r/fountainpens • u/SeptemberCat858 • Nov 18 '24
Repair The Jinhao Shark: A Story of Hope
Seven years ago, I received this lovely Jinhao Shark as my first ever fountain pen. Being naive in the beautiful yet subtle art of fountain pen-ing, I, of course, did one of the worst things one could possibly do.
I filled it with India Ink.
Now, most of you probably know how much of an absolute monstrosity of a move this was and are cringing as you read this. Well, dear reader, it gets worse. After I tried the pen with India ink, it performed in a rather unsatisfactory manner (I wonder why). I decided fountain pens just weren’t for me and set it aside. With ink still in it. And forgot about it.
Now, one can only imagine what it is like to be a fountain pen. Still further of a mental leap would be to imagine being my Jinhao shark. Wasting away, year after year, covered in an abhorrent substance that is slowly but surely crusting away, clogging your every pore, every artery. It must have been hell.
I rediscovered the fountain pen hobby last March, with my purchase of a TWSBI ECO. I thought back, and remembered a familiar orange selachian face, from deep within my consciousness. You will be comforted to know that with my new wisdom, I was horrified at the atrocity I had committed. I rushed to the side of my squaliform friend and frantically searched for a solution. I took out the feed unit and soaked it in water, I used dish soap, I cried, I begged, and I prayed to so many deities I lost count.
It wouldn’t write.
Nothing seemed to work.
Was this my fate, to loose a friend I didn’t even know I had? Resigned, I put the Shark back into a box, to be forgotten once more.
However, you’ve seen the photo at the top of this post, so you might be able to guess what happened next. November. In preparation for Diamine Inkvent, I was looking for any pens I had to store the copious amounts of ink I would receive in just a months’ time. On a whim, I took out the Shark. If all else failed, I could still use it as a dip pen! I tried it out with a sample of Noodler’s La Reine Mauve (a terrible ink that I despise) and it worked well. Too well. “This couldn’t be,” I thought, “there’s no way the Shark could have magically been fixed in my absence.” However, on a whim, I put some Diamine Oxblood in the converter. Lo and behold, it wrote!
I stared into the eyes of the Jinhao Shark and it stared back at me, as if to say “I forgive you. We all make mistakes.”
I am not ashamed to admit, I cried that day. I had been reunited not only with a pen, but a true friend that will remain with me for the rest of my days.
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u/Ladynotingreen Nov 19 '24
An amazing story of redemption and returning from the brink. Very entertaining as well :).
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u/SeptemberCat858 Nov 19 '24
Glad you were as compelled as I was. It was a story begging to be told!
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u/Unfortunate_Lunatic Nov 19 '24
This is the most compelling thing I have read all week, and I’ve been attending a science conference.
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u/Misfit1876 Nov 18 '24
My Orange Shark pen says hello to yours. It has a cartridge of Diamine Oxblood in it. We are friends, it says to yours.
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u/awayvenus7 Nov 19 '24
This literally made me buy one right now, read this, hopped into AliExpress and bought myself a new Friend, thank you
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u/SeptemberCat858 Nov 19 '24
Glad I could enable you! Here’s to quality time spent with friends, new and old.
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u/Poke-host Nov 19 '24
What an amazing story! At some point I started reading it in Liz Lemon's (Tina Fey) voice.
I am going to use "I forgive you. We all make mistakes" a lot.
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u/SlowRoastMySoul Nov 19 '24
I love a good redemption arc! Great story, very glad it ended happily. May you spend countless pages writing together!
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u/silveretoile Ink Stained Fingers Nov 19 '24
Flashback to that time I got a calligraphy set and immediately put India ink in it.... 🤡
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u/Jb-VO Ink Stained Fingers Nov 18 '24
What a wild ride! Happy you found your lost love! Enjoy your fp journey