Accutron x Esterbrook Camden: A Heritage Brand Collaboration

What I refer to as “heritage brands” have taken off in recent years, and in the pen world, Esterbrook serves as the best example of a brand resurrection done correctly. While I certainly can’t speak for everyone, I’ve personally enjoyed both the Estie (Esterbrook’s first release), and the Camden (the second). This past year, Esterbrook has begun issuing both pens in special and limited edition finishes, and recently announced an exclusive collaboration with another heritage brand, watch company Accutron.

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Those who follow the watch world may be familiar with Accutron, a line of watches formerly manufactured by Bulova and recently relaunched as a separate company by the Citizen Group. You can read more about both vintage and modern Accutron watches on dedicated watch sites such as Hodinkee, and the story behind the development of the technology is fascinating. Short version: Accutron watches bridged the gap between traditional mechanical watches and modern quartz watches, introducing a unique “tuning fork” movement that was one of the first mass-market electronic watches available. The vintage Accutron pictured here belonged to my father, and dates from the early 1970s.

To commemorate the release of the new Accutron watches, the company has partnered with Esterbrook and other American boutique brands to offer special release products that compliment the new lines, including a green Esterbrook Camden. While clearly an Esterbrook fountain pen (and marketed as such), the Esterbrook branding has been replaced by Accutron’s, including the Accutron “tuning fork” logo on the cap finial and engraving around the base of the cap.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I noted in my original review of the Camden, Esterbrook fountain pens make excellent writers, and the Camden is no exception. The dark green color on this pen is stunning. That said, accessibility on this particular release will be limited. The Accutron Camden limited edition is priced at $295, approximately $100 more than the MSRP on a standard Esterbrook Camden, and from what I can tell, is currently available exclusively from Accutron dealers. Clearly, this pen is targeted towards the Accutron collector and enthusiast, and if you are looking for a fountain pen to match your new electrostatic Spaceview watch, the two will pair together nicely. Most interesting to me about this collaboration, however, are Esterbrook’s emergence as a higher profile presence outside the niche of fountain pen enthusiasts, and the convergence of the watch and pen communities. As a small-scale watch collector, I’ve always believed that pens and watches complement each other, and two companies with similar histories successfully embracing the overlap in their customer bases should generate a lot of excitement about similar collaborations in the future.

Disclaimer: I received the pen featured in this review from Esterbrook and Accutron for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain affiliate links.

First Impressions: Scribo Feel Fountain Pen

The other day I took an initial look at the line of inks by Scrittura Bolognese, otherwise known as Scribo, a new Italian pen company helmed by former employees of OMAS. The inks are quite good, both in terms of performance and presentation, and the Scribo ink bottle is one of the best designs I have used. But what about Scribo pens? Today, I offer my initial thoughts on Scribo's flagship fountain pen, the "Feel".

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Scribo adopted the slogan "Feel the Writing," and while maybe a touch cheesy, it fits, because the Scribo Feel is an extraordinarily comfortable pen. Per Scribo's website, each pen is turned by hand from a single bar of resin, and features several well-conceived design touches intended to maximize writing comfort.

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The body of the pen evokes a Doric column, fluted with twelve facets around the cap, grip section, barrel, and blind cap/piston. I found that the fluting/facets enhance my grip on the pen, giving me greater control over my writing. The texture is subtle, not sharp, especially on the section where it appears only at the end closest to the nib, allowing you to adjust the writing angle of the nib to your preference. While I would characterize the Scribo Feel as an oversized pen, approximately the same size as an Opus 88 Omar and slightly larger than a Montblanc 149, the contoured shape keeps it from feeling unwieldy. While I love both the Omar and the 149, I'd actually give the slight edge to Scribo in terms of comfort.

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I have mixed feelings about the decision to engrave Scribo's slogan, "Feel the Writing," on the cap band. At the $500+ price point, I would have strongly preferred that Scribo simply continue the coin-edge band all the way around.

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The Scribo Feel (center) compared against the Montblanc 149 (left) and Opus 88 Omar (right).

The major selling point for those contemplating a Scribo, however, is the nib. On its website, Scribo expressly states that the company fits its pens with "the same nib used by OMAS." While I've only owned two OMAS pens, and neither stuck because the nibs wrote far too wet for my taste, the 18k ruthenium-plated nib on this Scribo Feel writes perfectly. I knew up front that Scribo uses ebonite feeds, so I opted for an extra-fine which was the right call. Despite the fact that the pen is a wet writer, the nib still maintains a true extra-fine line on quality paper. Currently, Scribo offers two nib options: an 18k non-flexible nib in EF, F, M, and B; and a 14k "flexible" nib in the same sizes. I’m not a flex-nib person, so this was an easy choice for me.

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The nib on my pen wrote perfectly out of the box. Towards the end, OMAS suffered from quality control issues on its nibs, and both of mine needed tuning badly. I've heard only good things about Scribo, however. Writing sample shown here is done on Midori MD Cotton Paper.

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Finally, while I normally don't get worked up over packaging or promotional "add-ons" such as free pen sleeves or pen cases - most freebies that manufacturers throw in are cheap and don't hold up well to actual use - the Scribo Feel ships with a cotton and leather pen wrap that to me represents added value. It seems quite durable and may see some use.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

If this pen is any indication, Scribo has a bright future and I look forward to seeing whether they release new models. While they have dabbled in other designs, including some extremely high-end limited editions and a collaboration with UK retailer Write Here, the Feel is the only standard model currently offered. Recently, Scribo has focused on expanding the range of materials and trim options in the Feel lineup.

I purchased the pen featured in this review from Appelboom Pens in the Netherlands. The specific model pictured here is the Scribo Feel in Grey-Blue with ruthenium trim, which retails for between $650-750. Like the OMAS pens that preceded them, these certainly are not inexpensive writing instruments, and the offbeat design may limit the appeal of this particular model. That said, the Scribo Feel is a well-built luxury fountain pen with a lot to offer, and compares favorably with competition from Aurora, Visconti, Montegrappa, Montblanc, and the limited edition offerings from Leonardo. Scribo is firmly on my radar and I plan to follow the brand closely in the year to come.

Disclaimer: I acquired the pen in question from Appelboom, using credit generated through the Appelboom affiliate program. The links in this post are NOT affiliate links, as I am moving away from an affiliate revenue model going forward.

Pen Review: Sunderland MK1 Machined Pen

The Sunderland mk1 is one of the best machined pens, if not the best, I have ever used. Period. Longtime readers of The Gentleman Stationer know that I don't hand out that sort of praise lightly, but I will where it's warranted, and here I see little room for argument. Proudly made in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, USA by Sunderland Machine Works, the mk1 is described as "tough enough for the shop," but "good looking enough for the boardroom." Sunderland takes a different approach from most makers in this space, bypassing the "tactical pen" market and instead targeting the mk1 as a "machined executive pen." It's a strategy that's a bit risky since it arguably brings a small company into direct competition with much more established makers of executive accessories, but the mk1's combination of durability and elegance makes it a formidable entry into this market segment, especially given the quality at the price point.

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The main issue I have with many machined pens is the lack of writing comfort due to size and weight, as well as their tendency towards unrefined designs that look chunky and unfinished. As Sunderland implies in their description of the mk1, some of these pens appear as though they're intended to be used as glass-breakers or weapons first, and pens second. (Given the typical target market demographic, that may in fact be the case). The mk1, however, is designed to be used as a pen, and a daily writer at that, and if you're a fan of rollerballs this could easily serve as a single-pen setup.

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Yes, the threads on this pen are internal, contained in the recessed area around the tip.

The mk1 looks and feels like a much more expensive pen than its $85 price point. The fit and finish on my pen are flawless: the threads turn smoothly, the cap posts securely, and the textured, slightly concave section offers a comfortable grip. Sunderland's key innovation, however, involves the threads: they're hidden inside the tip of the pen, so no part of the barrel can interfere with your grip. This patent-pending design offers a "third way" for securing the cap on machined pens - an alternative to sharp external metal threads that dig into your hand and friction-fit caps that inevitably loosen and rattle over time. Similarly, the placement of the threads inside the cap allows you to post the mk1 deeply and securely, without any sort of unpleasant metal-on-metal grating sound or damage to the finish of the pen.

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The body of the pen is machined from 6061 aluminum, and the clip from 17-4 aerospace grade stainless steel, reflecting the professional experience of the maker, who has both engineering and machining experience in the aerospace, automotive, and medical industries.

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The stainless steel clip is sturdy and has excellent tension. It’s neither too loose nor too tight, and grips a shirt pocket or notebook cover perfectly.

But all this merely serves as a setup for what I consider the best part of this pen: the refill options. Rollerball and gel refill preferences are strongly subjective, so I expect many people to disagree with me here, but Sunderland's decision to design a pen to accept both the Pilot G2 gel cartridge and Montblanc's threaded rollerball/fineliner refills instantly won me over. The Pilot G2 is great - I actually think it's a crime how many pen snobs disregard the G2 seemingly for no reason other than it's popularity, overlooking the fact that there's a reason why it's one of the most popular gel pens in the world. That said, I'll likely never use a G2 in my mk1 because Montblanc's rollerball and fineliner cartridges are some of the best on the market, especially for the clientele Sunderland is targeting. I strongly prefer Montblanc's rollerball refills over alternatives such as the Schmidt P8126/P8127, because the ink Montblanc uses feathers and bleeds far less on ordinary paper. A Montblanc "fine" refill actually writes a fine line, and the "fineliner" offers a high-quality felt-tip option if that's your preference. Montblanc cartridges are threaded to minimize tip wiggle and rattling, and the fact that Sunderland machined the mk1 to allow you to screw the refill into the barrel underscores the attention to detail and commitment to a solid experience.

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The mk1 disassembled with a Montblanc Rollerball refill

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Sunderland mk1, left, compared against a Montblanc 144 Classique (Petit Prince Edition) and a Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint (“Totally Swiss” Edition)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Fans of more elegant EDC-style pens such as the Schon DSGN Pocket 6, Tactile Turn Gist, and the Matthew Martin OG1 should certainly check out the Sunderland mk1, especially if you are looking for a sleek, streamlined pen that won't appear out of place in a work or business environment, but at the same time doesn't sacrifice any of the durability that machined metal pens have to offer.

You can purchase the Sunderland mk1 directly from Sunderland Machine Works in their online shop. Currently, the mk1 is available in eight different anodized finishes and a handful of special editions. Starting at only $85, the mk1 represents tremendous value given the innovative design and build quality. A pen like this will last a long time, providing you with many years of reliable service.

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Sunderland MK1, left, compared against a Retro 51 Tornado (“The System” edition), and a Lamy 2000 rollerball.

Disclaimer: Sunderland Machine Works provided me with this pen for review purposes, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and all opinions expressed here are my own.

Merry Christmas to Me! Esterbrook Estie "Rocky Top"!

I haven’t purchased a new pen for my own collection in a while, and I finally gave in, ordering one I couldn’t pass up: the Esterbrook Estie “Rocky Top” featuring Diamondcast Alumilite from McKenzie Penworks. Gotta show that Tennessee pride! “Rocky Top” contains swirls of Tennessee orange, silver, gold, and white that show off the depth of the material and the real reclaimed diamond dust mixed in. Read more about Diamondcast here.

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As I’ve mentioned before, I love the shape of the Estie, and the standard pen has such excellent weight and balance that I’ve never had a reason to go to the oversized model (though they’re now available in nearly all materials). What’s new about this particular pen is that I added a “Journaler” nib, developed by Gena Salorino from Custom Nib Studio in collaboration with Esterbrook and offered as an add-on at select Esterbrook retailers. While I haven’t had much time with this nib, I’m liking it so far, and I would say that it writes like a soft cursive italic, with medium width.

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I could’ve gone with an orange ink, but instead I decided to try Scribo Classico Seppia, and earthy brown ink that works just as well.

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Journaler Nib Writing Sample, on Midori MD Cotton Paper.

Vanness Pens still has Diamondcast Esties in stock, in both “Rocky Top” and “Peacock” finishes, as well as Journaler nibs. Diamondcast pens are bit more expensive than standard Esterbrooks, given the makeup of the material, and retail for $280 for the standard version and $316 for oversized. The Journaler nib adds $50 to the price. Through December, if you order an Esterbrook from Vanness, you will also receive an Esterbrook rubber stamp (while supplies last)!

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I’d share a sample of the rubber stamp but I don’t have an ink pad, unfortunately! The packaging on Rocky Top is top-notch, btw.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens is a paid sponsor of this blog. While I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection, I did receive a discount.

Workhorse Pens: Pelikan M800 Stone Garden

What makes a pen an icon? Sometimes it’s a unique design and aesthetic, other times it’s utility. With the Pelikan M800, I’d argue that the latter is what makes it the very definition of a “workhorse pen.” In today’s market, which tends to place a premium on constant new releases of flashy limited edition designs, it seems that the Pelikan M800 tends to get overlooked. Sure, Pelikan has its annual special releases, but the overall design of the pen - and Pelikan’s “Souveran” line in general - hasn’t changed much over the years other than to offer different sizes of the same basic model.

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From left, the Pelikan M800, the Pelikan M600, and the Pelikan M400. I’ve linked to my reviews of the other two pens. As you can tell, I enjoy them all, go back and forth on which one is my favorite, and I can see an argument as to why all of them are the “best size” for everyday use. It will come down to how large a pen you prefer for your everyday writing.

A great “workhorse pen” tends to disappear in your hand when you’re writing. As with other preferred “workhorses” like the Montblanc 146 and the Lamy 2000, the design of the Pelikan M800 doesn’t distract from the work at hand, and the pen posts deeply so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of the cap. A key feature of the Souveran line is the ability to get what is essentially the same writing experience in different sizes. If you enjoy the look of the M800, but feel that it might be too big, size down to the M600 or M400, which are not only smaller but significantly lighter. (I believe this is because the piston-filling system uses different components).

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The specific model shown here is the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden Special Edition, which pairs dark blue acrylic and gold trim with a marbled cellulose-acetate barrel featuring brown, blue, and black flecks. Since Pelikan releases a new M800 every year, I try to be selective about which editions I pick up. I couldn’t take a pass on this one, especially with a color combination (navy blue acrylic!?!) that you rarely see. I purchased this pen with a standard Pelikan medium nib, which writes a line that I consider the equivalent of a steel broad. While the nib is quite round, and therefore doesn’t show much line variation, it was a smooth, consistent writer out of the box and has not been modified.

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One quirk I’ve noticed on this particular pen is that the plating seems to tarnish and need periodic polishing, particularly around the cap band. I suspect this is due to high copper content in whatever alloy was used for this batch. Has anyone else had this problem, either with the Stone Garden edition or another Pelikan pen manufactured around the same time (2018)?

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You can see the slight bit of tarnish on the top cap band, which I find odd. It polishes right off, but I’ve not had this happen with any other Pelikan pen in my collection.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I noted above, I don’t have that many Pelikan pens in my personal collection, but those I do have see a lot of use as daily writers - what I call “workhorses.” If you’re looking for a pen with a classic design and rock solid reliability, the Pelikan Souveran series has stood the test of time, and you can’t go wrong with a Pelikan M800. For more on what I look for when choosing a “workhorse pen,” I’ve put together a page featuring all the relevant articles here.

Because the Pelikan M800 Stone Garden was a 2018 special release, you will need to search for it on closeout or the secondary market. Currently, retailer Pen Boutique has both the Stone Garden fountain pen and ballpoint in stock, and at a good price for a Special Edition M800. Unfortunately, since it’s been a couple of years, I don’t recall exactly where I purchased this pen, though I believe it was acquired with my own funds for my personal collection. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain any affiliate links.