11 Wednesday Dec 2019
Posted in Pens
What happens when an artist and sculptor moves in to the fountain pen world, making every component bar the nib/feed unit. This is what happened with Andy Deschacht of Garcia-Deschacht from Belgium. The net result is a range of unique pens with an attention to detail and visual aesthetics.
29 Friday Nov 2019
Posted in Pens
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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.
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.
04 Monday Nov 2019
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).
01 Friday Nov 2019
Posted in Pens
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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19 Saturday Oct 2019
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I, like many in our world (fountain pen collecting and using), will buy the occasional new pen within my financial limits, however when it comes to getting rid I can seem a bit of a hoarder. Pens sit there, safe and comfortable in my drawers, waiting for the day when once more they will be filled and carried to work, or used at my desk.
12 Saturday Oct 2019
When is a Visconti Homosapiens not a homosapiens. When it does not have the twin rings on the cap and when the body is not rounded. The Medici is a faceted pen with 8 sides in a bronze/brown coloured, swirling, sparkly resin, which at the time came with palladium trimmings. In more recent times, with the introduction of two other colours of pens, the trimming for this version changed to rose gold coloured.
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08 Tuesday Oct 2019
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accent, carene, faber castell, for sale, fountain pen, fountain pen revolution, fpr, la grande bellezza, lamy, Pineider, platinum, ranga, wancher, wancher dream pen, wancher urushi dream pen, waterman
Finally I’ve got round to looking at my collection and identifying pens I’m unlikely to use again, mainly through too many pens of the same type (as happens to too many of us). Note all the pens listed will be cleaned (if not already done).
The prices are without P&P as I’m happy to sell internationally. Note for the UK I will be looking at Royal Mail Special Delivery (may just be tracked for those under £100).
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07 Monday Oct 2019
Pen shows are a great way to catch up with people you may only know from Internet forums, catch up with old friends, traders you do business with, having an enjoyable time, oh and also maybe buy a pen or two or ten. This year there was also a big announcement. Continue reading
25 Wednesday Sep 2019
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dream pen, fountain pen, indigraph, kickstarter, musings, namisu, namisu nova, pentitan, urushi, wancher, wancher dream pen, wancher urushi dream pen
Just to warn/advise, these are my personal views on Kickstarter, and the pens I’ve either bought through it, or have come about as a result of previous campaigns.
First, for those not aware. Kickstarter is not a shop. It is just a venture capital raising platform, which rapidly changed from campaigns promising financial returns to discounted end products instead. This can be beneficial to us, with some decent savings, but there is also the element of risk as campaigns may run late or even fail. With the latter any investment/payment is lost.
