll stay by my side for years to come yet.
But because I love my fountian pens, I find that I take a significantly greater effort into not losing them. Which of course means that I'm a lot more likely to reach for the ink bottle than the pen box.
Unless I just want to use another pen today. (I'm extremely indecisive...)
Absolutely loved this video content.. This guy actually expressed all of the inner feelings of a fountain pen lover.. It is like he is pulling one after the other hidden things inside your heart attached to your fountain pen' s love..
Never thought I would use a shimmering ink, till this video. Brian when you were showing the different angles the light can hit the ink and the reflection that you get, I thought hey I need to try some.
Well done! Very fun.
4:43 my favorite letter to write is "a" yes, lowercase a, the a as in the computer font "a."
ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO!! Thanks Brian!!
Watching this before sleep... Definitely a video to leave you with a good mood :)
I feel fuzzy fuzzy. Thats for that warm feeling. The bent nib in the mistakes video really got to me. This one helped. Its like counselling to the trauma of the bent nib.
Man, that Twilight Logo looks really good, would probably goes hand-in-hand amazingly with R&K Scabiosa.
I think I started drooling a little watching those writing clips. I like to think my handwriting is pretty good, but dude... That's on a whole different level.
I'm late at this one, but:
Having people say: nice pen! and being able to say more about it than where you bought it and what it cost.
Writing stuff down, not because you have to but because you like to.
Having a terrible leftie handwriting and getting back to fountain pens after two decades or so. Now enjoy writing for the first time in my life.
Writing with a stub nib for the first time. Picked up my first 1.1 and 1.9 yesterday, love it with Pelikan 4001 violet!
had some serious wins in the ink/pen matching department this week. It's so delightful!
Nice! Which pens & ink did you match? - Colin
I have a pair of perfectly paired Pilot Preras. Soft Blue (solid body) with J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche, and Slate Grey (solid body) with R&K Verdigris. Two of my favorite ink colors have finally found their perfect pens :)
And if you're meeting with someone, or going somewhere (like a job interview) you have 2 additional headaches: 1. Which pen should I bring with me? Does it match my image? What can it tell about me? 2. What ink should I use? Is it OK for this occasion?
Even if you know that your opponent won't get it at all.
Yes, it's like an extension of the suit/outfit you're wearing. - Colin
Yay! I'm not the only one that likes to match their pen to their ink!
When you write a long word flawlessly in cursive in one go
That last one was so relatable. The capital J in my last name is definitely one of my favorite letters to write
Definitely the letter one for me is a total win, especially when writing essays.
Great Video! :)
LOVE this video! This is great! Also - looking at older videos lately and have to comment that you are looking so healthy and so much better than some of the older videos. This is definitely meant to be a compliment - not a negative. LOL
I'm sure Brian will appreciate hearing that! He lost a lot of weight a few years back, here's a video if you're curious at all: ruclips.net/video/e8V_u8BmflY/видео.html. - Colin
Hey Brian. Firstly, I love your videos. I was wondering what pens you usually carry around with you daily (probably a vanishing point). Maybe you could do some EDC videos. Keep up the good work!
Here's a video of his EDC pens: ruclips.net/video/LeACgHp1fec/видео.html, Still accurate 3 years later, but he does use a Visconti Homo Sapiens quite a bit now as well. - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company Thank you!
Getting that new color of ink and seeing it in person for the first time.
was using a pencil when this happened but at some point in middle school i figured out that i could write the letters “g” and “y” in cursive when handwriting and now i LOVE writing those letters
Really into pens. I choose my pens (fountain pen or not) really carefully and it pisses me off when someone uses my pen and forgets to return it. I don't lend my pens to my colleagues for a long time anymore.
One more joy about fountain pens and gel pens is the way the ink catches the light and shines till it dries.
Really all these wins, my heart leaps with joy. 😍
Hi I'm wondering how the pilot custom 74 fine compares to the pilot metropolitan fine. Is it about the same, or is the custom 74 slightly broader. Thanks!
The Metropolitan definitely leaves a finer line. The softness of the gold nib on the 74 lends itself to a slightly broader stroke. You can compare them yourself using our Nib Nook (www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook). - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company Thank you so much!
When the nib sings!!! My Yard o Led and Pelikans do it, tis a beautiful thing.
Interesting, not everyone likes the singing nibs! I'm on the fence with them. - Colin
I'm at times obligated to write with Ball point pens. And that is ANNOYING.
It happens to the best of us. Just makes me enjoy fountain pens much more when I get to use them again! - Colin
Sahil Satishkumar Even high quality mechanical pencils like ones that Platinum makes are more pleasurable to write with than most ball points.
but i have an obligation to write with Ball point pens, for my university exams. There is no escaping that.
Sahil Satishkumar Not all ball points are made equally either. A very high quality ball point will actually write nicely.
But, I don't want to invest in one, just for 3 hours.
Please upload videos of how to write beautifully with fountain pens. I enjoyed the different types of fonts.
We do have a video on improving handwriting if you're curious: ruclips.net/video/To7H-ZJ_8Ic/видео.html - Colin
"I love getting letters from you. Nobody writes personal letters anymore."
A great way to stand out and be different, in a positive fashion. Work on your penmanship and the fluidity and novel color of ink choices...be different!
If you have had a job interview and you send a "Thank you letter" for the interview afterwards (yes, as a matter of protocol you are supposed to do that) and it's written well, legibly and with a bit of flair (not written WITH a Flair Pen) with nice ink and on good paper stock...they will remember you...to your benefit.
I was in Korea (other side of the world for me, right?) and met the responsible of the project I went to work on, and when we had to write down a few "what to do now" notes, we both took out our Lamy Safaris. A non-fountain pen person will never know how it feels.
Great video! As someone who is new to fountain pens I kept admiring one of my co-workers using one and decide to jump in, then we got another co-worker on board! It's fun when we are talking about pens and a customer overhears and they are into pens as well. So cool considering we work in a gun club. We have one customer who comes in weekly and brings several pens from his collection to share with us. The bug definitely gets ya!
Why there isn't a love button to react ? Seriously such beautiful points u brought up .. thank you Brian.
You are so welcome
Hahah just found a new 'p' thanks to your vid!
I love this video. The first goulet video I saw was the 7 mistakes and t sparked my interest for fountain pens. This video just perfectly sums up my first month or so with fountain pens and all of my happy moments
That's awesome to hear! We were hoping it'd resonate with our fountain pen fanatics. Lots of small joys from writing with FPs! - Colin
Very interesting!
I have become obsessed with your videos. And my favourite letters to write are D and L also. Do you ship to Australia?
Yes, we do ship to Australia! - Colin
My favourite letters to write are the capital A and the capital H. I can go wild on those. Especially with a flex nib