Ah, little did I expect, when I tentatively posted my query about bushings, that I was letting myself in for more entertainment than a good night on the telly, whatever that is. Being one of the ‘aging population’ who seem to be the root cause of all our countries problems, I too can remember those halcyon days when we rented a shoebox (I think it was Clarks Startrite) at the end of the glen and shared it with six other families as well as the cattle, sheep and goats, It cost us one wee bawbee (Scottish half-penny) per annum and we’d nothing left over to buy fuel for the elicit whisky still. When times got better we also managed to let a matchbox which we would sub-let to English tourists who came north for the ‘Scottish experience’. Back then, there was no point in turning pens as nobody could write, much the same as to-day, with the advent of computers and texting. But enough of this reminiscing, I’ve just been given my first commission for a fountain pen. The customer wants a Classic Elite pen turned from a Zebrano blank and, as I need to do a perfect job on it I will be buying the proper bushings. The question is, do I charge him for the bushings, bearing in mind that I will be keeping them for future jobs? I’m only joking to keep the myth alive that we Scots are mean ………………. Of course I’ll be charging him!
Tom
