Sunday Reading for September 23, 2018

1. Pelikan Edelstein Olivine (via Alt.Haven). I’ll lead with this one since it’s timely, recent Pelikan Hubs and all! Don’t go buying this thinking it’s an “olive” green, thought, as it’s very dark.

2. Reissue of the Rotring 600 Ballpoint - Return of an Icon (via Clicky Post). Rotring Japan has apparently reissued the Rotring 600 Ballpoint, and according to Mike it’s a good one!

3. Syahi Imperator Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict). Susan reviews the Syahi Imperator, featuring the same Syahi semi-flex stainless steel nib that I brought home from the D.C. Pen Show to test. Look for a review in the next couple of weeks.

4. This Just In: TWSBI Go x 2 (via FPQuest). Ray picks up two TWSBI Go fountain pens and feels much the same as I do about TWSBI’s latest entry-level venture.

5. Baron Fig Dateless Pocket Vanguard Planner (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I really wish more companies made dateless planners, especially for those of us who don’t necessarily need a paper planner every month but could use the extra support when things get really crazy.

6. Col-o-dex Review (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli reviews Ana’s latest creation, the Col-o-dex, which is a rolodex version of the Col-o-ring ink swatch cards!

7. Introducing the Pelikan Souveran 800 Stone Garden (via Pen Chalet). I’ve not been this excited about a new Pelikan M800 release in quite some time. I’m definitely going to have to get my hands on this one.

8. Our New Studio Shop (via Wonder Pens). What an awesome-looking store! I need to visit Toronto. If you’re in the area, be sure to visit both Wonder Pens locations!

9. TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Nickel Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict). Sarah reviews the new nickel-trimmed 580ALR, and I agree that it’s every bit as good as she says.

10. Notebook Review: Dingbats* (via Well-Appointed Desk). Dingbats* makes great notebooks, yet they still seem to get overlooked even though they’ve been around for a while.

Please Visit and Support My Sponsors and Affiliates! 

Please take a moment to visit these fine folks who help keep this blog going! It's next to impossible to keep up a steady stream of fresh review content without some form of sponsorship or affiliate relationship. I'm grateful to everyone who's helped me out along the way.    

1. Vanness Pens. Vanness Pens carries rare and hard-to-find inks from all over the world, including Colorverse, Callifolio, Akkerman, and the full line of DeAtramentis. You can check out my recap of a visit to Vanness here.

2. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.

3. Anderson Pens. In addition to having one of the largest offerings of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Sailor, Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here, and don't miss out on their new special edition Sailor Pro Gear in Slate Blue.

4. Appelboom. Please check out Appelboom's extensive selection and excellent pricing on a wide range of brands, including Montblanc pens such as this Classique 145 I reviewed.

5. Goldspot Pens. Goldspot regularly offers excellent promotions and specials! Check out their "Weekly Dip" section for details.

6. Paul's Paper & Pens. Paul features a well-curated selection of fountain pens, multi pens, notebooks, and more, including some very uncommon Pilot Vanishing Points and Decimos that we don't see here in the States.

7. Pokka Pens. Pokka Pens makes high quality, portable ballpoints that make for a great EDC option. Check out my review here, and don't forget to use the code GENTSTA to get 10% off your purchase!

8. TGS Amazon Page. I run across many more items (pens, pencils, books, accessories, etc.) in my online "travels." I can't feature them all on TGS, but Amazon has an option where I can set up an affiliate page to host product recommendations and earn fees on referrals. Amazon does not sponsor or endorse this blog in any way.

In Case You Missed It...

This week on the blog I reviewed the Montblanc “M” Ultra Black fountain pen, which I have on loan from Appelboom. This weekend I took a bit of a break from reviews to help host the 2018 Nashville Pelikan Hub, as well as a meetup with Vanness Pens the next day! This week’s Deals & Drops also featured a Pelikan theme, with new special editions on the way.

Bonus Content: A Few Shots from the Vanness Pens Meetup

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay as long as I wanted, but people were having a great time testing pens, inks, and doing some shopping among the selection of products Lisa brought over from Little Rock! (They couldn’t bring a fraction of what they have in the whole store - look here and you’ll see why.)

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Thanks to Everyone Who Made It To Pelikan Hubs Nashville 2018!

Yesterday, at 6:30 p.m. in various locations around the world, Pelikan enthusiasts around the world met for the fifth year in a row to share their love for fountain pens, and the Pelikan brand in particular. The Nashville hub met at the excellent Stout’s Burgers & Beers in Brentwood, where we had the back room reserved and were joined by Lisa Vanness from Vanness Pens, who drove over from Little Rock for the event! Follow the hashtags #pelikanhubs and #pelikanhubs2018 on social media (including my Instagram @gentlemanstationer) for additional pics from the Nashville hub and other events around the world.

All Pelikan Hubs attendees receive a bottle of the Pelikan Edelstein “Ink of the Year,” which this year is Olivine, a very nice dark green that I’m looking forward to using.

Don’t forget, as part of a special Pelikan Hubs weekend “bonus,” Vanness Pens is staying in the Nashville area for a meet-and-greet on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the Homewood Suites, 5107 Peter Taylor Park Drive, Brentwood, TN 37027. There’s a huge common area in the hotel and Vanness will have plenty of pens, inks, and paper to test, so if you’re in the Nashville area please stop by!

Finally, steps have been taken to formalize a Nashville-area pen club using Meetup.com. Sign up here to receive notifications of upcoming gatherings and events.

Deals & Drops: Introducing Pelikan Stone Garden, Just in Time for Pelikan Hubs!

Why not get a head start on Pelikan “Hubs Day” by spotlighting all the new upcoming Pelikan releases, as well as some old ones that are hanging around, sometimes at very good prices? I hope to see everyone who registered for this year’s Nashville Hub tomorrow night, and then for a special event on Saturday afternoon with Vanness Pens in Nashville! Be sure to keep up with the Vanness Instagram Feed for location and details!

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Please see our Privacy and Cookie Policies for additional information. 

1. Pelikan M800 Stone Garden Fountain Pen (via Appelboom). So the Renaissance Brown nearly drew me in, but I figured that at the end of the day, I didn’t need another M800. Then I saw this one, which jumped to the top of my “to by” list. Available for pre-order now.

2. Pelikan Special Edition M205 Olivine (via Pen Chalet). Again, the best special edition M205 that I’ve seen from the Company in years. Available for pre-order now.

3. Pelikan M205 Clear Demonstrator (via Pen Chalet). Another winner! If you’ve been wanting a clear Pelikan demo, but don’t want the larger M800 size (with the larger price tag), check this out.

4. Pelikan M600 Turquoise White Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). This pen is a steal, the way it’s currently priced. One of the few special/limited edition options in the mid-size M600 model.

5. Pelikan Ink (via Vanness Pens). Whether it’s Pelikan’s standard 4001 line, or upscale “Edelstein” series, Pelikan makes great ink that’s safe for most pens. Don’t miss Olivine, the 2018 Edelstein “Ink of the Year,” - and you’ll probably have a bottle coming your way if you’ve signed up for this year’s “Hubs” event.

6. Pelikan Souveran 205 Classic Highlighter Do Pen Set (via Amazon). I haven’t seen this one in a while - the Yellow M205 demonstrator paired with highlighter ink. A good price to boot.

7. Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue Demonstrator (via Amazon). I missed out the first time, but not the second. This one is getting more scarce, so if you want one, I’d act quickly while stock remains available at scattered vendors and Amazon sellers.

8. Pen Wraps from Written in Rice (via Etsy / Written in Rice). Claire has restocked her Etsy store and has a small number of her pen wraps available.

9. Baron Fig Slim Bifold Leather Wallet (via Baron Fig). I’ve reviewed Baron Fig leather goods before, and I’m glad to see they’re expanding the line. This bifold wallet I’m testing out has far exceeded expectations!

10. Tarumi Apricot Sailor Pro Gear Slim (via eBay/Cool Japan). Readers of this blog will know that sometimes the only way to get Japanese store exclusive special edition pens, like this one with retailer Nagasawa is through eBay or a reseller. I’ve ordered from Seller Cool Japan before with success. There are other colors as well, designed to match the Kobe-Nagasawa inks, like Suma-rikyu Rose and Gakuen-toshi Fresh Green.

11. Rikyu Moon Yellow Sailor Pro-Color Nagasawa Exclusive (via eBay/Cool Japan). Sailor has brought a very limited selection of their steel-nibbed Pro Color fountain pens to the U.S., but of course Japan has more.

12. Platinum 3776 Urushi Maki-e Galaxy Starlight (via Anderson Pens). Wow, this pen looks gorgeous. I’m a huge fan of the Platinum 3776, and I’ve probably not written enough about it here. The pricing for this Urushi/Maki-e work is a (relative) bargain as well.

13. Conklin Nozac Special Pricing (via Goldspot). Goldspot has dropped the price of the Conklin Nozac as part of their “weekly dip” promotion, including on pens featuring their stub and “omniflex” nibs.

14. Build-Your-Own Custom Leather Cover (via Etsy/One Star Leather). Looking for a unique leather cover for your new Hobonichi or favorite brand of notebook? Keegan will build one especially for you. Check out my review here.

15. Galen Leather Pencil Case (via Amazon). Sometimes simple is the best, especially with leather products. For some reason, this pencil case/carryall caught my eye. Check out my review of Galen Leather notebook covers.

Pen Review: Montblanc M Ultra Black Fountain Pen

Once again, I’m a bit late to the party here in reviewing a pen that’s been out for a while - the Montblanc M by Marc Newson, a collaboration between the venerable (and somewhat staid) German brand and the industrial designer, most recently known for his status as a senior member of Apple’s design team. The version featured here is from Montblanc’s “Ultra Black” series, which means matte black resin and ruthenium trim - a combination that’s a personal favorite of mine. (This isn’t the first “Ultra Black” pen I’ve reviewed. You can check out some shots of my 146 Ultra Black here.)

As one would expect from the “Ultra Black” designation, this pen features a ruthenium/rhodium plated, two-toned 14k gold nib, available in fine or medium. The particular pen I’m reviewing here has a fine nib, which writes a relatively wet line with just a touch of tooth. I wouldn’t call it scratchy, just tactile. The textured ruthenium-plated section is comfortable to hold, and the metal ridges offer a nice gripping surface. The balance and overall ergonomics are also nice, though as I’ll discuss further below, you can’t post the cap.  

There is a fairly significant step-down from the barrel of the pen to the grip section, which isn’t sharp, but I can still feel it when writing. Note the orange highlight, which adds a pop of color and stands out nicely on the otherwise dark design.

Two aspects of the pen’s design might make this one a no-go for many people.  First, the Montblanc “M” Series is a cartridge-only fountain pen. While you may be able to find a shorter converter that fits the barrel, no converter ships with this pen and Montblanc markets this pen as cartridge-only. Second, there is absolutely no ability to post this pen due to the placement of the signature feature, the “plateau” on the back of the barrel emblazoned with the snowflake.

Where Montblanc has excelled, however, is the magnetic cap, which automatically aligns the clip with the “snowflake” logo on the “plateau.” It’s quite accurate, and fun to play with. The platinum-plated clip is different from what Montblanc normally uses on their pens, adds a modern, clean look, and has great tension so that it clips easily to a shirt pocket.   

A shot of the split-pronged clip and the two snowflakes. Design-wise, this is certainly a pen that’s grown on me.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Montblanc “M” series draws strong opinions - people tend to love this pen or actively dislike it. I think part of that is the fact that it’s such a departure from Montblanc’s standard line that the pen doesn’t appeal to the “purists” - those drawn to the more traditional Meisterstuck pens and the special and limited editions based off the Classique, 146, and 149 models.  On the whole, I like this pen, but it’s probably not one that will end up in my collection in fountain pen form. The step from the body to the section bothers me a little bit, and something about the form factor seems to lend itself more to a ballpoint/rollerball than a fountain pen. For longer writing sessions, I’m not sure that this pen would be my choice, but for short jottings at work with Montblanc’s excellent ballpoint and rollerball refills, I’m still considering picking one up.

Many thanks to site sponsor Appelboom for loaning me the pen featured in this review. The Montblanc “M” series currently retails at $540 for the fountain pen version, or $400 for the ballpoint and rollerball version.  Prices listed here are approximations and subject to change due to the EUR/USD exchange rate.  

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, as TGS is a member of Appelboom’s Affiliate Network. For more information, please see our privacy and cookie policies.

A size comparison shot, from left: Franklin-Christoph Model 20, Montblanc M Ultra Black Fountain Pen, Montblanc 146 Ultra Black, and Platinum 3776 Oshino Demonstrator.

Sunday Reading for September 16, 2018

1. On Craft, Appropriation, and Distance (via Leigh Reyes). Leigh has an excellent piece (as always) that everyone should read.

2. The Paper Series: Whitelines Pad Review (via The Looped Square). I haven’t seen Whitelines reviewed or sold in several years. I’m glad to see they’re back, and the paper quality looks good.

3. Looking Ahead to the London Writing Equipment Show (via UK Fountain Pens). Tony will be attending the upcoming LWES, and talks about the pens he has his eye on. Should be a good show, and one you don’t want to miss if you’re in London.

4. Goodies for the Pelikan Hub 2018 (via Bleistift). A sneak peak at what Pelikan is shipping out for the Hubs this year!

5. What I learned: Lamy Vibrant Pink Ink is a Higher-Maintenance Ink (via Fountain Pen Follies). If you have a bottle of Lamy Vibrant Pink, you should read this.

6. Composition Notebooks at Walmart (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). Les works her way through a haul of composition notebooks from Walmart. I’ve not tried any of these brands.

7. The Dogs of the SF Pen Show (via Hand Over That Pen). A pet-friendly Pen Show is a welcome sight. You sometimes see a dog or two at pen shows, but this really takes it to the next level!

8. How to Use an Opus 88 Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). Pen Chalet has another Q&A article on Opus 88 fountain pens and their Japanese-style eyedropper filling systems, including how to manage ink flow when writing.

9. EXACTLY What I Needed: Baron Fig’s Wander Dream Journal (via From the Pen Cup). While this product likely isn’t for me (my dreams aren’t typically that vivid), I love seeing how other people are using this product.

10. Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin (via Well-Appointed Desk). Chiku-rin is an ink that I really wanted to like, but ended up finding too dry and too pale for my taste. Other people love this ink, though!

Please Visit and Support My Sponsors and Affiliates! 

Please take a moment to visit these fine folks who help keep this blog going! It's next to impossible to keep up a steady stream of fresh review content without some form of sponsorship or affiliate relationship. I'm grateful to everyone who's helped me out along the way.    

1. Vanness Pens. Vanness Pens carries rare and hard-to-find inks from all over the world, including Colorverse, Callifolio, Akkerman, and the full line of DeAtramentis. You can check out my recap of a visit to Vanness here.

2. Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet has a wide variety of available pens and offers unbeatable value on pens, inks, pen cases, etc.

3. Anderson Pens. In addition to having one of the largest offerings of bottled ink in the world, Anderson Pens is an authorized retailer of a wide range of brands, including Sailor, Aurora and Faber-Castell. Check out the sponsor profile I published here, and don't miss out on their new special edition Sailor Pro Gear in Slate Blue.

4. Appelboom. Please check out Appelboom's extensive selection and excellent pricing on a wide range of brands, including Montblanc pens such as this Classique 145 I reviewed.

5. Goldspot Pens. Goldspot regularly offers excellent promotions and specials! Check out their "Weekly Dip" section for details.

6. Paul's Paper & Pens. Paul features a well-curated selection of fountain pens, multi pens, notebooks, and more, including some very uncommon Pilot Vanishing Points and Decimos that we don't see here in the States.

7. Pokka Pens. Pokka Pens makes high quality, portable ballpoints that make for a great EDC option. Check out my review here, and don't forget to use the code GENTSTA to get 10% off your purchase!

8. TGS Amazon Page. I run across many more items (pens, pencils, books, accessories, etc.) in my online "travels." I can't feature them all on TGS, but Amazon has an option where I can set up an affiliate page to host product recommendations and earn fees on referrals. Amazon does not sponsor or endorse this blog in any way.

In Case You Missed It...

This week on the blog I reviewed the recently released TWSBI Go fountain pen, and also looked at some inexpensive Wing Sung demonstrators that I purchased for testing inks (and which ended up far exceeding my expectations). Finally, don’t miss this week’s Deals & Drops, which features some 2019 Planner releases as well as some Sailor imports from Japan.

Happy Sunday, and as always, thanks for reading!