Owning a nice fountain pen is a great idea for every avid collector of writing tools. The most popular fountain pens are the one made of platinum. Platinum fountain pens are referred to as such because their exteriors made of platinum. In most cases their caps and bodies are plated with platinum in a way so that the pen and the nib do not tarnish.
In some rare cases certain platinum fountain pens also have platinum cases in which they are placed to provide them extra protection and style. On the inside platinum fountain pens are usually the same as any other ordinary fountain pen. Most fountain pens are usually equipped with converters and fillers of international standards so that any ink or cartridge can be used.
Platinum fountain pens can make excellent gifts due to the fact that they can be personalized. It is not that difficult to have the name of the gifts recipient, a logo or the date of a special occasion engraved on them. Usually engravings on fountain pens, just like every other kind of pen are available for a small additional cost. Apart from being gift items, platinum fountain pens are valued items to collectors.
Many people who collect pens have antique and vintage platinum fountain pens in their collections. Platinum, as a metal is very durable and strong and any pens made from this metal, including platinum fountain pens, can withstand enormous pressures. They will not be affected by environmental conditions wither, since platinum does not rust. Any platinum object will remain unaffected by weather and climate changes for years if not decades to come.
Most pen manufactures produce many types of platinum plated fountain pens. In most cases platinum fountain pens come in limited editions and are far more expensive than the regular fountain pens. Prices of platinum fountain pens depend on several factors. First, the price depends on the amount of the precious metal used for the outer body. The price also depends on the material used to make the nib. In some cases the nib is made from gold and therefore these pens are much more expensive. The price also depends on the accessories sold along with the pen; accessories like pen stands. The price fluctuates depending on what materials have been used to make these items as well. If the accessories are made form platinum then expect the price to be much higher. Other accessories that usually come with the pen and that might determine the price of the set are ink pots and platinum plated pen cases. Have in mind that platinum fountain pens are not widely available and are usually either auctioned or produced on demand.
A popular manufacturer of platinum fountain pens is cross. Cross has been producing pens for almost one hundred and fifty years. Cross fountain pens can be very expensive. If you are aiming to purchase a cross fountain pen, be ready to pay accordingly. The tradition of making fountain pens is over one thousand years old. Keep that in mind when selecting your platinum fountain pen because some pens are really old.
Many individuals would probably raise an eyebrow when they hear someone willing to spend $40,000 to buy a fountain pen. Renaissance Pen Co founder Patrick Pinkston, however, says that the amount - apparently exorbitant for what is seemingly ?only? a writing instrument - is a reflection of the fact that these pens are also considered special works of art.
1. Insanely Expensive Pens Are Works Of Art
The high price fountain pens fetch are also due to the approach taken by Fisher, Michel Perchin and other industry leaders to make their product available on a limited edition basis. This trend first emerged in the early 1990s, creating a new market of pricey items that Fountain Pen Hospital President Terry Wiederlight said made the pens more like jewelry.
The price range for fountain pens is quite extreme. A Fisher pen capable of writing upside down is available for $15. On the other hand, the Modernista Diamonds pen from Caran D'Ache - which has over 5,000 small diamonds - will cost the interested buyer $230,000. The bottom line is that fountain pen enthusiasts are eager to flaunt, admire or simply collect the specially-designed fine writing instruments.
2. Where The Passion Started
Although pens with their own ink cache have already been available earlier, the first patented fountain pen is attributed to insurance salesman Lewis Waterman in 1884. In his case, the motivation came from failure to close a major contract after the pen he was using spilled ink onto the document. Waterman's efforts grew the business from a simple hand-made operation based in a cigar shop to one with annual sales of 350,000! Nephew Frank D. Waterman launched the company abroad after his uncle died in 1901.
3. How Fountain Pens Work
Earlier attempts to patent their creation before Waterman - including the self-filling pen of John Jacob Parker in 1831 and the quill-and-metal pen of John Scheffer in 1809 - either failed or posed other problems that prevented these products from taking off. Since a fountain pen's internal supply of ink is crucial, many inventors and pen makers going back to the early 19th century explored various ways to come up with the optimum reservoir design. One that emerged during the period was the self-filling design, which spawned several patents that included the Parker Pen Co's Button Filler in 1905, Walter Sheaffer's Lever Filler in 1908 and the Weidlich Company's Matchstick Filler in 1910.
Another key figure in the development of fountain pens is George Safford Parker, who worked as a distributor of John Holland fountain pens to supplement his salary as a school teacher. His frustration with the quality of the pens he sold to students compelled him to repair the faulty ones, eventually making him learn how fountain pens were made and convincing him that he could make pens of higher quality. The now 110-year-old Parker Pen Company was incorporated by Parker in a team-up with insurer W.E. Palmer in February 1892, helped by several Parker patents, including The Lucky Curve. This innovation made use of capillary attraction that fully drained ink from the pen's feed tube, preventing the liquid from expanding and reaching the tip to ensure that no ink will blot the user's hand when the cap is removed.
4. Fountain Pens Of Today
Entering the 20th century, fountain pens have become more than writing instruments. Ownership became a clear symbol of prestige, with holders of the pen seen as an educated class, who at that time were the only individuals recognized for their reading and writing skills.
Disposable ink cartridges for fountain pens emerged in the 1950s and became a market success, primarily due to the ease with which they could be inserted in pens and a design that practically prevented any spillage. Ballpoint pens were later developed and eventually surpassed fountain pens as preferred writing instruments. Despite the competition, fountain pens remain a collector's item.
The world's foremost fountain pen brands can all be found at the Fountain Pen Hospital in New York. Besides the fine-writing instrument, Fountain Pen Hospital also offers desk sets, leather pen cases, pen displays and other accessories. Among the top labels available at the dealer are Germany's Graf von Faber-Castell; Cartier; Italian maker Aurora; high-tech proponent Rotring; Sheaffer; Michel Perchin; Waterman and Parker.
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