Oh dear, my self control is being tested

Two of the in-working-condition vintage pens I had coming arrived today. Which might actually be the only two coming in working condition. One is my Snorkel (fast delivery on that), and the other is a 1924 or before BHR ringtop with a flexible nib. (Dated by its material, because BHR basically died in 1924.) And ooooooooh, I want to go ink them both up. But I know I shouldn't. I'm trying to empty out the Charles Hubert so I can fill it with bulletproof Noodler's black for check writing/other responsible stuff, and I'm trying to empty out the Pelikano so I can pack it up. (Nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't make me as happy as some of the other pens I have.) So I'm allowing myself to ink up one, and only one.

And ooh, I'm struggling over which one. I want to try out the Snorkel, since I have no idea what the nib feels like and want to find out, and it does have the coolest filling system in the world, but at the same time I also want to play with the flexible nib. It's a hard decision.

I'm just going to have to write more so I can empty out pens faster so I can ink up the ones I want to play with. :)

Things I've already learned about Shaeffer Snorkels.

1) They're not kidding about that thing being able to squirt water 1-2 meters. 2) They're kind of hard to clean out real good. There's really no good way to force water through the feed and nib. 3) The previous owner liked blue-black ink. ^_~

Oh, I also have to say that I am very impressed with Tryphon Enterprises. I placed an order for some more repair tools, and they accidentally miscalculated the total by only adding one of an item I'd ordered two of. When they realized it, they sent me a note saying what had happened and telling me they were shipping the second as well, and would also include an extra converter and a pack of ink cartridges with their compliments.

They're sending complementary gifts to make up for charging me less than they should have. *jaw drop* I am very impressed. We'll do business with them again.

Also, um... I'm sick. I went in on a lot of vintage "vest pocket" sized fountain pens, about half of them ringtops and all just needing resaccing according to the listing. And I've got several other things on my watch list at eBay. (Although in my defense, it's mostly stuff that "ah, I'll throw $5 at that if no one else bids.)

Actually, I did realize why I like ringtop pens so much. (Or at least came up with an excuse.) Ringtop pens were women's pens. They were meant to be worn on a chatelaine or ribbon, because women rarely had pockets. It's neat to be able to connect with my foremothers that way, imagining what women owned it before and how they used it. My little black rubber ringtop, did that belong to a suffragette? A flapper? Was she in the Temperance movement? Did she write love letters with it, or did she write to her congress people? Did she work inside the home? Outside the home? Was she well-to-do, or was that pen bought with preciously saved pennies? A gift from a suitor? Oh, it's so fun to think about.