30 Thursday May 2019
Posted in Pens
At the start of 2019, Onoto were invited by the British Government to be part of a trade deputation to Dubai. While there they were inspired by the traditional rich colours of Arab art and design. On return, one Feng Li experimented with filling in the chasing pattern on Pearl Magna Classic, looked at the results and … a set was created and sold at the following pen shows.
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23 Thursday May 2019
It is quite true that a decent photographer can use virtually any camera to take a decent shot. It’s the real reason why phone cameras can produce the quality images they do (o.k. that’s along with some serious post processing by the phone as well). The two key components are the photographer and the lighting. For the former, experience, an eye for detail, the eye for a shot, or even just dumb luck come in to it, however the latter we often have less control over. The Sunday just gone I was fortunate to be in a situation where a friend brought along a professional lighting set up, along with a light table, and guided me through how best to use the equipment. Continue reading
16 Thursday May 2019
Posted in Pens
Pens are emotive. The nibs, the material, the looks, the feel, all play on our senses. The variations both within and between manufacturers and craftsman help propel our hobby, our collections, and our expenditure forwards, while also providing a source of joy, and dare I say, at times frustration. Wood often grabs my attention, so when John Twiss posted a picture of three new, primarily wooden pens on Facebook and Instagram just before the Spring London Pen Show, my interest was piqued.
09 Thursday May 2019
Posted in Pens
Have you ever read about a new pen and thought that it was interesting. A friend then buys the pen and looking at it in real life you think “that’s nice”. Trying it you decide it writes well and you start to think ‘if I could find it in this finish ….’. Finally, wandering round a pen show, you see the version you want at a nice, hard to ignore price? Well this happened to me with the Taccia Covenant, which I picked one up at the Spring London Pen Show.
01 Wednesday May 2019
Posted in Pens
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In 1964 Platinum launched the 200, a ‘long-short’ pocket pen. This was followed four years later by Pilot with the Elite 95 S, and while production of both was stopped before the Millennia, probably in the 1980s, it was the Pilot that was remembered with the result that in 2014 an updated version was re-introduced in to the USA as the E95S and shortly after in Japan under it’s original name. Available in either black or burgundy and light gold, it looks very similar to the original. Note the pen was not available outside the country and also should not be confused with the South Korean produced/licensed Pilot Elite, as covered in this video by Figboot on Pens alongside the E95s.
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