A selection of pens from the Edison Pen Company at last-year's D.C. Pen Show.

Pen Travel: D.C. Pen Show Prep 2016

August 3, 2016

It's that time of year again, folks! The Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow will be held this coming weekend, and I'm in the throes of Pen Show Prep. If you're completely unfamiliar with pen shows, you can check out the three-part "Pen Show Primer" series I did earlier this year:

Packing for a Pen Show

The essentials are comfortable shoes, a camera, and cash. Since I'm going for all four days this year (getting my money's worth out of that $45 weekend pass), I'm probably going to have to pack differently than I normally do. I'm not about to check a bag on the way there (airline fees = less money to spend at the show), but I'll have to be smarter about what I choose to take with me in order to account for extra clothes and some work I'll have to bring along (bleh). Some other things you don't want to be without:

Backpack. Better ergonomics than an over-the-shoulder messenger bag. (I like my North Face Surge because it has lots of pockets). You'll have a bag with you all day walking the show floor so make sure whatever bag you bring isn't too big and has comfortable straps. You can always opt for a fishing vest. Or maybe just a fishing vest pin.
Expandable Rolling Duffel. Expandable because I'll almost certainly come back with more stuff than I left with, and depending on how much ink I purchase, I may have to check a bag on the way home. For the record, people worry about packing bottles of ink in a carry on, but in years of pen-related travel, I've not had an issue with the TSA. Most bottles of fountain pen ink are less than 3.4 fluid oz/100ml. Still, don't push your luck if you decide to buy the entire line of Iroshizuku.
Paper. Some vendors will have paper that you can use to test pens, but it's always a good idea to bring a sample of your own paper - preferably the same paper that you will be writing with at work or home. Some people recommend that you bring a bottle of "safe ink" to dip pens to test how they write, but I've not done this in recent years because (1) most vendors of modern pens have "tester pens" for you to use and (2) many vintage dealers won't let you dip pens.
Pens to Share. The hotel bar is an active scene every night, and the D.C. Pen Show Sheraton is no exception. For the last few years, they've had a few long tables where people gather to show off that day's finds or share pens from their collections at home.
Pens and Ink to Sell. If you know other collectors/enthusiasts who are going to be at the show, it's a great opportunity to sell or trade pens. Note that it's not always the best deal to try to "trade" or "sell" pens to dealers at the show, because they are typically looking to buy for resale, not for their own use, and therefore won't offer the best price.

What to Buy at a Pen Show

I've slowed my pen acquisitions/purchasing substantially, and I want to limit show purchases to no more than one or two pens. Here's what's on my radar:

Visconti. I've had my eye on a Homo Sapiens for a while now, but I'm not sure which model. If I could find a gently used pen in decent condition, I'd jump at it.
Diplomat. Everyone is raving about the Diplomat Aero. I've been tempted by this pen before but have never given serious consideration to this less well-known German pen company.
Ink and Paper. Pen shows are a great way to save on shipping for heavier items, such as ink and paper. Both Anderson Pens and Vanness Pens will be in attendance at this year's DC Pen Show, and both bring a massive selection of ink to browse. Every major ink brand should be represented.
Nib Work. I don't have any pens that necessarily need work done this year, but if I end up buying new pens (and I'm sure I will), they'll likely need to be tuned. Dan Smith of The Nibsmith is working his first D.C. Pen Show, so I'll try to get a slot at his table.

Contact Info and Events I'm Attending

If you're going to be at the show, I'd love to meet up. I can be reached through the "Contact Me!" link on the site, via Twitter (@vintagegntlmn), or instagram (@gentlemanstationer). I will be attending Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7, and will be at most of the major events. You can find the official show schedule here. Highlights include a beer and wine welcome party and a meetup organized by the Pen Addict, Vanness Pens, and Fountain Pen Day on Friday night.

Seminars will be offered throughout the weekend, including a Copperplate Calligraphy workshop with Deborah Basel from 9am to 1pm on Friday, Richard Binder's nib-smoothing workshop at 8:30am on Sunday, and the Pens for Kids Workshop at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Pen Review: The Aurora Optima Nero Perla

July 30, 2016

Aurora is one of the three remaining major Italian pen companies, now that Omas is out of business. It's also a company with which I have relatively little experience, at least with respect to their fountain pens. I'm a huge fan of Aurora's inks: they make two colors, black and blue, and both are among my go-tos for safe, standard colors. I've owned an Aurora Ipsilon Quadra in Sterling Silver, and while the pen was nice, it didn't stick in my collection.

Recently, my friend Thomas decided to unload a few pens in his collection, and asked whether or not I would be interested in reviewing one of Aurora's flagship pens, the Aurora Optima, before he sold it. I've always wanted to test drive one of these pens, so I jumped at the chance.

"Auroloide" material and Build

The Aurora Optima Nero Perla is a visually stunning pen. The material (which the company refers to as "Auroloide") is cellulose acetate: an acrylic variant intended to reproduce the depths of color and warmth found in vintage celluloid, but without the long curing period and manufacturing difficulties. Indeed, the Optima feels like a celluloid pen in hand. The material is slightly translucent, allowing you to see the ink level once the pen is filled. This particular color scheme is called "Nero Perla" ("Black Pearl"). Trim appears to be a combination of sterling silver and Rhodium plating, and the piston-filling system gives the pen heft.

This pen feels solid, like it will stand up to heavy use. The one critique I have on the build, however, is how difficult the pen is to clean. Aurora's piston fillers have a "hidden reservoir" of ink behind the piston, which they pitch as a feature that allows you to write for a full page after the main ink chamber is empty. I can see this feature being useful if you carry one pen, and take a lot of notes in meetings, etc. where you wouldn't want to run out, but it also means that it takes a LOT of flushing to get rid of all the ink. If I had kept this pen, it would've ended up as a "one-ink pen" just to avoid having to deal with the cleaning.

Writing Experience

The Aurora Optima features a 18k nib. This one started life as a medium but has been ground to a cursive italic.

The nib on this Optima was tuned and ground to a smooth .4mm cursive italic by either Mike Masuyama or Shawn Newton - Thomas couldn't remember. (Hey, that happens when you have so many pens!) It's an excellent writer, though I can't speak to how the pen wrote straight out of the box. Other Aurora pens I have tried have been nice writers, though the nibs tend to have feedback. They're not scratchy, but they're not glassy smooth either, which isn't an issue for me but can drive some people crazy.

This .4mm cursive italic (formerly a medium nib) writes perfectly for me.  Ink is Aurora blue. — This .4mm cursive italic (formerly a medium nib) writes perfectly for me. Ink is Aurora blue.

The Optima's 18k nib is a better writer than the nib on my old Aurora Ipsilon Quadra. The nib is stiff, without much give or flex. If you like firm nibs, you'll like this pen.

Takeaways

A close-up of the Optima in its box.  You can get a sense of the translucency of the material if you look just below the cap, where you can tell the pen has been filled with blue ink. — A close-up of the Optima in its box. You can get a sense of the translucency of the material if you look just below the cap, where you can tell the pen has been filled with blue ink.

The Aurora Optima Nero Perla is a gorgeous Italian fountain pen. As a fan of celluloid (and celluloid-like material), I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making a pen look this good. At the same time, the price point is very high, even taking into account the recent price drop That's not to say I think the pen is unreasonably priced - it's not, given the quality of the craftsmanship and the materials used - but Sailor's Professional Gear series has a similar shape and fits my hand better at $200 or so less. I do know, however, that there are people out there who find the Pro Gear too small and light, especially when writing with the pen unposted.

Where to Buy

Fortunately, if you're interested in the Optima, Aurora recently dropped the price. Both Pen Chalet and Anderson Pens carry Aurora, and both currently have the Optima listed at $445. Aurora issues annual "special edition" versions of the Optima, so if you're a fan of gold trim, you'll want to check out the "Abissi" Optima 365 Limited Edition.

If you're a fan of cursive italic nibs, and you'd like to purchase a barely-used Aurora, Thomas is offering the pen featured in this review for sale. As of the time of writing, the pen is up on my "For Sale" page and priced to move (especially once you take into account the custom nib, which otherwise would add $40-50 to the price, not to mention the wait time for nib work).

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

Pen and Stationery Websites You Should Be Reading

July 27, 2016

Like any hobby, the online community surrounding stationery and pens can become a bit of an echo chamber at times. The buzz about the latest and greatest "must-have" products is largely driven by a handful of high-traffic sites and blogs that everybody knows about and reads. But sometimes good advice can be found in lesser-known places, whether it's a niche site looking at a specific product or brand in exacting detail, or a site written by someone living in a different part of the world who has access to products unavailable elsewhere. I try to read as broadly as I can, and I've found that it helps me identify potential purchases that will actually work for me, as opposed to those that have become popular or trendy. Here's a list of pen and stationery websites that you should be reading regularly (if you're not already).

Pens!Paper!Pencils! Ian writes an excellent blog that focuses on product reviews from the perspective of the artist, as well as the writer. His drawings are amazing - be sure to check them out.
All Things Stationery. Tessa focuses on much more than just pens. While All Things Stationery is a UK-focused site that brings a unique perspective, Tessa maintains the Stationery Shops Map, which can help you locate a nearby stationery shop wherever you are in the world.
The Finer Point. Another UK-based blog with excellent product reviews.
Fountain Pen Economics. A blog written by Dr. Jonathon Deans, an Australian Economist who writes about pens and, more frequently, the pen industry from his unique professional perspective. If you've ever wondered why certain brands take off and others fail, give this blog a read.
Gorgeous.ink. A relative newcomer, Paul Joynes's blog has excellent photographs and an even better name.
Inkdependence. Mike Matteson reviews ink. Lots of ink. He also has the occasional pen review as well.
The Pelikan's Perch. One of the excellent brand-specific sites that I mentioned, devoted entirely to Pelikan fountain pens, including news on upcoming releases and product reviews. Pelikan's Perch also contains a lot of resources on the history of the brand, various models, etc.
Three Staples. Jinnie devotes her entire blog to reviews of her Field Notes collection. The photography on this blog is something we all aspire to.
On Fountain Pens. Maybelline writes her blog from Singapore, does a lot of reviews, and also has a lot of information about local pen clubs and meetups. Apparently Singapore has a very active pen community!
Too Many Inks. David has over 350 (!) bottles of ink and an exceptional collection of Pelikans, and publishes his notes on various pen/ink combinations as he rotates pens in and out of daily use.

I also follow a relatively large number of other excellent websites that aren't exclusively stationery-focused or updated as often, but contain delightful writing and I look forward to reading them whenever a new post comes out.

Pennaquod. While it's not a stationery website, per se, Ian from Pens!Paper!Pencils! has created a search engine that will comb through an extensive list of pen-related blogs and sites. If you're considering a purchase of a specific pen, and are looking for an easy way to sort reviews, give Pennaquod a try.

Submit and Share!

This list contains links to sites that I read on a regular basis. It is NOT intended to be an exhaustive list, and I've not been compensated by anyone for listing a site here. If you think readers should know about another site that you read regularly, feel free to leave a link in the comments, as long as the site is pen and stationery related, and isn't primarily a store. (Extraneous or irrelevant links will be deleted.) Just to be clear, I'm aware that I haven't included The Pen Addict, Well-Appointed Desk, SBRE Brown, The Clicky Post, Ed Jelley, Gourmet Pens, FP Quest etc. The purpose of this post is to increase exposure for new or different pen and stationery websites that readers may not know about. To that end, please share with anyone who you think may be interested!

Namisu Nova Minimalist Fountain Pen, in polished titanium.

Pen Review: Namisu Nova (Titanium with Titanium Nib)

July 23, 2016

The Nova is Namisu's follow up to their first successful Kickstarter fountain pen, the Namisu Nexus. The Nova launched on Kickstarter in September 2015 and shipped in early 2016. Namisu is an interesting company. Based in the UK, they've run five successful Kickstarter projects, three of which are pens (The Nexus, the Nova, and the Nova Rollerball).

Overall, the Namisu Nova is a very nice pen, but I no longer have it in my collection. Most metal pens (even Titanium ones) tend to be too heavy for me, and since I like to post my pens the added weight becomes a problem. Even though I decided to pass this pen along to a new owner, I went ahead and reviewed it here because if you like this style of writing implement, it's a good option!

Build

I've heard people compare the design of the Nova to the Nakaya Piccolo and the Edison Pearl, which isn't a bad comparison because all three pens generally use a variation of the classic "torpedo" shape. The pen is well-machined, and the one that I received did not have any visible flaws on the body or cap. There also weren't any issues with the threading on the cap, something that other machined pens have struggled with (like the Tactile Turn Gist).

The Namisu Nova features a smooth grip section and short cap threads: the cap unscrews quickly and easily, giving it an advantage over the Tactile Turn Gist.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Namisu Nova and its predecessor, the Nexus, is the smooth grip section. The Nexus, which I didn't back on Kickstarter, had a textured grip section, which many people found sharp and uncomfortable to use for long writing sessions. I won't necessarily say that the Nova's grip section is an "improvement" - many people like knurled or textured grips - but the Nova generally has been much more popular.

The Nova is a relatively heavy pen, but it's well-balanced. After carrying and writing with this pen for a bit, it's plainly intended to be used without posting the cap. You CAN post the Nova, and it actually works pretty well, but the threading from the inside of the metal cap will scratch the body of the pen. (It will also make some pretty nasty metal-on-metal scraping sounds, so if you're sensitive to that and it gives you that nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation, consider yourself warned.)

Overall Writing Experience

The Namisu Nova offers a quality writing experience at a very attractive price. Kickstarter backers had the choice of steel, titanium, and gold nibs, all manufactured by Bock. I prefer titanium Bock nibs over steel, and they're the same nibs used on the Conid Bulkfiller and the Tactile Turn Gist. I have not tried the gold. For a writing sample and some more detailed thoughts on how these nibs write, check out my Conid Bulkfiller review.

The Namisu Nova works best unposted, given it's heft and balance.

The pen sits in the hand well and is comfortable to write with for long stretches. However, what ultimately made me realize that this pen wouldn't work for me long-term is the lack of a clip and the fact that heavy metal pens don't sit that well in a shirt-pocket. At least four days each week I'm in a dress shirt, if not a suit and tie, and if I'm going to carry a pen on a regular basis I'm going to need to clip it. Thus, this pen had to find a new home.

Where to Buy

If you're drawn to the design of pens like the $1000 Nakaya Titanium Piccolo, but can't or won't shell out that much, the Namisu Nova should be on your list. The Nova can only be purchased directly from Namisu. The titanium version starts at just under $100 US (depending on the pounds to dollars exchange rate), with the black or "comet grey" aluminum versions starting at around $70. Upgrading from the basic steel nib will increase the price.

Unfortunately, as of the time of writing all models of the Namisu Nova are out of stock. If you prefer the design of the Namisu Nexus (now called the "Orion"), it's currently available directly from Namisu for $50-70, depending on the exchange rate and whether you choose titanium or aluminum.

For those of you interested in non-fountain pens, Namisu recently ran another successful Kickstarter to create a rollerball version of the Nova. Look for the rollerball Nova to appear in the Namisu store soon.

Best Non-Fountain Pens for Everyday Use, Part II: Non-Disposable Pens

July 20, 2016

A couple weeks ago I offered my "Top 5" List of disposable Non-Fountain Pens for Everyday Use, most of which are relatively inexpensive, are sold in packs, and sometimes can be found in your local big-box or art supply store. Sometimes, however, you want something nicer than a plastic clic pen, so I always keep a handful of nicer ballpoints and multipens handy. But before I get into the main list:

Totally Unfair Runner-up Pen

You'll notice that this list is missing a pen that I've promoted in the past, and remains my favorite non-fountain pen: the Tactile Turn Mover. Personally, I think the Tactile Turn Mover might be the best non-fountain pen in my arsenal, but unfortunately the pen looks like it's being discontinued. Stock has been low or nonexistent for ages. As of the time of writing, Tactile Turn only has the Mover and the Shaker (a shorter pen that accepts Parker-style refills) available in Polished Bronze. So, other than the Mover, here are my Top 5:

Top 5 Non-Fountain Pen (Non-Disposable)

Lamy 2000 Ballpoint/Multipen. Lamy's flagship offering doesn't just come as a fountain pen: they sell ballpoint and multipen versions as well. I've found these pens to be essentially indestructible. (My pen is vintage and stamped with "W. Germany", and remains in perfect working order at the ripe old age of 25.) If you're into metal pens, Lamy offers the ballpoint in Stainless Steel (at a premium). The multipen uses standard D1 refills, so you're not stuck with the stock Lamy version (which people either lover or hate).
Hi-Tec-C Coleto. My multipen of choice. I prefer the Hi-Tec-C to other ultra-fine gel pens, and the Coleto is my favorite multipen because it's reasonably priced and relatively streamlined (read: not fat and chunky, like some multipens). The refills also last a long time (at least for multipen refills).
Parker Jotter. The Parker Jotter is one of those products that has stood the test of time for decades, and I have a vintage "Made-in-the-USA" model that sits on my desk at work next to my phone. It's a bit too small for me to use for extended writing sessions, but it does get used on a daily basis for short notes, etc.
Retro 51 Tornado. The only liquid ink rollerball pen that made my list. The Schmidt refill used by these pens is famous for how smooth it is, and comes in either a .7mm or a .6mm size. For an interesting alternative to the Retro 51 Tornado that uses the same refill, check out the recently released Baron Fig Squire.
MaxMadCo Bolt Action Pen. If you like hefty, indestructible pens, and are a fan of the bolt-action mechanism, the MaxMadCo pen is the best that I've used. Personally, it's too heavy for me and the type of writing that I do, but if your use case is for quick notes out "in the field", and you want a pen that's absolutely indestructible, this pen is an excellent option.

Granted, my experience testing non-fountain pens isn't as extensive as my fountain pen knowledge, but I still use ballpoints and gel pens (not so much rollerballs) on a regular basis. In addition to the pens listed above, which are my personal favorites, others have had good experiences with the machined pens manufactured by Karas Kustoms and Ti2 Design.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links.

Packing for a Pen Show

What to Buy at a Pen Show

Contact Info and Events I'm Attending

Further Reading

"Auroloide" material and Build

Writing Experience

Takeaways

Where to Buy

Submit and Share!

Build

Overall Writing Experience

Where to Buy

Further Reading

Totally Unfair Runner-up Pen

Top 5 Non-Fountain Pen (Non-Disposable)

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