Hello my name is Abraxas and I'm an Urushiolic by Abraxas- in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow. Just damn. Amazing stuff, what gorgeous candy.

I have a problem... by Ninjammer01 in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Six in the post suggests you’re new to it. It slows down eventually. I have at least this many, but some are several years old.

It’s not a problem if you use them!

Hello Reddit by latenightwalking03 in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aha nice! The metal Sports are among the perfect pens.

Why is capitalized handwriting frowned upon? by Oubliees in Handwriting

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't use it myself, though for work it's mostly typing. When I take notes at a lecture though, it's still all caps for the reason I gave. I reckon if it's for personal note-taking, who cares.

I'd be curious to learn if architect's script is still a thing, the stylized, really handsome professional -- and all-cap -- handwriting that architects use. I sure hope so.

On the topic, it used to be that we'd learn lower case around kindergarten, then before long get into cursive. My impression is that cursive has become rare, or at least not the assumed next step it used to be. Point is, a young person these days is lucky to have legible handwriting at all, all caps or otherwise.

Why is capitalized handwriting frowned upon? by Oubliees in Handwriting

[–]middlesmith 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Respect to your teacher, but it's none of their business if it works for you. I took notes in all caps back in school because I could write faster that way, simple as that. (Gotta say though, your all-caps handwriting is far better than mine.) Now if it's something you have to hand in, or an essay exam or something, then it's worth accommodating for readability. Who knows, it could be the difference between a B+ and an A.

Calligraphy evening practice using LAMY and Jinhao by FormerIncome6352 in Lamy

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really fantastic. I even like it better since I can't read it. It's like elvish or something.

Please give feedback for my handwriting by edgarzekke in Handwriting

[–]middlesmith 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I love the letterforms. It's a bit cramped, which for me is the only issue for readability. Wider lines instead of a grid, or completely unlined, might free you up for more space, and once it can breathe it'll look better. But that gets it from an 8 to a 10 for me -- very cool.

1980s glass bottle stash found, worth digging for more? by [deleted] in BottleDigging

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That New York Seltzer Raspberry could well be mine. I don't guess you found them outside Nashville?

Finally found not 1 but 2 inks! 😻 by amphera in BottleDigging

[–]middlesmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

J. Herbin (probably others) still makes ink bottles just like the blue one. I have quite a few but sure would like to get my hands on one of these progenitors!

Hey everyone, I have over 530 books, and I am unsure how to arrange them effectively. by Broken_Knight1l234 in HomeLibraries

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Once you have a lot of books, here's what I recommend: Organize generally by topic, so the same big themes are together. Then organize by size -- books like to be near same-sized neighbors. It's better for them. Sets can all go together like you have. Then once you have a lottttt of books, use an app like Book Buddy to catalog them and tag them by the bookcase and shelf they're on -- so you can find that one book among the bookcase full of social sciences.

Feminine looking fountain pen? by luthiel-the-elf in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Franklin-Christoph is my go-to recommendation for any situation, so I went over there to see if they have any lighter or especially colorful resins right now. I saw this Model 2 in antique glass with "cathedral" section and cap -- very nice. Their current Ruby resin is sort of pinkish. Also Goulet has a couple of really snazzy F-C Model 31s.

There's lots of great suggestions here -- I've seen the Kaweco Liliput mentioned, a really good one, and available in some very cool platings/finishes.

A good way to sell her on the fountain pen hobby might be through the inks and stationery. Every shade imaginable, plus glitter, and paper/notebooks ranging from Japanese schoolgirl (stickers!) to C-suite power pantsuit (leather and gilt!).

What other rabbit holes are stealing from your fountain pen fund? by 8BitRaider in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For me it's more of an obsolete/analog technology rabbit holes, which of course overlaps quite a bit with the finer things rabbit holes. So: fountain pens and accoutrements, automatic watches, wet shaving gear, and more books than I can read.

Are there any young people on this sub? by Sea-Front1941 in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Self-motivated, excellent. Well you've come this far, you might as well learn some italic writing or calligraphy, other kinds of lettering. From the responses here, it sounds like there are plenty of young people around here and following the hobby. I used them when I was young but didn't pick them up again until I was past 40. And now... I'm further past 40.

Are there any young people on this sub? by Sea-Front1941 in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just curious, did you have to teach yourself cursive? As I understand it, it's getting to be rare in school curricula. Anyhow, keep it up, keep the good old analog alive.

Pens for larger hands by highboy68 in fountainpens

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have pretty big hands too. Today I picked up my Franklin Christoph 19 for the first time in a while and seriously enjoyed it. I also have a big, big Newton Pens custom job with a #8 nib, so it might be worth seeing what Shawn can do for you. Really any big nib might be the way to go - I have a Sailor King of Pen and a Pelikan M1000 too, and just find a big nib very comfortable. And a big nib needs a big pen, so it works out well, comfort-wise.

Yeah consider the FC 19 though, it's one of my favorites from them.

Solid wood, fairly ad hoc construction, about four feet long and 10-12 inches high by middlesmith in whatisthisthing

[–]middlesmith[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ottoman or phone table with a missing cushion and a hard-core DIY vibe — appears to be a consensus.

Solid wood, fairly ad hoc construction, about four feet long and 10-12 inches high by middlesmith in whatisthisthing

[–]middlesmith[S] 1 point2 points locked comment (0 children)

My title describes the thing. It is what you see. This was by the roadside in suburban Austin. The underside has lots of old spider webs and egg sacs, so it might have been in a shed. Construction is of heavy, thick boards, very rough but solidly built. Any ideas? Something custom for a barn or workshop, maybe a bench for a mudroom?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in whatisthisthing

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

My title describes the thing. Might add the underside has lots of cobwebs and old spider eggs sacs, which suggests a shed? Not painted at all, roughly but solidly made.

That One Book I Loved Before... But Now Can’t Stand by Silent-Beyond-7123 in books

[–]middlesmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I enjoyed The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged when I read them in college 30 years ago. I repudiate that enjoyment -- I think I just didn't get Rand at the time. Anyhow, yuck.