Machined Fountain Pens
2017-19
Pens with sole.
Schumacher Pen Co was/is my attempt at launching my own range of products to market and making them myself, and I think it taught me the importance of iterative development and continuous improvement.
I practice calligraphy and have a collection f antique and modern fountain pens, and saw that there are many small-scale manufacturers making their own pens using machine- shop style turning and milling. My uncle is a fitter-machinist and so I asked him to teach me how to use a lathe. My initial models were simple cylinders and did not have clips or much in the way of ergonomics, but over the three years I was making them, I eventually worked out contouring and shaping, how to fit clips, and better polishing techniques, and I was able to work in many interesting materials like Ebonite and Celluloid which are highly prized for their comfort in the hand.