# Where can I get writing quills in Los Angeles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404 "2002-07-23T16:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/1 "2002-07-23T16:33:59Z")
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. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/2 "2002-07-23T17:37:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/3 "2002-07-23T19:36:40Z")
**Johnny** , you are an interesting, interesting chap. I’m picturing you up in a tower in a castle, with a helipad out back, scribbling something furiously with a feathery quill in your hand. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/4 "2002-07-23T19:49:21Z")
Barnes & Noble? The local one in Bethesda has (or had) feather pens as wel as some nice Venetian glass dip pens. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/5 "2002-07-23T19:56:16Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/6 "2002-07-23T20:13:53Z")
**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?) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/7 "2002-07-23T20:54:09Z")
Try you local pagan store. Many spells require writing them in your own hand, and I have seen quill pens sold to make it more _authentic_ Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/8 "2002-07-23T21:14:33Z")
Go here and post [http://members2.boardhost.com/pentrace/](http://members2.boardhost.com/pentrace/) or try one of these stores in L.A… If they don’t have it they will probably know where you can get one. > [@](#): > > Los Angeles, California USA > LA Fountain Pen Shop > 2640 South Myrtle, Unit 12 > Monrovia, CA 91016-8204 > Tel: (626) 294-9974 > The store moved out of the downtown area. This is a great shop with a good selection of vintage pens and a lot of new stuff also. Don’t give up, as the store can be a little hard to find. The shop is located on the upper floor of an office building. Kind of like the Golden Gate Pen Shop. (A. Rudolph) > > Flax > Westwood Village > Lindbrook > (310) 208-3529 > The store is part of an art supply chain, but they have a good selection and a high level of enthusiasm for pens. [JP] There is free parking, and Irene is patient, informative and honest in his conversations about pens. The store does not carry old pens but does carry collector’s editions and a good selection of inks. (Thanks: D. Chinn) > Classic Pens > 660 Orange Street > Los Angeles, CA 90048-4609 > Tel: 323.658.7367 > Fax: 323.658.8886 Founded in 1987 by Andreas Lambrou and Keith G. Brown. The company creates exclusive exclusive fountain pens. In 1990 the first Classic Pens CP series of limited edition pens started with the Targa By Sheaffer CP1. Books published include Fountain Pens Vintage and Modern and Fountain Pens of the World. [Quill pens picture](http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/ink/plaatjes/pennen.jpg) or do it yourself. [Quills - Part 1: Broad Guidelines - cutting a quill pen](http://www.regia.org/quills.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/9 "2002-07-23T21:30:07Z")
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. **Sassy** : Pagan store? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/10 "2002-08-04T00:41:55Z")
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](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/monkeypen.jpg). (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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-writing-quills-in-los-angeles/120404/11 "2002-08-04T00:54:26Z")
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](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/monkeypen.jpg). (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. 🙂