The line to get in the Dallas Pen Show Friday Morning

Dallas Pen Show Friday Recap: Nagasawa Pens and more!

September 30, 2023

I’m getting ready for some extended time away from my day job, so what better way to kick things off than to take a quick weekend trip to the Dallas Pen Show - a Show I’ve never visited before! In addition to visiting a new show, I get the opportunity to enjoy a pen show as a pen show, without my own table, and spend some time exploring the two ballrooms and many of the vendors there. I’ll have more to report via Instagram and on social media in real time, but there are many independent makers at this show and a very large vintage scene.

Dallas Pen Show Vendor Roster and Map — The Dallas Show organizers conveniently post the roster of exhibitors next to a large map, so you can see where each are located.

For most of the day yesterday, I assisted at the Vanness Pens table. Dallas is a bit of a unique show in that it’s only two days, with Friday being the longest: 10am to 8pm at night. While it makes for a 12-hour day for most vendors (once you include setup time), the late Friday hours are favorable to attendees who may not be able to get off work in time to attend the show on the first day, and the organizers are adamant that all vendors need to remain open until closing time to accommodate evening shoppers.

Sailor Kobe Nagasawa Pens Purchased in Dallas — My two pickups from the table I was working: a Sailor Pro Gear Mini in Mouette, and a Sailor Kyomachi Legend Blue 1911 Full Size with the gold weighted section.

There was a steady stream of traffic through the morning, a bit of a lull for lunch, and then another rush between 4-6:30 as the after-work crowd arrived. The main draw at the Vanness table were the Nagasawa exclusive collaboration pens, which Vanness is now authorized to carry as Nagasawa’s exclusive U.S. retail partner! These pens include the Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue series (which comes in King of Pen, 1911 Large, and 1911 Standard sizes), exclusive Pro Gear Slims and Minis in multiple colors, and the Demonstrator Pro Gears and “Profits” (1911s) with black-plated, gold, and antiqued/rose gold trim. Many different models and colors fall into these latter categories, so I won’t link to them all individually but you can check out the full selection of Nagasawa pens here. (You can also check many of them out in person at the Dallas Pen Show, since Vanness brought a TON of these pens.)

Nib Grinds from Dallas 2023 — I had two nibs ground: I asked Matthew Chen to clean up the broad nib on my Montblanc 149 to give it some more line definition and narrow the stubbish tipping just a bit to make it more usable, and I also had my Pro Gear Mini ground to a mini-architect!

For Saturday, I plan to focus on visiting with friends and possibly checking out some vintage. It’s been a while since I’ve added any vintage pens to my collection, and Dallas also includes a collection of local vendors (including Fountain Pen Revolution!) who don’t typically attend many pen shows. Stay tuned for more show pics!

The store remains open and all orders will ship within the typical 2-3 business day timeframe. Since it’s a pen show weekend, use the coupon code “PENSHOW10” at checkout to take 10% off most orders, with some brands excluded. Many thanks for all your support!

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 third-party affiliate links.

Recapping Pelikan Hubs 2023! A "Hubmaster's" Perspective

September 23, 2023

It still surprises me that people otherwise deep into the online pen community are only now just finding out about Pelikan Hubs! Started in 2014 as a promotional event, German penmaker Pelikan has been sponsoring these annual gatherings around the worlds, and the number of cities hosting a “Hub” has rapidly expanded. They’ve turned into beloved community events, and most are now larger pen-related gatherings that go well-beyond Pelikan enthusiasts.

Pelikan Hub Swag from 2023 including Edelstein Ink and a Pad of Paper — I was glad to see the bottles of Edelstein ink return this year!

There’s been a lot of discussion about where the Pelikan Hubs will go from here. This year Pelikan announced their acquisition by the Hamlin Group, a French conglomerate, but right now it doesn’t appear that anything has changed. Pelikan resumed shipping a complimentary bottle of the Edelstein Ink of the Year (2023: Rose Quartz) to all registered Hub attendees, which was a welcome addition despite a new, more involved two-stage Hub registration process that left many frustrated. I think the biggest challenge going forward in today’s world of inflation and general rising costs will be how to address the expense of the Hub itself. Hubmasters are volunteers, and Pelikan does not contribute financial support for the events. While our group is fortunate enough to have at least one restaurant with a low-enough private-room minimum spend to host the Hub, I’m not sure how long that will continue, and some Hubmasters in larger cities are either having to lay out deposits, solicit donations, or charge admission (the latter of which has sparked significant controversy over whether the event should remain “free”). If the Hubs keep growing, the solution, for better or for worse, will likely require up-front sponsorship by either retailers or pen clubs - or some sort of “crowdfunded solution” - as I suspect Pelikan will not be able to financially support Hubs worldwide.

PensbyPasquale Piston Fillers and Other Options — Nic from PensbyPasquale had a bunch of new creations to show off at the Hub!

The Nashville, Tennessee area hub has consistently had 15-30 people attend over the years, driven mainly by the membership of our local pen club, the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club. (Sign up here!) Thanks to the generosity of several club members, we had giveaway prizes for just about everyone. And while next year it may be time to pass the torch to another Hubmaster and help out more behind the scenes (i.e., I’m TIRED), I’ve enjoyed all the people I’ve met at these events and I’m always encouraged by the growing passion of this community!

The Gentleman Stationer is not affiliated with Pelikan and I hosted this Hub in my capacity as an enthusiast. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Unpacking the San Francisco Pen Show: A Deeper Dive into What I Brought Home

September 2, 2023

As I did after the D.C. Pen Show recap, I wanted to do a post that’s a bit of a deeper dive on what I picked up at the San Francisco Pen Show, especially since my weekend was spent mostly behind the table and these past few days at home were my first opportunity to explore most of my purchases, which were largely planned pre-show and executed in the last two hours on Sunday afternoon. It’s been like a pen show after a pen show!

Gravitas Ultemate Vac and Kyuseido Kakari — The Kyuseido (right) next to the Gravitas Ultemate Vac (left). The Kyuseido "Kakari” fountain pen was designed by C.Y. of Kyuseido in collaboration with Ben Walsh of Ben Walsh Design/Gravitas Pens.

Kyuseido Pump Piston Filler (The “Kakari”?)

So of all the pens that I posted photos of on Instagram and in my main San Francisco recap, this is the one that prompted the most questions. I understand the official name is the “Kakari” (from Ben Walsh’s Instagram), and it’s a riff on the “bulkfiller” (lower-case) or syringe filler mechanism. More details will follow once I’ve had time to play with it. My particular pen features black PVD titanium trim (numbered edition of 40/50), and a 14k nib ground by C.Y. into a “Sankakusen”, which is his term for the kodachi/naginata-style grind. I basically use it like a soft architect, and so far it’s been a wonderful writer. An ebonite feed delivers a lot of ink, but the nib is well-tuned so that it doesn’t bleed through on most papers.

My understanding is that the San Francisco Pen Show was a “soft launch” for this particular pen, and that we will be seeing more of it soon. It’s a premium product, priced at $660 including the custom grind, a price point which is slightly lower than than the Conid Bulkfiller with a titanium nib. I of course plan to do a much more in-depth post on this pen, though I need to wait until Kyuseido posts more information about the specifics of the design when it officially launches. We were both so busy at the show I didn’t have an opportunity to discuss the pen with C.Y. in any great detail.

Schon DSGN Monoc Comparison — And, yes, my fine Monoc (left) was anodized in a rainbow gradient.

Schon DSGN Fine Monoc Nib

I reviewed the original Schon DSGN Monoc nib back in February, shortly after it’s initial launch. At the D.C. Pen Show, Ian revealed broad and fine versions of the Monoc, which I didn’t have a chance to test out. Then Ana, my table neighbor working for Vanness, bought one and brought it back to the table in San Francisco, and I was hooked. I mentioned this in my prior recap, but I needed to re-ink the pen after travel and take some pictures of the unique line variation this nib offers. While the original Monoc writes a medium line in normal “nib-down” position, and a fine/extra-fine on the reverse, this latest release writes a fine line in normal position and an medium architect line on the reverse. It’s extremely smooth either way, though I did move it from a Pocket Six to my Amber Ultem pen, as I think ink flows better in the Monoc through a converter.

Schon DSGN Medium and Fine Monoc Writing Samples

Gravitas Pens Ultemate Vac Filler

I’ve been wanting to pick up one of Ben Walsh’s polished Gravitas Ultem vacs, and it doesn’t disappoint. So many makers default to the matte finish with Ultem, and while I might prefer that visual on most designs, here the polished finish was clearly the right choice. I’m also digging the clipless, postable cap, and the titanium on the barrel gives the pen a nice balance. I stuck with the stainless steel EF nib, which writes well, and the section is threaded for a JoWo nib unit if I ever wanted to change it out.

Skogsy Pens Micarta Fountain Pen

Did I mention I’ve become obsessed with Micarta as a material. Yes, I know it “stains”. No, I don’t care. And yes, you bet I dipped the section of this pen to fill it. I even got permission from Zach at Skogsy to do it. (He encourages this!)

Micarta Fountain Pens from Skogsy Pens and Leonardo Pens — My two Micarta Fountain Pens: The Skogsy (left) and the Leonardo Momento Zero collaboration with Stilo e Stile (right).

For those unfamiliar, “Micarta” is a brand name for a thermoplastic made from resin-infused fiber (typically linen, canvas, paper, fiberglass, or carbon fiber), though it’s also used generically (“micarta”) to refer to materials made using similar techniques. It has a range of industrial uses, though the most familiar niche consumer applications are knife handles, pool cues, and guitar components. Once hardened and turned, Micarta takes on the feel of compressed sailcloth, and will wear smooth and patina depending on how it is used.

Micarta Pens Sections, one stained with ink. — Micarta is absorbent, so as you use your pens, knives, etc. they will take on a patina from hand oils and ink.

Durable and extremely light, Micarta makes for a fascinating pen material. I missed out on the original TWSBI Micarta release (which I talked about in my Pen Addict Podcast appearance EIGHT years ago!?!), but immediately picked up the Stilo e Stile collaboration with Leonardo Pens, and jumped at the chance to grab a Skogsy Pen in San Francisco. These things sold fast, and on Saturday morning I only had my pick of three!

Enigma Stationery and TGS Hinze Pens Collaboration

Enigma Stationery Special Edition No. 3

Another table neighbor got me on the first day. I mentioned that Enigma Stationery was right next door, and we had both done collaborations with Hinze Pens. Dan and I ended up swapping a couple of pens from our latest limited runs, and I took home this gorgeous Enigma Special Edition #3 turned by Hinze from a custom in-house Enigma blank. I also love the matching turquoise nib and have a couple ideas for the perfect ink to match this one. (Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku, perhaps? That seems to be my new favorite.)

Pilot Custom 74s on Toyooka Craft Pen Tray

Pilot Custom 74 Burgundy Demonstrator with EF Nib

Yeah, yeah, don’t shop your own supply, I know, but someone wanted to dip this Custom 74 at the SF Show and I noticed for the first time that the burgundy demonstrator features a smoke black section and finial and it’s a burgundy and smoke pen and my signature colors and I don’t have a Pilot Custom 74 with an EF nib and I talked myself into keeping it. So there.

Pilot Custom 74 Demonstrators — Yes I do plan to remove the sticker.

As I’ve demonstrated, you can still do an extreme amount of damage to your wallet with only two hours to spend shopping at the SF Pen Show (and even without leaving your own table). Even so, I’m considering dialing back show attendance as an exhibitor next year, and refocusing more on the informational/content/after-hours aspects, and maybe even hosting workshops and seminars. It’s more in line with what I want to get out of the show experience, since logistics dictate that I’m never going to be a multiple-table vendor and my time is likely better spent visiting with makers, distributors, readers and attendees. Stay tuned for future show plans! I may have one or two more in me this year.

San Francisco Pen Show Haul Picture 2023 — Clockwise from left: Skogsy Micarta Pen, Enigma Special Edition #3, Kyuseido Pump-Piston Filler, Gravitas Ultemate Vac, and a fine Schon DSGN Monoc nib.

2023 San Francisco Pen Show Recap: Could It Get Even Bigger Than D.C.?

August 30, 2023

Apparently it can get really darn close. If you read my recap of the 2023 D.C. Pen Show, I described it as the biggest pen show I’ve ever attended, both in terms of number of vendors and number of attendees. While I don’t think this year’s San Francisco Pen Show ended up being larger than D.C., it was extremely well-attended and, as always, featured a unique selection of vendors different from any other show.

A Wide Range of Worldwide Vendors, Especially from Japan

The San Francisco Pen Show features more Japanese vendors than any other U.S. pen show, and probably any other worldwide pen show other than the Tokyo International Pen Show. Attendees included Urushi Studio Bokumondoh, Bungubox, Cute Things from Japan, Toyooka Craft, Stylo-Art, Eboya, and Nagasawa Stationery, among others. Many people remarked that this show was much more heavily focused on paper, washi, stamps, and other stationery goods than most pen shows, which is a bit of a welcome change and certainly made the show unique. (There are some crazy haul spreads being posted on Instagram!) San Francisco is also an excellent opportunity to attend workshops, classes, and free seminars, with a robust list of offerings that I had the chance to sample last year.

Foyer Hallway San Francisco Pen Show 2023 — An early morning view down the hallway outside the main ballroom, which included Vanness Pens, Schon DSGN, Bungubox and more!

Dozens of U.S. vendors and makers were also in attendance at San Francisco, including Vanness Pens, Enigma Stationery, and more. Vanness re-released their collaboration with Rickshaw Bagworks and Leigh Reyes (I picked up a pen roll and a Sinclair), and Distributor Luxury Brands USA hosted the master engraver of Waldmann at their table, who spent the weekend engraving custom Xetra Vienna fountain pens in a fascinating demonstration of skill.

Atelier Musubi and Neue Gray Paper — In addition to the Musubi Notebooks, I picked up samples of Neue Gray paper, which as far as I know is a new product out of Japan that was selling organizer refills in A5 and Bible sizes.

Of course, Atelier Musubi also set up around the corner from us, and brought both a new series of pocket notebooks featuring Spica Bond paper, as well as their new in-house “Rasa” paper. I have samples, and will offer my thoughts as soon as I’ve had an opportunity to test them out.

The SF Pen Show Continues to Be a Well-Run Event

The hallmark of the San Francisco Pen Show is that it’s incredibly well-organized. The cost of an expensive city adds to the difficulty in pulling off a show like this one, requiring periodic adjustments such as this year’s hotel change, but the show experience itself didn’t suffer. While I slightly preferred the old location (I think the space was a touch nicer), and the after-hours scene initially felt a bit scattered with attendees split between two hotels, by Saturday night people seem to have found their crowds and by all accounts the auction and live recording of the Stationery Cafe podcast were both well-attended.

TGS Table Setup 2023 San Francisco Pen Show — Our table setup this year!

Views from Behind the T.G.S. Table

I enjoyed visiting with everyone who stopped by the T.G.S. table! I understand that we were somewhat difficult to find, especially when the show was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded on Friday afternoon and most of the day on Saturday. The fun thing about exhibiting in both D.C. and San Francisco is the fact that attendees are interested in wildly different things - best sellers from San Francisco included Anterique Pens, Penwells (we have two left!), TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pens, Lamy 2000 Multi Pens, and the Lamy Pico, as opposed to Lochby cases in D.C. I was thrilled to bring mostly empty suitcases home with me.

TGS x Hinze Pens Collaboration with Summer Sangria Ink — The last remaining pen from the T.G.S. x Hinze Pens collaboration, including our last remaining bottle of Summer Sangria ink. While this pen currently features a black 1.1mm stub, I have a few different nib options still available. Message me if you’re interested.

I have mixed feelings about having a table at pen shows. While it offers a central location for people to come find you, and it can be nice to have some respite from the crowds (as well as a way to pay for the cost of attendance), I miss the exploration, the ability to visit with other exhibitors, and the opportunity to learn about new and upcoming products that I can in turn use to create content and pass on knowledge to readers. (This also helps me to make more informed decisions about what to stock in the shop.) While I’ve enjoyed exhibiting at a handful of shows this year, next pen show season may have a more balanced approach, with T.G.S. tables at a few shows, classes and after-hours events at others, and a few I attend for fun.

Kyuseido Pump Piston Filler — I picked up pen No. 40/50 from the Kyuseido table, opting for the PVD Black Titanium finish.

My Pen Show Haul

As noted, I sadly didn’t have much time to explore the show until Sunday afternoon when I managed to run by the Kyuseido, Gravitas Pens, Neue Gray, and Bungubox tables. For someone who “didn’t have much time to shop,” I still managed to do a lot of damage, and it sort of scares me to think what might have happened if I had a full three days to roam! My pickups from this show included:

Kyuseido Tokyo Pump Piston Filler with Sankakusen (Kodachi/Naginata-style) nib. Kyuseido Tokyo is the relatively new company started by C.Y. of Tokyo Inklings, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on this unique pen, which features a filling system similar to a syringe filler / “bulk filler” mechanism.
Gravitas Pens “Ultemate” Vac-filler. I’ve been wanting to pick up a Gravitas Vac for some time, in polished Ultem. I opted for a steel extra-fine nib and it writes very well.
Schon DSGN Fine Monoc. The fine version of Schon DSGN’s in-house Monoc nib debuted in D.C., and offers a different writing experience from the medium version. Not only does it offer a finer tip size, but the inverse writes like an architect. Ian continues to amaze me with his creations!
Micarta from Skogsy Pens. I’ve been on an Micarta pen kick recently, and I had to be quick to grab one of the last three from Zach and Amy’s table on Saturday morning! (Yes, they went that fast. The San Francisco Pen Show is known for having a very active Friday crowd. If you want the rarer stuff, buy a weekend pass and be sure to line up Friday morning!)
Enigma Stationery Special Edition #3. Dan and I swapped Hinze Pens at the show, and I was happy to provide him with one of the T.G.S. Special Editions in exchange for one of these gorgeous pens in a house-made Enigma blank.

Black Micarta Fountain Pen Skogsy Pens — My first show acquisition came on Saturday morning, with this Black Micarta pen from Skogsy Pens!

A Note to Vendors and Attendees: As Pen Show Attendance Grows, Thefts Are More Common

Unfortunately, there has been at least one major theft at nearly all of the bigger pen shows over the last couple of years, sadly the inevitable result of these shows growing in size and profile. This year in San Francisco, a man was caught stealing several thousand dollars worth of merchandise, ferrying it back and forth between his bag and his car. Fortunately, all stolen merchandise was recovered, but it serves as a reminder to vendors and attendees to pay attention to your bags and personal items. Pen Shows are public events, and you can’t simply assume that everyone there is trustworthy.

San Francisco Pen Show Sharing Washi Tape After-Hours — After hours washi tape sharing!

Overall Show Impressions and Takeaways

While many had expressed concern that post-pandemic pen shows would never return to what they were before, dare I say that the last two I’ve attended turned out better than ever? The crowds are unbelievable, and the fact that the pen community continues to grow is a great sign going forward. San Francisco specifically is the pen show to attend if you’re a fan of Japanese pens and stationery, and it could be the next best thing to a trip to Japan itself. See you next year!

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 advertising or third-party affiliate links.

Toyooka Craft Tray with Pilot Custom 74s — So yes, I purchased another Toyooka Craft Tray for “display purposes” - showcasing the Pilot Custom 74s at the TGS Table.

Pen Show Report: Friday at the San Francisco Pen Show!

August 26, 2023

Because there are so many special vendors traveling in from around the world to attend the San Francisco International Pen Show - mainly vendors from Japan - Friday morning features the classic rush of early attendees lined up outside the show before the doors open to weekend pass holders at 8 a.m. Big draws at this year’s show include Urushi Studio Bokumondoh, Bungubox, Cute Things from Japan, Toyooka Craft, Stylo-Art, Eboya, and more! Long lines lasted through the morning, though things calmed down a bit mid-afternoon.

San Francisco Foyer Hallway Shot — The only shot I managed to get down the Foyer hallway outside the main ballroom!

Given that I’m holding down a table solo this weekend, I didn’t have much of a chance to scope out what other people were selling. (Hopefully there will be some stuff left on Sunday afternoon, but after D.C., my wallet won’t complain if that doesn’t pan out.) Please come by the table today! I’m located between Enigma Stationery (Source of the Cinnamon Roll plushy procured for daughter) and Vanness Pens! We have plenty of stuff still available, given that I brought two massive suitcases full of stuff after I ran out in D.C., though we are out of or running low on certain colors of Lochby cases and Anterique pens. Be sure to hit us up early if there’s something specific that you have your heart set on!