Fountain Pen Vs Quill Pen
Quill pens were once the predominant writing instrument in Europe and used for signing important documents like Magna Carta. Later they were superseded by self-filling fountain pens which worked through capillary action.
Natural feather quill pens are an excellent choice, as they outlast bamboo or metal alternatives in terms of longevity. Sharpening is necessary on an occasional basis.
The History
Fountain pens have long been considered symbols of refinement, whether for personal exploration or professional advancement. Their technology has seen tremendous advances over time and now makes for an exquisite writing experience.
Prior to fountain pens, quill pens were the go-to writing instrument of choice for over one millennia. Utilizing nibs made from moulted flight feathers of large birds (usually swan, turkey or goose) as their writing tip, quills provided effective yet messy writing tools requiring frequent dipping and ink splattering.
Petrache Poenaru of Romania is credited as being the inventor of the first reservoir pen; many other innovators then followed. Lewis Waterman made significant strides forward by patenting a lever-filling fountain pen that solved leakage and introduced three-fissure feed that continuously metered ink into the nib, eliminating vacuum lock while improving capillary action of its nib.
The Ink
Quill pens required frequent dipping in an inkwell, while fountain pens utilized a reservoir (cartridge or converter) which constantly metered ink onto the nib. Writing could therefore continue uninterrupted over pages. Furthermore, proper hand position and posture were essential in maintaining good grip of the pen; poor habits caused ink blots or sprays which led to messy writing sessions.
Quill pen use the primary flight feathers shed by birds during their annual moult cycle as the best feathers for writing instruments. Geese, swans and turkeys were particularly sought-after sources, although many people would breed geese at home so as to ensure an ample supply of feathers for writing purposes.
Calligraphy with a quill pen takes time and practice, but can be an enjoyable pastime and skill that yields significant returns. The ink used with this type of pen is both fade- and smear-proof so your writing will look fantastic no matter the surface it’s on.
The Nib
The nib is the point that comes into contact with paper when writing. Nibs are typically made of stainless steel; however, different styles exist that suit particular writing styles or purposes.
Quill pens use hollow feather shafts filled with ink that deliver it via capillary action and gravity, and a good quill can write over one week of text before needing repair or recutting.
Metal nibs are typically constructed of gold or steel. Modern fountain pens use cartridges that hold ink that can be replaced when it runs dry; older pens used lever or plunger mechanisms to fill their ink reservoir. Lewis Waterman introduced an alternative fill method utilizing capillary action that also helped prevent leaks.
The Comfort
Quill pens were expensive writing instruments traditionally reserved for official documents. Their delicate quills required precise handling and usage; any improper positioning may result in too much pressure being used during writing sessions and damaged nibs that needed to be repaired and recut afterwards.
Quill pen users typically had to re-dip their pens regularly in ink, making writing slow and laborious. With proper hand positioning and writing habits in place, a quill might provide up to seven days worth of writing before needing repair and/or cutting back down again.
With the advent of fountain pens – which feature reservoirs and feeds that enable continuous writing without needing to re-dip – quill pens fell out of favor, yet many users of modern fountain pens find writing with quill pens provides them with greater comfort and aesthetic pleasure than their modern alternatives.
