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A fountain pen is a pen that contains a reservoir of water-based
liquid ink. The ink is fed to the nib through a “feed” via a combination of gravity
and capillary action. Filling the fountain pen reservoir with ink involves replacing
a disposable ink cartridge, filling a removable reservoir with a screw or piston
mechanism (commonly called a converter in the case of a cartridge-based
pen), or using one of a variety of internal mechanisms which suck ink into the reservoir
from a bottle through the nib. Older pens had an internal rubber sac which was squeezed
and released to create the suction needed.
The nib of the fountain pen was introduced by the German inventor Friedrich Soennecken.
Today, the nib is usually made of stainless steel or gold, with the most popular
gold content being 14 karat and 18 karat. Gold is considered the optimum metal for
its flexibility and its resistance to corrosion, since fountain pen inks tend to
be somewhat alkaline. Gold nibs are tipped with a hard, wear-resistant alloy that
typically uses metals from the platinum group.
The main reasons people seek fountain pens in recent times are for: effortless writing
and comfort (some sufferers of arthritis are unable to use ballpoint pens, but can
use fountain pens), expressive penmanship and calligraphy, longevity (fountain pens
are known to last several lifetimes, whereas ballpoints are disposable), professional
art/design, wide range of ink colours available, recreational collecting (history
and heritage), and academic benefits. Many users also mention that fountain pens
retain a sense of timeless elegance, personalization and sentimentality that computers
and ballpoint pens seem to lack, and often state that once they start using fountain
pens, ballpoints become awkward to use due to the extra motor effort needed and
lack of expressiveness.
Fountain Pens and Roller Ball Pens are more secure. Their ink is water based and
can not be chemically removed in the process of Check Washing.
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