CHENNAI: The dawn of a new millennium marked the dusk for fountain pens — only almost. Fountain pens are now regaining their lost glory and the ink is back in trend, thanks to a bunch of youngsters and fountain pen collectors.
“A fountain pen is not just a pen, but also a personal treasure. Ten years ago, we used to repair almost a hundred pens every day. But now, we hardly repair 10 pens a week. But sales have been steadily picking up in the last two years,” says M Prathap Kumar, proprietor of Gem & Co, which has been in the business for more than 85 years now.
Teenagers, who once found ink pens arduous, now find it fascinating and unique. “I find ink pens extremely easy to write with. I own more than 10 ink pens and each pen has a story of its own. In school, when we first started writing, my dad gave me a Parker pen and I have been using it since then,” says Anita Varadarajan, a college student. The exclusivity of designs offered is also a reason why youngsters prefer fountain pens to other alternatives, nowadays.
“When everyone uses the same kind of gel pen and I use a fountain pen that has a quirky design, it helps me create my own identity. It is like making a style statement,” says Sharon, who has been using only fountain pens for the last three years. Using fountain pens is no longer a messy affair, as one is required to just toss a couple of ink cartridges in the bag instead of carrying a bottle of ink.
The teachers are back to insisting students to write with fountain pens. Not only do they strongly believe that a student’s handwriting improves by using fountain pens, but also claim that it relieves the child of unnecessary hand pain. Kalaivani, who has been teaching for more than a decade, says, “The handwriting depends on the way a pen is held. The advantage of using fountain pen is that the nib can be adjusted as per an individual’s requirement. This helps in improving the handwriting of a young student. We have made it mandatory for students in fourth and fifth grades to write with ink pens.” Manufacturers and retailers of ink pen in the city have adapted to the changing business environment, which has helped in the revival of these pens. “We entered into an agreement with an online portal to sell our fountain pens. We received a tremendous response. We have people from different parts of the country and even a few individuals from abroad, purchasing the pens,” says Prathap Kumar.
Handmade fountain pens have become a huge rage among online buyers, he adds. The trend of gifting others customised fountain pens, though expensive, has found a lot of takers in the city. “People still bring their pens for repair. Sourcing the spare parts is very difficult and the price may vary depending on the damage. Though we do not make much from repairing pens, it’s the passion for the art of repairing that keeps me afloat,” he confesses.
While there are quite a few showrooms of international brands in the city malls, those who have a penchant for collecting vintage fountain pens still throng the little shops in Parrys Corner. “You can find old sailor pens to Parker and Sheffar pens at Parrys. We have to spend a small fortune; it’s a collector’s delight. Some shop owners also have access to rare models,” says Avinash Jain, an avid pen collector who recently added the 50th vintage pen to his collection.
