Sunday Reading for February 6, 2022

February 6, 2022

Pen Show Report Card and Philly Pen Show Recap (via Pen Addict). Kimberly has a recap of the Philly Pen Show (which I was sad to miss) along with a new pen show “scoring” system to provide a more objective way to evaluate specific shows. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.
Gravitas Pocket Pen Rainbow Skittle (via Dapprman). The “Skittles” finish on the Gravitas pocket pen is absolutely gorgeous. While I’m not sure that the pocket pen will work for my daily use, I need to try something in this finish ASAP.
Leonardo Momento Magico Anima Nera Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). The Momento Magico is Leonardo’s fountain pen that features not only an integrated piston filler but an ink window. Now available in a matte black finish.
No Grime or Raisin (via Quieter Elephant). From a blog I’ve been newly following, here are some thoughts on the Copper Ensso Italia as well as an overlay-style pen from Asvine.
Tono & Lims White (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). No, it’s not what you think. After 1,000 inks, maybe they just ran out of names? :)
Snippets: Capillaris, Tibaldi, Dialogue CC, ECO Raden, and This Wonderful Community (via UK Fountain Pens). Anthony does a great job of having frequent reviews of up-and-coming brands and feature releases. If you need and ear to the ground on what’s ahead for 2022, you need to be reading UK Fountain Pens.
Falling Out of Love With a Pen (via InkJournal). There are many reasons why we sell off portions of our collections/accumulations, and frequently it has nothing to do with the quality of the product itself.
What is the Right Size for My Pen Collection? (via mnmlscholar). As we dive further into this hobby, we all accumulate more than we use at any one time. Yet we can easily get rid of some things yet persistently hang on to others. How many is “too many”? One size doesn’t fit all.
Ink Review: Laban Inks (via Well-Appointed Desk). Laban’s “Mythology” Series of inks has been wildly popular, with five new colors recently released. I’ve seen several of these in person and find certain colors (Demeter Brown, Hera Green) subtly fascinating.
Ink Line Preview: Monarca Stationery (via Well-Appointed Desk). I have samples of all Monarca Inks in for review at the moment, and will be working them through the rotation to get you my own thoughts as soon as possible!

In Case You Missed It

Back from vacation! From “balmy” 52 degree weather in North Florida to 25 degree weather in Tennessee, with a bonus ice storm! Anyway, it gave me the chance to knock a few things off my review list, including the Wingback Mechanical Pencil in brass, and two beautiful inks by Vinta in the Philippines: Aegean Armada and Leyte Sea Kelp.

New in the Shop This Week

Monday saw the arrival of four new TWSBI models that we introduced to the Curated Shop: the Vac700R in the rainbow anodized “Iris” finish, the Vac Mini, the Diamond Mini, and the latest TWSBI ECO release in Jade. We also restocked on Midori MD Paper, including the MD Cotton Notebooks in the larger F3 and F2 sizes, MD Cotton writing pads, and dated and undated planner stickers. Plus, a few more:

TWSBI

Stálogy

Life Paper

Caran d'Ache

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Vinta Inks Aegean Armada and Leyte Sea Kelp

Ink Review: Vinta Aegean Armada and Leyte Sea Kelp

February 5, 2022

I included both Vinta and Ferris Wheel Press in my year-end review as favorite ink lines that I discovered in 2021. This was somewhat unusual for me - typically I avoid boutique inks, particularly those from non-pen manufacturers that focus on special properties such as sheen, shading, and shimmer. Not that these inks are dangerous to use in your pens - they hardly ever are - it’s just that they don’t usually work well for everyday writing, and I value inks that dry quickly and perform decently on cheap paper given the demands of my day job. Vinta seems to have found a sweet spot in their formulation, however, because nearly all of the inks I’ve tried not only work well in most fountain pens and on most papers, but they dry fairly quickly and, with respect to the “shaders”, remain legible even in extra-fine (and ultra extra-fine) nibs.

Vinta Aegean Armada

After avoiding the color family for the better part of my pen “career,” I’ve developed a bit of a thing for grey inks over the past six months. Currently, my two favorites are Scribo Grigio and the ink pictured here, Vinta Aegean Armada 1944. Inspired by the Battle of Leyte, the largest naval engagement in military history, Armada was designed to mimic the color of a fleet of ships reflected onto the sea, “which can transform its color from grey to blue to everything in between.” Armada shades beautifully - in finer nibs it will appear as a darker grey, and with broader nibs you will see some double shading that includes steel blue and even faint pink hues. Armada behaves very well on most papers, even cheap office paper as long as you use a finer nib.

Vinta Inks Aegean Armada Double Shading — Vinta Aegean Armada was one of the most difficult inks to photograph accurately - it’s hard to show the pinkish/reddish double shading that comes through as the ink dries, but you can sort of see it here.

If I had to pick an ink to which I could compare Armada, it would be Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun, only darker and with slightly more depth to keep it interesting. I’ve tried to love Fuyu-Syogun (“Old Man Winter”), but it’s just not quite legible enough for me to use in everyday writing.

Vinta Leyte Sea Kelp

In another nod to Philippines history, Vinta’s Leyte “Sea Kelp” green pays tribute to not only the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, but the area’s kelp industry. Leyte green is intended to evoke “the color of kelp as it floats in the bright clear seawaters of Leyte.” I’ve been looking for a solid mid-tone green ink, and this one perfectly fills that gap in the collection.

Vinta Leyte undergoes a bit of a color shift as it dries. In the first picture, it appears darker when wet, but as the ink dries it takes on a slightly more yellow-olive hue.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Count me in as a big fan of Vinta Inks. I have three bottles in my current collection, as well as a handful of samples, so look for more reviews to come. Vinta regularly releases new colors and store collaborations, so keep an eye on their website and social media for updates.

Vinta Ink Leyte Sea Kelp Bottle — I love the design of the Vinta Inks bottle and packaging.

You can purchase Vinta Inks directly from the manufacturer, located in the Philippines, or from authorized retailers around the world. Our friends at Vanness Pens stock the entire Vinta lineup, which is where I acquired the inks pictured here. Vinta Inks come in 30ml amber glass bottles, priced at $12.50, placing Vinta in the lower-middle price segment. In my opinion, they’re excellent value given the combination of quality and unique colors and properties they offer.

I purchased the inks featured in this review at Vanness Pens, with my own funds for my own use, though I did receive a discount on the purchase. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, and I was not otherwise compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Deals & Drops: New TWSBI Fountain Pens, More Midori, and Clairefontaine Looseleaf Last Call!

February 3, 2022

Well that was a week! I had a bunch of stuff waiting when I returned from vacation, including a small batch of TWSBI Vac700R “Iris” Fountain Pens, the new TWSBI ECO Jade, and a restock on Midori! A very special addition this week is the “B” grade version of the Tombow 2558 woodcase pencil, which is the exact pencil I used to discover this particular brand, all the way back in 2013. It’s just as smooth and well-behaved (i.e. non-smeary) as the HB, only a touch darker, for those of us who love our softer graphite. Happy Shopping!

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TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen. Over the years, TWSBI has reworked the Vac700R to improve ink flow and reliability, and also introduced the unique “Iris” finish with the blue-purple-holograph-like anodization on the trim. Vacuum-fill fountain pens work exceptionally well for travel, since you can take advantage of the “shut-off valve” to protect yourself from burps and cap leaks.
TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pen. In addition to the full-size Vac700R, I’m happy to offer the Vac Mini, a pocket-sized version of the Vac700R that posts. Looking for a high-capacity pocket fountain pen that features the same shutoff-valve filling system? Read my review of this pen here.
TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen. Another pocketable favorite! The Diamond Mini is compact when capped, yet expands to full size when posted and keeps TWSBI’s excellent piston filling system.
TWSBI ECO Jade Fountain Pen. The latest ECO release is a beauty! The ECO Jade features a pale green cap and finial in a slightly translucent light green hue.
Tombow 2558 Woodcase Pencils. As mentioned above, my favorite yellow (or orange) No. 2 pencil is now available in “B” hardness! Sold individually and by the dozen.
Midori MD Diary Stickers. Turn any notebook into a planner! These dated and undated planner stickers adhere to a page of your notebook of choice, and since they use Midori MD Paper, they’re fountain pen friendly. We have small and medium sizes.
Midori MD Fountain Pen. A simple pen with an excellent nib, adjusted to a slightly downturned angle to offer a smooth writing experience, especially for those new to fountain pens or who write with a bit of a heavy hand.
Hightide Sandglasses. These multicolored hourglasses are one of my favorite desk accessories, offering a gentle analog alternative to a buzzing timer or cell phone alarm, especially when you want to work in intervals. Available in 30, 15, 5, and 3-minute increments.
Hightide Folding Metal Book Stands. The demand for these things continues to amaze me! I use mine daily, and it folds flat to easily fit in my briefcase for portability between the home office and work.
Clairefontaine Looseleaf Paper. It’s almost last call for this shipment! I still have packs of the A5 looseleaf and A4 booklets (50-ct). Definitely bringing this one back!

Pencil Review: Wingback Mechanical Pencil in Brass

February 2, 2022

Like their machined pen counterparts, machined mechanical pencils have grown in popularity over the past five years or so, with many of these brands vying for top billing in the “buy it once/use it forever” category. People get emotionally attached to their mechanical pencils, possibly more so than any other tool or stationery item, and it’s not uncommon to find people still using the same drafting pencil they purchased in high school or college twenty or thirty years later. If you’re looking for such a workhorse, why not consider a high-quality, machined metal pencil that’s guaranteed for 30 years?

Wingback is a UK-based company that makes a variety of stationery and lifestyle products, ranging from pens and pencils to hip flasks and leather wallets. The company presents itself as “a 100 year company and antidote to disposable culture,” offering a 30-day return period and a 30-year guarantee on all of its products. After a month or so of experiencing the Wingback Mechanical Pencil, I can easily see it lasting that long (or more likely, even longer).

All of Wingback’s writing instruments - there’s also a pen - are machined from brass or stainless steel. The pencil has a shorter length and wider diameter than your typical drafting pencil, which helps significantly with balance. If there’s one drawback to a machined metal mechanical pencil, it’s weight, and a combination of weight and length can throw off the balance for some users, leading to hand fatigue and even more frequent lead breakage. Though shorter than I’m used to, the Wingback rests perfectly in the web of my hand. The subtle knurling on the barrel offers excellent grip and control without sacrificing comfort, though knurling is always a matter of personal preference.

Wingback Brass Pencil in Brass with Knurling — I opted for the .7mm. With a heavier pencil, I sometimes find that .5mm leads tend to break more frequently, especially at the softer B and 2B hardnesses.

Clearly, the Wingback Mechanical Pencil has been designed and created as an all-day, everyday writing instrument. (In other words, what I’d call a workhorse.) Though it’s a bit more complex to refill than the average mechanical pencil, the Wingback holds a massive number of leads inside the metal barrel. Wingback pegs this number at 40, and I haven’t done an official test, but I was easily able to fit an entire pack of Pentel 2B leads, which will take me at least a year to use up. The pencil features a retractable pipe, making it suitable for pocket carry. One drawback, however, is the lack of an integrated eraser. That’s not an issue for me, since I rarely use mechanical pencil erasers in favor of better stand-alone options, but those who don’t want to carry a separate eraser should be aware.

Wingback Brass Pencil Mechanism with Leads — The Wingback Mechanical Pencil is machined in England, with the internal pencil mechanism made in Japan. The pencil is capable of holding an absolutely massive number of pencil leads inside the barrel, so you should rarely have to refill.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you appreciate the look and durability of a machined mechanical pencil, but worry that many of the models currently on the market are too heavy or unbalanced for your hand, you should consider the Wingback Mechanical Pencil. Personally, I love the “buy it once” philosophy Wingback espouses, and I especially appreciate the large lead capacity and retractable pipe, which lands this pencil squarely within “portable workhorse” territory. If you’re the type of person who loves to have a single pen or pencil in your bag, at hand and always ready, you can opt for the Wingback Mechanical Pencil without any concern over whether it will be ready to go.

Wingback Mechanical Pencil Compared Against Rotring and Modern Fuel — The Wingback Mechanical Pencil, second from left, shown here alongside the Rotring 600, Modern Fuel Mechanical Pencil, and Rotring 800.

You can purchase the Wingback Mechanical Pencil directly from Wingback, starting at £95.00 in either the brass shown here or stainless steel. Wingback has also started to offer special finishes, including a “Black Steel” version that’s now sold out, as well as an artist collaboration with cartography studio Lást Maps. Given the quality of the work and the fact that I would expect this product to last for many years, I consider Wingback’s pricing more than fair, and even a good value. If you’re in the market for a machined pen or pencil, I would highly encourage you to check out their offerings.

Wingback provided me with the pencil featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. This post does not contain affiliate links, and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

Shop Update: Back from Break with New TWSBIs!

February 1, 2022

After a much-needed break, I’m happy to be back with several new TWSBI models for the shop! As of this morning, we now offer the TWSBI Vac700R in the coveted “Iris” finish, the TWSBI Vac Mini, the TWSBI Diamond Mini, and the TWSBI ECO in Jade. Quantities of certain nib sizes may be limited on the Vac 700R Iris and the ECO Jade, but I stocked what I could get. I’ve also restocked most other TWSBI fountain pens in popular nib sizes such as fine and medium, and I am pleased to offer the latest TWSBI Ink releases, including Forest Green, Grape, Mandarin Orange, Crimson, and Navy. Happy Shopping!