Pen Show Adventures: Dipping Back into Vintage, or Pursuing Vintage-Style Modern Pens?

March 25, 2023

Up front, I will admit that I’m neither a vintage collector nor even a vintage pen enthusiast, and my knowledge of most brands and specific models pale in comparison to others in this community. So take whatever I say regarding vintage pens and the vintage market with a (very) large grain of salt. That said, I attended both the Baltimore and Arkansas pen shows - and particularly Arkansas - looking to pick up a few vintage pens for my collection, mainly to replace certain models I wish I hadn’t let go during “catch and release” phases over the years.

Smaller shows like the Arkansas Pen Show make excellent opportunities to shop for vintage pens. Larger shows like D.C. can feel overwhelming, and because the shows are both crowded and geared towards higher-end collectors and sales between dealers, they can be difficult for the newbie or the casual buyer to navigate. Pens also tend to be more expensive because they are either more pristine collectors pieces, or outright overpriced. (I also advise people to adopt a “buyer beware” attitude at these larger shows. In my early days of collecting, I had more than one experience at D.C. where I purchased a vintage pen that later turned out to be “not as advertised,” to put it politely. More on this later, as I plan to update my vintage pen resources.)

My two vintage Parker 51 fountain pens, one of which includes a stub nib.

Vintage Pens Parker 51 Aurora 88 — I enjoy interesting vintage pens that I can still use on a daily basis, including both the Parker 51 and the Aurora 88.

Smaller shows - particularly shows run by a local pen club - are friendlier, with many of the “dealers” being club participants and collectors selling for “show money”, to rotate pens out of their own collection, and/or to help grow the hobby. Many are happy to talk with new enthusiasts, and will give you honest appraisals of pens, flaws and all. If you have to deal with the same show attendees and club members year after year, reputation matters. At the Arkansas Pen Show, I purchased two Parker 51s from Danny Fudge (aka “The Write Pen”), both of which are excellent “user grade” pens, expertly restored, with character. One had a broader nib that I had Matthew Chen shape to a semi-Naginata, and the other sports a hammered gold fill finish (“possibly by Ariel Kulloch”) with an excellent stub nib. The first pen cost me $100, and the second $175, which I consider to be very fair pricing for functional vintage pens restored by a reputable dealer.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage in Pomegranate (top) and Honeycomb (bottom). These are piston fillers with 18k gold nibs. The top is an oblique medium and the bottom a 1.1mm stub. Not sure if these two are going back to Vanness….

If You Don’t Want to Fiddle with Actual Vintage pens, the Current Market Has a TON of Vintage-Style Options

While vintage pens like the Parker 51 are fairly durable, easy to repair, and timeless, other models don’t translate as well to the experience sought by many modern users. For example, I’ve always admired the oversized Sheaffer Balance fountain pens, and have even owned a few over the years, but found the material prone to cracking and I’m not a huge fan of lever-fillers. Fortunately, these days you have a wide range of modern options in a similar “vintage” style, and I spent many hours next to the Vanness Pens table eyeing (1) the Tibaldi Bononia Limited Editions; (2) the modern Conway Stewart lineup in their classic materials; and (3) both the modern Onoto Magna and Scholar fountain pens, which have garnered rave reviews and which I’m in the process of reviewing. If you appreciate vintage design, but perhaps not the “adventurous” nature of writing with an actual vintage pen, you have plenty of options!

From left, the Tibaldi Bononia in Pomegranate, the Onoto Scholar in Mandarin, and the Tibaldi Bononia in Honeycomb

Lately, this trend has even started to extend beyond fountain pens. I wrote the entire first draft of this review on a series of airplane flights and in the back row at a work conference using an Anterique “Mach Ball” click pen. I love the aesthetics of vintage Bic Clic-style ballpoints, but generally can’t stand the refill. Anterique uses a .5mm low-viscosity hybrid gel-ballpoint ink refill that even fits some actual vintage ballpoints.

Stay tuned, because Anterique is doing some really fun stuff, and I just received a big box in the mail….

If you’re not a purist, you can sometimes find the best of both worlds: vintage-style design without the unpredictability of finicky filling systems or refills. As a user of fountain pens and other writing instruments, as opposed to a collector, I’m equally drawn to both vintage writing instruments and quality modern alternatives. It certainly offers a wider range of options to enjoy everyday writing!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links or advertising. Vanness Pens did loan me certain of the pens pictured in this review. I am not being compensated for content, and The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

"Boring" Can Be Better: In Defense of Standard Stationery

March 1, 2023

Sometimes what’s fun from a hobby perspective isn’t always what’s best for everyday use. That multichromatic triple-shading ink with shimmer? Probably not the best choice for quick meeting notes or signing closing paperwork on your mortgage. That triple-broad double-eagle reversible stub architect nib? That’s gonna bleed through a legal pad. While most of us enjoy our crazy stationery, it can’t take us everywhere.

The most common questions I get, both here on the blog and in-person when I’m behind a table at a pen show, concern what pen/ink/paper I can use everyday, without worrying how it’s going to perform. I often recommend that those planning on using their pens for everyday writing keep at least a couple of “workhorses,” or pens designed to write, without regard to unique design, collectibility, etc. I feel so strongly about this that I’ve devoted an entire series of articles on the blog to this topic, which I’ve compiled into an archive that’s constantly being updated.

So-called “safe”- dare I say “boring” - inks don’t have to be ugly, especially if you like muted shades. It’s when you get into super-saturated colors and special properties when things get tricky.

But while pens get the most attention, more critical components of “everyday writing” are ink and paper. With fountain pens, I would say that ink is the key variable, since you often cannot control the paper you’re forced to use in a context such as the office. You therefore need to have a handful of “workhorse” inks in addition to your “workhorse” pens, that you can use knowing that they will likely perform decently on most paper options. Back in 2020, I even put together a sample pack of some of my favorite inks, including Waterman Blue, Sheaffer Skrip Red, and Lamy Black. While I may consider running that one back in the future, I’m not sure that recommending specific inks is all that helpful or necessary. For the most part, standard inks made by major pen company such as Waterman, Lamy, Sheaffer, Pilot, TWSBI, etc. will generally be “safe” to use in most pens and on most papers, and even boutique lines such as J. Herbin and Diamine - both made by ink companies that have existed for a very long time - are extremely reliable provided you stick to the water-based core lineup for your office writing, as opposed to inks with special properties such as shimmer that can be unpredictable on anything other than high-quality paper.

“Boring” is relative. I’d consider all three of the inks pictured here to be “safe” inks in the sense that they water-based inks from longstanding, well-regarded brands. The Herbin “Vert de Gris” is a new discovery that I spent all day yesterday using at the office.

Advantages and Considerations When Using So-Called “Boring” Inks

So why don’t quality, reliable inks get more attention? Honestly, the fountain pen internet and social media tends to be driven in large part by people who either don’t actually write with their pens everyday, or use their inks for art and journaling where practical considerations are less relevant. When those creating the content consider the inks “boring,” they don’t get promoted and fall by the wayside. But I’m here to tell you that sometimes “boring” has a lot to offer! Consider:

Ease of Cleaning. While some exceptions exist (pinks and purples in particular tend to be hard to clean no matter what), I value inks that flush out of pens quickly when you refill or change colors. Most of the brands I mentioned above take little to no effort to flush, and shouldn’t stain most materials, vintage or modern.
Expense. Looking for an ink that you’re going to use a lot? While ink isn’t the most expensive part of this hobby, if you write through several converters a week like I can when I’m really busy, you probably don’t want to be stocking up on ink at $50 per bottle. Most of the inks I consider workhorses are less than $20 for 30-50ml.
Permanence. People tend to treat “permanence” (more specifically, the lack thereof) as a negative rather than a positive when it comes to fountain pen ink, but I’ve come to believe it’s overrated. While it’s nice to have some water resistance, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve spilled water or a drink on some notes, and completely lost what I had written. On the other hand, I’ve frequently spilled ink when filling pens, when a pen leaks during travel, or when I accidentally drag a shirtsleeve across some writing that’s not quite dry. If it’s permanent ink, it’s probably going to stain. On the other hand, a few weeks ago I spilled a sample vial of Iroshizuku Tsukushi onto the rug in my office. I ran the rug through the washing machine and the ink washed out completely on the first try. On the other hand, I spilled a bottle of permanent blue-black on some carpet several years back and had to recarpet the room. Personally, I’ll take the safe/impermanent/washable option for those inks I plan to use everyday, but I’m also a klutz.

Now here’s the part where I sort of contradict myself: When I first entered this hobby, it used to be a reliable rule-of-thumb that if you were looking for a “safe” ink (i.e., to use in a finicky, valuable, or vintage pen) any ink made by a “pen company” was generally suitable. Today, I still get e-mails from people asking whether “X” shimmer ink is safe for vintage pens, since it’s made by “X” pen company. Having seen the rapidly expanding market for fountain pen ink, including inks that shimmer, sheen, and multi-shade, pen companies are expanding into these more specialized offerings. So while you can take the “pen company manufacturer rule” into account, it’s no longer something you can solely rely upon, and you have to do some homework. I generally advise people that if you want to purchase a particular ink for use everyday, and you want the ink to be versatile enough to use in as many different pens, on as many different papers as possible, it’s wise to avoid inks with special properties.

Come Visit Us At an upcoming pen show!

As I mentioned above, I’m getting ready to visit this year’s Baltimore Washington International Pen Show, as well as the Arkansas Pen Show the following week, and at both shows I’ll be conducting a free workshop tentatively titled “Stationery for Daily Use with the Gentleman Stationer,” in which I plan to discuss pens, inks, paper, and notebook systems appropriate for managing your daily life and work. The class will be similar to the “Everyday Writers: Choosing the Best Pens for Home and Office” seminar that I held at the last Baltimore Show I attended as a vendor, back in 2020.

We will also plan to bring a curated selection of pens, inks, and notebooks with us to both shows, so you’ll have the opportunity to test out many of the goods in our shop in person. We hope to see you there!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including certain ink brands mentioned in this article.

Triangular Grip Pens: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

February 25, 2023

In the world of pens, there are a handful of highly polarizing products, and I’d place “molded grip” or “triangular grip” pens in the top five. The most well-known, of course, is the iconic Lamy Safari, with the Lamy AL-Star, TWSBI ECO-T, Kaweco Perkeo and others falling into this category. So why do pen companies opt for this type of design? How big of a “real world” issue is it? And how has it affected my own ability to use these pens?

The Lamy Safari’s grip gives rise to strong opinions.

Triangular Grip Pens: Origins and Purpose

Before they went hipster mainstream (j/k), pens like the Lamy Safari were intended for students - particularly students learning to write with a fountain pen for the first time. Most molded grip sections are shaped similarly to those slide-on pencil grips that teachers in the 1980s would force on those of us who refused to hold our pencils “correctly,” in order to guide our hands into the “proper” position. These days, Lamy markets the Safari/AL-Star pens to a market beyond students, billing the section as an “[e]rgonomically shaped grip area to enable writing for long periods of time without tiring,” but as with most things ergonomic, these pens don’t work for everyone. While I’ve not done any sort of survey, anecdotally, lefties tend to have more issues with the grip, since they’re designed with the right-handed majority in mind. And even those righties with nontraditional finger placement can have a difficult time with a shaped section.

The Lamy AL-Star grip section, left, vs. the TWSBI ECO-T. The AL-Star features a grip similar to the Safari, but due to the difference in materials doesn’t feel quite as sharp, at least to me. The TWSBI ECO-T has a subtly triangular shape that I don’t really notice much at all, though it is there.

My Own Personal Handwriting Struggles and Preferences

I have a history of handwriting struggles. Until I entered college, I used what could charitably be described as an “unusual” pencil grip. Nobody could understand how it worked, how I learned it, and why I continued to write that way. Despite the fact that I was generally a good student, with visually excellent script, I regularly received a “C” or “D” in “handwriting” on my report card, solely due to how I held my pencil. I had one elementary school teacher dub my grip “The Claw”, and made it their personal mission in life to change it. They failed.

I had another teacher in high school “jokingly” offer to break my right hand so that I could relearn how to write as a lefty. (I went to an all-boys high school. It was a different time.) Honestly, I’m really not sure how I ever wrote like this, much less for hours at a time. I certainly would never have been able to use a fountain pen like this.

At some point The Claw became a matter of personal pride, not to mention practicality. If you grip your pen or pencil a certain way for years, you reach a point in high school where you can’t change it because to do so would sacrifice speed. (To add some context, I graduated from high school in 1998, which dates me but it’s necessary here. I was probably one of the last classes where e-mail and internet access was available to us, but not required, and all of our examinations and most of our homework, including research papers, had to be handwritten as opposed to typed. Handwriting speed was therefore a factor. I understand that this changed at my school a couple of years after I graduated.) It wasn’t until late college/early law school, when I started transcribing most of my lecture notes on a laptop, that I was able to change my grip because I had the luxury of slowing down.

So why did I change? RSI issues in my hand and wrist, as well as a semi-deformed right ring finger that had a huge, painful callous that only completely disappeared three or four years ago - nearly 20 years after I changed my handwriting style. While my current grip isn’t “textbook,” it’s closer to what’s contemplated by most molded-grip pens, and if I’m honest, probably could have saved me a lot of trouble over the long-term if I hadn’t been so stubborn.

My new grip works fairly well with the Safari and most other molded-grip pens.

How to Use a Triangular or Molded-Grip Pen

Unfortunately, the truth is that unless you’re willing to change your grip, these pens either work for you or they don’t. Some pens, like the TWSBI ECO-T and the Kaweco Perkeo, feature a “softer” triangular grip that’s much more forgiving. The sharper edges of the Safari and AL-Star tend to cause more problems for people. While the Lamy pens aren’t a perfect fit, and for this reason have never become “favorite” everyday writers, they’re not incompatible with my current grip because I can rest my index finger on the top ridge, similar to how I’m able to rest my finger atop the clip of a Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo. The good thing is that these pens are relatively inexpensive to test out, coming in at $35 or less. If you’re considering a more expensive pen like one of the retractable nib Pilot pens, I’ve found that how one’s hand holds the Safari approximates how you would have to grip a Vanishing Point or Decimo, so if you can’t get to a pen show and try one of these in person, picking up a less expensive pen with a triangular grip might save you from a more costly mistake.

A shot of the TWSBI ECO-T (right) vs. the standard TWSBI ECO (left). You can barely make out a ridge (more like a ripple) on the ECO-T, which shows you how subtle the shape is. Honestly, I might prefer the ECO-T to the ECO, but again that’s personal preference.

I’m interested in hearing: How many of you can’t use these types of pens at all? Also, I rarely hear from anyone who purchases a pen with a shaped grip specifically for that section, but does anyone particularly enjoy this feature? Personally, I’ve really been enjoying the the ECO-T, which has a much more subtle grip shape, and I have plans to get my hands on another Kaweco Perkeo soon.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. While this post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising, the Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of certain brands discussed in this article. Please view the shop for the full range of brands sold, which is subject to change.

Four No. 8 fountain pen nibs, from left: Jinhao x159; Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize; Montegrappa Extra 1930; Montblanc 149.

"Serious Nibbage": Do No. 8 Nibs Live Up to the Hype?

January 28, 2023

Every year, there are a couple of products that see their popularity soar unexpectedly, despite the fact that the’ve been around for a while. In 2022 - and continuing into 2023 - one of those product categories is the No. 8 fountain pen nib. For those unfamiliar with fountain pen nib sizing schemes, the size of the nib itself (as opposed to the tipping) is denoted by number. Different regions (or even brands) will use their own numbering so there is little overall consistency, but for purposes of this article, the generally accepted “standard” nib size is a No. 6 (i.e., your typical JoWo or Bock nib), with the larger No. 8 rapidly growing in both popularity and availability.

If what you’re looking for is a bouncy, wet writer, a Bock No. 8 titanium nib, like the one on the Kingsize Bulkfiller, will serve you well. You also don’t need to pay Conid prices to get one. They are available separately from many different sources and can be fitted to pens like the Schon Ultem, provided you have the appropriate section. More on that below.

Why Do People Like No. 8 Nibs So Much?

A No. 8 nib just looks different. Part of the appeal is the uniqueness factor. The experience of writing with a nibbed pen adds much of the charm to using a fountain pen in general, and the larger No. 8 nib is especially eye-catching. The first time you see a pen like the Montblanc 149 or the Pelikan M1000, what you notice is that giant gold nib. Other companies, like Conid, offer gold but increasingly the standard No. 8 nib for small-batch and custom makers seems to be the less expensive No. 8 Bock titanium nib, with a matte finish that pops in its own way.

A smoother writing experience. Many people who first recommended No. 8 nibs to me commented on how much smoother they feel, and to a certain extent they’re correct. I suspect that the “smoother” feel comes from the larger feed, which if tuned properly will deliver more ink, which in turn makes the nib write “wetter,” and a wet nib typically feels smoother than a dry one because it masks any rough spots on the tipping or tine misalignment. If you like wet nibs with a bouncier feel, you will probably enjoy Bock No. 8 titanium nibs, which deliver a lot of ink and provide some line variation.

More stability and control. Personally, I appreciate No. 8 nibs for the same reason that larger pens are growing on me: a greater degree of stability and control over my writing. The larger nib feels more precise in your hand, especially with a finer nib like the one on the Jinhao X159 discussed below.

The pen on the left costs $1100. The pen on the right costs $12.50. As you can see, you don’t need to break the bank for the No. 8 writing experience.

Less Expensive No. 8 Nib Options Are Becoming More Widely Available

Currently, I have four No. 8 nibs in my collection: A Montblanc 149 with a broad nib (that writes more like a stub); a Montegrappa Extra 1930 with a medium nib; a Conid Kingsize Bulkfiller with a medium titanium nib (review forthcoming); and a Jinhao X159 that just arrived the other day. Of these four, the one that surprised me the most was the Jinhao. I love it when I discover extremely inexpensive pens that are fabulous writers, and while this stiff nail of a steel nib won’t give you the same wet writing experience or bouncy feel as the others discussed, for $12 I’m not sure you’re going to care. Because these larger Jinhao nib units are threaded and unscrew from the pen, I’ve heard that penmakers are starting to experiment with Jinhao-compatible sections, which will allow you to use these nibs in custom pens. Another less expensive option are the Magna Carta stainless steel nibs, which I’ve heard are compatible with the No. 8 sections made for the Schon DSGN Ultem pens. (UPDATE: See comments below, as people have had mixed success with Magna Carta. What I’ve heard is that the recent batch works with the Ultem pens, but YMMV.)

Jinhao-X159-Writing-Sample — The Jinhao X159 writes a smooth, dark line. The writing experience offered by this pen punches FAR above its price point. The body of the pen does feel pretty inexpensive - even cheap (which it is), but the nib is superb.

Stay tuned for more No. 8 nib-specific content, specifically how these options all compare to one another. I’m planning on picking up some No. 8 sections for my Schon pens during this year’s pen show adventures, and I’m also looking forward to trying out the JoWo No. 8 nib, featured on the Edison Collier Grande.

Enjoy reading The Gentleman Stationer? We are supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon program. This post does not include paid advertising or third-party affiliate links.

* This is not a scientific poll, and is intended for entertainment purposes only. Statisticians please don’t come at me.

What's the Most Popular Nib Size? By a Wide Margin, It's Fine or Medium.

January 25, 2023

Sorry broad-nib lovers, but the numbers don’t lie.* You may have noticed that I’ve been doing some surveys lately, both via Patreon and via Instagram, and it’s for several reasons. First of all, I’m always curious about people’s preferences and what they use for their everyday writing. Second, I’ve noticed that as many as 65% of the pens I sell are fines and mediums. If that holds as true, my buying strategy of stocking up on equal numbers of all nib sizes probably isn’t the best idea, especially as I bring in more pen lines and invest in more expensive inventory. So I posed the question: If you’re purchasing a pen to use unmodified, in one of the “default” nib sizes of extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, or stub, what size do you prefer?

Here are the results (which as of the time of writing are still preliminary on Instagram, but overall consistent with data I’ve seen elsewhere so I have no problems going ahead and posting my conclusions):

On T.G.S. Patreon, 75% of respondents chose fine or medium. The other 25% chose broad, stub, or wider (if available). Surprisingly, nobody chose extra-fine.
On Instagram, as of the time of writing, 63% chose fine or medium. 16% chose broad or wider, and 21% chose extra-fine. The Instagram results are probably more reflective of the community at large, as it’s a bigger sample size.

More mediums and more fines. Based on a survey of my own collection and what nibs I currently have in most of my pens, I seem to be pretty “average” in terms of what I use on an everyday basis.

As I noted above, anyone with rudimentary training in statistics could find multiple ways to criticize this poll, and it’s neither intended to be scientific nor taken completely seriously. When I posed the question, I also framed it around “stock” nibs that are generally universal across brands, as there’s a lot of variation between different companies’ in-house nibs. But let me say this: the results of this poll are 100% consistent with what I see going out the door in my shop, so at a minimum the responses are a pretty accurate reflection of the nib preferences of The Gentleman Stationer readership. One of the fun parts of being a retailer is having a bit of insight into what people actually buy, as opposed to what gets the attention on blogs, social media, and podcasts. If you follow pen-related social media at all, you might be forgiven for thinking that most true fountain pen enthusiasts write only with broad nibs or stubs - nibs that lay as much ink as possible on the page - or microscopically small needlepoints. While many people certainly enjoy having a few unusual nibs in their collection, those of us who are forced to go out into the word and write on what passes for “office paper” these days recognize that’s not a sustainable approach to modern life.

For me, it’s medium nibs all around, and I have never had any issues having a medium nib ground into a cursive italic or stub (like the Franklin-Christoph medium S.I.G. nib on the left).

Personally, I default to purchasing pens with medium nibs. A medium is broad enough to show off ink without soaking a page of copy paper, and usually still has enough tipping to support a nib grind. That said, I have so many medium nibs in my collection - including handfuls of loose JoWo and Bock nib units - that I’ve recently taken to purchasing broad or double-broad nibs solely for the purpose of accumulating a ready stock of nibs for modification. Nahvalur nibs in particular have a LOT of tipping, so if you’re purchasing a pen with the specific intention of getting a specialty nib grind, keep that in mind. In San Francisco, I had C.Y. of Tokyo Station Pens modify my Double-Broad Nahvalur Nautilus into a Naginata-style grind, with an excellent result.

I’m still interested in hearing directly from readers: What factors do you consider when selecting a nib? Why do you prefer one nib size over another? Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail!

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertisements or third-party affiliate links.