Recently I needed to find a 0.5mm metallic silver roller ball pen (yes, that specific) and thus made a sojourn up to Lee’s Art Shop, a famous New York midtown landmark. Directly to the right of the front door (requisite surly security guard included) is a most magnificent sight. A 6 foot inclined wall of pens. Glorious, glorious pens. Felt tip pens, ball point pens, fountain pens, permanent market pens, ink pens, roller ball pens, calligraphy pens, fiber tips pens, gel ink pens, and dozens of others I’ve nary a clue about. A man obsessed? Perhaps.
Lee’s is a mecca for those of you who actually care about the pen you write with (my weapon of choice is always the black Uni-ball Vision Elite
30 Second Primer to Pens:
Here’s a quick Gear Patrol primer/guide to a few of the most often used pens, when people started writing with them, and the benefits. Use it to figure out which pen is best for you.
Fountain Pen (1880)
The Good: The flaws of liquid ink is what makes it absolutely fun to write with a fountain pen.
The Bad: You need skill and patience.
