Comments on: Mid-Century Pleasures http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/ "it must give pleasure" -- Wallace Stevens Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:38:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: bloglily http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2435 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:57:11 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2435 Polaris — I loved hearing about this. I am particularly envious of the fact that you got to write with a fountain pen in school — and the chelpark turquoise blue sounds lovely. Your mother really knew how to deliver!

]]> By: Polaris http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2120 Sat, 04 Nov 2006 13:29:09 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2120 Wow, it is amazing how strong an image of a fountain pen can be, how thoroughly it can shake one’s nostalgia. It has been years, perhaps 7 or 8 years, since I last wrote with a fountain pen. My parents probably keep the ones we used in school as mementos. We loved them, soiled our fingers with ink everyday at school, broke nibs and reinstalled them, checked the level indicator with desperation as the teacher showed no signs of stopping her dictation.

The particular brand we used at school, about 17-18 years ago was an unpretentious thing that cost about 10 rupees (20 cents), wrote beautifully, and leaked profusely ;-) . One of my happiest days in school was when, in the 7th grade, my mother switched us from the mundane Blue/Black inks to Chelpark Turquoise Blue. It was bliss.

]]> By: bloglily http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2027 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:39:11 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2027 OOO, I can see there are some serious, serious pen & ink, type and lead fetishists out there. I’m thinking next up in this vein will a heartstoppingly beautiful midcentury pencil sharpener.

]]> By: davidbdale http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2021 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:53:18 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2021 Very briefly, since you asked. No, by the early 80s, hot lead was already giving way to cold type and my studio was one of the first to capture keystrokes onto magnetic disc. At the time we couldn’t conceive of storage systems larger than 5 megabtyes. Personal computers killed that business.

]]> By: a11en http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2015 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:49:32 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-2015 A very quick note- I’m in the midst of typesetting some of my research work… well, at least, I moved from word processor to typeset (LaTeX) in an attempt to improve my writing. It’s gotten me into a bit of trouble with my Prof., but he is a good guy and understands my interests. I’m sure you were meaning physical type-setting (yikes)… but just so you know, some scientists are still using it to write all their work in. [For me, it will likely mean a much easier transition between separate works and compilation into a Thesis- the style being defined by the style-file, and not the word-processed insanely-long-document.]

Cheers, everyone! Wonderful reading everyone’s comments! [I too have a nasty attraction to mechanical pencils... I will have to check out those autopoints!]

]]> By: bloglily http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1990 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:52:46 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1990 Wow. Smokey, those pencils sound amazing. I’m glad you have a deep stash of them, to take you right through this century. Hello David, How lovely to know how to typeset. Isn’t it funny to think you know the “old ways”? Typesetting will come back, that’s my prediction. Like LPs and record players. Lucette — mmm.

]]> By: lucette http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1982 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:24:49 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1982 It’s true–there were good things about the ’50s, including my mother’s cooking, and the names of cocktails (although I wasn’t then allowed to have any)–Pink Lady, Grasshopper, Sloe Gin Fizz.

]]> By: davidbdale http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1981 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:21:03 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1981 Everything I used in my typesetting studio in the early 1980s is already nostalgic, including typesetting. Nostalgia itself may soon go the way of the manual typewriter. Nothing made today lasts long enough to imprint on our imaginations or conjure images of better times, let alone erotic fantasies.

]]> By: smokey http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1978 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:24:41 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1978 In the fun of reading all of these nostalgic and wise comments I almost forgot my obsession with Autopoint mechanical pencils, of which I have lots. I have many colors which don’t seem to be still available, but you can buy Autopoints online for about $5 each, I think under the manufacturer’s name. I’d been taking them out of the storage room at work for 35 years and before that my dad’s desk when I was a kid (up to about 27 years old when I finally left college). This is not a mere fetish, although it is that; Autopoints actually work and don’t jam and don’t stop feeding for no reason as seemingly all modern mechanical lead pencils do. They come in three different sizes, I think– .5, .7, and .9 mm diameter. Someone showed me the advantage of slipping on a red geeky eraser to cover the existing smaller one. Then it all lasts close to forever. A green and yellow Autopoint with a red eraser is all you need to make excellent lists on your 3×5 cards (of what else– multi-colored lined stock), on which you can also write first drafts of poems or any idea you get that will move civiliaztion along at the slow, thoughtful pace it deserves.

]]> By: bloglily http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1977 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:56:09 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1977 Hello Pauline — I used to write with one all the time. And then came the ibook, which I suppose is sort of fountain pen like in its attention to design. Allen has an interesting point about whether actual physical writing might be a better way to form coherent prose (or poetry!) And welcome Allen!

One of the remarkable things the internet has done is reassure you that you are not actually a total weirdo in your obsession with things like pens and paper clips and packed lunches. It’s lovely to know you’re in good company.

John — It sits on my desk, a state government icon. Thank goodness the people who run things at my work are unwilling to get rid of anything that still has some use left in it. Sounds like you might work in a similar environment. (And welcome to you too!)

Some day, Courtney, if you wait patiently enough, maybe that old television will suffer a fatal error and then the flat screen tv will be yours! (Maybe someone you know NEEDS a television, just like the one you have now?)

]]> By: Pauline http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1969 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:06:57 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1969 I am a great fan of office supplies too (a passion that DH finds quite odd), so I was happy to discover myself a member of a (large?) community. I love fountain pens. I bought a sleek, metal one that resembles 1950s models, but I rarely get to use it in real life. I learnt to my expense that fountain pens should not be carried along in handbags… Do you really write with one?

]]> By: a11en http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1966 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 06:57:22 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1966 There are many wonderful things that have been passed by due to expediency. It’s a shame in many ways. As well, we’ve done so at the frequent expense of “Quality” (see Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)…

Fountain Pens are just one wonderful thing so easily gone by the way-side as extruded plastic disposable pens have become handy at all times. Who wishes to take the time to fill and care for a fountain-pen?

When one does slow down, take the time to explore these types of things, often he finds something he’s been missing. [Guys- if you haven't tried out a good Badger-Haired shave-brush and Glycerin based soap, you're missing out...]

I’m glad these little joys in life haven’t been so forgotten as to have been lost forever! I myself just refound FP’s, and am loving every minute of using them! [Not to mention that there is some discussion about the formation of proper thought processes with actual physical writing...]

Loved the post! Big Cheers!

]]> By: john http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1960 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:00:15 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1960 I have the exact same tape dispenser, color and all.

]]> By: everythinginbetween http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1958 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:37:10 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1958 Oh, I love this post! I, too, have an ‘old-fashioned’ tape dispenser, and I’ve never once thought of replacing it. I think so much of our culture has become disposable, you need the newest tv, or dvd player, or cell phone, etc. S. and I work very hard not to fall into that mentality, but it can be difficult some times. My worst offense is every college basketball season demanding a flat-screen tv. Fortunately S. always reminds me that we aren’t the type to throw away things that work perfectly well!

I love the idea of quality, endurance, and a work/life balance…

]]> By: bloglily http://bloglily.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1948 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:56:46 +0000 http://bloglily.wordpress.com/2006/10/27/mid-century-pleasures/#comment-1948 Emily — Yes, I love that sound, the typewriter sound. Dear Ella, I knew you would have something like that, a red 1970s telephone. It does sound sexy. litlove, I’ll look forward to that post about Paul Temple. As for parking, I’m with you there. The only time you get even the faintest glimmer of what it must have been like in San Francisco in the 1950s is when you drive across the Bay Bridge at two in the morning on a weekday. r-dad: I like things without corners! Scott, All is forgiven. Hi Jana — the occasional lilting jingle: wouldn’t that be fabulous?!

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