Apologies for a quiet week …

12 Sunday Jan 2020

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When I started this blog (and moved my travel stuff of old across), not long after the 2018 London Writing Equipment Show I was going to create just one post every fortnight at best. Rapidly it became once a week except during a short period around my operation.

This week I can but apologise for a lack of content, even my occasional musings. Alas work and another of my hobbies (see my bio) have eaten up just too much of my time, so the planned review of either the Yard-O-Led Grand Astoria or Worcester Pen Company Serenity in OMAS acrylic (both bought at the last London Pen Show in October just gone) will have to wait another week.

Now to finish brewing a pot of tea – toodle pip.

Namiki Nippon Art Mount Fuji and Ship

04 Saturday Jan 2020

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I’m far from alone in liking maki-e and appreciating the skills and processes that go in to the creation of this form of art.  As with many I often thought that my only options would be the ‘cheap’ commercial screen print pens, which are approximately £100 a pop, as the far more attractive alternatives I saw were all high end in the four figure price range and with releases been limited to single digit numbers of pens.  Discovering the Namiki Nippon Art range was a revelation.  Sure these pens are still £400+ outside of rare deals, but they are also much more affordable for a hand drawn piece of work.

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Delta Dolcevita Oro Stantuffo (from the last days of Delta)

24 Tuesday Dec 2019

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Delta were around from 1982 to 2016/7.  During that time their most famous model was the Dolcevita.  Traditionally available with an orange body and black cap, grip, and blind cap, a latter day alternative was launched, the Oro, in a stunning crushed orange resin.  Available in silver and vermeil trims, it also should have come with either a 14k gold nib, or the infamous Delta Fusion nib (steel with a gold triangle glued on top ‘for heat dissipation’).  In the last days of the company, pens were fitted with what was available just to try and get money in.  The result, a Dolcevita Oro Stantuffo with a steel nib.

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The Edge – a budget pen from Kickstarter

06 Friday Dec 2019

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Back in December 2015 an interesting pen appeared on Kickstarter, the VENVSTAS Carbon V.  Designed by architect Lucio Rossi it was of an unusual design and construction and suffered from a troubled start.  Some people loved it, others had great problems.  One was leant to Stephen Brown who infamously lambasted it, which Lucio Rossi did not take too well on the FPN forums.  Still it resulted in a growing range of pens, ending with the D’Art.  I’m not sure what then happened as the company is still going, but the Kickstarter account was suddenly deleted and Lucio Rossi started a new company and Kickstarter account, U75 as well as a new pen, The Edge.

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Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen Fire Edition

29 Friday Nov 2019

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Most people who are involved in the pen world are aware of the Sailor King of Pen.  A range of over sized fountain pens with a 21k nib available either as a medium, broad, or a hand made naginata (supposedly while Nagahara-san has retired, his son is meant to be restarting a limited set of the range).  Most commonly found in the cigar shape of the 1911/Profit and ranging from acrylic, through the eponymous ebonite version and on to high end and high art Maki-e master pieces, the KoP is also found to a lesser extent with the flat finials of the Pro Gear shape.  Over the last number of years there has been a limited edition release of the latter based on the five Japanese elements, starting with Wind (2016), then Earth (2017), Ocean (2018) and now Fire (I expect ether/heaven will finish the set next year).  The same Pro Gear limited edition can also be found in regular and slim sized models.

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UK Pen Deals on Black Friday

29 Friday Nov 2019

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I can still remember (as it was only 10 years back) when in the UK the only people watching out for Black Friday deals were Apple fanbois as it was the only day in the year when Apple would discount some of their range, the discounts being global, and some very good bargains to be had.  I think it was only really with Amazon joining in and pushing the event world wide that the fuss spread over to this side of the pond.  Since then it has waned but there can still be some good deals to be found.

From a fountain pen basis here are the ones I’m aware of in the UK.  I’ve listed them in alphabetical order for the retailer and have only included those listed on their websites or mail pushes.  Please note this is also based on the list of retailers I have in my browser and are actually advertised as Black Friday deals, not just their regular offerings.  Any I have missed, please let me know and I will add.

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… on Blogging

22 Friday Nov 2019

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I always admire those bloggers who push out multiple high quality posts or vblogs week in and week out, though it can be at the cost of personal pressure and burnout, as we have seen again this week with UK Fountain Pens calling time on his creative writings, joining the likes of Matt Armstrong of The Pen Habit Fame.  He will be leaving his posts in place (though I will expect his self paid WordPress plan will be allowed to expire so adverts will start to appear over time) and it’s well worth a browse with his 300+ views and reviews.  For me … I’ve just been ill and apathetic 🙂
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Eureka Symmetry and Asymmetry Pens

04 Monday Nov 2019

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I was not alone in being intrigued when a new post appeared on the FPN forum from a South Korean, who while on national military service, in his spare time designed pens and the machines with which to make them.  He is now in the situation to start producing and selling, though his website is a little bare at present.  The current range comprises of two pens.  The Symmetry, long, cigar shaped and with a seamless cap, plus the Asymmetry, long (though shorter than the other model) wider, and with a more traditional overlaying cap.  Both made from Japanese ebonite.  What makes these pens more interesting is the nibs.  He makes them himself and out of Argentium (935) a silver alloy which contains a higher level of pure silver than sterling silver, is more resistant to tarnishing, and is meant to be tougher.  Additionally he also makes his own feeds, meaning only the converter is sourced externally (and the creator is presently working on a refillable cartridge for his pens).

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Daily Carry – International Fountain Pen Day 2019 Edition

01 Friday Nov 2019

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Today, being the first Friday in November is International Fountain Pen Day.  A day of discounts and an excuse to get our pens out.  So with all these discounts I bought … no new pens (yet it’s 8pm as I write), but then with all the recent acquisitions, it would both be hard to justify and hard to find something I want.  Not only do I have my haul from the October London Pen Show, but a Nakaya Decapod bought from Eciton, as well as the loan of his Eureka Symmetry and Asymmetry pens from South Korea- which I will review shortly.  In addition to all this, I finally reached the front of the waiting list, and post USPS caused delays received a Wyvern from Brian Chu at the Red Dragon Pen Company.
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