Old Friends From My Stash
05/02/2023It was a dark and gloomy weekend. Not really. Sunny and comfortable but evenings at my desk were uninspired until I put together paper, pen and ink that haven’t seen the light of day in ages. To my delight the Rhodia No 13 pad, Sailor Sapporo fine nib and Diamine Mediterranean Blue ink were made for each other.
Mediterranean Blue has been a frequent companion to a Platinum #3776 music nib, but never a narrow nib. Not surprising for a Diamine ink, it has excellent flow and color from a fine nib, too. I never post a cap. Ever. However, the Sapporo works better in my hand with the extra length and weight. So doing something different from in the past made an unused pen usable.
I didn’t have to spend another dime to put a Sapporo into my rotation and I didn’t have to wait for a delivery. All I am suggesting is to mix things up especially in unexpected ways. You might get as pleasantly surprised as I did.
An Inkophile's Blog 
This is a great idea. Thank you for the inspiration. It might help stop the constant acquisition, then arrival of the new pen. For me, that feeling of oh a new pen is short lived.
I am L0veTheMoon of Flickr. Also the person you sold your Platinum Chartres Blue pen to.
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Hiya! Thanks for dropping by. Shaking up the usual with a new combination has worked to quell the urge to acquire new pens and inks for me in the past though from time to time I have to remember to do it. Plus I am impatient and want to write as soon as I find inspiration. Happy you see some value in the idea. 🙂
How is the Plat doing? As I recall, that pen had a very good nib. Which ink does it favor?
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The Platinum is surrounded by many inked pens, and sometimes feels overwhelmed. It has been filled and refilled from a sample of Montblanc UNICEF turquoise. I do like the B nib on it.
Yet, any time I pick up a pen with a 1.1mm stub or italic nib, I fall in love with it all over again, and wonder why I’d use anything else.
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Stubs and italics do lend a flair to letterforms that nothing else does. It’s easy to see how they could become addictive. 🙂
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That is as delightful a read as your thought behind it. Sometimes, it is the rather unexpected combination of pens and colors that brings out the best in you. I completely agree with you. Glad to have stopped by to read your wonderful post.
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Thank you so much but I must give credit to the pens and inks who speak up for themselves. I am afraid I have encouraged them far too much and they tend to take advantage of it. Don’t everyone’s pens talk to them?
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Yes, they do. You have triggered a whole new discussion with that beautiful line of yours.
My heart skips a beat whenever I lend a pen to someone.
Sometimes, people look at me with amusement, for not a lot of them these days know how to hold a fountain pen properly. 😀
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True that using a fountain pen is a skill that has fallen into obscurity and you are brave to loan yours. When I do lend a pen and before handing it over, I ask that it be used gently and I only offer one that would not be a big loss if it was damaged. My best pens never leave home, but fortunately most of my writing is done there. So it is easier for me than others to keep my pens safe. They do expect to be protected by us so that they can become vintage pens some day. 😀
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I have a few old favorites, too. Today I’ve been writing with my Pelikan Aquamarine M205 with a 14K M405 Broad Stub nib (custom ground in 2016 by Gena Salorino when she worked at nibs.com). Of course, that pen likes her matching Edelstein Aquamarine ink best. It’s the first custom-ground nib I ever bought and it’s still the best stub I’ve ever written with. That pen will never be out of rotation.
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What a lovely combination! A good custom ground stub is a treasure. Mine was a Binder stub on a Pel purchased many years ago. It is still a terrific pen though out of rotation. It’s another one that deserves a fill and some exercise. Thanks for reminding me.
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Great post and an interesting idea. I have the majority of my pens as vintage. So am a bit boringly standard Quink, Sheaffer, Waterman, Diamine and Mont Blanc black or blues. Recently acquired a fair few Diamine brighter colours and one bottle of Pelikan Violet. Inked a few up with the new choices and can now totally see where you are coming from. All the best.
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Your comment is chuckle-worthy. How can ink be boring? Even black can have uniqueness and your choice of brands is classic. But I understand what you are saying. Pel Violet is bright and Diamine has lovely inks in an amazing array of colors. So many that it is hard to choose just one or two when ordering, so I usually buy several samples to decide which ones would be likely companions for long term use. However, that is a slippery slope. You wouldn’t believe how many vials I have. Or maybe you would.
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😆 The inks aren’t boring. It’s myself who is boring in my limited choices. As you say, the black and blue inks are all fantastic. I bought 8 of the small plastic Diamine inks and 6 of the bottles. The plastic bottles were part used. As you say, it was worth it to check out favourites. Thanks for your reply. Made me smile. And I should imagine it is very difficult for yourself to ignore those inks not tried. Your blog gives knowledgeable insights and that’s brilliant. All the best.
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Thank you! Inkdom has grown so much since Inkophile was born that I cannot keep up. There are just so many I can put to the test. If you discover one that you think is great, let me know. That would be much appreciated.
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I will do. I am no way as knowledgeable as yourself. But if a new combination works really well with specific pen, nib, paper and ink, then I’ll feedback. Cheers.
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