We've been a Parker/Waterman dealer for many years, and we've seen changes that both startled and delighted us. Loads of our favorite writing instruments have become collectables; and some we barely gave a nod to have been huge sellers. You just don't know what people will fall in love with. And now, Waterman has limited its distributors in North America, so only refills and ink are available through us. And we are limited to only a few Parker lines as well. 

If you have bought from us in the past, or if you were hoping to find that special item here, take a look at the Close Out part of Fine Writing on the site. We still have some lovely pens available. We will also be showcasing the new items being released by Parker in Jotter, IM, Urban, Sonnet, and Sonnet Premier.  

We have a few great collectables here in the warehouse, and we're now offering them at more favorable pricing so you can have the joy of owning a pen with a pedigree. Take a look at the grouping and compare pricing. We think you'll be glad you came to our site.

If you have questions about the care and handling of some of these pens, call us or read the instructions below:

In response to all the calls we’ve gotten about problems with fountain pen nibs, I’ve decided to talk about some solutions. NIbs can be scratchy or dirty, or they may refuse to write at all. People want to know what to do with these temperamental objects, so I’m going to make some suggestions.

1) Unscrew the middle of the barrel of the pen, and then run the nib portion under tepid water. Do not use hot water. Do not use soap. Just allow a light stream get into all the areas–the barrel access where the ink flows down, the nib, and its under side. If a pen sits for a long time, it can dry up a bit, and the ink is simply causing flow problems. I like to run the water and then lightly dab the nib on a paper towel.The paper pulls ink down and starts the flow. I allow the water to run until it comes out of the pen clear. If you don’t want to stand there for several minutes, put water in a dish and let the pen soak for a couple of minutes. Keep changing the water out.

2) When it appears to be running clear, gently dry the nib and barrel, and then snap in a cartridge or use the converter. Give the nib a chance to reabsorb ink, and then lightly pass the nib over some scrap paper. Water still inside the pen will mix with the ink, so the color won’t be right until the water has cleared the barrel. But after it does, you should be able get back to the joy of writing.

3) If you still have problems, you may want to have the manufacturer take a look. Sometimes parts have gotten damaged for one reason or another. If you have a new pen, and the nib is scratchy, call the customer service line the manufacturer provides. The Parker Waterman line is 1-800-237-8736. Please always keep the warranty information because most companies won’t honor the warranty if you don’t have it. Also keep the receipt, if you are the one who purchased it.

4) One major reason nibs get cranky is pen sharing. Each person has a different way of writing. The pressure and angle are different, and the nib conforms to one hand. If you have a light touch, and someone with a heavier style borrows the pen, it can re-contour the nib and you will not have the same experience again. Those slim ends on the nib really do require some careful handling.

5) If you have a stainless steel nib, there is less chance of seeing damage from borrowers. However, many fine pens have gold and rhodium nibs, so they have to be handled with care.

6) Dropping the pen with the nib exposed will certainly cause some problems. If you believe the nib has bent or crimped, send it to the manufacturer, or find someone who does work on pens. Most metro areas have pen repair places. If you can’t find one, call us and we will refer you to someone. Otherwise, you will have to replace the nib.

7) To install the cartridge, simply hold it with the hollow side down. It will be the one with the plastic collar and an indentation in it, not the one with the small piece of plastic sticking up at you. Push it into the barrel until you feel the cartridge engage. The tube inside the pen breaks through the plastic well and the ink is then able to flow. Replace the top of the barrel and test the pen. If it doesn’t flow, place the nib on a piece of paper towel. If it still doesn’t write, wet part of the towel and try placing the nib on it again. You should begin to see ink flow onto the towel.

8) Most fine and extra fine nibs won’t write well when using some of the more popular brands of ink. This is because many lush colors have lots of pigment to create their gorgeous appearance. However, pigment causes clump, and clump causes scratchy nib syndrome.Many of the more well known brands of upscale pens have this problem. We get calls all the time asking for help. I tell everyone to buy Waterman ink. Why? Because they have perfected their inks for extra fine nibs. You can have lovely colors (black, brown, two blues, green, purple, red, blue-black, pink and turquoise) and use a converter to get the tones you want. This is often the simple solution to problems with skinny nibs. Don’t throw away a pen because of this problem. Just test Waterman ink.

I hope this article has helped those of you who enjoy using fountain pens. I love mine, but I’d have given up long ago if it hadn’t been for the great tips I’ve gotten along the way. Enjoy your writing experiences and please come back and read more!