The iconic Sailor ink bottle.  It's short and wide, but it has an integrated inkwell.  I have mixed feelings about this one. — The iconic Sailor ink bottle. It's short and wide, but it has an integrated inkwell. I have mixed feelings about this one.

My Favorite Ink Brand

May 11, 2016

While I'm on the subject of favorites, I thought I'd do a quick recap of my favorite brand of ink: Sailor. Confession: I own nearly all of the current "standard" Sailor Jentle inks (everything except Tokiwa Matsu, which is essentially the same as the old Epinard), as well as multiple bottles of the "old" Jentle inks and several special editions manufactured for Japanese retailers Bung Box and Kobe Nagasawa. When it comes to Sailor inks, I have a problem.

My favorite color? I can't pick just one, though the inks that get the most use are the blues: Bung Box Sapphire, and Sailor Jentle Nioi-Sumire and Souten. However, now-discontinued Apricot holds a special place in my heart, and many people obsess over the teal green Yama-Dori due to its red sheen when it dries on the page.

Why do I like Sailor inks so much? It's a combination of deep, slightly offbeat colors, the fact that I've found the inks safe to use in pretty much any pen, and that they write really well on cheaper papers. In a finer nib, I've yet to discover any paper on which Sailor ink won't perform at least decently. Kiwa Guro nano-black will even write fairly well on a Moleskine and in Field Notes pocket notebooks.

A bottle of the special-edition Bung Box Sapphire.

Some people enjoy Sailor inks for their collectibility, and try to collect the various inks that Sailor bottles for Japanese retailers. The two most famous are the lines that Sailor manufactures for Bung Box (Hamamatsu, Japan) and Kobe-Nagasawa (Kobe, Japan). These are also the most widely available: Vanness Pens in the United States regularly carries Bung Box, and occasionally, Massdrop will run specials on specific colors. For the Kobe Inks, you likely will have to go through eBay (retailer CoolJapan) unless Vanness restocks them. Other special edition Sailor inks (such as those manufactured for retailers Kingdom Note and Maruzen) probably require you to use a purchasing service like White Rabbit Express, if you don't know someone living in or traveling to Tokyo who can pick up the ink for you. I've not gone this route, so I can't advise regarding how easy/difficult White Rabbit is to use, and whether it ends up being cost effective.

The Bad: The Bottle

One of my favorite things about purchasing Bung-Box inks used to be that they came in this vase-shaped bottle.  Apparently, this bottle is not manufactured anymore, and Bung Box inks now come in the standard Sailor bottle. — One of my favorite things about purchasing Bung-Box inks used to be that they came in this vase-shaped bottle. Apparently, this bottle is not manufactured anymore, and Bung Box inks now come in the standard Sailor bottle.

Nothing's perfect, and Sailor ink is no exception. What's the one thing I would change? The bottle. Sailor inks come in a short, wide bottle that can be difficult to use with larger-nibbed pens. I've even had trouble from time to time getting Sailor pens to fill completely if the bottle is less than half full. At one point, I hoped that Sailor would permanently move to the taller, vase-shaped bottle they used for certain of their Japanese special editions, including Bung Box, but these bottles have since been discontinued. (Why, Sailor? WHY!?)

Final Thoughts

If I could encourage someone new to fountain pens to try a single brand of bottled ink, it would be Sailor. The colors are fun, unique, and most important of all, can't really be duplicated elsewhere (and certainly not in any ink that's available in cartridges). I know I keep going back to this, but one thing that's really important to me is performance on cheap paper. For many people just starting out with fountain pens, they haven't yet discovered or stocked up on higher-end paper, and they can become easily discouraged with inks that tend to feather and bleed through anything other than Rhodia or Clairefontaine. Sailor as a brand performs better than most.

The standard Sailor Jentle line is also relatively inexpensive for such high-quality ink that comes in a range of colors. Retail pricing is anywhere from $12 (for standard blue, black, blue-black) to $18 for Yama-Dori, Souten, etc. Pigmented inks such as Kiwa Guro are priced at a slight premium (around $21), but if you are looking to import the special Japanese editions, be prepared to pay as much as $43 per bottle. Occasionally, Amazon sellers will have specials on specific colors. For example, you can currently snag a bottle of Yama Dori or a bottle of Shigure (purple) for less than "full retail".

Why have I personally focused on finding a "favorite brand" of ink? When you find one that you can load into any pen, without worrying about how that ink will perform on basically any paper, then it adds an entirely new level of satisfaction to your writing experience. I easily could see myself start using Sailor ink exclusively.

But how about you? What are your favorite ink brands? I'm interested to see what people's thoughts are.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase something from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase an item you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

Diamine Terracotta is an excellent ink.  Check out my review over at Bottledup.ink. — Diamine Terracotta is an excellent ink. Check out my review over at Bottledup.ink.

BottledUp.Ink: Where My Ink Reviews Went

May 6, 2016

You may have noticed that I've been doing fewer ink reviews on this blog. That's because I've mostly moved them over to a Tumblr I run, Bottledup.ink, though so far I've done an extraordinarily bad job letting you all know that. I've recently posted a couple ink reviews (mainly photographs) of Sailor DoYou and Diamine 150th Anniversary Terracotta over there, so please check it out.

Sailor DoYou is another very dark brown that I've been enjoying.  A full review is up on the TGS Tumblr. — Sailor DoYou is another very dark brown that I've been enjoying. A full review is up on the TGS Tumblr.

I made the decision to give ink reviews their own site since it seems like there is less demand for them than other kinds of content, and as a result I was having a hard time justifying fitting them into the rotation. Also, I've set the Tumblr up so that you readers can submit your own ink reviews if you so desire. So far, nobody's taken me up on that offer, but the invitation stands!

If you follow me on Instagram, I periodically post ink-related stuff over there, and anytime the Tumblr is updated you should get a notification if you follow me on either Tumblr or Twitter.

Happy Friday!

A couple Deltas, a Pilot, and a Sailor (with an Edison and a Monteverde thrown in for good measure)

My Top Three Favorite Pen Brands

May 4, 2016

People write a lot about their favorite pens, but over the past several months I've been thinking about my favorite pen brands. After giving this question some thought, I considered a few things:

What pen brands, if any, could I recommend to others, without really worrying about recommending a specific model?
What pens give me, personally, the most joy to use on a daily basis?
What pens are most represented in my own collection?

The results here may not surprise followers of this blog, though number 3 was a bit of a surprise to me. Without further ado:

Pilot's Kakuno fountain pen is a great entry-level model.

Pilot. When picking my overall favorite pen brand, without naming a specific pen, it would have to be Pilot. At every price level, from inexpensive "beginner" pens to very expensive urushi and makie models, you really can't go wrong. The key selling point for me is the consistency of Pilot's nibs. Without exception, every Pilot nib I have used has been excellent. This applies across the product range: from the steel nib on the entry-level Pilot Metropolitan and Kakuno to the more expensive Pilot Custom Heritage 92 or the Pilot Custom 823. What made Pilot number 1? The fact that I feel like I can recommend Pilot as a brand to anyone and still have confidence they will be able to find something there they like.

My most recent Sailor Pro Gear acquisition, the Bung Box "Soleil" model (review coming soon).

Sailor. On the other hand, Sailor is probably my personal favorite, if that makes sense, meaning that Sailor pens are most heavily represented in my own collection and give me the most pleasure to use. Sailor's Pro Gear model is probably my favorite pen of all time, and I have several of them: the Pro Gear Imperial Black, the Pro Gear Sky, the limited edition "Realo Soleil" model by Bung Box, and something new on the way. Why do I like the Pro Gear? It fits my hand really well, and the nibs, while stiff, almost always write well without tuning. Unlike Pilot, however, Sailor focuses on higher-end pens. Entry-level Sailor pens do exist, but I've heard mixed reviews and they are not widely available.

Delta Dolcevita Soiree with the iconic Delta logo on the cap.

Delta. This one was something of a surprise for me, but it turns out that I've somehow managed to acquire a lot of Deltas. Delta is an Italian brand that offers a wide range of pens across a variety of price points. Recently, I reviewed the flagship Dolcevita (in the Soiree model), and in the past I've also looked at the Fusion 82. While perhaps not quite as reliable as Pilot, I've had a near-perfect record of Delta pens writing perfectly out of the box, and they are one of a handful of pen companies that still issue pens in celluloid, a vintage-style material that I love and collect.

Honorable Mention. Platinum and Pelikan both have received increasing amounts of attention from me. I'm thoroughly enjoying the Pelikan M800 Burnt Orange that I picked up at the Atlanta Pen Show last month, and my Platinum 3776 with the ultra extra-fine (UEF) nib has become a near-daily user for detailed note taking after Mike Masuyama tuned it. However, I don't yet have enough experience using either of these brands to dethrone one of the current top three. In a year, that might change...

It was interesting to spend some time going through my collection this weekend and looking at things from a macro perspective (as in, on a brand-by-brand basis instead of a pen-by-pen basis). Eventually I'll need to update my Tier One Pens list, as some changes are overdue.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase a pen from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase something you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

Franklin-Christoph prototypes:  if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early! — Franklin-Christoph prototypes: if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early!

Pen Show Primer, Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show

April 9, 2016

So you've picked your pen show, created a valid excuse for skipping work and/or disappearing for a weekend, and committed to go. So what next? Is your head spinning from reading all of the pen show recaps discussing all of the things you need to see? Mine sure was before my first show. Here are a few things you can do in advance to make your trip more enjoyable, and ultimately, memorable.

BUDGET. I have this one in all caps for a reason. Before you leave for the pen show--and I would recommend a couple months before--sit down and figure out how much travel itself is going to cost you (in gas/airfare, food, drinks, lodging, etc.) and then set aside some additional funds for the show itself (admission, and, of course, pens and ink). I set a hard limit on spending for the show, and withdraw that amount of money in cash. While Square and the iPhone have made it easier for more and more vendors to accept credit cards, many still take only cash, and I've found that credit cards and pen shows are a bad, bad mix. You will always find one more pen you want, whether you can afford it or not.
Make a List. Not just a list of what you want to buy, but what you want to do. As with any big, highly anticipated event, you will get there and experience a huge adrenaline rush, and as a result forget to check out one or more vendors you wanted to visit. Check the show website. Most of them are fairly bare bones, I know, but at a minimum the show should list in advance which vendors are attending. Do you want nib work done by Mike Masuyama? Make getting your name on his list a top priority once you are at the show--as in, "as soon as you walk in the door"--because it fills up fast.
Get a good bag. I don't see this one discussed much in articles discussing "pen show strategy", but having a good "show bag" (or "bags") is extremely important. I bring both carry a messenger-style shoulder bag (I'm currently obsessed with Filson) and a clutch-style pen case. That way, if I need to carry around ink and paper, I can use the messenger bag, but if I have a day where I am just carrying pens to be worked on, or bringing pens down to the bar for show-and-tell, I can leave the larger bag in my room and go with the smaller carry. Good options include the Nock Co. Brasstown, the Aston Leather 10 or 20-pen cases, and if you're not squeamish about your pens touching, one of the Lihit Labs cases. On days when a show is very crowded, it can be nice to ditch a larger bag and not have to worry about it hitting people or knocking over merchandise.
Bring your own paper and ink. Hopefully, you'll have the opportunity to test lots of pens and inks. Is there a preferred type of paper that you typically write on? If so, bring it with you. Many vendors don't have paper at their tables, and the pads of paper at most ink testing stations are subpar. I usually also carry a bottle of "safe" fountain pen ink if I'm going to be dipping pens.
Connect with people beforehand. If there are people who you want to meet up with at the show, set a time and place to meet up ahead of time. This is especially true if you plan to attend a larger show on one of the busier public days, such as Saturday or Sunday. These shows can get crowded, and finding people in the ballrooms can be difficult.

Case-in-Point:  bring a bag to carry your stuff.  Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases. — Case-in-Point: bring a bag to carry your stuff. Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases.

Next week is the Atlanta Pen Show, so I will be traveling Thursday through Sunday. Posts next week will likely be thin, but before I leave I will post the last part in this series, Tips For Surviving at a Pen Show. Also, check out my Instagram and Twitter feeds for live show updates.

I know I've used this picture before, but it's a great shot of the D.C. Pen Show Insanity.

Pen Show Primer, Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show?

April 6, 2016

In honor of the fast-approaching Atlanta Pen Show (which I will be attending!), I thought I would do a series of posts on pen shows in general, how to prepare for them, and how to make the most of them once you are there. The organizers of the Atlanta Show are expecting a large crowd, including many first-time attendees, so some posts like these seem timely.

What Is a Pen Show?

I'd best describe a pen show as a somewhat offbeat combination of a hobby convention (think Comic-Con for stationery geeks), a traditional trade show, a swap-meet for collectors, and a pop-up market. These shows are held in various cities around the country most of the year, with the first show being held in Philadelphia in January and the last show currently scheduled for Columbus, Ohio in November. "The Circuit" then takes a break for the holidays.

Check out the 2016 pen show calendar here. The largest shows are the Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow, and the Los Angeles International Pen Show.

Where Do Pen Shows Take Place?

The majority of shows take place at hotels, typically close to a major airport. Airport hotels offer relatively inexpensive lodging, and hotel ballrooms provide lots of open space that allows the vendors to set up tables to show their wares while still giving people enough space to move around (well, normally).

Inside the hotel ballroom at the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show (before things really got going). Atlanta generally is a smaller show, but this year they expect a bigger crowd.

Who Attends?

Pen shows draw a broad mix of enthusiasts, including both vintage pen collectors and people who just love using pens, plus retailers, makers, and product distributors. Based on my own experience at shows, I would say the following three groups make up most of the crowd:

Pen collectors looking to sell/trade vintage pens and modern limited editions;
Consumers who attend shows to shop; and
Retailers, manufacturers, and brand representatives, who want to come meet with each other (and their customers) in person.

Retailer Vanness Pens always shows up with their "Wall of Akkerman Ink".  Pen shows are a great place to pick up ink and save on shipping, if you live close by. — Retailer Vanness Pens always shows up with their "Wall of Akkerman Ink". Pen shows are a great place to pick up ink and save on shipping, if you live close by.

Of course this list isn't exclusive. Nearly everyone who shows up is a member of the broader, like-minded and largely internet-based pen community. Pen shows cater to anyone who wants to meet up in person, hang out and talk pens.

Why Attend a Pen Show?

Why might you want to attend a pen show? If you answer "yes" to one or more of the following questions, then it could be worth your while to attend.

Do you want to learn more about vintage pens and writing instruments? You can learn a lot from books and pen forums, but nothing beats a hands-on education.
Do you have few (if any) brick-and-mortar stores near you, where you can test pens and ink in person and "try before you buy?" More and more pen shows are hosting "ink testing tables", where you can test out an assortment of ink brands (and then go buy the ink at the show).
Are you becoming more and more tempted by more expensive pens, but remain uncomfortable buying online, sight unseen?
Do you want to attend a seminar on the "how to's" of pen repair and calligraphy?
Do you simply want to meet other people interested in the same things you are?

If any of these questions piques your interest, it may be worth taking a trip to a pen show. As I mentioned, I will be attending the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show from April 15-17, 2016. For those of you who follow the Pen Addict Podcast, there should be quite a gathering over the weekend. If you're anywhere near Atlanta (or have the ability to jump in the car or get on a plane for a quick getaway), this is as good an opportunity as any for a great first pen show experience.

Gratuitous Shots of Past Pen Show Loot

And, of course, the best part of going to a pen show: what you can buy there! More on that in the coming week...