14 Friday Jul 2023
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Aurora is one of the oldest surviving pen makers in Italy. Founded in Turin in 1889 as an importer of Remington typewriters, come 1919 they started to make fountain pens (history taken from the Aurora website). These days they are probably best known for two related models, the cigar shaped 88 and the flat topped Optima. Many, like this pen, are made using Auroloide, a form of celluloid, which over time has been reformulated to be more stable.
Continue reading23 Friday Jun 2023
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Over time you may hit the problem that an ink you love the colour of and have bought will not work with any of your pens. Either it floods through (wet), else it struggles to flow (dry). Such was the case for me with TAG’s Kyo-Noto Hisokou. Thing is not all pens are the same.
Continue reading16 Friday Jun 2023
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Bronze, EDC, EDC Fountain Pen, kaweco, kaweco sport, Kaweco Sport Bronze, pocket pen, pocket pens
As well as the aluminium AL Sport, there have also been brass and steel Kaweco models for quite a while. 2023 saw the release of an additional version, in bronze, with the one difference being this is a limited model. How limited and for how long, Kaweco do not say.
Continue reading09 Friday Jun 2023
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When you mention Japanese pocket pens most people will think of the Pilot Elite 95 from the late 1960s, or the modern recreation the Elite or E95S (depending on whether sold in Japan or the USA), however back in the day Platinum and Sailor also had a range of similar pens. Here I have a 1960s Sailor pen with a fully hooded nib (most, like the Elite, are semi-hooded).
Continue reading02 Friday Jun 2023
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OK strictly speaking not true. It has been a busy week with me putting extra time in to my voluntary work, however last week’s arrival has also been partly to blame.
Continue reading26 Friday May 2023
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The Dia2 is a full sized fountain pen towards the top end of the Kaweco range. Heavily inspired by their pens of old, it brings a more refined and classical design than much of the rest of the pens in their portfolio.
Continue reading23 Tuesday May 2023
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Brown Ink, Hakasa Sepia Ink, Hakase, Hakase Fountain Pen, Hakase New Jade, Hakase NJ15A, Jade, NJ15A, Sepia Ink, unboxing
I treated myself. Strictly speaking actually I treated myself 12 months back but did have to pay an expected large tax/duty bill last week. Today the pen finally arrived and I shot my first unboxing video for a bit of fun and to mark the occasion.
Continue reading20 Saturday May 2023
Just like with the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Cult Pens teamed up with Diamine to produce an ink to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. As before this was to be a shimmer ink and sold in the regal looking 50ml bottles.
Continue reading19 Friday May 2023
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Cherry Danish, ink, Ink Review, Monteverde, Monteverde Cherry Danish, Monteverde Inks, Monteverde Sweet Life, Red Ink
I must admit I prefer a plain croissant or a more traditional raisin Danish swirl. Something buttery without a blob of jam in the middle, but I won’t turn down the cherry variant either. Great with a decent cup of black coffee, or perfect for a mid morning snack.
Continue reading12 Friday May 2023
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Come the March London Pen Show, spring was in the air and that meant the launch of the annual Write Here limited edition fountain pen, produced for them by Scrittura Bolognese. This new release had been teased back last autumn, when the prototype was shown at the October London Pen Show for feedback. A month or two later and Write Here started a competition for a name. I can’t remember what I submitted but the big cat patterning does mean Africa was most suitable winning suggestion.
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