Contributor Biographies #20

 

Bill Wood

I'm a broadcaster of 33 years in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada. I live in a city of 6000, about 2 ours from a City called Saskatoon if anyone has been there. Yes it's cold, especially at this time of year, which gives us lots of time for hobbies. No not snowmobiling. Everyone in Canada does not own a snowmobile. I'm married to a wonderful, stabilizing woman named Maureen, the mother of our two teenage daughters, Stephanie and Jillian. I don't usually brag about my kids but both are beautiful dancers - the eldest is already a teacher and this winter stars as 'Dorothy' in the musical 'Wizard of Oz'.

I remember my first fountain pen in high school - a scratchy Sheaffer - and peacock colored ink. I printed all my notes because I was such a lousy writer. My love of pens took a hiatus in my teenage years, but by the time I was a broadcaster I owned 4 marbled Targas that I still use daily. My other hobby is Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Through the use of round and square gold and silver wire I makes rings, pendants, earrings and dabble in beading from time to time. My creations can be found in 5 local stores in our area. That's one thing I've noticed about fountain pen people - we are a creative bunch - we don't always walk the normal path - we own Macintosh computers and enjoy the purity and freedom of writing as an art.

Presently I'm saving and making Jewelry so I can purchase a new Sheaffer and a Cross from a gentleman in Hawaii; and one of these days I've got to get a Parker. Parker, Parker, Parker .. sometimes that all I hear. Nice to meet everyone on the list, and even though the learning curve is a little steep, all Pentracers are genuinely good people, which I believe is a quality that comes from the serenity and peace of the written, rather than printed word. My Radio Stations website is www.cjvr.com.

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Kurt Hammerbeck

My Pen collection started as most did with an Esterbrook. I remember picking it up silver and black, thinking five dollars is a lot for a pen but it sure is neat. Took home and found that it worked, which was great, then the search for ink. Found some Quink blue-black and began writing letters with that fountain pen. Occasionally over the next few years visited flea markets and saw some pens but never as nice, did find another nib and the address of the company in a box (didn’t know they had stopped producing). Too much school and too much work pushed the pen to the back of the drawer. Then my father in law passed, I was given a Parker 51 box full of old pens found a red Balance that was given to him before the war. Thought it might be repaired so I went to the net to find a repairer. Found so much more, saw pens that were still being produced that became objects of desire, I wanted more pens. Pelikan, Parker, OMAS, Dupont and Rotring, Bexley , Stipula , Krone. I lurked and I listened to several net boards to what people were using and what they preferred, found eBay and really started to buy. Looked for pen stores in cities I was visiting. And I bought more until two score pens I owned and admired.

Then I lost my job, income cut completely. Couldn’t really sell the house but there were pens I had collected that I didn’t really use these I could sell. So I sold most of my pens with no profit to show and now my collection is devoid of any frill, all the pens remaining are used and filled with ink. The only exception in a Krone I bought to sign the birth certificate of my daughter (That I will never sell) I will give it to her on her 21st birthday along with a story of how I found it and what I did with it. Now I work trying to find work but knowing that all the while there is a list of pens that I must have that becomes longer day by day and this will be shortened when I can afford once again to buy. Now I collect names of pens rather than the pens themselves, I learn everything about a model so that when I can I will.

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Craig C. Brandau

I've officially collected pens for a little over two years and foresee no cure, in the near future, for this thoroughly enjoyable obsession. Moreover, the people that I've met who also collect are truly wonderful. There seems to be an endless amount of information and pen varieties to delve into.

I've collected, but am now selling, a number of Parker 45s. I also have a few Sonnets. Four Namiki/Pilots, two of which are Maki-e design. Two Omas, two Pelikans and a random variety of other Parkers and a bunch of vintage and not-so-vintage ballpoints. I like Modern or "Atomic" art and the early Pilot Capless pens along with the Parker 61s seem to capture this artistic form.

I'm a high school history teacher by trade, and although I'm 45 years old, I've only taught now for 3 1/2 years. I came to my calling late in life and truly love what I do. Various pen poster and ads hang upon my classroom's walls that I'm able, at times, to incorporate into my lessons.

I'm married to a wonderful woman who often questions my sanity, especially when it comes to my obsession for pens.

 

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