I have written many thank you notes and cards. However, this is the first time I considered buying my own fountain pen, which I now know is a good idea.
I'm a 72 yr old lady and so enjoy your videos because of your vocabulary, your tone of voice and, of course, your counsel. My father was not a wealthy man, had little education, and grew up in Western Colorado, but he was a true gentleman. Your recommendations and suggestions would have fit him very comfortably. Thank you so much for your videos.
It is for women like you that we strive for excellence in all we do and say. I do hope that one day, when I have left this place, my beloved daughter might ,in those golden years recall who I am and what I aspired to be. And I hope that she remembers it was all for her. So that she might have a standard in which to choose her husband and raise her sons.
May I add, that cursive writing, attention to detail, spelling words out, and sentence structure is very important. Despite the fact that I enjoy technology, nothing can replace a well handwritten letter.
What a wonderful video! I grew up in a very blue collar, suburban, American home in the 1950's and 60's. I have wonderful memories in that childhood and I'm grateful to many aspects of it. But I always knew there was something different about me. As I grew older and my horizons opened, I traveled internationally and my closest friends it seems were Brits or the upper classes that carried this lifestyle that I evolved into. I remember reading an article about Princess Dianna where she said that when she went to a dinner or the like, she would always lay out and addressed envelope and the paper on her personal desk so that when she came home she would write the thank you note before she laid down to sleep. It would take many words to describe the mental and physical experience of writing with a fountain pen. When I mail a thank you note to someone in recent years, I almost always get a call from that person the day they receive the note saying "I haven't seen one of these in YEARS!" I could go on and on, but the last comment - I was HORRIFIED when I was listening to a radio program 15 or more years back when the person being interviewed said that they were going to stop teaching children to write in longhand/script. I did not believe that could ever happen - but it did. And I've heard recently that those people have already realized that it was a horrible mistake. Thank you so very much for doing this podcast ! ! ! I've Liked, Subscribed and clicked the bell. I plan to share this with many and hopefully some will receive the message. One last thing - I don't think I'm overstating that it's things like this that connect us with our "humanity". Again - thank you!
I am glad you covered this topic. I am someone who grew up writing with a fountain pen and I use one for my journaling. These old school school, tried and proven methods of communication are truly an art that should be preserved
I bought an inexpensive "corner rounder" punch. It's amazing how much classier business cards and any straight-edged stationery look when you round off the corners.
Great topic. Stationary is one of those under appreciated things that you often don’t think about until you need it and don’t have it. I would add that gents often will say they don’t write because their handwriting is so bad. That’s just because you’re out of the habit. Slow down, which a fountain pen will help you do, and be deliberate about forming letters. It’s amazing how much better your handwriting will get with a little practice. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
What a timely video! Just hours ago I sent a note to someone who has had two huge losses in their immediate family and only weeks apart. The second memorial service a few days ago. I sent a note ot my friend that I'm continuing to pray for them and for the remaining family members. My note was only one sentence long. It wasn't a short, abrupt sentence, but still just one sentence. I didn't see the need to embellish or add; just letting someone know that they and their relatives aren't forgotten now that the memorial services are over. Also when I send a letter to someone when there has been a death, in no way do I expect a reply. The only motive is to acknowledge and to, hopefully, offer a little comfort. I enjoy writing letters. I've been complimented on my penmanship. As I've aged, my writing isn't as good as it used to be or at least has changed, and I may now have arthritis in my wrists, but I'm not done using and enjoying pens and paper!
This is an interesting and helpful post. I use a Waterman Exception fountain pen with a converter instead of a cartridge. Refilling the pen is part of the process for me. Additionally, I use an A-6 notebook when traveling or commuting. Thank you from a 62-year-old male.
Fountain pen is the epitome of the art of hand writing. In my primary school we were taught fountain pen writing as specific technique, by rationing pressure of hand, inclination and speed. Writing is not just a physical action. It involves body soul and mind.
Sir: I have kept all of the notes and letters which I have received over the years which were hand written on nice paper. Yes, they are a treasured item and are often kept a lifetime. And a written thank-you note is so rare these days that you will surely be appreciated and remembered if you write such a note. It's a tip for getting ahead in life. Great video!
I am still using the Pelikan my parents gave me for my middle school final exam, when I was fourteen years old. When I graduated I was given a Mont Blanc, but my old Pelikan still remains my favourite
Great vid. Nothing more personal and impactful than handwritten correspondence, especially these days when everyone types. I too was only allowed fountain pens at school and miss the chance to use them. They focus the mind and make your handwriting better. Thanks to you, I'm going to dig out my old fountain pen.
Over the years I have come to own a small collection of pens. I have parker, mont blanc and sheaffer fountain pens. My favourite is my mont blanc, It gives me such a wonderful writing experience
Your informative review totally inspired me! 🌟I recently ordered the silver Rolls-Royce correspondence cards from Wren Press - they're amazing! 👏 I've also been diving into the world of fountain pens thanks to you all. Can't thank you enough for the incredible review and informative video! Keep up the great content -- Blessings! 🤗
Thank you for mentioning the love letter. I used to write them to my wife often and she loved them. Just a small suggestion for the young Gentlemen out there. I found that to get the most impact, a love letter should be slipped into your lady's purse or handbag without her knowledge. That way, the chances are great that she will discover the letter while in the company of her friends or co-workers.
I am basically like you. I love fountain pens, still use them. While in elementary school, fountain pens were a must ! I still love hand writing, especially with fountain pen. Parker is my number one brand. And yes, there's nothing like a hand written note ! And because I sill use fountain pens, I do have a lot of compliments on my hand writing. I am very traditional if it goes to that. Very interesting vlog btw.
As someone who is VERY into fountain pens, I do write handwritten letters for birthdays and holidays for those close to me. It really does make writing special. And not only that; for those in school, use them for notes! I promise you will actually WANT to write notes! It's great. I used my Pilot Custom 823 and Montblanc M. 149 for classes this past semester, and I always looked forward to writing notes every day.
In addition to my higher status ballpoint pen, I have a Gelocity version of the ink pen, rather than a fountain pen. When I was growing up, I had a similar experience with fountain and I loved loved loved everything about fountain pens, though they were quite messy with less than ideal technology. I especially loved that scratchiness feel AND sound. For me, the gelocity pens give me that fresh vegetable ink look and smell and feel of a quill pen. Thank you for sharing. 🙏🧠✍️🦋👍🍁❤️
Hello James. This was a great video for your viewers. I have many different styles of correspondence cards as well as different stationary. Depending on the message and to whom I am sending it to, I choose the appropriate one. This is a value lost with time and it is sad that the habit has fallen out of favor. I'm happy to see your attempt to resurrect this fine practice.
Great points about handwritten letters. The local congregation of Jehovah's witnesses started sending out what looks like personal hand written messages about their teachings. I was very impressed. They look like they're hand written in cursive, and the return address does not reflect the fact that the letter came from a kingdom hall address. I thought at first that it was from the person's home. On very close inspection one can see that the letters are printed instead of being hand written. The paper is lined and the color of the lines and the color of the text is different. Some thought went into creating the letter. Looking up the return address revealed that it was a kingdom hall (what they call their church) address. I almost wrote them back. Point is that it drew me into wanting to interact with them rather than ignoring them as I do with type written advertisement letters.
I own a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck and it is one of my favourite possessions. I practise writing daily and have dozens of inks. My favourite ink is Asa Gao by pilot, a really stunning blue. I also own a Visconti homo sapiens which might be the greatest writing pen of all time. It is made out of volcanic ash which prevents your hands sweating when writing a lot.
Handwriting promotes artistic merit. It's personal and is the oldest form of communication. Messaging becomes more meaningful. If some of your writing is done by hand...it's handsome!
You are so right on about keeping a Pen in your Jacket. I remember reading The Fame Game by Rona Jaffe. Dick Devere a TV Producer took out his Notebook and a Pen, and wrote down some Novels that he thought Sarah aka "Silky" who was in an up an coming Girl Grop called Silky & The Satins would enjoy. She was thrilled.
I enjoyed this video very much! Writing with a fountain pen is one of my favorite past times. I would highly recommend going to the Montblanc boutique in Chicago since you live there. They were so kind and thoughtful when I visited that I ordered my Meisterstuck through them rather than ordering online even though I live on the West Coast.
Absolutely… there’s nothing like receiving a handwritten note or letter. So much more meaningful than a text message or email. I have come to love writing with a fountain pen and I now use fountain pens almost exclusively. One point, though, I have found that typically Moleskin notebooks are not very fountain pen friendly, especially if you use a broad nib that lays down a lot of ink. The paper will cause the ink to feather and won’t look crisp. You can research good paper to use that will bring out the best features of the beautiful inks that are available.
I too have a seal and wax, but because the post office mail sorting machine doesn’t like wax seals, I put my seal envelope inside a slightly larger one.
I'm a huge fan of writing. I love fountain pens and have a lovely little collection of different nips, I use the fine for letters and journaling and a medium for notes. Mainly because the medium flows quicker, making it easier to jot down things quicker. If you get a fountain pen make sure you get fountain pen-friendly paper as some of the stuff you can buy can be waxy. Which is okay for the oily ink in ballpoints but not the water-based ink fountain pens use.
I've made it a habit to keep one or two with envelopes (and postage) in my work/personal notebook (A5 size) that I carry everywhere. That way I'm always prepared in the event I'm away from home and need to make an impact.
Great video. I've come to realize that my most enjoyable moments was when I would receive a hand written letter from my then fiancé as it felt more personal and intimate. I very much enjoyed reading her letters and she mine. A fountain pen makes ones writing look more thoughtful and makes the receiver feel important. I'm going to go back to doing that. Thanks. May suggest doing a video on the proper gentleman's grooming kit? There's so many out there to choose from. I'd like to pick the best one for me.
A great alternative to Montblanc is Sailor. Do try out the Parker Sonnet also. Although I love the Meisterstuck roller ball, a Caran d'Ache is just as good and from a respected Swiss house also
Hello there, another good starter fountain pens I can relate to are the following: - Pilot Metropolitan - Kaweco Sport - TWSBI Eco If you like the Lamy safari but more fancy, the Lamy Al-star Is the same pen but with aluminium instead of poly carbonate And my final tip is look for a cartridge converter (or just converter) to enable the option to use any writing ink from an ink well and in the long run is cheaper than using disposable cartridges
I have found both the Metro by Pilot and the TWSBI Eco to be among the smoothest writing pens on the market! I stumbled across a 1.0mm "stub" nib on my Metropolitan and it tends to make ordinary or "not-so-good" handwriting come alive! The line variation, due to the grind on a stub nib, makes a world of difference in your handwriting. I use this stub nib more often than I thought I would. It's remarkable! And the Eco steel nib is amazingly smooth right out of the box. I use a medium nib and the ink flow is terrific and smooth. Not a bit scratchy.
I had something like this in the back of my mind, I have a few Thank You card I sometimes mail to people. This tutorial highlights a forgotten skill which if practiced will make an impression as pretty much all the social media practices been done in excess that make them all bankrupt.
hahahahaha @ Biro. I sent My big Brother some gloves a few weeks ago. I used black ink in my pen written covering letter. He sent a response via facebook, He liked the gloves but was absolutely ecstatic over the hand written letter. I could feel his emotional smile at it :-)
For your first fountain pen I would recommend the platinum preppy or pilot kakuno or the next models up from those. People rave about the Lamy pens, but I've had bad experiences with the nib and ink apparatus that connects to the nib. The quality control can be mixed
Excellent advice for aspiring gentlemen. The only thing I'd quibble with is your statement that Moleskine notebooks are suitable for fountain pens. In truth, they are generally not appropriate because one's writing often feathers (line gets fuzzy) and bleeds (soaks through to the other side). These are common complaints expressed by Moleskine users worldwide. For this reason, fountain pen aficionados often prefer higher-quality paper from Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Tomoe River (from Japan), and Midori (also from Japan). Another point to consider: the broader the nib of your fountain pen and the wetter your ink, the more important paper quality is. I personally love broad nibs and extremely wet inks, so I tend to use Midori and Tomoe River paper, which stand up well to gushing fountain pens.
I don't own a fountain pen, I never learned how to use one 😂but I have several ball point pens and i write all my notes, to do lists, my journal with a pen or a pencil. I still write in cursive as well. My nephew never learned how to write or read cursive. He is graduating high school this June. It is sad that our school systems are not teaching these things anymore...
I‘m back into hand writing after a long period of computer usage. Please let me express my sincere thank to pick up this topic and spread the word. I‘m happy to see that the matter of personal, handwritten messages is getting more attention nowadays.
Pens - I do feel that a Waterman is the gentleman's choice, given its history as producing the first proper, non leaking, fountain pen. They range from inexpensive to rather more. You see Parkers everywhere, or I seem to. Rarely a Waterman.
I write all the time. I pay as many of my bills by cheque as I can, sending them with a covering letter. Texting is easy and fast, writing is slow and thoughtful. I have a parker fountain pen and a parker biro. Both are presents from my children when they were at school. They only had pocket money to buy them with but saved up to give me these inexpensive gifts. They are of course my most prized possessions and I use them every day. I also have a vintage Conway Stewart fountain pen. For a future video how about cuff links and tie clips?
It's a lost art, if people still gave me gifts they would receive a proper thank you. Unfortunately as you age the gifts go one way so my opportunities are rare. Keep up the fight.
This was a nice video, i quite agree with you about pens. I have a Faber Castel fountain pen, i have had it for many years, it is only i who use it so the ni have been worn to suit my hand. I also have a vintage Papermate ballpoint pen that i use for my diary(yes i am a diarist) i got that from my wife when she was my girlfriend, The first christmas gift. Lastly in my pocket i have a Ballograf ballpoint pen, i use that to sign off all work orders and I voices that i have to sign to complete a work. The Ballograf is the last pen that is made in Sweden. And dear boy lastly you forgot that a gentleman also should own some high quality pencils, i always have one if i need to do a sketch of something that i need to change while working, like when excavatiing for drain, i get down to bedrock, i can show an alternative that would be cheaper for the cliwnt than getting a blasting crew.
I, too, attended a school where we were required to write with fountain pens. Unfortunately, I'm left handed. They tried to change my hand preference. That didn't work. Consequently, I spent years dragging the side of my left palm through wet ink. Consequently, my cursive is atrocious. I spent years with an ink stain on the outside of my left palm that never seemed to quite go away.
Nowadays, we people simply type by using a keyboard if we want to send a message. in days gone by, we used to write letters and send them by mail/post.
When I passed my Abitur (= A-Levels, I think) in Germany in 1986 we had been allowed to write with with anything we wanted beside from a pencil. But including then 10th grade everybody had to write with a fountain pen. I do not know if this is true until today in Germany. A black border edge in Germany is dedicated to death messages, I think any dark border edge is to avoid as normal there not to shock the recipient of paper mail.
I remember writing hand written letters in elementary school but as texting and email became more commonplace hand writing fell out of favor. In middle school and high school the extent of hand written letters became sympathy cards for people who have fallen ill or broken a limb.
Great videos! Just a short note - In 2024, it's clear that stripes are moving in various directions. The traditional right to left direction is known as the "American style" for stripes. On the other hand, the right to left direction is the "European style" for stripes. Personally I like the European style more. Seems more classy to me and btw we also prefer to see share prices rise rather than fall. Is there a connection? I think so. :)
Goodness, I’m very surprised you recommended Parker! I mean they make good pens, but there’s a ton of manufacturers that excel Parker. Sailor, Platinum, Pilot, Pelikan, Namiki, Nakaya, Waldmann, Otto Hutt, Onoto all produce pens that far out perform and offer more interesting pens. Good choice with the ink though!
I highly recommend Parker's fountain pens as they are very high quality (even for lower end models). Lamy's fountain pens are great for reliability. However, I wouldn't recommend Parker's ballpoint pens, because I always come across ink-leaking problems with their refills. It can be quite troublesome when the inside of your pen is filled with sticky ink. No doubt Parker pens write smoothly, but over the years this problem persists. I'm currently looking for other reliable ballpoint pens besides Parker.
Great video James, as a fountain pen user for over two decades, I would suggest Rhodia A5 notebooks. I’ve never found Moleskine to be that fountain pen friendly.
As a long-term fountain, Pen user I can advise that moleskin one of the least helpful notebooks for fountain Pens. The paper is variable and unless you use a very fine fountain pen tend to bleed through the page.
Name your ballpoint and fountain pen pairs I’ll start with my pair. Both from pilot: Ballpoint-Acro 1,000 in black Fountain pen-Explorer in matte black
Wonderful video! I definitely agree on Montblancs being amazing pens, might I suggest those who aren’t looking to spend thousands on one to look at the 1x, 2x and 2xx lines from the 1960s beautiful nibs 14k gold and super smooth. I typically use my 1963 Montblanc 22 Fountain pen in an OM nib and then my ballpoint is a Montblanc 164. Although one thing in this video I disagree with, moleskin comparatively to what you can find elsewhere is lower quality paper and honestly not worth it for the price, (for fountain pens anyways with nice inks) I would instead recommend RHODIA paper. Great silky smooth paper that makes ink look amazing and typically is cheaper than Moleskin notebooks. Wonderful video as always, Thanks, Max
Moleskine notebooks fall somewhat short of being A5. Neither are they fountain pen friendly, unless you write with a fine nib which lays down much less ink than a medium or a broad nib would. The bleed through of ink on Moleskine paper can be dreadful. I would recommend Leuchtturm over Moleskine. It actually is a true A5 and a much better quality of paper which is more than adequate for fountain pens. Around the same price, and comes with a variety of sticky labels that can be very useful for classifying and archiving.
Besides using Moleskine, have you tried how the fountain pen ink reacts to it? It's not really that great based from other accounts on people who use fountain pen specific ink
3:49 - If you cannot write in it with a fountain pen, I do not think the notebook is high quality. Moleskine is unfortunately useless with fountain pens due to their low-quality paper, and, in my opinion, therefore not be considered a high quality notebook. Sorry.
Much in the video made sense until I heard Moleskine as a quality notebook suggestion for anything other than a pencil or maybe a ball point. People need to look to Midori, Tomoe River Notebooks, Stalogy Notebooks, Rhodia as a quality A5 or A4 notebook able to handle a fountain pen and rollerballs, and pencils and with TR paper even some water and brush to diffuse and wash over ink drawings by fountain pen.
This channel is so inspirational...something to strive for and done so well in little doses that are achievable! Might I suggest a topic one the world needs today? How to argue and debate, as there is a slight difference between the two while stressing the true definition of both in this instance, like a Gentleman.
For first class paper and pen without spending Smthyson of Bond Street prices, look to the best Japanese Tomoe River paper and inexpensive (but leak resistant) fountain pens from Japanese companies like Platinum. Keep a diary or a "log book" ---this exceptional paper, such as from Hobonichi, will not bleed with fountain ink.
rhodia and clairefontaine notebooks are also excellent for fountain pens. moleskine is quite inconsistent with their paper quality and may cause feathering and bleed through
A thank you note written with a fountain pen is a must for someone who has helped you. They don't forget.
Indeed
I have written many thank you notes and cards. However, this is the first time I considered buying my own fountain pen, which I now know is a good idea.
Indeed
I'm a 72 yr old lady and so enjoy your videos because of your vocabulary, your tone of voice and, of course, your counsel. My father was not a wealthy man, had little education, and grew up in Western Colorado, but he was a true gentleman. Your recommendations and suggestions would have fit him very comfortably. Thank you so much for your videos.
It is for women like you that we strive for excellence in all we do and say. I do hope that one day, when I have left this place, my beloved daughter might ,in those golden years recall who I am and what I aspired to be. And I hope that she remembers it was all for her. So that she might have a standard in which to choose her husband and raise her sons.
I used to write a letter to my father every week. I found out after he passed, that he kept every one of those letters. I miss him
I'm sorry for your loss.
Of course he did, because he loved you from the instant you were born.
May I add, that cursive writing, attention to detail, spelling words out, and sentence structure is very important. Despite the fact that I enjoy technology, nothing can replace a well handwritten letter.
Learning the hard way, I now write mine on the computer first, with a spelling and grammar check. When satisfied I carefully write by hand on paper.
Very well said
Amen!
ARE not "is", but the sentiment is certainly correct.
What a wonderful video! I grew up in a very blue collar, suburban, American home in the 1950's and 60's. I have wonderful memories in that childhood and I'm grateful to many aspects of it. But I always knew there was something different about me. As I grew older and my horizons opened, I traveled internationally and my closest friends it seems were Brits or the upper classes that carried this lifestyle that I evolved into. I remember reading an article about Princess Dianna where she said that when she went to a dinner or the like, she would always lay out and addressed envelope and the paper on her personal desk so that when she came home she would write the thank you note before she laid down to sleep. It would take many words to describe the mental and physical experience of writing with a fountain pen. When I mail a thank you note to someone in recent years, I almost always get a call from that person the day they receive the note saying "I haven't seen one of these in YEARS!" I could go on and on, but the last comment - I was HORRIFIED when I was listening to a radio program 15 or more years back when the person being interviewed said that they were going to stop teaching children to write in longhand/script. I did not believe that could ever happen - but it did. And I've heard recently that those people have already realized that it was a horrible mistake.
Thank you so very much for doing this podcast ! ! ! I've Liked, Subscribed and clicked the bell. I plan to share this with many and hopefully some will receive the message. One last thing - I don't think I'm overstating that it's things like this that connect us with our "humanity". Again - thank you!
I am glad you covered this topic. I am someone who grew up writing with a fountain pen and I use one for my journaling. These old school school, tried and proven methods of communication are truly an art that should be preserved
Glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for your comment. Some things really are better the old way.
Couldn’t agree with you more! 😊
I bought an inexpensive "corner rounder" punch. It's amazing how much classier business cards and any straight-edged stationery look when you round off the corners.
Great topic. Stationary is one of those under appreciated things that you often don’t think about until you need it and don’t have it. I would add that gents often will say they don’t write because their handwriting is so bad. That’s just because you’re out of the habit. Slow down, which a fountain pen will help you do, and be deliberate about forming letters. It’s amazing how much better your handwriting will get with a little practice. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Appreciate the advice. Thank you.
Yep,that darn fox drives my dog mad with all that jumping around!
What a timely video! Just hours ago I sent a note to someone who has had two huge losses in their immediate family and only weeks apart. The second memorial service a few days ago. I sent a note ot my friend that I'm continuing to pray for them and for the remaining family members. My note was only one sentence long. It wasn't a short, abrupt sentence, but still just one sentence. I didn't see the need to embellish or add; just letting someone know that they and their relatives aren't forgotten now that the memorial services are over. Also when I send a letter to someone when there has been a death, in no way do I expect a reply. The only motive is to acknowledge and to, hopefully, offer a little comfort.
I enjoy writing letters. I've been complimented on my penmanship. As I've aged, my writing isn't as good as it used to be or at least has changed, and I may now have arthritis in my wrists, but I'm not done using and enjoying pens and paper!
This is an interesting and helpful post. I use a Waterman Exception fountain pen with a converter instead of a cartridge. Refilling the pen is part of the process for me. Additionally, I use an A-6 notebook when traveling or commuting. Thank you from a 62-year-old male.
Fountain pen is the epitome of the art of hand writing. In my primary school we were taught fountain pen writing as specific technique, by rationing pressure of hand, inclination and speed. Writing is not just a physical action. It involves body soul and mind.
I am 16 year old , i am using a fountain pen from class 4 .
Where as none of my friends use it .
It is truely a magnificent instrument .
Sir: I have kept all of the notes and letters which I have received over the years which were hand written on nice paper. Yes, they are a treasured item and are often kept a lifetime. And a written thank-you note is so rare these days that you will surely be appreciated and remembered if you write such a note. It's a tip for getting ahead in life. Great video!
I, often, write personal cards and letters. I believe it is a lost art and you are right that the handwritten card is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for putting this video together. I hope that you impact more people into hand writing notes. This is definitely a dying art.
Thank you for making this video. I have written with a fountain pen my whole life and love it.
I am still using the Pelikan my parents gave me for my middle school final exam, when I was fourteen years old.
When I graduated I was given a Mont Blanc, but my old Pelikan still remains my favourite
I’m graduating in two weeks and am being given a Montblanc. Arguable one of the best gifts. The Rolex of pens
Just today I was writing a letter to my family using a Lamy Joy with Apache Sunset ink just for fun. I enjoy writing by hand.
Finally a stationery guide. These correspondence cards are a great idea. Thanks James.
You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to cover this topic
@@Gent.Z please do on how to handle insults, racism and negitve social interactions
Great vid. Nothing more personal and impactful than handwritten correspondence, especially these days when everyone types. I too was only allowed fountain pens at school and miss the chance to use them. They focus the mind and make your handwriting better. Thanks to you, I'm going to dig out my old fountain pen.
I hope you have a great time with it, Chris. Thanks for your comment.
Over the years I have come to own a small collection of pens. I have parker, mont blanc and sheaffer fountain pens. My favourite is my mont blanc, It gives me such a wonderful writing experience
Your informative review totally inspired me! 🌟I recently ordered the silver Rolls-Royce correspondence cards from Wren Press - they're amazing! 👏 I've also been diving into the world of fountain pens thanks to you all. Can't thank you enough for the incredible review and informative video! Keep up the great content -- Blessings! 🤗
That’s great to hear, Alexander. That sounds like a fantastic choice for your correspondence cards. Happy writing!
Thank you for mentioning the love letter. I used to write them to my wife often and she loved them. Just a small suggestion for the young Gentlemen out there. I found that to get the most impact, a love letter should be slipped into your lady's purse or handbag without her knowledge. That way, the chances are great that she will discover the letter while in the company of her friends or co-workers.
I am basically like you. I love fountain pens, still use them. While in elementary school, fountain pens were a must ! I still love hand writing, especially with fountain pen. Parker is my number one brand. And yes, there's nothing like a hand written note ! And because I sill use fountain pens, I do have a lot of compliments on my hand writing. I am very traditional if it goes to that. Very interesting vlog btw.
As someone who is VERY into fountain pens, I do write handwritten letters for birthdays and holidays for those close to me. It really does make writing special. And not only that; for those in school, use them for notes! I promise you will actually WANT to write notes! It's great. I used my Pilot Custom 823 and Montblanc M. 149 for classes this past semester, and I always looked forward to writing notes every day.
In addition to my higher status ballpoint pen, I have a Gelocity version of the ink pen, rather than a fountain pen. When I was growing up, I had a similar experience with fountain and I loved loved loved everything about fountain pens, though they were quite messy with less than ideal technology. I especially loved that scratchiness feel AND sound. For me, the gelocity pens give me that fresh vegetable ink look and smell and feel of a quill pen.
Thank you for sharing. 🙏🧠✍️🦋👍🍁❤️
Hello James. This was a great video for your viewers. I have many different styles of correspondence cards as well as different stationary. Depending on the message and to whom I am sending it to, I choose the appropriate one. This is a value lost with time and it is sad that the habit has fallen out of favor. I'm happy to see your attempt to resurrect this fine practice.
Thank you, Richard. I hope this video inspires some people to discover this lost art. It certainly reignited my passion for it.
Great points about handwritten letters.
The local congregation of Jehovah's witnesses started sending out what looks like personal hand written messages about their teachings. I was very impressed. They look like they're hand written in cursive, and the return address does not reflect the fact that the letter came from a kingdom hall address. I thought at first that it was from the person's home.
On very close inspection one can see that the letters are printed instead of being hand written. The paper is lined and the color of the lines and the color of the text is different. Some thought went into creating the letter.
Looking up the return address revealed that it was a kingdom hall (what they call their church) address.
I almost wrote them back. Point is that it drew me into wanting to interact with them rather than ignoring them as I do with type written advertisement letters.
I am currently working through the Spencerian Penmanship copy books to improve my handwriting. Highly recommended!
Great suggestion, thank you.
Thank you for the content. I love writing by hand so the advice resonates with me. I enjoy writing with Lamy and Mont Blanc fountain pens.
This channel is so helpful to an aspiring gentleman like me. Thank you for always guiding us onto this journey ❤😂
Thank you, I'm proud to be a part of your journey
I have written many ink letters using my fountain pen. My suggestion for a
pen is a Pelikan.
I own a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck and it is one of my favourite possessions. I practise writing daily and have dozens of inks. My favourite ink is Asa Gao by pilot, a really stunning blue. I also own a Visconti homo sapiens which might be the greatest writing pen of all time. It is made out of volcanic ash which prevents your hands sweating when writing a lot.
Handwriting promotes artistic merit. It's personal and is the oldest form of communication. Messaging becomes more meaningful. If some of your writing is done by hand...it's handsome!
You are so right on about keeping a Pen in your Jacket. I remember reading The Fame Game by Rona Jaffe. Dick Devere a TV Producer took out his Notebook and a Pen, and wrote down some Novels that he thought Sarah aka "Silky" who was in an up an coming Girl Grop called Silky & The Satins would enjoy. She was thrilled.
this is an ESSENTIAL networking skill, great video!
I enjoyed this video very much! Writing with a fountain pen is one of my favorite past times. I would highly recommend going to the Montblanc boutique in Chicago since you live there. They were so kind and thoughtful when I visited that I ordered my Meisterstuck through them rather than ordering online even though I live on the West Coast.
My mom got me a Parker ballpoint pen as a gift when I was promoted a couple of years ago and I love it.
Absolutely… there’s nothing like receiving a handwritten note or letter. So much more meaningful than a text message or email.
I have come to love writing with a fountain pen and I now use fountain pens almost exclusively. One point, though, I have found that typically Moleskin notebooks are not very fountain pen friendly, especially if you use a broad nib that lays down a lot of ink. The paper will cause the ink to feather and won’t look crisp. You can research good paper to use that will bring out the best features of the beautiful inks that are available.
I got myself a wax seal with my initials on it which I can use to seal off letters in a classy and memorable way
Very nice touch
Which the United States Postal Service will destroy even if you send in a padded envelope . Post Master General DeJoy does NOT bring joy 😒 . 🤷🤦
@@christophermaulden733 Well I live in Switzerland, gotta see how the Swiss Post handles this!
I too have a seal and wax, but because the post office mail sorting machine doesn’t like wax seals, I put my seal envelope inside a slightly larger one.
@@DrJRaveninteresting, thanks for the info. I'll have to see how it goes in Switzerland
The value nowadays of a hand written note or letter it's just an unforgettable thing. I allways keep it in mind, and you also should.
I'm a huge fan of writing. I love fountain pens and have a lovely little collection of different nips, I use the fine for letters and journaling and a medium for notes. Mainly because the medium flows quicker, making it easier to jot down things quicker.
If you get a fountain pen make sure you get fountain pen-friendly paper as some of the stuff you can buy can be waxy. Which is okay for the oily ink in ballpoints but not the water-based ink fountain pens use.
I've made it a habit to keep one or two with envelopes (and postage) in my work/personal notebook (A5 size) that I carry everywhere. That way I'm always prepared in the event I'm away from home and need to make an impact.
Well done on this lesson. Well done!
Great video. I've come to realize that my most enjoyable moments was when I would receive a hand written letter from my then fiancé as it felt more personal and intimate. I very much enjoyed reading her letters and she mine. A fountain pen makes ones writing look more thoughtful and makes the receiver feel important. I'm going to go back to doing that. Thanks. May suggest doing a video on the proper gentleman's grooming kit? There's so many out there to choose from. I'd like to pick the best one for me.
Fountain pens making a return / being revived! Yes!
A great alternative to Montblanc is Sailor.
Do try out the Parker Sonnet also.
Although I love the Meisterstuck roller ball, a Caran d'Ache is just as good and from a respected Swiss house also
Hello there, another good starter fountain pens I can relate to are the following:
- Pilot Metropolitan
- Kaweco Sport
- TWSBI Eco
If you like the Lamy safari but more fancy, the Lamy Al-star Is the same pen but with aluminium instead of poly carbonate
And my final tip is look for a cartridge converter (or just converter) to enable the option to use any writing ink from an ink well and in the long run is cheaper than using disposable cartridges
I have found both the Metro by Pilot and the TWSBI Eco to be among the smoothest writing pens on the market! I stumbled across a 1.0mm "stub" nib on my Metropolitan and it tends to make ordinary or "not-so-good" handwriting come alive! The line variation, due to the grind on a stub nib, makes a world of difference in your handwriting. I use this stub nib more often than I thought I would. It's remarkable! And the Eco steel nib is amazingly smooth right out of the box. I use a medium nib and the ink flow is terrific and smooth. Not a bit scratchy.
This is quite valuable information, looking for to more videos
I had something like this in the back of my mind, I have a few Thank You card I sometimes mail to people. This tutorial highlights a forgotten skill which if practiced will make an impression as pretty much all the social media practices been done in excess that make them all bankrupt.
Thank you for the video! Rhodia notepads are amazing with fountain pens. In my experience, Moleskin does not do as well with heavier inks.
hahahahaha @ Biro. I sent My big Brother some gloves a few weeks ago. I used black ink in my pen written covering letter. He sent a response via facebook, He liked the gloves but was absolutely ecstatic over the hand written letter. I could feel his emotional smile at it :-)
For your first fountain pen I would recommend the platinum preppy or pilot kakuno or the next models up from those. People rave about the Lamy pens, but I've had bad experiences with the nib and ink apparatus that connects to the nib. The quality control can be mixed
Excellent advice for aspiring gentlemen. The only thing I'd quibble with is your statement that Moleskine notebooks are suitable for fountain pens. In truth, they are generally not appropriate because one's writing often feathers (line gets fuzzy) and bleeds (soaks through to the other side). These are common complaints expressed by Moleskine users worldwide. For this reason, fountain pen aficionados often prefer higher-quality paper from Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Tomoe River (from Japan), and Midori (also from Japan). Another point to consider: the broader the nib of your fountain pen and the wetter your ink, the more important paper quality is. I personally love broad nibs and extremely wet inks, so I tend to use Midori and Tomoe River paper, which stand up well to gushing fountain pens.
I don't own a fountain pen, I never learned how to use one 😂but I have several ball point pens and i write all my notes, to do lists, my journal with a pen or a pencil. I still write in cursive as well. My nephew never learned how to write or read cursive. He is graduating high school this June. It is sad that our school systems are not teaching these things anymore...
The curse of being left handed is the smearing of ink while using a fountain pen.
Here’s a twist. I hand 8:53 write letters on my iPad and attach them to emails. Works for me.
Great video , i will keep them in mind and do when I grow up .
I‘m back into hand writing after a long period of computer usage. Please let me express my sincere thank to pick up this topic and spread the word. I‘m happy to see that the matter of personal, handwritten messages is getting more attention nowadays.
just looking at you ❤ your eyes are speaking more ❤... oh yes, and I'm very well listening too
Pens - I do feel that a Waterman is the gentleman's choice, given its history as producing the first proper, non leaking, fountain pen. They range from inexpensive to rather more. You see Parkers everywhere, or I seem to. Rarely a Waterman.
The sloowlynesss forced upon you by the handwriting also permits you to choose your words wisely !
I write all the time. I pay as many of my bills by cheque as I can, sending them with a covering letter. Texting is easy and fast, writing is slow and thoughtful. I have a parker fountain pen and a parker biro. Both are presents from my children when they were at school. They only had pocket money to buy them with but saved up to give me these inexpensive gifts. They are of course my most prized possessions and I use them every day. I also have a vintage Conway Stewart fountain pen.
For a future video how about cuff links and tie clips?
Good suggestion. I personally am not a huge connoisseur of either, but it's something I will look to explore further.
It's a lost art, if people still gave me gifts they would receive a proper thank you. Unfortunately as you age the gifts go one way so my opportunities are rare. Keep up the fight.
Yes a personal hand letter or note that's been written is a lot more personable. Especially in the computer age
As an older man, and someone who is left handed, also from my experiences at school in the late 70's i would never use a fountain pen again.
This was a nice video, i quite agree with you about pens. I have a Faber Castel fountain pen, i have had it for many years, it is only i who use it so the ni have been worn to suit my hand. I also have a vintage Papermate ballpoint pen that i use for my diary(yes i am a diarist) i got that from my wife when she was my girlfriend, The first christmas gift. Lastly in my pocket i have a Ballograf ballpoint pen, i use that to sign off all work orders and I voices that i have to sign to complete a work. The Ballograf is the last pen that is made in Sweden.
And dear boy lastly you forgot that a gentleman also should own some high quality pencils, i always have one if i need to do a sketch of something that i need to change while working, like when excavatiing for drain, i get down to bedrock, i can show an alternative that would be cheaper for the cliwnt than getting a blasting crew.
Sounds like a great collection. Great pens truly do last a lifetime and receiving one as a gift is a wonderful experience.
I, too, attended a school where we were required to write with fountain pens.
Unfortunately, I'm left handed.
They tried to change my hand preference. That didn't work.
Consequently, I spent years dragging the side of my left palm through wet ink.
Consequently, my cursive is atrocious.
I spent years with an ink stain on the outside of my left palm that never seemed to quite go away.
Nowadays, we people simply type by using a keyboard if we want to send a message. in days gone by, we used to write letters and send them by mail/post.
When I passed my Abitur (= A-Levels, I think) in Germany in 1986 we had been allowed to write with with anything we wanted beside from a pencil. But including then 10th grade everybody had to write with a fountain pen. I do not know if this is true until today in Germany.
A black border edge in Germany is dedicated to death messages, I think any dark border edge is to avoid as normal there not to shock the recipient of paper mail.
I think some schools in Europe still enforce this, but not many. Good point about the border edge.
I remember writing hand written letters in elementary school but as texting and email became more commonplace hand writing fell out of favor. In middle school and high school the extent of hand written letters became sympathy cards for people who have fallen ill or broken a limb.
Great videos!
Just a short note - In 2024, it's clear that stripes are moving in various directions. The traditional right to left direction is known as the "American style" for stripes. On the other hand, the right to left direction is the "European style" for stripes.
Personally I like the European style more. Seems more classy to me and btw we also prefer to see share prices rise rather than fall. Is there a connection? I think so. :)
A lost art. Good content.
Thank you, sir.
it is not lost. it will never be lost.
Nice video! I was just wondering if you will be doing a video on how to learn cursive writing? I would love to learn that.
Goodness, I’m very surprised you recommended Parker! I mean they make good pens, but there’s a ton of manufacturers that excel Parker.
Sailor, Platinum, Pilot, Pelikan, Namiki, Nakaya, Waldmann, Otto Hutt, Onoto all produce pens that far out perform and offer more interesting pens.
Good choice with the ink though!
I have a Parker pen.
Can you answer this question: should the note card be folded or the same size as the envelope? Thanks
You are a very unique and interesting presence here on RUclips. I wish I had my shit together as much as you do when I was your age.
I highly recommend Parker's fountain pens as they are very high quality (even for lower end models). Lamy's fountain pens are great for reliability. However, I wouldn't recommend Parker's ballpoint pens, because I always come across ink-leaking problems with their refills. It can be quite troublesome when the inside of your pen is filled with sticky ink. No doubt Parker pens write smoothly, but over the years this problem persists. I'm currently looking for other reliable ballpoint pens besides Parker.
I use purple ink. Its a total flex.
When I was at school we used a dip pen.
Great video James, as a fountain pen user for over two decades, I would suggest Rhodia A5 notebooks. I’ve never found Moleskine to be that fountain pen friendly.
Thanks for the suggestion
As a long-term fountain, Pen user I can advise that moleskin one of the least helpful notebooks for fountain Pens. The paper is variable and unless you use a very fine fountain pen tend to bleed through the page.
Great video
Name your ballpoint and fountain pen pairs I’ll start with my pair. Both from pilot:
Ballpoint-Acro 1,000 in black
Fountain pen-Explorer in matte black
I like a space pen capomatic for my ballpoint and a Parker IM fountain pen in a medium nib. Really fun stuff!
@@subaruford3344 nice 😎
Excellent
Very good!
Wonderful video! I definitely agree on Montblancs being amazing pens, might I suggest those who aren’t looking to spend thousands on one to look at the 1x, 2x and 2xx lines from the 1960s beautiful nibs 14k gold and super smooth. I typically use my 1963 Montblanc 22 Fountain pen in an OM nib and then my ballpoint is a Montblanc 164.
Although one thing in this video I disagree with, moleskin comparatively to what you can find elsewhere is lower quality paper and honestly not worth it for the price, (for fountain pens anyways with nice inks) I would instead recommend RHODIA paper. Great silky smooth paper that makes ink look amazing and typically is cheaper than Moleskin notebooks.
Wonderful video as always,
Thanks,
Max
Moleskine notebooks fall somewhat short of being A5. Neither are they fountain pen friendly, unless you write with a fine nib which lays down much less ink than a medium or a broad nib would. The bleed through of ink on Moleskine paper can be dreadful. I would recommend Leuchtturm over Moleskine. It actually is a true A5 and a much better quality of paper which is more than adequate for fountain pens. Around the same price, and comes with a variety of sticky labels that can be very useful for classifying and archiving.
Thank you loved the video
What Parker pens would you recommend? 😊
Besides using Moleskine, have you tried how the fountain pen ink reacts to it? It's not really that great based from other accounts on people who use fountain pen specific ink
3:49 - If you cannot write in it with a fountain pen, I do not think the notebook is high quality. Moleskine is unfortunately useless with fountain pens due to their low-quality paper, and, in my opinion, therefore not be considered a high quality notebook. Sorry.
What is the best way to send a handwritten note to someone? Do you do it via post? Or do you send it through a mutual contact?
Much in the video made sense until I heard Moleskine as a quality notebook suggestion for anything other than a pencil or maybe a ball point. People need to look to Midori, Tomoe River Notebooks, Stalogy Notebooks, Rhodia as a quality A5 or A4 notebook able to handle a fountain pen and rollerballs, and pencils and with TR paper even some water and brush to diffuse and wash over ink drawings by fountain pen.
Thank you for your suggestions. I’m going to try those brands for my future notebooks
Nobody uses paper and pen anymore other then the millions of people who still do.
Don't overlook the rollerball pen.
This channel is so inspirational...something to strive for and done so well in little doses that are achievable! Might I suggest a topic one the world needs today? How to argue and debate, as there is a slight difference between the two while stressing the true definition of both in this instance, like a Gentleman.
For first class paper and pen without spending Smthyson of Bond Street prices, look to the best Japanese Tomoe River paper and inexpensive (but leak resistant) fountain pens from Japanese companies like Platinum. Keep a diary or a "log book" ---this exceptional paper, such as from Hobonichi, will not bleed with fountain ink.
Thank you, I will check them out.
rhodia and clairefontaine notebooks are also excellent for fountain pens. moleskine is quite inconsistent with their paper quality and may cause feathering and bleed through
What watch are you using in this video?
I started a stationery club at college, but I closed it not long after starting it. It wasn’t going anywhere. M
I deduce your club came to a standstill?