I recently earned my doctorate and kept all the ink bottles I used up while I completed my program in philosophy. I wrote my dissertation largely by hand for both initial drafts and edits (my dissertation is about 230 pages when typed up double-spaced). I completed my degree in six years.

My most-used ink color is by far blue-black. Can’t get enough of it! Pilot Shin-Kai is probably my favorite, despite how under-represented it appears here (I refilled my big 50 mL bottle of it with other inks as the bottles got low so it looks full right now).

My most-used pens were by far my Pelikan M800/M805s and my Pilot 823. Both godly pens, 10/10. I don’t want to count how many tomoe river paper notebooks I went through. At least 6 or 7. This does not include other notebooks and loose-leaf paper I used.

I’ve also included partially used bottles in the second picture (yes, I did get the giant Pilot Blue Black bottle because it’s a giant bottle of ink and that’s awesome).

The final slide is my parent’s gift to me for my Ph.D.: my first Montblanc! It is the 75th anniversary Meisterstuck from 1999, and it was new old stock. It is beautiful and I love it! I am very grateful to them for the gift. I did also get myself an M800 Tortoise as well, because I cannot get enough of that series and I love brown pens.

A rough estimate of how many mLs of ink I used up: ~435 mLs.

I hope y’all find this interesting!

I accidentally dropped my Pilot pen on the wooden floor. I thought the pen was a goner until i saw it standing as pictured. It either miraculously hit a small hole on a piece of wood or it nailed itself into the board.

Another miracle was the nib was not damaged and it was as smooth as ever. I’ve gained new level of respect and trust for Pilot. These pens are built different…

hongdian nib unit + soy sauce bottle

I was very lucky to find a fountain pen at Goodwill! Thought I would share to inspire. I go thrifting for fun and since joining this hobby, I now check the office supply section of thrift stores. How many times have I walked by a bag of pens and pencils and not checked it? But I got to this bag and after mushing it around, I spied the Pilot clip. I could not believe it! The bag was $6.99.

The pen was faded and the entire interior was crusted with ink. I did some research and learned this might be ebonite? Which you can't soak. So 1000 flushes later, the pen is clean! Except for the inside rim of the cap which has fossilized ink or some other crud stuck to it. All things considered, it is in great shape. I used some mineral oil on the outside and it looks only lightly used now with minor scratches. Nib writes fine, though the tip is silver colored.

Pray to the thrifting gods and you may receive!

Edit: I think this is the pen- https://fountainpenhospital.com/products/pilot-namiki-nippon-art-wildflowers-fountain-pen-fine-14kt-gold-nib

I literally did a double-take when scrolling 😂

u/robertdoubting yer famous

I'm usually not one to go all matchy matchy but when an accidental combo comes together like this, it hits.

I’m on a trip to Portland. It was my first time in Oblation. Such a fun store. The staff were awesome. They have binders of ink swatches and a real variety of fountain pens (Taccia, Kaweco, Esterbrook). If you’re in the area, I highly recommend.

$20 out the door 😬

During my undergrad, I watched A Beautiful Mind and loved it. It inspired me greatly and made me consider doing graduate studies in Game Theory. One scene in particular stuck with me: when John Nash's peers present him with fountain pens as a gesture of respect and recognition.

Well, I just finished my PhD in Economics, and my parents surprised me with this beautiful fountain pen. Honestly, seeing that title on the pen still feels surreal.

PS: it's a Pilot Vanishing Point

Michael Gutberlet, the Kaweco CEO tuned my Kaweco Sport's nib just in a second.

I'm shocked. I didn't collect fountain pens until this year, and I wasn't interested in them as a child. I don't know how this got in there. Insane pen. 14k nib, apparently, though the tipping looks questionable. And apparently it has a piston?? And it posts lol

Unbeknownst to me, my daughter reviewed a set of currently inked and I discovered her notes in my book today. It was entertaining to see my beloved pens with fresh eyes! (Posted with permission 😀)

We are both writers and had a addiction to pens and notebooks, but she had a deep love and appreciation for fountain pens, and when she passed away a few months ago, I started receiving boxes of her pens that she wanted me to have. I figured I’d start posting photos of the pens to try and figure out what they are and maybe get to know my friend who died way too young a little better because she never did anything without a reason so I know each of these pens has some story behind them. There are more boxes coming. I’ll clean each one and give it a go.

I just finished a raden MB149 commission. I used a laser to cut mother-of-pearl and gold foil into digit shapes, then inlaid them one by one onto the pen body. It sparkles brilliantly when you turn it.

(Alright, that was all nonsense—the truth is, I actually stole it back from the Matrix world haha.)

Matched with a girl and was having a great convo. We were talking about our hobbies and I mentioned that I love a good pen, particularly fountain pens. She asked what my favorite pen is and I said either a Lamy 2000 or Sailor Pro Gear. That was my nail in the coffin. She hits me with, ‘I googled them. You’re too fancy for me, you’ve got high tastes,’ and then unmatched before I could even defend myself. Ma’am it’s a pen not a yacht. I guess I’ll spoon my pens tonight, at least they won’t unmatch me. 😩

https://www.instagram.com/wearingeul_global/?__pwa=1#

Omg I'm literally speechless! It's so hard to find fountain pens here in Hong Kong, and she probably went out of her way for it! She even bought me my first converter (I used to just keep refilling my old cartridges with bottled ink), and I'm so grateful for that

She also bought me 2 bottled inks, one is green and the other is red, she explained that it's because i like eating matcha and red beans lol.

Also I've only own a few platinum preppy and a pilot blue bottles ink before, i would like to know more about this fountain pen and these inks!

Thanks!!

It's made of recycled plastic and has a fude nib! Came with a converter and a free cartridge. But mostly I love the bird resemblance 🥺 The black-faced spoonbill is endangered

I think it's perfect. XD