Philadelphia Pen Show: The Short Show Recap

January 13, 2024

Well, the “Short Show” for me, because I’m headed back home today after a quick stopover at the Philly Pen Show on Saturday! The show continues for two more days, however, running through Sunday afternoon. Philly is a smaller show, and it offers an excellent opportunity to meet with vendors, makers, and distributors in-person, in a much less stressful environment than the chaos that can be the larger shows of D.C. and San Francisco.

If you’re in the area, there’s much to see. Franklin-Christoph (a show sponsor and organizer) brought multiple show special pens plus an ink. They also have some of their new Model 31 Pens, including unique materials paired with brass and chrome sections.

Franklin Christoph Model 31 — Franklin-Christoph Model 31 pens alongside their new .7mm mechanical pencil.

Of course, for their home show, Schon DSGN brought something special. This yet-to-be named larger Ultem fountain pen features a textured anodized overlay, and as of Friday afternoon there were only a handful left. This pen is similar to their D.C. Pen Show special release, omitting the clip. I now have to decide between one of the Franklin-Christoph’s and one of these for the single pen I’m allowing myself this weekend.

On Friday I spent much of the day hanging out behind the Hinze Pens table, working on potential follow-ups to last summer’s collaboration, so stay tuned. (Let’s just say I spent a lot of time with these Micarta Pocket pens….)

Micarta Pocket Fountain Pens on Show Table — I didn’t realize that Micarta came in such wild colors.

Come Say Hello in Philly, and Don’t Forget Our Show Promotional Discount!

If you’re at the show, I’ll be at the Hinze Pens Table until just after lunch, when I have to head back to the airport. Please stop by and say hello! I have T.G.S. buttons and pins available for everyone. Also, if you can’t make the show, remember that it’s a pen show weekend so we’re offering 10% off most brands (excluding TWSBI, Roterfaden, and a couple others) using the coupon code “PENSHOW10” at checkout. We’ve recently restocked on a number of brands after the New Year so please be sure to visit the shop. We greatly appreciate 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. We greatly appreciate your support!

Philadelphia Pen Show Suitcase On the Road

Thursday Drops: Roterfaden, Clairefontaine Looseleaf, and a Pen Show Weekend Flash Sale!

January 11, 2024

So I’m off to the Philadelphia Pen Show - a pen show I haven’t attended in several years - for Friday and most of Saturday. Of course the day I leave I receive notice of the arrival (or imminent arrival) of three major product restocks, including Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter covers, Clairefontaine Seyes-ruled looseleaf sheets, and most Lamy products. I’m going to go ahead and list these now, especially the Roterfaden, so that I’ll be able to get ahead of the shipping rush by being able to prep orders to go out quickly next week. Enjoy!

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Binder on Desk — Roterfaden binders in all sizes are set to arrive next week. Pre-order yours now and it will ship quickly!

Whenever I head out of town for a pen show, I typically run a short flash sale that will last through the weekend. From now through Sunday night (1/14) at 11:59pm, take 10% off most shop products using the code “PENSHOW10” at checkout. Certain brands such as Roterfaden and TWSBI are excluded because they cannot be discounted. Thanks in advance for all your support!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Roterfaden Pre-Order - New Stock Estimated to Arrive 1/15. Many of you have reached out wanting to know when Roterfaden will be restocked. We have a shipment in customs right now that should be released next week. If you would like to reserve one, I have made several models available for pre-order. Note that Roterfaden cannot be discounted and the Pen Show weekend discount does not apply.
Select Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pens. As noted in this post from earlier this week, we’re excited to add the Pilot Vanishing Point to our selection of Pilot fountain pens. We also have Vanishing Point nib units available in case you would like to have more than one nib size on hand.
Pilot Explorer Fountain Pens. I felt strongly that I needed to build out our selection of lower-cost fountain pens suitable for both new users and seasoned enthusiasts. The Pilot Explorer is that pen, featuring a diverse range of nice-looking finishes and excellent nibs, paired with a $25 price point.
Clairefontaine Seyes/French-Ruled Looseleaf Sheets. At long last, these shop favorites have returned following the release of our import order from customs. I just received notice that the boxes were delivered today, and these will be available to ship starting this weekend. We’ve ordered a large volume of A5 single, A4 single, and A4 double (booklet-style) sheets.
Camel Pencils. Don’t sleep on these excellent Japanese pencils with the integrated eraser. The wood grain is gorgeous on these pencils and we have almost sold through our first shipment.
Profolio Notebooks. The latest addition to our selection of Japanese paper, Profolio notebooks feature a unique multi-lined layout, and come in multiple colors and sizes.
Nakabayashi Logical Paper. I’m not doubling down on multi-lined paper, I’m tripling down. Nakabayashi’s “Logical” series comes in several different formats, including both threadbound and ringbound notebooks. We also have the popular Yu-sari paper in both notebooks and looseleaf sheets.
Lamy 2000 Restock. All models of the Lamy 2000 are restocked. To read why we love this pen as one of our daily workhorses, check out our Lamy review archive.
Lamy AL-Star Lilac and Petrol Pens. I managed to get in one more re-order of Lamy’s 2023 AL-Star release in fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint formats.
Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoints. The Pico sold out quickly over the holidays, and this didn’t surprise me at all. It’s a great writing pocket pen that expands from the size of a tube of lip balm to a full-sized ballpoint pen. The telescoping design makes for an excellent fidget toy, too.

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.