Chris Hagin, Russ Stutler, Kristin Keller, Kenneth Andrew Campbell and Hope Exline
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Chris Hagin
I still
have two of the first three fountain pens I owned. The Sheaffer
Cartridge fountain pen was purchased in 1957 when I was
in the 3rd grade, and the Parker 51 was a gift from my grandmother
in 1959 when I started the 5th grade. They are both still
in service and work Excellency. The Sheaffer Cartridge has
had no maintenance. The Parker 51 has only had the sack
replaced. Hopefully, modern pens will still work 40 years
later in such great condition.
I have
a collection of about 120 pens about half modern and half
vintage. All but a few of the pens are American made. I
am looking to add some British modern and vintage pens to
the collection.
Handwriting
letters is a great thrill for me. I miss the days when we
used to write letters several times a week to family and
friends. Fountain pen ink on a good paper writes such a
nice letter. When I handwrite a letter today on 100% cotton
engraved stationery or correspondence cards using a fountain
pen many people will comment on it because they rarely receive
something so nice today. Such correspondence used to be
common place and still should be.
Computers
and design software has made stationery design easy and
fun to accomplish. The excellent quality color inkjet printers
also make the printing of stationery and correspondence
cards easy and of top quality that used to take a four color
press.
I look
forward to corresponding on numerous subjects for fountain
pens and printing stationery to politics and government
and other subjects. I have varied interests and like to
correspond with people with many interests.
I have
a Ph.D. in history. Primary sources for historical research
will be harder to find because of inexpensive long distance
rates and e-mail. People do not put as much thought behind
e-mail and they are not saved like handwritten or even typewritten
letters. Journals kept on computer will not likely have
the longevity of journals in a diary or journal book or
even notebook paper tied together with ribbon or sewed.
The days of dip pens and fountain pens and paper were the
highlight of the primary source for historians. The letters
of Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln and our early leaders
are still around in almost perfect condition because they
used 100% rag paper without any acid content and ink that
would not fade over years. FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush I might be
the last our Presidents with excellent personal primary
resources. We are lucky that Bush I still likes handwritten
letters and so does Clinton to an extent, but Bush II does
not. Reagan was excellent at hand written correspondence,
but not of them kept records, journals and correspondence
like FDR, Truman and Johnson.
I look
forward to your letters so we can help keep hand written
correspondence on good paper alive and well.
Russ
Stutler
I live
in Tokyo, where I work as Creative Director for Adex Ltd.
where I mainly do Web and print design.
I was
born in Japan in 1956 to a Japanese mother and American
father, and was raised in Akron, Ohio. I came back to Japan
in 1987 as a missionary with a small Episcopal mission board.
When my financial support dried up, I continued to live
in Japan, working full time to support myself and my family.
Most
of my time outside of work is spent with my family. I have
a wife (Rieko) and two kids, a boy (Yoshiya 6) and a girl
(Izumi, 4).
My hobbies
include sketching, journaling and playing electric guitar
and bass. I have also dabbled in comics and puppetry.
I have
used a fountain pen most of my life without thinking too
much about it. I got the urge to buy nice fountain pens
and then vintage only recently, about 2 years ago (it's
2002 as I write this). I don't consider myself a fountain
pen collector because I only have a handful, and desire
to use every pen I own (and try not to think about the ones
I bought and don't use anymore). Having said that, I do
manage to use about 5 different pens each day for work notes,
correspondence, sketching and journaling (two journals with
different themes). I love flex, so I tend to prefer vintage
pens, but I do have a modern pen or two for jotting notes
where shading and penmanship do not matter.
I love
old things from a bygone era such as fountain pens, pocket
watches, hats, wire rim glasses, and mug and brush shaving
(I don't shave much at all these days, though, since I prefer
to hide under a full beard).
My idea
of an exciting evening is a glass of wine and a good book.
I love the Sherlock Holmes stories, and never get tired
of them. My poor memory allows me to read them over and
over and not still know how the ending will turn out!
I am
a (mostly) retired writer who moved to Arizona to enjoy
the vast array of birds and sunlight possible in the Tucson
area. My ecclectic pen collection is frequently used to
exchange information with birders from all over the world.
I bred and trained cross bred horses for eventing, judged
both horses and hounds, and am passionate about Polish Arabian
horses, Hungarian Vizslas, and Welsh Springer Spaniels.
My pets now are all of the observed type including gila
monsters, bobcats, javelinas, a variety of snakes, and whatever
other critters amble along the wash behind our house.More
time than I might wish to admit is spent attempting to restrict
otherwise admired wildlife from munching my garden. I am
humbled daily.Current favorite pens are vintage Aurora 88s
and aerometric P51s with a small assortment of modern pens.
I enjoy using each one.
Kenneth
Andrew Campbell
I have
been a security analyst specializing in the insurance industry
for many years. I now confine my analytical work to a very
small segment of the insurance universe and work for relatively
few clients. I am over sixty years of age, happily married
with four children ranging from 6 to 14.
When
I was a kid going to grammar school, I had a number of Esterbrook
pens with removable nibs. I was quite fascinated with these.
But it wasn't until many years later that someone gave me
a Montblanc for Christmas. I thought it was rather bizarre
looking, the thickest pen I ever saw, but over the last
30 years, I have grown greatly attached to it.
Six
or seven years ago, I attended my first pen show. I bought
several pens and started a nice little collection. But I
had done little to expand it since, until lately when I
bought a Pelikan and an Omas. Now I am getting fired up
again on this hobby and have greatly expanded my ink supply
thanks to Ann Marie..
I need
correspondents; that's why I'm here.
Other
Interests:
Baroque
music to which I listen with Stax headphones of ancient
vintage. I also like Wagner, but primarily the musicians
of the 18th century. I will only listen to analog recordings.
I avoid CD's like ball points.
I have
a few minute-repeater watches, and numerous clocks around
the house all of which I keep wound.
My wife
reads to me every evening. We go through the works of many
authors, mostly classical. Now we are reading C. S.Lewis,
having completed Alexandre Dumas.
I have
a particular friend and companion, an African Gray parrot,
named Purdy. But now I am getting ahead of myself. If I
keep going on, I'll have nothing left for penmanship.:)
Best
wishes,
Ken
Hope
Exline
I'm
very fond of writing letters, although my penmanship could
use a bit of a polish. While I appreciate the ease and speed
of email, there is much to be said for the hand written
word. There is always a jolt of excitement when I receive
a letter or card from a friend, be they an old one or new.
In this world of sales flyers, free credit card promotions
and in my case, Huggies diaper coupons, please let there
be more than that with my daily trek to the post office!
I was
born, and raised here in Iowa. I have an associates degree
in nursing, My experience lies for the most part, in geriatric/medical/oncology.
I was a Navy wife for 6 years and had the pleasure of living
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida and Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Currently I live in a very small town surrounded
by farmland.
I have
temporarily withdrawn from nursing to raise my children
ages 13, 8, 5 and 2. I am a voracious reader and writer,
keeping a daily journal and writing short stories, poems
and basically whatever strikes me at the moment. Lately,
it's been mostly about having a brain injured child, the
changes that have occured since the injury a year ago and
about the feelings and fears that go with it.
I've
begun the addictive foray into the world of fountain pens,
and have a few that I do all of my writing with. I'm always
looking for them as hidden treasures at the local antique
and second hand shops. There is something very sensual about
writing with a good pen, an almost mysterious magical thing
that happens. I'd enjoy writing to someone who feels the
same. It's a little frustrating living in Iowa, despite
being the home of Sheaffer pens. Good pens and inks are
hard to find. I was amazed and very touched by the answers
I received to my post on the bulletin board here.
This
is beginning to look a bit like a Herman Wouk novel so I'll
close by saying that I look forward to making new acquaintances
and growing as a person from anyone wishing to write. I
appreciate and share humor, intelligence and a bit of the
twisted in my correspondence, so please be aware that I
may not respond as your typical midwestern stay at home
mom. I look forward to exchanging letters with you!
