Essential Office Supplies and Accessories for the Home Office

I’ve spent a lot of time (and I mean a LOT of time) thinking about optimizing my workspace now that I’m 97% remote, and it appears that things will remain that way even post-Covid. Previously, my home office basically served as dumping ground for household mail, hobby supplies, and whatever the dogs had dragged upstairs while I was at work. Now? It’s arguably a much more pleasant and productive place than my “real office” ever was. Most of this has involved basic decluttering and purchasing more functional shelving and storage, but I’ve also consolidated a lot of my desk accessories and office supplies, clearing some out and purchasing more functional replacements. I’m still working on bigger issues (such as choosing a better chair and hardwiring my home Wifi to ensure better speeds through the house), but I’m pleased with where things stand.

Continuing my prior discussions of home-based work, today’s post contains a mix of “gear recommendations” and discussion of general office layout choices that have worked for me. By way of background, my job involves approximately 80% writing, so my setup focuses on creating spaces conducive to reading, writing, and research, and having the tools I need for that readily at hand. Since everyone has different job requirements, these recommendations may or may not be on-point for you, but I do hope you find them helpful. So, with that in mind, what do I consider “essential”?

1. WASD “Code” Mechanical Keyboard. Even though I work extensively by hand, the keyboard is still my primary input device. A mechanical keyboard, which features a mechanical switch for each key rather than a rubber dome or membrane, increases my typing accuracy and is much easier on my hands and wrists over longer sessions in front of a screen. Though I’ve owned multiple mechanical keyboards over the years, I’ve sold nearly all of them off in favor of WASD’s “Code” Keyboard, which combines understated basic black design with rock-solid durability. Since I prefer stiff, clicky keys, I use the version with Cherry MX Green switches.

2. Landscape-Style Desk Pad. For years now, I’ve used a landscape-style desk pad or notebook on my desk beneath my keyboard for impromptu checklists, quick calculations, and drafting by hand. Typically, for notes that don’t get saved, I love the Baron Fig Mastermind desk pad. Lately, I’ve also used the Write Notepads lndscape-orientation spiral notebook, which is lined and therefore nice for drafting.

3. Compact Pen or Tool Holder. Who would’ve thought that it’s distracting to have dozens of pens and pencils scattered all over your desk? I’ve tested out lots of pen holders, and my favorite remains my “Divide” from Dudek Modern goods, which holds a dozen pens and pencils in addition to pocket notebooks. That said, Mike only makes these in occasional batches, so you should also consider Galen Leather’s ToolComb, which I recently reviewed. I currently use both.

4. Notepad or Tablet Stand. As a proponent of handwriting your first draft of pretty much anything, I do a lot of typing from hardcopy. While I’ve used more expensive aluminum tablet stands to hold notebooks and legal pads upright while I transcribe handwritten drafts, I discovered these simple and inexpensive folding metal book stands that are not only adjustable but fold flat for storage if you need to temporarily reclaim the desk space.

5. Standing Desk. Moving around during the day is key to my own personal productivity (and it’s also healthier). My primary workspace is an extremely large, 1970s-era wooden desk (referred to in our house as “the battleship”) that I inherited from my grandfather, which allows me to spread out but will never win any awards for ergonomics or design. When I need a break, I use a podium-style adjustable desk from Levenger that is big enough to pull triple duty as a writing desk, laptop stand, and even a shipping station when I’m packing orders for the store. I love this thing so much that I’ve actually purchased two of them over the years, with a second currently sitting unused at my downtown office.

6. Lap Desk or Clipboard. Another thing I’ve learned about myself is that I can’t go an entire day without going outside, though it’s easy to find yourself in that situation working from home if you don’t need to leave to get lunch, etc. I make an effort to go out on the porch or patio and work for at least an hour to get some air. I’ve experimented with a variety of lap desks, but I keep coming back to clipboards. I have a black canvas version I picked up years ago at Papier Plus in Paris, which I don’t believe they sell anymore. I recently found these Penco fiberboard versions in A4 size that also make a great mobile work surface.

7. Dedicated Work/Personal Notebooks. Prior to 2020, I had started using a single large notebook for all of my notes to reduce the weight and bulk of what I had to carry back and forth between home and office. Now, I’m back to using three to four different notebooks to better separate my work life from my personal life (which is hard to do when worlds collide).

8. Desktop Pencil Sharpener. I’ve found myself using more and more graphite for work purposes. While I still use my fountain pens to journal and when I’m otherwise writing for my own enjoyment, pencil can be less distracting since I find myself focusing on the actual work as opposed to the ink, paper, nib, etc. My go-to all-purpose pencil sharpener remains the Carl Angel-5/Classroom Friendly pencil sharpener, with the handheld M+R Brass Bullet taking on an increasingly prominent role when I’m working on the porch.

9. Whiteboard/Chalkboard. For planning and sketching out ideas free-form, and for making running lists of tasks in a place where I can see them, sometimes there’s nothing better than a wall board. I say “wall board” because I’m seriously considering moving away from a whiteboard to a traditional chalkboard. It can be hard to clean a whiteboard, and even the “low odor” markers give me a headache. Plus, if I really want to go all “mad scientist,” I could paint an entire wall of my office in chalkboard paint and…. well, you get the idea.

10. Annotation/Highlighter Pencils. I dislike liquid ink highlighters, especially for marking up handwritten notes. They smear everything from ink to pencils. I much prefer highlighter pencils, and for years I’ve used these Caran d’Ache Graphicolor highlighter/graphite combination pencils. I also enjoy the Graphicolor red/graphite annotation pencils, which form a key part of my reading and journaling kit.

What home office items do you find indispensable to your daily work? I’m interested to hear! Please feel free to leave a comment or message me directly using the “Contact” link!

This post contains no affiliate links, thought it may contain links to past reviews on the blog and a handful of items in The T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Everyday Writing with a Modern Flex Pen

I’ve always been a “firm nib” person for the majority of my everyday writing. While I enjoy flexible nib fountain pens, my experience has been limited to the occasional review and playing around with vintage flex after-hours at pen shows. I use a combination of italic-style script and cursive for my everyday writing, so firmer nibs typically work better for my handwriting, particularly cursive italics and stubs.

But I’m still intrigued by the new “flex” nibs pen companies have been releasing over the past few years. I use the term “flex” loosely - in my opinion, there is no such thing as a modern equivalent of true “vintage flex” like you would find in a vintage Waterman pen from the first half of the 20th century. What you have today, rather, are softer nibs that can provide a fair bit of line variation if pushed, but you need to be careful and manage your expectations.

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Both of these nibs are No. 6 JoWo. The one on the left is a 14k fine nib custom engraved for Montegrappa, with carve-outs on the side to increase flexibility. The one on the right is a Franklin-Christoph stainless steel nib with an elongated nib slit, which also increases the ability to flex the tines.

For today’s post, I’m not so much interested in further discussion of “whether these nibs are truly flex nibs.” Each person tends to have their own opinion on that issue, influenced mainly by how much line variation they like in their writing and whether they have experience in the vintage market. I’m more curious about the practicality of these softer nibs and whether or not I can actually use one as a daily driver. Will I spring the nib? Will the pen write too wet, creating a feathering, bleeding mess? Given that I don’t write in pure cursive, will I even be able to notice a difference?

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Review Pen No. 1: A Montegrappa Miya 450 with a 14k Fine Flex.

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Review Pen No. 2: A Newton Shinobi with a Franklin-Christoph HPSteel Flex Extra-fine nib unit.

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For this experiment I chose two pens that sit on the firmer end of the flexibility scale: a Montegrappa Miya 450 with Montegrappa’s 14k “fine flex,” and my Newton Shinobi with Franklin-Christoph’s HP Steel Flex nib. I picked both up at pen shows earlier this year before everything shut down. As it turns out, I’ve enjoyed using these pens, including as daily writers, though I would advise anyone interested in these pens to take a few things into consideration:

• Use a lighter hand. Not only will this create more noticeable line variation, but you’ll avoid springing the tines. Less writing pressure will also result in less ink being poured onto the page - a key consideration if you need to take notes or do a lot of other writing where you need the ink to dry quickly. If, like me, you tend to use a fair bit of pressure when you write, consider a drier steel flex nib. I’m still getting the hang of writing with the Montegrappa 14k flex, and the Franklin-Christoph steel nib offered a more seamless transition for my writing style.

• Pay attention to your paper. Because softer nibs tend to lay more ink on the page (especially gold nibs), you will likely experience feathering and bleedthrough on cheaper and/or more absorbent paper. The writing samples for this review were done in a Write Notepads Dot Grid Spiral, which performed beautifully. Other paper options include Tomoe River and Clairefontaine. I’ve had mixed results on Rhodia with super-wet pens, and sometimes get spots of bleeding.

• Pay attention to your ink. While you might be tempted to use more flexible nibs to show off your highly saturated “super sheeners” and “super shaders,” be aware that these inks might not be the best choice for everyday writing in a super wet pen. If you plan on using the pen for notetaking or office work, consider an ink that dries relatively quickly and is known to behave well. Sailor and Montblanc make excellent inks, and the two used for this post (Montblanc Irish Green and Sailor Ink Studio 140) worked quite well, without complications.

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Takeaways and Final Thoughts

So could I see myself using either of these nibs as a regular everyday writer over the long haul? Yes and no. Since it takes more pressure to flex the nib, the Franklin-Christoph HP Steel Flex nib writes like a slightly softer, standard extra-fine JoWo steel nib that has the option to add line variation if you so desire. I could easily use this particular nib all day, every day, and it may have found a permanent home in my Newton Shinobi. While I enjoy the 14k “fine flex” nib in the Miya, it’s still slightly too wet for me to use as an everyday work pen. I typically have to take notes quickly which doesn’t allow enough time for the ink to dry before I need to turn the page. For me, the Miya will mainly be used for personal writing in my journal.

I acquired the pens featured in this review directly from Kenro (the U.S. Montegrappa distributor), and from Franklin-Christoph. Kenro provided me with the Miya as part of their generous sponsorship of The Gentleman Stationer; the Franklin-Christoph was acquired with my own funds for my own collection. This post contains links to paid sponsors and affliates.

First Impressions: Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen in Tuxedo Black

This week, Esterbrook announced arguably its biggest release to date: the “JR Pocket Pen”, which is the first modern Esterbrook that actually attempts to replicate the design of the famed vintage “J” pen. As such, Esterbrook knew that there would be heavy expectations piled on this release, and there was no room for error. So how did they do?

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While I’ve only had the pen for a week, what I’ve seen so far leads me to believe that the JR will be widely viewed as a success. As with all “heritage” releases - which is how I generally refer to products such as pens and watches that draw inspiration from a vintage product without copying it exactly - the JR borrows from those aspects of the original “J” that translate best into a modern fountain pen, and dispenses with others that, well, wouldn’t work so well today. I’ll briefly run through the similarities and differences:

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The Esterbrook JR comes in three different colors: Tuxedo Black (shown here), Carmine Red, and Capri Blue (which is the only one with gold trim). Based on pictures alone, the Tuxedo Black and Capri Blue are my favorites.

First of All, What’s Changed?

• The new Esterbrook JR is slightly slimmer than a standard vintage Esterbrook J, and the barrel and ends less rounded. While I don’t currently have any vintage Esterbrooks in my collection, Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk has published her own review and has some extremely thorough comparison photos that show the JR compared against various vintage Esterbrook fountain pens.

• Esterbrook has dispensed with the black plastic cap jewels in favor of metal finials. The finial on the cap bears the Esterbrook “infinity” logo also found on the Camden. While the black plastic finials lent the original J a unique, almost Art Deco look, they also grew fragile over time and had a tendency to crack and/or fall out if you accidentally dropped the pen. Here, I would say that gains in long-term durability make up for any losses in terms of aesthetics and faithfulness to the original design.

• The filling system on the JR, predictably, is cartridge-converter instead of a lever-filler. I’m sure many vintage pen die-hards will complain (loudly) about this fact, but seriously, is Esterbrook really going to release a lever-filling fountain pen that would require periodic ink sac replacement? No. Nor should they. Even back in its heyday, Esterbrook was a mass-market brand, and to me, going with cartridge-converter is more faithful to the original vision of Esterbrook than releasing a throwback pen with a high-maintenance lever-filling system.

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Size comparison, show here between a Kokuyo Sketch Notebook (left) and a Hobonichi Techo A6. Writing samples in this review are shown in the Kokuyo Sketch.

What’s the Same or Similar?

• The overall look, feel, and aesthetic of the pen are very similar. As someone who has used vintage Esterbrooks extensively, I will say that the modern iteration of the company has definitely managed to “recapture the magic” of the original brand. A key part of this reissue is the choice of pearlescent acrylic: Vintage Esterbrooks are known for the depth of the material used to make the barrels, which was largely unique to that brand. The black, blue, and red materials chosen for the JR, while not an exact match, replicates at least some of that same depth.

• While slightly longer and slimmer than the clip on the original J, the clip on the JR retains the same ribbed look while omitting the “Esterbrook” engraving, which moves to the cap band. While I’m glad they retained some version of the classic clip, I’m torn over the placement of the engraving. Could they have gone with a wider clip and kept the vintage-style engraving? Possibly, but I suspect this would present production issues, whereas placing the Esterbrook engraving on the cap band also creates branding consistency with the Estie and the Camden.

• The JR features an interchangeable stainless steel JoWo No. 5 nib unit, which allows you to swap in different nib sizes, and even JoWo nib units you may have had ground to a stub, italic, architect, etc. It remains to be seen whether the JR will get its own adapter that will allow you to use the full array of vintage Esterbrook nib units.

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Esterbrook is marketing the JR as a “pocket pen.” I typically don’t pocket-carry pens like this one - it’s slightly too large for that purpose, at least for me - but it’s quite portable. The JR would make a great planner pen. (Picture below)

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Perhaps my one critique of this pen is that I wish the cap posted a touch deeper as it looks a little awkward. The pen itself is so light, however, that it makes very little difference from a functionality perspective.

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No surprises with the line written by a medium No. 5 JoWo nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Esterbrook JR is a very well done heritage pen that I expect will please the majority of Esterbrook fans while still managing to tick off those few who would only be pleased with a “J” replica. As evidenced by the visceral reaction to Parker’s recently announced Parker 51 re-release, attempting to recreate a vintage pen design for modern users can be a risky move, in that you need to strike a balance between catering to fans of the original pen while still making a product that is marketable to new customers. So far, Esterbrook seems to have done just that, and I’m excited to see where they take this pen design over the next year or so. The next logical step would be to introduce additional colors, either special editions or green and grey pens to match the original lineup, as well as a vintage nib adapter.

You should now be able to purchase the Esterbrook JR at most Esterbrook retailers, including site sponsors Vanness Pens and Goldspot. Current MSRP on the Esterbrook JR is $175, with most retailers so far pricing this pen at $140, which is becoming the standard price point for a steel-nib pen of this quality.

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The Esterbrook JR fits perfectly in the pen slots on my Hobonichi Techo. Planner pen, anyone?

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Esterbrook/Kenro Industries for sending me this pen for review. This post contains links to paid sponsors/affiliates.

Pen Review: Kaweco x Galen Leather Classic Sport

Ok, so I’ve been teasing pictures of this pen for a couple of weeks now, and it’s only fair that I go ahead and write up this new fountain pen from Galen Leather. As Galen expands their retail offerings outside of traditional leather goods into desk accessories, paper, and now fountain pens, what better way to launch a new product category than a collaboration with Kaweco!

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The Galen Leather + Kaweco release is a special edition from the Classic Sport “Transparent” line, meaning that it’s a demonstrator version of Kaweco’s Classic Sport workhorse. Galen has chosen a “cognac” acrylic, which Kaweco has paired with their gold-plated trim. I’ve never owned one of the transparent Sports, so this is a first for me and I’m enjoying the look.

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In addition to the standard Kaweco logo, Galen Leather has included their own branding.

I’ve previously reviewed the Kaweco Sport fountain pen in multiple iterations on this blog (additional links below), so I’ll only briefly recap the specs. The Sport is intended as a pocket pen, and it lives up to Kaweco’s slogan, “small in the pocket; large in the hand.” Once you unscrew the cap and post the Sport, it becomes a full-size writing instrument that’s as comfortable as any standard fountain pen, even for long periods of time. Kaweco Sports use a small No. 4 Bock nib, which over the years has had its share of quality control issues, but recently Kaweco and Bock seem to have figured things out and the last few Kaweco nibs I’ve used, ranging from EF to B, have been solid. The medium nib on this particular pen is an excellent writer, and I will go ahead and mention that the best Kaweco nibs I’ve used have all been mediums. It’s become my default for this brand.

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As you might expect, the “special” attribute on this edition is the cognac acrylic. Kaweco absolutely killed it, and the pen is stunning to look at. For whatever reason, I like to pair translucent brown pens with dark red or burgundy ink, and I inked this one up with a Diamine Oxblood cartridge. It’s a perfect pairing, and Oxblood might be the ink for this pen (at least until my cartridges run out).

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For a cognac or whiskey-colored pen, gold trim is really the only option.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

You can’t go wrong with a Kaweco Sport, and if you’re looking to rejuvenate your office space with some elegant wood and leather accessories from Galen Leather, I would encourage you to consider adding one of these pens to your order before they sell out. Currently, you can purchase the Galen Leather + Kaweco special edition fountain pen directly from Galen Leather in their online store, as part of their growing selection of fountain pens. Since this is a special edition, pricing is slightly higher ($30) than you would otherwise find on a standard Sport, but still reasonable.

Many thanks to Galen Leather for providing this item for review!

Further Reading

I’ve previously reviewed several iterations of the Kaweco Sport, including not only the Classic but also the Art Sport, the AL Sport (aluminum), the AC Sport (Carbon Fiber), and the all-metal Brass Sport. I even reviewed a vintage Kaweco Sport with a piston filler a couple of months ago. Check out these reviews to learn more about Kaweco’s Sport series.

Disclaimer: I received the pen featured in this review from Galen Leather for review purposes, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Mahogany Desk Accessories from Galen Leather

Although they started out making leather goods, Galen Leather has expanded their lineup to include a line of handcrafted brass and wood desk accessories. Previously, I’ve written on the Galen Leather Writing Box and how I’ve used that particular product as “home base” for my journaling setup. I recently received a box of additional samples from Galen Leather, including their mahogany pen rest and brush stand, as well as the “ToolComb” pen and brush holder.

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Both are examples of well-made, useful products that look great on your desk and don’t cost an arm and a leg. The pen rest/brush stand is a small wooden block containing three grooves large enough to accommodate pens of various sizes (though if you try to use it to hold larger pens, they may touch). It’s perfect for those who keep three or fewer pens inked at any given time, or have pens that live permanently on the desk.

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The Mahogany Three-Pen Stand, shown here with three Fisher Space Pens.

The ToolComb is also handcrafted from solid mahogany, and per the Galen Leather website inspired by a mid-century Danish design. Come to think of it, the ToolComb does have a vintage-meets-modern flair that I very much appreciate, and it looks exceptional on a desk, especially paired with my Dudek Modern Goods “Divide.” The ToolComb holds up to 13 pens or artist’s tools (Galen specifically mentions paintbrushes), and with a hole size of 15mm most pens will fit.

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Many have used the Galen Leather ToolComb to showcase their collections of 13+ Kaweco Sports. I don’t have that many Kawecos, but you can see that it fits the both the Sport and the Schon DSGN Pocket Six quite well.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I look forward to enjoying these two mahogany pen stands for a long time to come. You can purchase both products directly from Galen Leather’s online shop. The Mahogany Pen Rest/Brush Stand is priced at $16, with the ToolComb slightly more expensive at $30. Other options from Galen include a larger Desk Organizer, a Washi Tape Dispenser, and of course the Writing Box. Many thanks to Galen Leather for making these products available for review!

Disclaimer: I received these products from Galen Leather, free of charge, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.