Vera
R. Mahar
As a
child in school I always had ink stained fingers. Fountain
pens were a way of life and I never really appreciated them.
Most were bought at the local five and ten cent stores (oops
- that phrase will probably tell you that I am not a 30,
40 etc. something). They were the instrument of the day.
Then I got hooked on ball point pens and it wasn't until
the late 70's that I deliberately went out and bought a
fountain pen - a retractable whose name I don't recall and
have unfortunately lost.
When
I joined pentrace last March I had 2 fountain pens that
I have owned forever. Then I started buying pens from e
bay. My first purchase was a gold retractable dip pen and
before I finally came to my senses I had a total of 35 -
enough that I don't have to use the same pen for over a
month. At the same time I was buying pens I was also addicted
to buying stationery and have enough now to last me at least
a year.
My husband
Jack and I live in a rural area on 2 acres of land along
with our daughter Kim and her family. We are approximately
25 miles northwest of Phoenix but the city is growing up
to meet us sad to say. The Sun City retirement cities (Sun
City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand) have burst their
seams and are filling in the desert land rapidly between
Phoenix and Wittmann.
Horses
have always been a passion. As a child watching western
movies I would pick out the ones I wanted as the cowboys
herded them (always a black and white paint). I am lucky
enough to own a horse, a Peruvian Paso gelding named Tesoro
(although not a black and white paint he is black with white).
And my daughter has a Shire mare and a Clydesdale gelding.
There are still acres of desert around us for riding and
hopefully it will stay that way for a while.
For
more years than I care to remember I was a legal secretary.
Started out working for a father/son firm in upstate NY
when dictation was taken in shorthand, typewriters were
not fancy and telefax was far in the future. Now I am an
adult caregiver in a private home for a lady in her early
90's and she is very, very alert.
I promise
to answer all who write.
Cheryl
K. Sanders
Hello,
I am
nearly 56 years old (1/27/46), single, legally blind lady,
retired due to disability. I share a home with my 73 year
old mother, widowed, and 48 year old sister, divorced and
a grandmother, and three cats, ages 17, 12, and 5. Each
cat has such a unique personality that there is never a
dull moment--especially when interacting with Ethan, my
sister's 4 year old grandson.
I was
born in Owensboro, Kentucky, and have lived all my life
in Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and Ohio across from Northern
Kentucky. I have visited a good many other states; but my
heart always resisted leaving Kentucky.
Before
retirement due to disability, I was employed in Scheduling
and Planning Departments of local public transportation
company. The few fountain pens seen there were status Montblancs.
I have
loved fountain pens--Sheaffer Imperials, Targas, Legacys,
Balance II, Asian; Parker 75s, 51s, modern Duofolds; Pelikan
250, 400, 730, 600. 800; Ancora Perlas; Aurora Talentum,
Sole; Stipula Duetto; all Namiki, Platinum Celluloid Koi;
and the list goes on--since high school in the 1960s. I
especially like red, yellow, sterling silver, and tiny fountain
pens, purse, vest pocket, etc.
I have
recently fallen in love with my Parker BR-45c, created by
Paul Todd, and Parker Vacs. I am partial to stub, italic,
and oblique nibs, after Jim Gaston introduced me to a stub
on the Sheaffer Royal Selangor Pewter Asian fountain pen.
I also
enjoy trying all colors of ink and am especially fond of
Omas, Private Reserve, and Penman.
I also
enjoy reading and listening to all kinds of music. I enjoy
using my fountain pens to write letters and journaling.
Andreas
Lambrou
Andreas
Lambrou started collecting fountain pens in 1954, at the age
of 12, in his native Cyprus. He studied at the London University
and while in England, was able to enhance substantially his
fountain pen collection. He is a founder member of the Writing
Equipment Society, formed in 1980, and served on the Executive
as Trade Liaison Officer for fountain pens.
His
love of pens, his fascination for their history and development,
spurred him to carry out extensive research on the history
of the fountain pen and its industry. In 1987, Andreas Lambrou
and his wife Jenny took the decision to devote their work
to fountain pens. Lambrou's first book, 'Fountain Pens Vintage
and Modern', was completed after 10 years of research with
the help of his wife, to whom the work is dedicated. This
book draws not only on his own expertise, but also on the
resources and cooperation of established pen manufacturers
and of pen lovers across the world. Exclusive line drawings
commissioned for the book were hand produced by Lambrou's
daughter, Lenya, the creative artist of Classic Pens. Published
by Sotheby's in 1989, it has come to be recognized as the
definitive work on the history of fountain pens and their
industry. It constitutes an indispensable source of reference
for collectors, designers, traders, retailers and devotees
of fountain pens in general. The book, affectionately known
by many collectors as the 'Lambrou Lite', is probably the
most successful book on the subject, having sold more than
40,000 copies.
To date,
Andreas has authored three fountain pen books ('Fountain
Pens Vintage and Modern', 'Fountain Pens of the World' and
'Fountain Pens: USA and UK'), the last two published by
Classic Pens. The company has developed and launched five
CP series working with Sheaffer (CP1, CP2 and CP4), with
Aurora (CP3) and Parker (CP5). Classic Pens is currently
working with Pelikan to produce CP6, which is due for launch
September 2002.
Nicola
"Hobbes" Mallik
While
I'm dead proud to share my name with a potato (at least
no one can say I don't make a mean potato salad - literally!),
I generally prefer the nickname Hobbes. Nicknamed after
both the tiger and the philosopher, I like to think I have
taken the best bits from both.
A contrary
being at the best of times, I first picked up a fountain
pen in high school in order to set myself out from the crowd.
In truth, it wasn't necessary, but my love affair with fountain
pens has not wavered since then. I'm definitely more of
an accumulator than a collector. I have a (very!) small
number of tried and true pens that scarcely get a chance
to leave my hand, purely because I love writing with them
more than I love the pens themselves.
I have
always had more of an affection for the written word rather
than the spoken word, no doubt due to my persistent stutter.
Alas, I don't find (or make) the time to indulge in letter
writing, however, I am eager to reverse this trend!
I currently
live in the beautiful surrounds of Sydney where I was born
and raised, though I also proudly claim my British and Canadian
citizenships. I while away my hours pursuing my many and
varied interests, from football (soccer), through cactus
gardens and motorsports to perusing Syrian newspapers (it
doesn't take much to please me!). Actually, the latter incorporates
my main interests - politics and current affairs.
Like
a true Aussie, I tend to have a laid back, jocular and self-deprecating
view of life. I like to think it keeps me sane, though that
may be debatable.
"I
suppose if we couldn't laugh, we couldn't react to a lot
of life." - Calvin and Hobbes
Ian
I remember
my grandfather's ritual of filling out his fountain pens
in the morning, and how he would let me open the ink bottles
for him. At seven, I lusted after my aunt's precious Parker
51. However, since I spent some of my childhood in post-revolutionary
Cuba, fountain pens were a scarce commodity and kept away
from children. I arrived in the United States in 1965, and
used a Wearever through junior high school because that
is all I could afford. Sheaffer cartridge pens came later.
For my high school graduation, relatives were instructed
to give me fountain pens (I ended up with duplicate Parker
25's, one Sheaffer Triumph, and a few other pens that did
not last too long). Today I have many pens, but have never
called myself a collector. I just love writing implements,
and the act of writing. Have been keeping a journal since
I was 17, and the many volumes are kept in a box.
I have
lived most of my life in Miami, the past 18 years with my
partner and soulmate. We share a house with two cats, Baby
(as in "Bringing Up"), and Billy, who kindly allow
us to live with them. I am a middle school teacher and love
my job. And the hardest part of writing an autobiography
is pinning down my interests: reading, of course. But the
list may be too long and too revealing, and I'd rather keep
this to a minimum in order to have material for snail mail.
My sense
of humor has seen me through tough times, and I plainly
refuse to grow up. Growing old, on the other hand, is inevitable,
and will be hitting the half century mark in 2003. I am
sure I'll need my sense of humor then. And I will still
be 22, no matter what the calendar says.
About
the Ian part: I only go by my given name and last name (Gilbert
Socas) in business and professional situations.
Ink
up!
Ian
