Sunday Reading for March 6, 2022

March 6, 2022

Responsibility for Nibs (via Dapprman). Personally, I believe that responsibility for nib quality control must rest with the manufacturer. While I am perfectly happy to test fountain pens for customers before I ship them on, I’ll only do this upon request and usually limit myself to a visual inspection - there is a sizable number of people who do not want their new pens inked (or even the seal on the box broken) even if this is the only way for a retailer to really know whether a pen writes correctly.
How Does Nib Size Affect the Look of Your Handwriting (via Fountain Pen Love). Personally, I find that my own handwriting looks best in a fine/medium nib, with a soft cursive italic grind.
Staying Organized: Midori 1 Day 1 Page (via A Fleeting Ripple). The Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Planner and undated Codex notebooks are exceptionally fountain pen friendly and an excellent option for a daily planner. (We sell the undated version in our own Curated Shop.)
Ink Review #657: Sheaffer Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I haven’t inked this one up in a while (and probably actually need to pick up a fresh bottle in Baltimore next week), but Sheaffer Skrip Red is one of the all-time great red inks out there.
The Many Faces of Shading Inks, or My Love Affair with Dry Inks (via mnmlscholar). This article does a great job of breaking down the variations in different shading inks, and it’s also a great reminder that drier-writing inks have their place too.
A Fine Entry Indeed: the Gravitas Entry (via UK Fountain Pens). Chalk up another win for Gravitas - again, I need to get my hands on one of these, although I’m thinking I might opt for the larger “Sentry” fountain pen.
Kobe 45 Silhouette Green (via Mountain of Ink). I love these dark grey-green inks from Sailor. There are many good ones out there.
My Plan for the London Pen Show this Weekend (via UK Fountain Pens). Things didn’t settle down enough for me to attend the London Show this Spring, but it’s still on my radar. Just looking at Anthony’s plans makes me envious!
Esterbrook Needle Point Nib Launch (via Esterbrook). A new custom grind from Esterbrook is available, offered in collaboration with Kirk Speer of Pen Realm.
Ink Review: Monarca Part 1 (via Well-Appointed Desk). I continue to be impressed with Monarca’s inks, and Jesi reviews three great colors here.

In Case You Missed It…

I had a busy week, between getting ready for the upcoming Baltimore Pen Show, the day job, and completing a long awaited review of the Schon DSGN PEEK-a-Boo fountain pen! I also wrote a piece revisiting some of my favorite desk pads, in conjunction with the launch of some new WMS + Co products (discussed more below).

Check Out New Offerings From the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Be Sure to Sign Up for the Monthly Newsletter

I spent most of last weekend listing the newly arrived series of desk pads from WMS + Co, which are available in several different shapes, sizes, and colors, and all of which feature a massive number of pages made from heavy paper stock. (The white handles fountain pen ink quite well, the color-slicked paper is definitely more for pencils and gel/roller/ballpoints, though some fountain pen inks might have success.) We also received a full restock of Clairefontaine paper, including French-ruled notebooks, Triomphe writing pads, and the 1951 Series A5 Notebooks!

On Friday I also sent out the first monthly shop newsletter, which will send you shop news on new releases, pre-sales, and special offers directly to your inbox no more than once per month. (I hate daily/weekly spam just as much as you do.) You can check it out here, along with the first offer, 10% off dated and undated planners using the coupon code PLANNER10 at checkout. After this month, the newsletter and any included offers will be available to subscribers only.

Life Paper

Clairefontaine Paper

Tomoe River 68 gsm

Book Darts

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, and a bunch of new gently used products just hit the Patreon store page this past week!

Baltimore Pen Show 2019 Throwback — A throwback to Saturday at the 2019 BWI Pen Show!

Pen Show Prep 2022: Back to Baltimore!

March 5, 2022

This weekend will probably be consumed by getting caught up on shipping shop orders and cleaning/re-inking pens as I get ready for - you guessed it - my first pen show of the year and one of my favorite stops on the show circuit! The Baltimore-Washington International Pen Show isn’t the largest of the shows, but it’s very well-attended and features a diverse array of vendors and after-hours events. Ever since I had to miss the Philadelphia Pen Show in January, I’ve been looking forward to attending Baltimore. Read on to see how I’m getting ready and how to get in touch if you’re attending the show.

Are You Planning to Attend Your First Pen Show? Here’s a Short Recap of How I Prepare

For a more in-depth discussion of pen shows and why you should consider visiting, check out my previous “Pen Show Primer” series, including Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show; Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show; and Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show. Today I’ll briefly run through my favorite tips for making your pen show experience successful.

Check the List of Exhibitors. While the current list of exhibitors who will be attending Baltimore isn’t 100% accurate (it still shows T.G.S. attending as a vendor, for example), it will give you an idea of what to expect and how to prioritize if you have limited time at the show. I highly recommend purchasing the weekend or VIP pass if one is available, since it let’s you attend during non-public hours and get a slight head start on the rush.
Make a Short List of “Must-See” Vendors, Especially Small Makers and Nib Workers. The wonderful thing about pen shows is that they give you an opportunity to see in person those smaller makers and vendors who don’t have a storefront or sell through traditional retail channels. The downside is that quantity is often limited, especially on “show-exclusive” releases, so if there is a vendor who you really want to see, visit them first. For example, Franklin-Christoph releases a tray of prototypes first thing in the morning on each day of the show, and these go fast. Similarly, Schon DSGN often brings new finishes of their Pocket Six and other pens to the show, so if this is a pen on your list and you want to have your pick of colors, get there early, preferably on Friday. The Franklin-Christoph and Schon DSGN tables are often my first stop, after I get on the list for nib grinder(s) if I want to have a nib ground or a pen tuned. (Many nib grinders are now allowing you to make appointments ahead of time, so check their websites to see.)
Set a Budget. It’s REALLY EASY to get overwhelmed and spend more money than you can/want to spend without realizing it. (Trust me on this.) Back when vendors operated on a mostly cash-only basis, it was easier to stay on budget because you had to go to an ATM, and mercifully the ATMs at the show hotels often ran out of money and saved you from yourself. These days, with the advent of payment apps, most people accept credit cards, Venmo, or PayPal and you need to pay close attention to be sure that you don’t find yourself needing to unload a large portion of your pen collection when you get back home in order to pay your show bills.
Take at Least One Seminar or Workshop. One of the reasons I love the Baltimore Show is the range of non-shopping activities that are scheduled throughout the weekend. This year’s lineup includes three calligraphy classes, a Zentangles class, and multiple seminars on pen collecting/repair, in addition to a “Fountain Pens 101” session for those just getting into this hobby.
Save Time, A Little Bit of Money, and Energy for Dinner and After-Hours Events. At night I typically have dinner with friends and then hang out in the hotel lobby/bar area sharing pens, inks, and show acquisitions. If safety concerns permit it, try to spend at least one evening visiting with other attendees and vendors. It’s the best way to not only make friends but to have the opportunity to handle and write with pretty much any pen you could ever want to try. Most people in this community are kind and willing to share their knowledge - I always bring a few cases full of pens for people to try out.

Lochby Tool Roll For Baltimore — The Lochby Tool Roll is coming to Baltimore! The two pens on the far right are vintage Parker Vacumatics I need to have restored. The rest are pens that I currently have inked up that I’m in the process of reviewing and/or will bring for after-hours fun.

What to Bring to a Pen Show

This is pretty straightforward and doesn’t change too much from year to year:

A bag that's comfortable to carry, and shoes that are comfortable to stand in all day. You will likely spend a lot of time on your feet, and unless you have a room at the hotel, space to sit will be limited in the ballroom and there won’t be a safe place to set your bag down. (Unfortunately, there has been a rash of pen show thefts this year, so I would not recommend leaving your pens or bag unsupervised anywhere.)
Water and Snacks. Food at hotel restaurants can be expensive, and since many pen shows are located in hotels near the airport, there aren't great options for shopping nearby. Bring a couple of snack bars, a bag of nuts, or whatever high-energy food you prefer. Please don’t forget to eat and hydrate!
Paper to test inks and pens. Some vendors will let you test a pen before you buy it by dipping it in ink, and all nib grinders/tuners will want you to write with the pen they are working on. I carry two types of paper with me to pen shows: Tomoe River paper and a Write Notepads spiral notebook, not just because they are guaranteed to be ink-friendly, but because it’s the paper I tend to use for most of my writing.
Pens that you want to share, trade, or have worked on. I typically bring a dozen or so pens with me to shows, though I know people who bring many more. For pen show travel, I’ve carried both pen cases and pen rolls, though I’ve been leaning more towards pen rolls lately.

Dip Pens for Ink testing — This year I’ll likely bring dip pens to test inks if people are willing to share. Shown here are the Drillog and a Kakimori Brass Nib.

What’s on My Radar for This Year’s Baltimore Pen Show?

Baltimore will be my first pen show of 2022, and I have several things I want to check out, including the new Schon DSGN Anniversary Edition Ballpoint, and of course the full-size fountain pens that I missed seeing in person when I couldn’t attend Philadelphia. I’m also looking for several additional Laban Greek Mythology Inks, and a few vintage pens to add to my rotation.

If you’re going to the show, hit me up via e-mail (joe@gentlemanstationer.com) or Instagram (@gentlemanstationer). I’d love to say hello! While I won’t be attending as an exhibitor this year due to work and family commitments on either side of the weekend that don’t leave me enough time to get ready, I plan to be there in my personal capacity Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning.

Schon-DSGN-Pocket-Six — Looking to grab the latest release from SchonDSGN? Get to the table early!

Get Your Shop Orders in This Weekend

Fair warning: Because I’m attending the show next week (among other commitments), I’ll be on the road from Thursday, March 10 through Friday, March 18 and shipping will be a bit slower than my usual three business days. If you’ve had your eye on anything in the shop, or need anything to arrive the week I’m away, be sure to get your orders in by Tuesday just to be safe. I will make one shipping run Thursday morning and then I’m off to Baltimore. See you there!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Pear Green — Photo courtesy of TWSBI

Thursday Drops: Announcing the New TWSBI Swipe in Pear Green

March 3, 2022

This week TWSBI announced the launch of the new TWSBI Swipe in “Pear Green,” which will be released on March 18, with pre-orders potentially available a few days beforehand, depending on stock. If you’re unfamiliar with the TWSBI Swipe, it’s TWSBI’s latest entry in their fountain pen lineup - a cartridge-converter pen that ships with not one, but two, different high-capacity converters and represents tremendous value, both for those new to fountain pens as well as to experienced users looking for an everyday workhorse. The Pear Green TWSBI Swipe will be priced standard at $26.99.

TWSBI Swipe Converters — Each Swipe ships with a cartridge, a traditional twist converter, and a plunger-style converter. Photo courtesy of TWSBI

If you’d like to learn more about this pen, you can check out our writeup of the TWSBI Swipe. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized TWSBI retailer, and we currently have the following TWSBI fountain pens in stock, in addition to the current colors of the TWSBI Swipe:

TWSBI Diamond 580 Piston Filler. The classic TWSBI is still probably my favorite, overall. The pen that started it all is now available in a variety of colors and trims, and the nib units are still interchangeable and available for purchase separately.
TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen. Do you love the idea of the TWSBI Diamond 580’s integrated piston filling system, but are you in the market for something a bit smaller, or something that posts? The Diamond Mini is a pocketable piston filler that expands into a full-size pen when posted.
TWSBI Vac700 Iris. TWSBI’s latest . We currently have one pen in stock with a broad nib, and will try to get more as soon as stock becomes available.
TWSBI Vac Mini. Like the its sibling the Diamond Mini, the TWSBI Vac Mini is a smaller version of the Vac700R, only more portable and more postable. This little pen holds a ton of ink, and the shutoff valve in the vacuum filling system makes it a great choice for a pocket fountain pen.
TWSBI ECO. Last but certainly not least, the TWSBI ECO has arguably stolen the crown from the Diamond 580 as TWSBI’s “flagship” fountain pen. The colorful ECO features an excellent integrated piston filling system for only $32.99, and comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, including two different rose gold trim models.

Learn More About TWSBI Fountain Pens By Visiting The Review Archive!

I’ve written extensively about TWSBI pens for years on the site, and past content has been consolidated into the TWSBI section of the Fountain Pen Review Archive. Past articles include a detailed comparison of the TWSBI Diamond 580 with the TWSBI ECO, and why you might prefer one over the other, as well as reviews of the Vac700R, the Vac Mini, and various other TWSBI models.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all other brands stocked.

Pen Review: The Schon DSGN Peek-A-Boo: So What Exactly Is "PEEK", Anyway?

March 2, 2022

Schon DSGN inserted itself into the “workhorse pen” conversation last year, with the release of their “engineered plastics” collection featuring two different types of Ultem, a “semi-transparent high-strength plastic” that has rapidly become a favorite medium for pen makers. Another such material, “PEEK” (polyetherkeretone), is similarly indestructible, with manufacturers traditionally using the material in aerospace, oil and gas, medical, and other applications that value durability and resistance to extreme temperatures and other environmental stressors. So of course it was only a matter of time before Ian introduced a third pen to the lineup!

Can you spot the ghost icon?

Schon DSGN released its “PEEK-A-Boo” edition fountain pen around Halloween, hence the name and subtly cheeky ghost engraving around the cap (which I love). Other than the PEEK material and this tiny flourish, the design of this pen is identical to the Ultem fountain pens, which feature a streamlined, lightweight design that’s extremely comfortable to use; five integrated o-rings that allow you to easily eyedropper the pen if cartridge-converter filling systems aren’t your thing; and the versatility of JoWo No. 6 nibs. You can read more about the design and usability of this particular pen design in my writeup of the Ultem fountain pens, and if you want to learn how to maximize the versatility of JoWo compatibility, check out this post about combining nib housings from Flexible Nib Factory with your favorite gold nibs from other brands like Platinum, Pilot, and even Sailor.

Schon DSGN Engineered Plastics Collection — The full Schon DSGN “Engineered Plastics” collection, from left: PEEK, Amber Ultem, and Black Ultem fountain pens

What I find most interesting about the success of the PEEK-A-Boo fountain pen is how it’s held its own against the “brightly colored sticks of plastic” that seemingly dominate the pen hobby these days. The success of pens made from materials like PEEK and Ultem show that enthusiasts value craftsmanship and design choices beyond bright-and-shiny visuals, and hopefully more penmakers will take notice. In my opinion, there’s been such a focus on cranking out pens in increasingly crazy color variations, that those of us who appreciate a more understated, functional aesthetic have felt left by the wayside. Schon DSGN’s engineered plastic collection provides a suitable counterweight to the rest of their lineup, and for this reason I find that they have one of the more balanced selections of pens on offer.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Sure, PEEK may not be as traditionally eye-catching as Ian’s latest color-anodized creations, but like Ultem, it has it’s own functional, industrial aesthetic that to me evokes nostalgia for the era of similarly hued 1980s and early 1990s personal computers. (A matte version of this pen would be awesome.) If you’re a fan of excellent craftsmanship and modern industrial design, and like your everyday carry both versatile and indestructible, you won’t want to pass this one up. The two Schon Ultem pens and the PEEK-a-boo make an awesome three-pen set for your collection.

Schon DSGN PEEK Fountain Pen Franklin-Christoph Flex Nib — I have my PEEK-A-Boo fountain pen set up with a Franklin-Christoph Stainless Steel Flex nib, one of the benefits of the JoWo-compatible nib system.

You can purchase the PEEK (Peek-A-Boo Edition) fountain pen directly from Schon DSGN. The pens are priced at $275, which represents a slight upcharge from the Ultem pens. As with the Schon Ultem, these are small-batch pens made from unique materials that impact the price, which to me is more than fair, but this pen probably won’t - and isn’t intended to - appeal to everyone.

Schon DSGN provided the PEEK fountain pen pictured here for review purposes, free of charge. Many thanks to Schon DSNG for making this review possible. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and this post does not contain any paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Desk Pads, Revisited

March 1, 2022

The desk pad is probably my most-used stationery item that’s not a pen. Whether it’s having a pad of paper readily available to jot notes or for actual drafting, a landscape-style writing pad is one thing that I can’t live without, and this has remained consistent over the years. Note that here I’m drawing a distinction between a legal-style writing pad and a true desk pad, which in my opinion should be designed to lie horizontally across a desk (or beneath a keyboard) for maximum accessibility and utility during the workday.

The Baron Fig Mastermind still sees a lot of use. (Though this is not my current desk setup.)

The good news is that the number of desk pads on the market has exploded in recent years. Baron Fig kicked off this trend a few years ago with the release of their “Mastermind” Desk Pad, which remains a favorite. But what other options are out there? I’ve expanded my own paper usage and have been doing some exploring as I’ve stocked the T.G.S. shop.

Midori MD Paper Pad. Available in both A4 and A5 sizes, Midori binds their writing pads on two edges, which reduces both the likelihood of the pages tearing before you’re finished with them, and “curling” of the paper, which can sometimes happen if you’ve been working all day with your wrists resting on your desk pad.
Midori MD Cotton Paper Pad. Midori’s white cotton paper is slightly absorbent and offers a softer writing experience. The MD Cotton pad is also available in both A4 and A5, in the same double-bound format as the standard MD pad.
Landscape Notebooks with Perforated Pages. There are many companies who make landscape-style spiral notebooks, but in order for the notebook to function as a desk pad, it needs perforated pages. An excellent option is the Maruman Mnemosyne Notebook in the grid/graph ruling.
Levenger “Freeleaf” Oasis Desk Pad. When I want to mind-map on paper, or need a (much) larger canvas to sketch out ideas, I break out my Levenger Oasis Pad, a birthday gift from many years ago. I have a leather pad backer that holds the refills and pulls double duty as either a lap desk or a blotter.

These are only a few of the many options available, and of course you can always turn a blank or dot-grid writing pad sideways and create your own “landscape-style” desk pad if you’re in a pinch. That said, I tend to rely on dedicated, purpose-built desk pads for most of my own daily work.

WMS & Co. Desk Pad Dated Keyboard — WMS & Co’s keyboard-sized desk planner - key if you want to jot notes organized by day, or if you want “planner-style” structure without an actual planner. (Just tear off and toss the sheet when you’re done with it.)

New Desk Pad Discoveries from WMS & Co.

As I’ve worked to expand my own retail offerings, I’ve added some new desk pads to the store. I’ve been following WMS & Co’s paper lineup for the past year, and what’s caught my eye is their series of absolutely massive desk pads, which contain anywhere from 180-225 sheets of paper and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The white pads use a very heavy paper stock, and work well with most pen and ink combinations I have tried so far. There is also a set of what WMS & Co refers to as “ColorPads,” featuring grey, blush, and yellow paper, which are a lot of fun to write on and look great on a desk. (As you might expect with color-slicked paper, your success with fountain pen ink is going to vary wildly, but colored paper is an excellent medium for using your colored pencils, white gel pens, and markers.)

WMS & Co. also makes smaller, 74-page “Planner Pads” in both “desk” and “keyboard” size. I’ve been using the keyboard-size planer for the past week, and it’s worked extremely well for me. The paper is the same heavy stock as in the larger WMS & Co. desk pads, and the planner pads are thick enough to lie flat.