The fountain pen established a presence in the market between 1883 and 1920. It was the Waterman patent (1884) that outlined the mechanism for a controlled flow of ink from a reservoir to the nib. The basic principle of a feed system for ink to flow down, and feeds for air flow for air to flow up, remains very much unchanged today.

The 1920 to 1940's are referred to as the Golden Era of the fountain pen. This was a time when the fountain pen ruled in terms of writing instruments. In the time that followed the First World War, manufacturers brought out pens with attractive materials and quality production.

Fountain pen companies, that included Waterman, Conklin, Wahl Eversharpe, Sheaffer and Parker, produced a wide range of fountain pens in various materials and designs.

Even the Golden Age had rough times, and the 1929 collapse of the stock market and the depression that followed took its toll on pen manufacturers. Only the strongest of the companies survived the recession.

By the end of time time, companies such as Parker and Sheaffer emerged as leaders in the North American market.

From the 1940s and 1950s the ball point pen started its climb as the predominate pen of choice. At first, ball point pens were expensive, leaked and had problems with smooth ink flow.

By the 1950s, with the War over, and economies picked up. But by now, the ball point pen was the item in the market. By the 60s the ball point pen replaced the fountain pen as the pen most commonly used. Fountain pens became pens for occasional or specific writing use.

The next emergence of the fountain pen has been more of an writing instrument of choice as opposed as a pen for the masses.

By the 1970s there was a renewed interest in fountain pens and this is increased into the 1980s.

Companies, such as Montblanc, illustrate the excellent use of marketing and product definition and established the fountain pen as a pen of choice for a particular segment of the writing instrument market.

For many years Montblanc held the major share of the upper price point of pens. Sheaffer with classic Pen for Men, Parker with a series of pens that were very popular, Waterman with the Man 100 series and Pelikan with its Souverãn line - to name only a few offered real choices for those who sought a fountain pen.

By now, however, the fountain pen was a pen of choice, as opposed to a pen for general use. The ball point was the dominant pen that people purchased.

During this time, Limited Edition, pens produced in limited quantities and mean for collecting were profitable options for pen manufactures.

The economic crisis of 2008 made a significant change to the pen business. Pen companies continued to produced pens in the upper price point. Limited Editions were also still in the plans for the larger pen manufactures. Store owners, however, will tell you that while the high price point pens still sold, the sales were greatly reduced.

There was a renewed interest in low and medium priced pens.

Now, in 2011 there are concerns of a recession, financial problems in Europe and the United States. Over the coming time period pen manufacturers will face challenges. The number of stores devoted to the sales of pens will decrease.

The desire to own and write with a fountain pen will remain, and there will be an ongoing market for fountain pens, albeit, smaller in scope.

Essentially Pens is a web site about the fountain pen, from the buying experience, with numerous great pen stores or stores of note, to the companies that design and produce pens, see information on the Companies, and of course, to the ink references and reviewed in the Ink section used to create the writing experience.

In the many years of using and "collecting" fountain pens, I have exchanged a fair amount of correspondence with other pen users. Recently, a pen enthusiasts wrote me to say that he choose a fountain pen to write with consideration of the person who would be receiving the note. Nice perspective.

The links along the top of the page navigate to pages on my various pen sites that provide information about pens, pen stores, pen ink some specific reviews of inks I have had the opportunity to provide and some of my thoughts or views about pens.

I hope you find the information interesting and helpful.