Some of you may have noticed in one thread or another that I normally write with a Waterman “Phileas” fountain pen. I think I’ve also mentioned that I have an old dip pen. Now I’d like to try something different. I picked up some feathers and have carved one into a point. It wrote okay until I decided to move the point 180° around (to the top of the end of the quill instead of the bottom) and now it’s not writing well.
Where can I get an already-made writing quill in Los Angeles? I’m looking for one that just has a sharpened point and not one of the ones that has an actual dip pen nib with a feather attached. Once I have a “real” one, then I can make my own.
Perhaps you could begin your search by calling Judaica stores. Jewish scribes of Torah Scrolls, Tefillin and Mezuzot (known as Sofrim - singular if Sofer) use feather quills for their work. Maybe they’d tell you where they get theirs from.
I like the mental image, scout1222. Howzabout we also have the scribbling be in some incomprehensible, arcane language, and give Johnny some bubbling decanters of foul-smelling liquids, and cages of unnatural beasts in the background, too?
scout1222: You know I have a thread about building a castle, right? I bought a book on Storybook Style houses, but I think a tower would be cheaper (per square foot, anyway) and easier to build. Of course if I spend all of my money on a home, then I won’t be able to buy my own helicopter.
JCHeckler: I’ve seen those glass dip pens. I thought about getting one, but I’m afraid I’d break it. I’ll have to check B&N to see if they have feather quills here.
Chronos: Have you been in my kitchen? :eek:
In any case, if there are any other suggestions for finding writing quills locally, please LMK! (Hm, maybe a nice black quill and a bust of Poe?)
Thanks, astro! I called Flax, and they usually carry quills. They’re moving (next to the other store I visit in Westwood), bu I can check back in a couple of weeks. The cutting instructions are great as well! I have a few feathers to practice on.
Well, I got some quills – two white goose ones and a brown turkey one. I also got a dip pen that fits well in my monkey pen holder. (That’s not the pen in the photo. The new one is wooden and came with 5 Esterbrook nibs.) I also got some quill pen slips – sort of replacement nibs. I’ll still look around locally, but at least I’ve found a good source.
Well, I got some quills – two white goose ones and a brown turkey one. I also got a dip pen that fits well in my monkey pen holder. (That’s not the pen in the photo. The new one is wooden and came with 5 Esterbrook nibs.) I also got some quill pen slips – sort of replacement nibs. I’ll still look around locally, but at least I’ve found a good source.
I bought a book on Storybook Style houses, but I think a tower would be cheaper (per square foot, anyway) and easier to build. Of course if I spend all of my money on a home, then I won’t be able to buy my own helicopter.
