Given that B&B is actually a shaving site, I figure most of us here are wet shaving enthusiasts. Many of us in this sub forum are also fountain pen enthusiasts. So, I thought it would be fun to compare our pen and razor collections.
In rough terms, the progression from the straight razor to today’s artisan razor makers parallels the advancement from the quill/dip pen through the various filling mechanisms to modern pens with today’s materials & workmanship. Compare your collections. What are your go tos in each collection?
RAZORS - I have a modest collection of razors. Most of my razors are vintage with the only exceptions being an ATT and a Feather Artist Club SS shavette. My go to razors, those I have ready to go daily, are a 1934 Gillette Aristocrat, a GEM 1912 and a Feather Artist Club SS shavette. The rest of my collection is in a storage drawer that protects them from the elements in my house - mostly dust. All of these razors are cleaned and ready to go. I have customized 2 razors: a Fat Boy that I had plated in black chrome and a 1940s Aristocrat with the same treatment.
PENS - I have a significant collection of fountain pens, many with matching pencils and a few with matching ball points or roller balls. My ratio of vintage to modern is significantly different than with my razors. At least half of my fountain pens are modern (1980 and newer). As with my razors, all pens are kept in working order, although at any point in time I may have a few waiting for a repair, generally vintage units needing a new sac, they will be returned to working order. Unlike my razors, all of my fountain pens get used, although I do have a go to group. The go tos include (these are pens that stay on my desk in a small case, although not all are inked up at the same time):
- Lamy All Star with medium nib - works well with t-shirts and polos and small enough nib for a pocket notebook
- Lamy Safari with 1.5 mm stub nib
- Bexley 20th Anniversary with 1.1 mm stub nib
- Montblanc 149 with broad nib
- Pelikan M800 blue & black with broad nib (has a matching pencil)
- Aurora Carlo Goldoni with broad nib
- Namiki Vanishing Point with broad nib - works great for meetings as most folks just think it’s a ball point and don’t derail the meeting to see the “nice pen”
Like with my razors, the rest of my pens are kept accessible, but protected from dust. Unlike my razors, I have not customized any of my pens - although, if I can get Lamy to sell me a gold nib with black trim that will fit my Safari …
In rough terms, the progression from the straight razor to today’s artisan razor makers parallels the advancement from the quill/dip pen through the various filling mechanisms to modern pens with today’s materials & workmanship. Compare your collections. What are your go tos in each collection?
RAZORS - I have a modest collection of razors. Most of my razors are vintage with the only exceptions being an ATT and a Feather Artist Club SS shavette. My go to razors, those I have ready to go daily, are a 1934 Gillette Aristocrat, a GEM 1912 and a Feather Artist Club SS shavette. The rest of my collection is in a storage drawer that protects them from the elements in my house - mostly dust. All of these razors are cleaned and ready to go. I have customized 2 razors: a Fat Boy that I had plated in black chrome and a 1940s Aristocrat with the same treatment.
PENS - I have a significant collection of fountain pens, many with matching pencils and a few with matching ball points or roller balls. My ratio of vintage to modern is significantly different than with my razors. At least half of my fountain pens are modern (1980 and newer). As with my razors, all pens are kept in working order, although at any point in time I may have a few waiting for a repair, generally vintage units needing a new sac, they will be returned to working order. Unlike my razors, all of my fountain pens get used, although I do have a go to group. The go tos include (these are pens that stay on my desk in a small case, although not all are inked up at the same time):
- Lamy All Star with medium nib - works well with t-shirts and polos and small enough nib for a pocket notebook
- Lamy Safari with 1.5 mm stub nib
- Bexley 20th Anniversary with 1.1 mm stub nib
- Montblanc 149 with broad nib
- Pelikan M800 blue & black with broad nib (has a matching pencil)
- Aurora Carlo Goldoni with broad nib
- Namiki Vanishing Point with broad nib - works great for meetings as most folks just think it’s a ball point and don’t derail the meeting to see the “nice pen”
Like with my razors, the rest of my pens are kept accessible, but protected from dust. Unlike my razors, I have not customized any of my pens - although, if I can get Lamy to sell me a gold nib with black trim that will fit my Safari …
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