My local pen pushers recently recommended Rhodia notebooks over Moleskine -- they said Moleskine had gone so far downhill that they didn't even carry them anymore. So I tried a little black Rhodia. It worked great with a fountain pen -- very firm, slick, non-bleedy paper. They're not cheap notebooks but they are high quality.
I love my little Fisher pen. It's my pocket pen for walks, for one thing--fits nicely in a jeans pocket, and without the clip, there's nothing to snag. And it always writes.
My thoughts also. My small notebook fits one of the back pockets and I can fit the pen beside it. Then the pen looks like it will fit a front pocket and not stab my leg.
Go ahead and take your favorite fountain pen. I've just flown 4 times- across the Atlantic (40,000 feet up) and across the Irish Sea, to Wales. Not a problem. I wrote with two favorites, a Waterman Carene and a Caran d'Ache Ecridor. In fact, since I always journal during flights, I've been writing with fountain pens on planes for years! Never a problem. My best guess is that the more modern fountain pens are fine in flight.
You gave me an idea for a future post. Wet and handle some paper with greasy fingers and see how the pen really works. It did work on a sheet where another ball point pen would not work, and it worked on several papers my fountain pen would not write. I can confirm the wet by experience; one of our radio club members has one and it rains quite often on Field Day in FL. His pen worked on the damp wet notebook we were using, my regular old pen did not.
I love the Space Pen. Got a chrome one without the clip a few years back as a birthday present, at least 5 years; only had to change the ink cartridge once. Yours will last you forever, trust me, unless you lose it, which I have nearly done many a time, to an unscrupulous friend or two. :)
Bill, get on eBay and look up a seller named cyber_space_pens. Then get yourself a Fisher Cap-O-Matic. I've been using them for almost twenty years. Perfect for back when I was a waiter and needed a pen that could write at any angle. The bullet pens are good, but sometimes, you just need a ballpoint with a clip on it. And, the Cap-O-Matics are cheap. About twelve bucks. Not only that, but they give off a nice "Mission Control, circa 1969" vibe. And enjoy your trip!
It's good to know about this Space Pen -- I've been frustrated with various pens writing in my journal on the BART trains whenever I work in the SF bay area. I'm left-handed and tend to get subtle-but- deadly grease on the paper as I write. I'll check into the Space-Pen as well as teeritz' Cap-O-Matic recommendation!
My sister had a Fisher Space Pen many many years ago, but unfortunately iirc it was "eaten" at both ends... These fishers pens are nice because they're small and yes, they'll write almost everywhere :-)
I agree with the person who said take your fountain pen. I have flown with my pen in my pocket probably 100 times and have never had a high altitude leak. Most modern pens are pretty reliable in that department. Don't know if that holds true for vintage pens.
My local pen pushers recently recommended Rhodia notebooks over Moleskine -- they said Moleskine had gone so far downhill that they didn't even carry them anymore. So I tried a little black Rhodia. It worked great with a fountain pen -- very firm, slick, non-bleedy paper. They're not cheap notebooks but they are high quality.
ReplyDeleteBon voyage!
I read quite a few good reviews of Rhodia notebooks. I need to order one when I return.
DeleteI love my little Fisher pen. It's my pocket pen for walks, for one thing--fits nicely in a jeans pocket, and without the clip, there's nothing to snag. And it always writes.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the right tool for the job.
My thoughts also. My small notebook fits one of the back pockets and I can fit the pen beside it. Then the pen looks like it will fit a front pocket and not stab my leg.
DeleteGo ahead and take your favorite fountain pen. I've just flown 4 times- across the Atlantic (40,000 feet up) and across the Irish Sea, to Wales. Not a problem. I wrote with two favorites, a Waterman Carene and a Caran d'Ache Ecridor. In fact, since I always journal during flights, I've been writing with fountain pens on planes for years! Never a problem.
ReplyDeleteMy best guess is that the more modern fountain pens are fine in flight.
Thanks for the information. I may just do that.
DeleteNice-looking pen, and I love that it can handle wet and greasy surfaces. I hope your trip goes well!
ReplyDeleteYou gave me an idea for a future post. Wet and handle some paper with greasy fingers and see how the pen really works. It did work on a sheet where another ball point pen would not work, and it worked on several papers my fountain pen would not write. I can confirm the wet by experience; one of our radio club members has one and it rains quite often on Field Day in FL. His pen worked on the damp wet notebook we were using, my regular old pen did not.
DeleteI love the Space Pen. Got a chrome one without the clip a few years back as a birthday present, at least 5 years; only had to change the ink cartridge once. Yours will last you forever, trust me, unless you lose it, which I have nearly done many a time, to an unscrupulous friend or two. :)
ReplyDeleteGood to hear.
DeleteBill, get on eBay and look up a seller named cyber_space_pens. Then get yourself a Fisher Cap-O-Matic. I've been using them for almost twenty years. Perfect for back when I was a waiter and needed a pen that could write at any angle. The bullet pens are good, but sometimes, you just need a ballpoint with a clip on it. And, the Cap-O-Matics are cheap. About twelve bucks. Not only that, but they give off a nice "Mission Control, circa 1969" vibe.
ReplyDeleteAnd enjoy your trip!
I'll give it a try. A Fisher pen with a clip and the look of a regular pen is around $50.00.
DeleteIt's good to know about this Space Pen -- I've been frustrated with various pens writing in my journal on the BART trains whenever I work in the SF bay area. I'm left-handed and tend to get subtle-but- deadly grease on the paper as I write. I'll check into the Space-Pen as well as teeritz' Cap-O-Matic recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI ordered one of the Cap-O-Matics after reading teeritz' comment.
DeleteMy sister had a Fisher Space Pen many many years ago, but unfortunately iirc it was "eaten" at both ends...
ReplyDeleteThese fishers pens are nice because they're small and yes, they'll write almost everywhere :-)
I do not think a Space Pen would be very tasty.
DeleteI agree with the person who said take your fountain pen. I have flown with my pen in my pocket probably 100 times and have never had a high altitude leak. Most modern pens are pretty reliable in that department. Don't know if that holds true for vintage pens.
ReplyDelete