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Traveler's Notebook Tutorial: How to Connect Multiple Refills and Accessories

February 27, 2021

I’ve used the Traveler’s Notebook for years, and regard it as one of the best options for carrying multiple notebook refills inside a single cover. Want to carry a planner, notebook, and sketchbook together, with different papers? You can do that! While connecting multiple refills can seem tricky at first, it’s easy and intuitive once you get the hang of it. The general rule of thumb to remember: A primary refill secured to the notebook cover using the center elastic cord serves as an “anchor” for the entire system, allowing you to add additional refills and accessories using connecting rubber bands.

Changing out a single Traveler’s Notebook Refill is easy - just open the refill to the “staple page” and slip it under the center elastic cord. But most people will want to maximize this notebook system’s versatility. Read on to learn how to add mor… — Changing out a single Traveler’s Notebook Refill is easy - just open the refill to the “staple page” and slip it under the center elastic cord. But most people will want to maximize this notebook system’s versatility. Read on to learn how to add more!

Collect Your Traveler’s Notebook and Supplies

In order to assemble a Traveler’s Notebook containing up to three refills, you will need three things: a Traveler’s Notebook, your three refills of choice, and a package of connecting rubber bands. For this demonstration, I’m using a Passport size Traveler’s Notebook in “Camel” leather, but the process is the same for the Standard size. Here, I will walk through three different setups: a Traveler’s Notebook with two refills, a Traveler’s Notebook with three refills, and a Traveler’s Notebook with three refills plus accessories.

Clockwise from top left: Traveler’s Notebook Connecting Rubber Bands, Traveler’s Notebook Passport in Camel, Blank MD Refill (included in the Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kit), MD Paper Grid Refill, and Tomoe River (“Lightweight” Blank Refill).

Connecting Two Refills

To set up a Traveler’s Notebook with two inserts, attach the first to the notebook cover using the elastic cord, the same as if you were going to set your notebook up with a single insert. Take your second refill and place it next to the first, clos… — To set up a Traveler’s Notebook with two inserts, attach the first to the notebook cover using the elastic cord, the same as if you were going to set your notebook up with a single insert. Take your second refill and place it next to the first, closed spine-to-spine.

Next, open both notebooks to their respective centers. Holding the two covers together, as shown here, loop a connecting rubber band over both notebooks. In your original refill, the rubber band should sit alongside the elastic cord. That’s it!

A two-refill notebook is perfect for a planner + notebook setup.

Connecting Three Refills

To assemble a Traveler’s Notebook with three inserts, start by picking your three books and decide the order in which you want them to appear in the notebook. Place the first and third inserts back to back, and set the second one aside for the momen… — To assemble a Traveler’s Notebook with three inserts, start by picking your three books and decide the order in which you want them to appear in the notebook. Place the first and third inserts back to back, and set the second one aside for the moment.

Open the first and third refills to their centers, and using a connecting rubber band, attach them as shown above, similar to how you connected the inserts in a two-refill notebook.

Close the two refills, and set them face-down on the inside of the Traveler’s Notebook Cover, spine-to-spine and connected by the rubber band.

Gently pull the two notebooks apart, and pull the elastic cord up between the two refills. The connecting rubber band should be just loose enough to allow you to do this easily.

Slip your middle refill underneath the center elastic cord. There! You’ve now secured three refills inside.a Traveler’s Notebook!

Adding Accessories

Your Traveler’s Notebook is only limited by how thick you want it to be. In addition to three refills, connected as demonstrated above, I’ve included a PVC Zippered Pouch and a set of TRC Sticky Notes on my Standard Size Traveler’s Notebook.

Attaching the PVC Pouch is pretty easy. I simply slid the pouch underneath the refills through the main elastic cord.

I then attached the Sticky Notes to the PVC Pouch using another connecting rubber band.

The Sticky Notes insert is actually a slim folio, with a think PVC cover to protect your unused stickies. Open the folio and slip the connecting rubber band over the cover and the PVC pouch, much the same as you would connect two notebook inserts.

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My current Standard Traveler’s Notebook is set up with three paper inserts and two accessories - in other words a total of FIVE refills + accessories. This obviously increases the thickness and weight of the notebook, but it also transforms it into … — My current Standard Traveler’s Notebook is set up with three paper inserts and two accessories - in other words a total of FIVE refills + accessories. This obviously increases the thickness and weight of the notebook, but it also transforms it into a powerful all-in-one tool.

Traveler’s Notebooks and Accessories in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

All of the Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories pictured here are available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. As an authorized Traveler’s Company retailer, we carry Notebook Starter Kits, MD Paper Refills, Planner Refills, Specialty Paper Refills, and Accessories, in addition to TRC Brass products such as pen cases, rulers, and clips. Please feel free to reach out through the site if you have any specific questions about Traveler’s Notebook products and how to use them. If you’re interested in reading further on my own Traveler’s Notebook setup, check out this recent post in which I walk through the standard setup pictured here.

Which Pens and Pencils We Carry and Why

February 25, 2021

I haven’t spoken much lately on the “mission statement” behind my shop, and how I select the various lines and products that I carry. When I set out to create T.G.S. Curated last year, six years after founding The Gentleman Stationer, I did so with one goal: to bring together a set of products that I not only enjoy myself, but which represent the combination of quality, utility, and joy essential to remaining relevant in an increasingly digital world where most people are highly selective about the analog tools they use.

For pens and pencils, that means you will find a curated selection with a focus on quality craftsmanship and ergonomics. You won’t find anything here that I don’t use or wouldn’t use myself, and many of these products are, in my opinion, under-promoted by existing retail channels and the pen community at large. They cover a wide range of formats and price points. If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore the following, I’d encourage you to do so. As always, many thanks for your support!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of all products listed in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint. One of my favorite ballpoint pens, and an all-time stationery classic, the Caran d’Ache 849 features a hexagonal barrel that tapers towards the point, lending it the feel of a woodcase pencil. Available in a wide range of colors and finishes.
Caran d’Ache Léman Fountain Pen. Currently available in a limited “Klein Blue” Ultramarine finish that I can’t stop looking at, the Léman is Caran d’Ache’s flagship fountain pen. I’ve been using one as a daily writer for the past month. Additional details here.
Mazzuoli Nobile ITALIA Ballpoint/Mechanical Pencil. Combining the ability to swap out Schmidt ballpoint and .7mm mechanical pencil inserts into a compact, ergonomic form factor, the Nobile ITALIA also gave me a history lesson. Read more on the origins of this unique pen here.
CW&T Pen Type-A and Pen Type-B. If I’m going to have a gel pen offering, I’m going to go all the way. The Pen Type-A and Pen Type-B are both sublimely over-engineered and basically indestructible, featuring a pneumatic sleeve that keeps the barrel protected (and doubles as an addictive fidget toy). Additional details here, with a short video demonstration of how the sleeve works.
Pokka Pens Pocket Ballpoints. I don’t use - or stock - exclusively high-end pens. Sometimes the best tool for the job is the one that you can take anywhere with you, and I always have a pack of Pokka Pens in my bag and my car. Pokka now makes an aluminum “Jakket” that you can add on for a more durable EDC experience, with the option to use the “Dokk” accessory to clip the pen to your bag or keychain.
Penco “Perfection” Pocket Pens. If you’d prefer a refillable pocket pen that accepts universal D1 refills, the Penco “Perfection” is approximately the size of a tube of lipstick or lip balm when capped, but still hefty enough to use comfortably (and to let you know when you have it with you). Read more here, and it’s now available in a matte black finish, in addition to polished brass and chrome.
Traveler’s Company Brass “Bullet” Pens and Pencils. As a fan of the vintage “bullet pencil” format, there was never any question whether I would stock TRC Brass pens in my shop. While the standard brass ballpoint is probably my favorite (it actually uses a hybrid gel refill), I carry all four versions, in both brass and “Factory Green” finishes. Additional details here.
Caran d’Ache Fixpencil. The first modern mechanical pencil, designed during wartime to mimic the feel of a woodcase pencil when resources were in short supply. I carry both the original matte black with colored buttons, as well as the “Fixpencil 884” that comes in red, green, and blue with a textured grip section on the barrel.
Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood Pencils. The ultimate woodcase pencil writing experience. Fans of woodcase pencils (and Caran d’Ache products in general) owe it to themselves to try a Swiss Wood at least once. Stocked in beech and pine versions, as well as three-pencil gift sets. Additional details here.
Tombow and Uni-Mitsubishi Woodcase Pencils. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get an excellent writing experience, and quality woodcase pencils are a great place to start. These No. 2 office pencils from Japanese companies Tombow and Uni-Mitsubishi hit the sweet spot in terms of quality and price point.

Mini-Collections and Under-appreciated Pens: The Parker Sonnet

February 24, 2021

I’m making more of an effort to sort and organize my pen collection these days. After a decade in the hobby, I’ve accumulated a lot, with varying degrees of intention. While I’m far from a single-purpose collector - for example, I don’t have a specific pen or brand that I collect exclusively - I do have several major themes around which I’ve build an eclectic group of pens. I’ve written about a few of these before: I have a soft spot for “near-vintage” Waterman, as well as celluloid pens in general. Neither is a particularly surprising focus for someone seriously into fountain pens, and wouldn’t appear out of place at a pen show or meetup. What is surprising, however, even to me, is the extent to which I’ve built up “mini collections” of under-appreciated pens that don’t attract much attention as everyday writers, much less the focus of collections. One such pen is the Parker Sonnet.

I currently only have three Sonnets in my personal collection, though I’ve owned many more. Why do I like this pen so much? For one thing, I consider the Parker Sonnet to be a modern classic. It’s been around for decades now, and the shape recalls the vintage Parker Vacumatic Majors from the 1930s. Vintage Vacumatics are among the most comfortable pens to write with - they fit the hand well when posted, as does the modern Sonnet. While Parker (rightfully) has taken flack over the years for allowing quality control to slide, a properly tuned Sonnet nib makes for an exceptional everyday writer, and the most recent Sonnets I’ve acquired have written perfectly out of the box. (I will note that these have been the gold-nib versions. I cannot speak to the steel.)

Sometimes a brand’s heritage isn’t immediately obvious. Parker has never “reissued” the Vacumatic - at least not to my knowledge - but a similar writing experience lives on in the Sonnet.

Building on the piece I wrote last week, which offered my first impressions of Parker’s recently released “Next Generation” Parker 51, I do believe that the level of vitriol directed at the modern Parker Pen Company is unwarranted and unfair. Sure, much of it can be written off as your typical internet snark, but even setting that aside, people really seem to relish hating Parker, and hold it to a much higher standard than other companies. For example, I’ve not found Parker nibs to be less reliable than those released by Visconti, which often charges twice as much money. A Parker Sonnet with a gold nib will run you anywhere from $250-400, with the higher end of that price range covering the chiseled sterling silver models. Even if you factor in $20-25 for a nib tuning, I have a hard time viewing the Sonnet as a bad value, especially given that you can often find them on sale or the secondary market. Hunting Sonnets at pen shows can be especially rewarding, as many people pass them up in favor of trendier pens and vendors are often willing to unload them at a discount. (Side Note: A few years ago, I criticized Parker for trying to push up the retail price of the Sonnet to its current level. Given the degree to which pen prices have risen industry-wide over the past five years, this was hasty and probably unfair. A gold nib Sonnet is less expensive than many steel-nib pens these days.)

Currently, the Parker Sonnets in my collection include two pens from the now-discontinued “Great Expectations” special edition series: the “Subtle Big Red,” which I previously reviewed, and another matte black version which I believe was called “Secret Shell Black.” Just recently I also added the “SE18 Journey Blue” pen to my collection, which was the last one in stock at Appelboom and seems like it will make a nice companion to my Traveler’s Notebook. The extra fine 18k nib is sublime.

If I must say so, the blue “Journey” looks good on the blue Traveler’s Notebook!

I’m interested in hearing more about this concept of “mini-collections.” Do you all have any side interests apart from your primary focus (if you collect at all)? In addition to the Sonnets, I have managed to get my hands on all of the special Lamy 2000 releases (with the exception of the red one that cost like $18,000), most of the Lamy Studio special releases, and a handful of Leonardo Momento Zero Grandes. The fascinating part about this for me, personally, is that it was largely unintentional, and as I focus on paring down my pens going forward, I may see what happens if I do spend some time focusing more on the “collecting” aspect of the hobby and building out some of these interests. (While still using my pens, of course!)

The SE18 “Journey” edition spoke to me because I have a degree in international relations/foreign service, so while the etching might be considered superfluous or even “too busy” to some, I like it.

Now that the snow is finally melting, I’m caught up on shipping Curated Shop orders! Things are back to normal this week!

Sunday Reading for February 21, 2021

February 21, 2021

Inside Stationery (Pt. 03): Robert Oster - RO Signature Ink (via Scrively). This is a great series if you’re interested in learning more about the people behind the brands we all love. This edition features Robert Oster of RO Signature Ink, in Australia.
The Results Are In: The Great Fountain Pen Survey, Part I (via UK Fountain Pens). If you’re curious about where the online pen enthusiast hobby is headed in terms of growth and new participants, you owe it to yourself to check out this survey. It’s an incredibly thoughtful and in-depth piece of research. (Apparently I also need to join r/fountainpens.)
Quick Look: Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Pura Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). Dries takes an initial look at the new Momento Zero Grande recently announced by Leonardo, with quite a different (transparent) look.
Franklin-Christoph Model 25 Eclipse (via Left Hook Pens). The Model 25, or the “Eclipse”, is one of the more unique Franklin-Christoph designs, in that the clip sits on the body of the pen rather than the cap. It’s rare to see this one reviewed!
What’s in My Bag (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Bag dump post! I enjoy seeking what everyone else carries around, especially these days. My own carry has become a disorganized mess, probably because I don’t frequently leave the house.
John Twiss Thuya Burl Revisited (via Dapprman). This is a beautiful pen, with beautiful material. Twiss Pens from the UK have been on my list of pens to review for quite some time.
Pocketable Practicality: The 3D Printed Pocket Pen from Practical Pens (via Penquisition). 3D printing technology hasn’t yet broken into the mainstream of penmaking, but this looks really interesting.
What the Sport Should Have Been: The Kaweco Supra Fireblue (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve long been a fan of the Kaweco Supra. I actually have a stainless steel version in for review that I need to get up on the blog soon.
Review: NovelPad Cloud-Based Writing Tool Part 1 (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). One of my (many) side interests involves accumulating dedicated writing apps that I don’t use nearly enough. This is a new one for me, reviewed by someone who does a lot more writing.
The Use and Abuse of Electric Pencil Sharpeners (via Pencil Revolution). I wholeheartedly agree that the best tool is the one that you use, all the time, and which will just get the pencil sharp.
Venvstas Carbon-T Fountain Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). Venvstas is still at it! I have to admit I’m intrigued by the design, but the reports of dry nibs is concerning.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog, I introduced an old favorite notebook on both the blog and the shop: the Quo Vadis Habana Journal. I also offered my first impressions of the new Parker 51 “Next Generation” fountain pen, in burgundy with the steel nib, and so far have had a fairly positive experience.

New in the Curated Shop

This week in the Curated Shop, we have a fresh stock of new paper from Rhodia, Quo Vadis, and Clairefontaine, in addition to a new M+R brass pencil sharpener that can accommodate jumbo pencils. I highlighted several of these items, as well as some “last calls,” in this week’s Deals & Drops.

Rhodia

Quo Vadis

Clairefontaine

M+R

Sponsorship Changes - Consider Joining T.G.S. Patreon for 2021!

You may have noticed that over the past several months, I’ve been allowing paid sponsorships to lapse and relying on direct support from readers and visitors, either in the form of Patreon pledges or Curated Shop Purchases. I plan to continue this trend in 2021, with the goal of T.G.S. being completely self-sustaining by the end of the year. While I will continue to collaborate and work with select partners, I do not wish to rely on paid advertising going forward, with the possible exception of smaller brands and makers who you may see on my sidebar from time to time.

You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. I will be rolling out some new content in 2021 that will be exclusive to Patreon subscribers, including monthly online meetups, and the eventual return of the “Digital Divide” newsletter (you can read back content here). I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

First Impressions: Hands On with the New Parker 51 Fountain Pen

February 20, 2021

It’s here! After much anticipation (and a few weather delays), yesterday I received one of the new Parker 51 fountain pens, which I first previewed in a (admittedly opinionated) post last year. I plan to review this pen in two parts: a “first impressions” post and a follow-up post after a longer period of use that will evaluate things such as build quality and reliability. While I of course will comment on how the pen compares to a vintage 51, please be advised that I ultimately plan to evaluate this pen on its own merits, as a functional writing instrument - NOT based solely on its faithfulness to the original design or from the perspective of a vintage pen collector looking for a modern replica. That’s never been my expectation for this particular pen, nor do I believe that Parker is targeting the vintage pen enthusiast market segment with this release. If that’s what you’re looking for from this pen, you will be disappointed (and in all likelihood have decided you dislike this pen already, without ever picking one up, so there’s no need to read further).

With that said, here we go!

First Impressions Out of the Box

I received a Burgundy/Chrome Parker 51 with a steel nib, which shipped from Appelboom in Parker’s standard pen box. While the presentation is nothing fancy, it’s quality packaging appropriate to the price point of this pen (approximately $109 USD MSRP / $89 USD street price). Visually, Parker has done a nice job recreating the look of the vintage 51, at least with the cap on.

Once you start to handle the pen, however, you immediately realize the various differences. Keep in mind that I have not had a chance to evaluate the more expensive gold-nib version, so I can’t speak to that particular pen. That said, the less expensive “Next Generation” Parker 51 definitely feels more akin to the “Super 21,” Parker’s lower-priced pen that sold alongside the Parker 51. While I would NOT say it feels cheap, the resin/plastic lacks the warmth of the original 51, which wasn’t unexpected since most pen companies have long since moved on from vintage materials to keep production costs down, especially at this price point. With only a day or so in-hand, there’s no way to evaluate long-term durability and the possibility of any brittleness, cracking, etc., which will require one or more follow-up reviews.

The most divisive aspect of the new design is Parker’s decision to incorporate a threaded cap in lieu of the traditional friction fit/clutch cap. While I think I prefer the vintage cap to the current design, I don’t consider it a deal breaker. (Certain well-regarded Wing Sung clones have also used threaded caps.) One concern I do have involves the combination of metal cap threads and plastic barrel threads, which already feel a bit gritty. Will metal-on-plastic wear the threads down over time? Possibly. Another thing to track.

The second most controversial design choice was Parker’s decision to go with a cartridge-converter filling system rather than a vintage-style aerometric or vacumatic filling system. I still don’t understand this critique, and have never considered it a realistic expectation for this reissue because Parker is a mass-market company that hasn’t made these filling systems in decades. While I enjoy vintage filling systems as much as anyone, cartridge-converter remains the standard for modern pen companies since the ease of use broadens its appeal, and the same mechanism can be employed across all of Parker’s various product lines. I also don’t see this particular point affecting sales of this pen. Vintage pen aficionados are going to buy vintage 51s. This pen is plainly intended for either (1) new customers or (2) those, like myself, who enjoy vintage-inspired design, and even the occasional vintage pen, but perhaps want something less “precious” to carry around with them and use on a daily basis.

Nib and Writing Experience

Finally, we get to the part that I care most about, and which pleasantly surprised me: the nib and the writing experience. One thing I love about the original Parker 51 is the ergonomics of the pen, which was designed with daily use in mind. While I don’t have a vintage 51 currently in my possession to do a direct comparison, Parker appears to have maintained the original proportions, and this pen is a very comfortable, balanced writer even with the metal cap posted on a plastic barrel. The medium stainless steel nib is also quite smooth - better, in fact, than the steel nibs on vintage Super 21s and 51 Specials (the steel-nib vintage 51s) I have had in my collection in the past. The pen wrote immediately out of the box, with no skipping or hard starting after I left it sitting overnight and picked it up again in the morning. While this seems unremarkable, it’s a common problem with many modern pens, including those that sell at much higher price points.

Honestly, I was prepared for this pen to be a scratchy, dry writer that skips and hard starts. It’s none of those things. This stainless steel medium nib writes a reliably wet, traditional medium line, so regardless of how you may feel about the “re… — Honestly, I was prepared for this pen to be a scratchy, dry writer that skips and hard starts. It’s none of those things. This stainless steel medium nib writes a reliably wet, traditional medium line, so regardless of how you may feel about the “reissue” aspect, this pen does what a pen is supposed to do.

Value

I can only offer preliminary thoughts here, since one component of value is quality and durability, and this is a “first impressions” review. Based on my experience so far, though, I don’t have an issue with the $89 street price for this pen, which is comparable to similar offerings by other companies. The inevitable comparisons will be to (1) buying a vintage Parker 51 on the secondary market; and (2) buying a Parker 51 “clone” from companies such as Wing Sung or Hero. So many different factors go into personal purchasing decisions that it’s not fruitful to comment extensively on either argument. I will say, however, that I find these to be apples-to-oranges comparisons. Someone looking to purchase this particular pen is not necessarily looking to buy vintage, nor should they drop $150+ on a vintage pen unless they understand the implications of caring for and maintaining a pen that hasn’t been manufactured in more than half a century. Yes, vintage 51s are remarkably durable, but they do break and wear out, and you’re on your own in terms of manufacturer and/or dealer support. With respect to the “clones,” I’ve had great ones, and I’ve had bad ones. I will say that now that Parker has resumed making modern 51s themselves, I personally would prefer to support the owner of the actual design rather than those who arguably are misappropriating others’ intellectual property.

Overall Takeaways

After years of declining quality control and less-than-exciting designs, Parker has made a sincere effort to turn things around and release better pens with more interesting designs. The last several Parkers I have purchased have actually been nice writers. (I have a few modern Sonnets and a modern Duofold in my collection.) Continuing this trend, the steel-nib version of the “Next Generation” Parker 51 pleasantly surprised me. Frankly, while I tried to be optimistic and was happy to see Parker take a risky move in reissuing this pen, I wasn’t expecting much. At the end of the day, however, they seem to have delivered, especially relative to my expectations, and if Parker continues with the “51” line and introduces new colors, cap designs, etc., they could really have something interesting on their hands. Granted, I’m not as emotionally invested in this as some people apparently are, which allows me to evaluate the pen on its own merits. I do believe there is a market for a modern 51: The reality is that vintage Parker 51s will start to age significantly in the coming years, and while they are quality writing instruments of exceptional durability and longevity, they won’t last forever. They will become more scarce, and more expensive to both purchase and repair. While the vintage pens will always have their fans, and many will settle for nothing less than the original, that doesn’t mean that Parker shouldn’t offer another option. Stay tuned for a follow up!

Editor’s Note: I understand that this pen has generated strong opinions. That said, we need to keep things in perspective and the comments civil. I actively moderate the comments on this site, and reserve the right to reject any comments that contain obscenities, personal attacks on other commenters, and anything which, in my discretion, crosses the line from civil discourse, polite disagreement, and even gently poking fun at me and my opinions, into trolling or general nastiness. That is not the community I want to build here. Thanks for your understanding.