Types Of Fountain Pens

The types of fountain pens today are a wide range, and they can be divided into three types. Do you love writing letters or meeting friends at cafes? If you want your handwriting to look better, then you should try using a fountain pen.

Fountain pens come in various sizes, shapes, finishes, nibs, etc. The type and quality of ink determine the way the ink flows out from the tip, giving you beautiful lines and smooth strokes.

You might ask why you would need such a complicated tool for writing notes. There are several reasons, like personal preference, style, speed, and even practical purposes. For instance, some individuals prefer a ballpoint pen because their hands are shaky. They also don't enjoy having to sharpen pencil points every time they write. And lastly, fountain pens are faster and easier to write on blank paper.

History Of The Fountain Pen | Types Of Fountain Pens

Despite the fact that fountain pens are newer than dip pens, they still date back hundreds of years to 973 when Ma’ad al-Mu’izz, the caliph from the Maghreb asked for a pen that would not leak and was granted one with an internal container for the liquid that could be held upside-down without spilling.

By the 16th century, German manufacturers had developed a pen that used two quill tips instead of just one. With cork, the pen was kept captive inside the quill and then squeezed out through a small opening in the nib. Over time, the technology evolved, and by the 1700s fountain pens, as we know them now, had become popular and widely used across England.

By the mid-1800s, improvements were continuing to be made to the writing instrument and they could now be used in a variety of different fountain pen models. The industry was booming, and thousands of skilled craftsmen were manufacturing fountain pens for all the gentlemen throughout Europe. Once reserved for the wealthy aristocrats, today, even people from modest backgrounds can easily buy them. For people who could not afford to write before, the writing implements increased literacy as they started to collect their own collections of them.

Despite the increase in productivity and quality, the pens remained largely unreliable because the manufacturers did not fully grasp the role that airflow plays in the pen. Furthermore, the inks were highly corrosive and damaged the pen quickly.

It wasn't until about 1850 that people started to understand the dynamics of the pen and from then on, they were filing a lot of patent applications. When the free-flowing pen was invented, along with the hard rubber and the iridium-tippled gold tip, the writing instrument market caught on, and fountain pens became widely adopted.

The History | Types Of Fountain Pens

By the late 1800s, stylographic pens had become extremely popular and by the early 1900s, the modern-day fountain pen was invented. Many of the manufacturers who keep producing fountain pens today were first established and headquartered in the United States.

Even though the appearance of the pen looks exactly the same as it did hundreds of years ago, the actual process of using the pen required a steady hand. Self-filing pens weren't invented until the early 20th century. Before then, pen manufacturers had to rely on hand-filled pens. However, after these attempts failed, manufacturers started producing what were called "safety" pens. These pens had a retractable or screwed-on ink cartridge that prevented leakage.

By the 1960s, ballpoint pens were already well established and made the old-fashioned writing instruments obsolete in most countries. After that, ballpoint pens were the standard writing instruments in America, and fountain pens were only used in grade schools by children in certain European countries.

Today, most people view fountain pens as just another collectible item or a status symbol. But if you ask any writer who uses a fountain pen, they'd agree that the writing experience far exceeds that of the ballpoint and rollerball pen.

Different Types Of Fountain Pens And How To Fill Them

There are different types of fountain pen ink cartridges, and sometimes it can get confusing to figure out which one you need for your particular pen. There are so many types of ink-filling systems out there that we couldn’t possibly cover them all, but we’ll focus on a few of our favorites. Each time through the process, assume you're starting from scratch with a new or empty fountain pen. Let's take a look at some different kinds of fountain pens and how they're filled.

Cartridge Fountain Pen And How to Fill Them

Cartridge-style fountain pens are one of the easiest and most convenient when compared to other types of fountain pens. With this kind of filling method, the ink comes in an already-prepared, disposable, and convenient cartridge. To refill an ink cartridge for a cartridge-filling type of writing instrument, just slide the new ink cartridge into the feed slot at the rear end of the instrument. Once you've added the ink cartridges, they'll puncture the ink cartridges, allowing ink to flow into the pen and then down to the nib. Gravitational forces use gravity to pull the ink into the writing instrument. It might be slow at first but eventually, it works. You can also prime the cartridge by pressing down on it until the ink starts flowing. After the cartridge has been installed, and the fluid is flowing, you can remove the cap and insert the nib into the reservoir.

Advantages Of A Cartridge Fountain Pen

The ink cartridges or an ink converter come in a pre-filled disposable cartridge which is perfect for travel. The easy and fast filling process with little or nothing left behind. They're usually cheaper than fountain pen cartridges.

Disadvantages Of A Cartridge Fountain Pen

You need to choose fewer colors than usual. Some cartridges don't fit all pen designs. You might be able to choose from a limited range of ink colors for the cartridge that fits your pen. Certain pens will only accept their own pen brand of ink cartridges. Not all fountain pens are available in cartridges. Smaller ink capacity means less ink.

Eyedropper Fountain Pens and How to Fill Them

Eyedroppers are often used by fountain pen enthusiasts because they can contain a large amount of fountain pen ink at once. There are several different types of eyedropper-compatible nibs available for most writing instruments including a fountain pen, ballpoint, gel point, rollerball, and dipterous. Make sure there's enough space left between the end of the barrel and the end of the cap so that the cap screws back onto the barrel easily. Reconstruct the pen and begin writing.

Advantages Of An Eyedropper Fountain Pen

Fountain pen inks can be stored in eyedroppers which allows for more continuous use without having to stop to refill. You can choose any fountain pen nib for eyedropper pens.

Disadvantages Of An Eyedropper Fountain Pen

You must use a separate eyedropper/syringe to fill the fountain pen with ink. It might be necessary to use additional materials if you want to prevent leaks, such as o rings or silicon grease. Eyedroppers may be more likely to leak than regular eye drops.

Converter Fountain Pens And How To Fill Them

A converter is a small cylinder that attaches to a cartridge pen rather than an ink cartridge. The converter lets the fountain pens be used with different kinds of inks than those contained in its ink cartridges. To fill a converter fountain pen, remove the section of the pen to reveal the converter. Make sure the converter is inserted firmly. Some converters are threaded while others are a compression fit similar to that of a cartridge. Next, place the nib of the pen into the bottle of fountain pen ink covering the breather hole. With the nib submerged, either twist or pull the knob on the converter to draw fountain pen ink into the pen. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to completely fill the fountain pen with ink. Remove the nib from the ink and clean off the excess fountain pen ink.

Advantages Of A Converter Fountain Pen

Can write using any fountain pen ink. Can be filled with multiple brands of ink. No need to buy extra ink cartridges.

Disadvantages Of A Converter Fountain Pen

Smaller ink capacity, similar to an ink cartridge. Must be purchased separately. May not work well with some fountain pen nibs.

Crescent Fountain Pens And How To Fill Them

A crescent-style fountain pen contains a small bladder inside the barrel. To use this type of fountain pen, you need to twist the top part of the cap so that the two parts match up. And to fill up a cartridge of your writing instrument, press and hold the crescent part of the cartridge while pushing the tip of the nail through the breather hole. To keep the pen in ink, release the mechanism that holds the ballpoint pen in place. You may need to keep repeating the process until the entire pen is filled. Clean the nib by removing the cap and cleaning off any extra liquid.

Advantages Of A Crescent Fountain Pen

Can write using any fountain pen ink. Easy to fill. And easy to clean.

Disadvantages Of A Crescent Fountain Pen

Larger ink capacities, similar to cartridges. Filling the bladder completely can be difficult.

Piston Fountain Pens And How To Fill Them

A piston-style fountain pen has a built-in piston that allows the pen’s barrel to hold the writing fluid. First, make sure the plunger has been pushed forward into the ink chamber so that the ink flows through the feed tube into the reservoir. Most pens have a twist knob at the end of their barrels. Place the tip of the fountain pens' metal point into the bottle of fountain pens' ink so that the breather hole is completely submerged. To keep the pen tip in the writing position, pull the piston away from the body of the pen by turning the grip. When you write with a fountain pen, the suction pulls the nib against the paper and draws the black pigment from the tip. Take out the nib from the pen and wipe off any excess ink. A soft cloth works fine for cleaning.

Advantages Of A Piston Fountain Pen

Piston fountain pen ink holds more ink than cartridge fountain pen ink. Any fountain pen ink can be used with piston fountain pen nibs.

Disadvantages Of A Piston Fountain Pen

Piston fountains are usually more expensive than rollerballs. Not all fountain pens come with pistons. Ink tends to dry out quickly when stored in a piston fountain pen.

Fountain Pen Nibs | Types Of Fountain Pens

You may be able to choose from a wide range of different types of fountain pens. A nib is simply the tip of the pen. The actual part of a fountain pen used for writing is its nib. A pen has an ink reservoir inside its nib. When ink is pushed through the nib, it comes out of the reservoir. There are many different types of nib sizes, including italic or regular nib size, calligraphy nib size, left-handed nib size, music nib size, fude nib size, zoom nib size, flexible or smooth nib size, oblique nib size, etc.

There are lots of good reasons for using a fountain pen. Many people enjoy the wide range of design options available for these products. Some people prefer the filler mechanism and the fact that they can refill their fountain pen by simply refilling the bottled ink. It's probably the nib that matters most to most people. It's where the pen touches the paper, so it's the most important part of writing or drawing experiences for people who use a fountain pen. So, let's take a closer at these different kinds of nibs.

Types Of Fountain Pens Nib

Today there are many different kinds of nibs for pens; each kind has its own unique characteristics. There are some designed specifically for beginners, while others can be useful for advanced writers too. The type of pen you use depends on the style of handwriting you want to produce. If you want to use a fountain pen, then you should get one with a fine nib. The barrel is usually made out of metal, plastic, or resin. If you want to write, then you should use a broad pen. Here are some of the most commonly used fountain pen nibs:

Italic Nib Or Cursive Nib | Types Of Fountain Pens

An italic nib is a kind of pen used for handwriting. A broad and flat nib has a wide and flat tip with a straight edge, providing the greatest line width variation. It is the most fragile of all pens, so be careful not to damage it when using it for calligraphy. A true italic writing instrument will be able to write upside down.

The italic, stub, and oblique pens are all members of the broad family of pen tips. The Italic nib is very broad and very flat. They're made out of metal, so they look very different from a regular one. It’s usually hard and scratchy. They're fun to use and offer lots of decorative options, but they require a ton of paper and so they need a feed that can keep up with them. They provide a lot of shading because they're wide and flat.

Stub / Calligraphy Nib | Types Of Fountain Pens

This nib type has a distinct shape. A round ball of ink creates a narrow line when drawn vertically, but a rectangular-shaped stub nib produces a broader vertical line and thinner horizontal line. The purpose is to add some decoration to your writing. The number of lines will vary depending on how well you polish your edge.

If you're looking for a high-quality fountain pen that produces smooth lines, then a highly rounded stub pen may be just right for you. Tinning can be done by someone who has experience. A broad nib pen allows for greater amounts of pigment to be deposited onto the page with longer drying times. It’s designed for people looking to improve their handwriting skills. Those who love seeing the depth of their ink on the page and those who love big notes, high-grade papers, and those who prefer slow-dried ink.

Gold Nibs | Types Of Fountain Pens

A gold nib pen is typically made from 14K gold so that it won't scratch paper. Gold nib pens are softer and have a smoother feel to them than steel nib pens. They aren't as stiff and usually allow some flexibility, so they often give a bit of straightness. However, don't assume that there will be big differences between regular and flex pens because they aren't meant to be flex pens at all. Always check the authenticity of any golden nibs before buying them. Look for the 14k or 14c stamp on the end of your pen. If it doesn't include any gold, it's probably not worth anything.

Most manufacturers offer gold-plating for their pens. Gold plated pens usually have a regular stainless pen underneath, so they're mostly decorative items and don't influence the writing experience at all Some nibs are made out of iridium, which is a very hard metal that protects pens from wear and corrosion.

Flex Nib | Types Of Fountain Pens

Flex nibs allow the user to control the pressure they apply when writing. The flexibility of the pen allows writers to adjust the level of pressure they use when writing. For calligraphy pens, flexible nibs are often used to create different types of strokes.

This type of pen works well for writing with calligraphic ink because it lets the writer control the amount of force they use when writing. They're not suitable for every type of writing. If you don't mind writing slowly, then a flex nib may not be what you're after.

Fine | Types Of Fountain Pens

Usually, most pen nibs are available in either fine or medium points. Most brands of pens share these features. Some details are better than others. They don't need to produce a 0.3mm thickness for them to qualify as "thick." Most pens are usually somewhere between a 0 to 45mm line width, with the Japanese nib being on the thinner end, and the Italian and German nib being on the wider end A fine nib pen is still the best fountain pen used for writing smaller, more deliberate cursive scripts. It's designed for general-purpose use but favors those who write neatly. The ink lasts for days without bleeding through paper. People who wish to write in a calligraphic style.

Extra Fine | Types Of Fountain Pens

Extra fine is the most popular pen size. People use it when they want to express their thoughts clearly and concisely. The point of the pen is so small and delicate that it might hurt some people who use it. Since it's so thin, you won't get any nice pools of shade and shine from the color that you're applying to the paper. However, if less ink is used, then it dries faster and therefore is less likely to smudge.

Best suited for technical and precise authors who want to enhance their writing skills. People who are switching from using.03 mm gel pens or needle points. Not suited to people who write quickly and whose writing style is large. People who enjoy looking at the sheen, shading, and shimmering qualities of ink.

Medium | Types Of Fountain Pens

By default, most fountain pen nibs come with a medium point, but they may offer a small or large point option. It's the middle between thin and thick. It gives no more feedback than other techniques. Feeling like the finer sizes will feel scratchy. Because the larger sheets of paper are thicker than regular copy paper, they're likely to bleed more ink onto the pages. There's a big gap between western and Eastern sizes. A western medium nib is similar in size to an eastern broad nib, for instance. For general writing tasks and signatures, a fine nib pen is best. Not suitable for writing when using poor quality paper.

Broad | Types Of Fountain Pens

Broad nib pens tend to lay down more ink than fine nib pens and will keep up with fast, gestural writing. When writing with a broad pen, the ink's shading becomes more obvious. To handle the large quantities of ink used by fountain pens, you must write using special fountain pen-friendly papers. Higher-grade papers may take longer to dry than lower-grade ones, but they're worth the wait. It’s best used for short notes, emails, and journals. They enjoy the fine qualities that the ink they use has on paper. Suitable for writing notes on cheap (or recycled) papers; for those who prefer fast-drying ink; small notebooks.

Metal Nibs | Types Of Fountain Pens

Nibs have their origins as early as ancient Egypt when they were made from metals like copper and bronze. On the other hand, though, the ability to write well with these pens was lower than the ability to write well using reed pens. The iron nib pen was invented in the late 1700s in Britain by two British men who went by the names William Wise and Peregrin Williamson. These pens had a stainless steel nib covered in bronze. Attached to a wood stick called a ferrule. This design allows the user to easily replace the ink cartridge by simply removing the cap. Furthermore, the ferrule kept the nib from bending.

By the mid-1800s the tip was made into a separate piece of metal from the ferrule. This design improved the pen's flexibility and made it stronger. It let the pen be replaced if it broke or wore down. At this point, the nib would be made out of silver or brass. Use this pen for writing because it won’t damage the page. However, it doesn't last long. It's very soft and will tarnish easily. Silver is softer than brass, but it scratches easily too. Choose a metal nib that is made from stainless steel. It’s hard enough to scratch stainless steel while remaining flexible enough to type smoothly.

Steel Nibs | Types Of Fountain Pens

Most modern fountain pen manufacturers offer at least one pen with an optional stainless-steel nib. For some people, however, stainless steel is the only choice. Nibs made from various materials are available for people who want something different than traditional wooden pens. On vintage fountain pens the gold nib was usually better than the steel one, whereas nowadays the steel nib is superior to the gold one. They are durable and aren't nearly as fragile as gold and titanium. They're not going to rust. They're easy to use and cheap. And they're an excellent choice for beginners.

Some manufacturers also offer flexi­ble metal nibs. While steel is not a very flexible material, they are able to modify the nibs to flex with added pressure. They're significantly cheaper than a flexible gold nib so they're very popular among those who want flexibility without needing to pay a lot for it. These Nibs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Fude Nib | Types Of Fountain Pens

The fude nib is a type of nib that is used on Japanese fountain pens. This is similar to the Chinese calligraphy style nib. It is a narrow nib that allows for a lot of detail and precision. It is often used for calligraphy and painting. The fude nib is a good choice for someone looking to learn about Japanese calligraphy. And also fude nibs can be found in many different colors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many types of fountain pens. Some are more expensive than others, but all of them are great choices. If you're new to fountain pens, start with a basic model. You'll get the most out of your investment. It can be hard to know where to start when choosing between so many different kinds of fountain pens, but once you understand what makes them tick...it's easy and fun. Discovering which type of fountain pen you prefer and finding out which filling system you enjoy most is just one aspect of enjoying fountain pens. Have a look at a new type of pen filling system. If you're interested in trying something new, hopefully, you'll be inspired to give it a go. Maybe you'll even discover another piece of the fountain pens world that will have you fall head over heels for analog life all over again.

FAQS

How Do I Fill a Fountain Pen?

To fill a cartridge fountain pen, you simply insert the new fountain pen ink cartridge into the back of the feed unit of the fountain pen.

How Do I Reassemble a Fountain Pen?

Once the cartridge has been inserted, and the ink is flowing, you can re-assemble the fountain pen.

What is Eyedropper Style Fountain Pen?

Eyedropper Style Fountain Pen Many fountain pen enthusiasts love eyedropper fountain pens because they can hold a significant amount of fountain pen ink.

How do I Use A Fountain Pen?

Reassemble the pen and start writing!

What Are The Advantages Of Eyedropper Fountain Pen?

Advantages of an Eyedropper Fountain Pen Ink Capacity: Eyedropper pens can hold a large amount of fountain pen ink which allows for more writing with less stopping to fill.

What Are The Precautions?

You may need additional materials to prevent leaking, such as o-rings or silicone grease.

What Is A Fountain Pen Converter?

The converter is a small piston that attaches to a cartridge fountain pen rather than the ink cartridge we previously discussed.

How Do I Fill A Fountain Pen Converter?

With the nib submerged, either twist or pull the knob on the converter to draw fountain pen ink into the pen.

How Do I Fill A Fountain Pen?

To fill a converter fountain pen, remove the section of the pen to reveal the converter.

How Do I Fill A Crescent Style Fountain Pen?

To fill this type of pen, you must first release the locking mechanism by twisting it to align with the crescent arch.

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Crescent Fountain Pen?

Disadvantages of a Crescent Fountain Pen Ink Capacity: Smaller ink capacity, similar to a cartridge.

How Do I Fill A Piston Fountain Pen?

Keep the nib in the ink and use the knob to draw the piston away from the nib toward the back of the barrel.

What Are The Advantages Of A Piston Fountain Pen?

Advantages of a Piston Fountain Pen Ink Capacity: Piston fountain pens can hold more ink.

What Is The Best Fountain Pen Nibs?

Nibs are the part of the pen that touches the paper. There are many different types of nibs available.

What Are The Different Types Of Fountain Pens?

There are many different types of fountain pens. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

What Are The Differences Between Cartridge And Converter Fountain Pens?

Cartridge fountain pens contain ink cartridges that are filled with ink. Converters contain a reservoir of ink that is drawn up through the nib.

What Are the Best Nibs For Beginners?

Beginner fountain pen users should choose a nib that is comfortable to write with.