Sunday Reading for January 8, 2023: A Long One

1. 2022 Penwrapped (via Leigh Reyes). If Leigh has a post up, of course it’s going to headline. You should sign up for next year’s pen show courses right now.

2. My 2023 Theme: Release (via From the Pen Cup). Love the theme, Mary!

3. 2022 Pen Show Recap & What’s Next for 2023 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Not a lot to disagree with here! I hope Kimberly keeps up with her show rating system this year.

4. Pen Resolutions Tag 2023 (via Rachel’s Reflections). Resolution for 2023: Read Rachel’s blog more regularly, because I always discover new makers in her articles.

5. Putting Pen to Paper (via Fountain Pen Love). Welcome back John! It’s always fun to see how people have been using their pens over the past year.

6. Pen Review: Schon Full Sized Peek-A-Boo Pen (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Peek attracts strong opinions - people either love the taupe/beige appearance or find it boring. I own two Peek pens, so you know where I fall.

7. Wancher Sekai Tsugaru Urushi Midori-Age (via Rants of the Archer). I have one of these pens as well, and have been holding it back for review because I was told they weren’t yet available. I guess that’s changed!

8. Hack Idea: A Traveling Dip Pen (via Well-Appointed Desk). A portable dip pen has become a must-have addition to my pen show travel kit.

9. Pilot 78G Fountain Pen (via Blake’s Broadcast). I owned a Pilot 78G years ago, and found it to be a very nice budget fountain pen, especially with the available broad stub.

10. Ink of the Week (via Fountain Pen Love). People attempt all sorts of systems and techniques to make sure all of their various pens and inks get used. I love reading these posts and coming up with my own “system experiments.”

11. The New Year Diary, 2023 (via Fountain Pen Blog). Could Moleskine be moving to more fountain pen friendly paper in certain of their releases?

12. Diamine Writer’s Blood on Kokuyo Perpanep Zara Zara (via Inkredible Colours). I was more excited by the name of this ink rather than the ultimate appearance. The color, while nice, doesn’t necessarily have that “blood red” tone I’d be looking for but Diamine does have many other options in the same color family.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I continued to talk about some of my 2023 goals and aspirations, including developing a more consistent journaling/writing habit over the coming year. Related to this last post, I published a short shop list of items that I enjoy and/or recommend for journaling. And last but not least, the first review of 2023 is live: Ranga ebonite fountain pens, where I look at both the Abhimanyu and Bamboo models.

Guess what arrived along with our Midori/Traveler’s Restock?

This Week in the Curated Shop

In addition to the Kokuyo Field Notebooks pictured above, we are fully restocked on most Midori and Traveler’s Notebook products, including the Midori MD Codex, Midori Multi-Year Journals, and nearly all of the Traveler’s Notebook Specialty Paper refills and other accessories (with the exception of the B-Sides and Rarities, which continue to be in short supply and on backorder). Before the end of the year, we also received a restock of the TWSBI Precision line of technical ballpoints and mechanical pencils, which have impressed me with their solid build and design. Look for a review of these in the future, and stay tuned for new 2023 arrivals! Finally, several new items hit the T.G.S. “Gently Used” sale page. These can be combined with Curated Shop orders to reach the free shipping threshold of $75.

TWSBI

Midori

Pencils

Gently Used

A T.G.S. Patreon Ask

In a special post from earlier in the week, I talked about T.G.S. Patreon and how the support/membership program will expand in 2023 to include not only access to meetups and early gently used sales, but more exclusive content, including the potential return of Digital Divide. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. In addition to purchases from The Curated Shop, Patreon allows us to continue to grow the site without relying on advertisements and affiliate marketing.

New-to-Me Pen Brand: Ranga Fountain Pens

As the years go by, it gets harder to write truly fresh review content because, eventually, you get to a point where you’ve reviewed most major pen brands and you learn that much of what is released into the market is either duplicative of something else a company has already released (i.e., a “limited edition” that’s simply a different color) and/or that even most “new” designs are derivative of others. Having done this for going on nine years, it’s rare that I find an entire brand that I’ve never reviewed, much less tried, but for some reason that’s how it ended up with Ranga.

Premium red woodgrain (sometimes called “rosewood”) ebonite: one of my favorite materials.

Ranga is a family-run Indian manufacturer that has been hand-making pens for more than 50 years, and has sold through various retail outlets in the United States. Currently, their main U.S. retailer is Peyton Street Pens, whom I always visit at the San Francisco Pen Show. Teri and Nivardo have a ton of unique finds at their table, including exclusive designs and custom nib grinds that they offer on their pens. I’ve admired the selection of Ranga ebonite pens before, but never had money left in the budget at the end of the show to take one home. That changed this year, especially since I found myself short of pens to fill a nib grinding appointment with C.Y. of Tokyo Station Pens.

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The Ranga Abhimanyu (left) compared against the Ranga Bamboo (right)

Ranga Abhimanyu and Ranga Bamboo

I chose two very different Ranga models to test: the Abhimanyu, which is a smaller streamlined fountain pen with peaked ends somewhat reminiscent of a Nakaya Piccolo but with a more pronounced shape; and the Bamboo, which, as you might have guessed, is shaped like a piece of Bamboo. I opted for premium ebonite on both pens, with the Abhimanyu featuring a black and yellow pattern (which combined looks almost dark green) and the Bamboo a red woodgrain pattern (which I’ve seen described as “rosewood” elsewhere).

The sections on both of these Ranga pens are exceptionally comfortable.

The Abhimanyu and Bamboo fountain pens are distinctive designs, so you can’t really compare them. I personally love both, but one design/shape may appeal to you more than others, and if neither of these does it for you, Ranga has close to a dozen more different shapes and sizes available. I will say that the fit and finish on both pens is exceptionally good for the price point. It’s almost unheard of to find handmade, premium ebonite fountain pens of this quality for $100 or less. As you might expect, the pens are cartridge-converter, but like most ebonite pens they are safe to eyedropper provided that you apply silicone grease to the threads.

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The Ranga Abhimanyu, unposted in-hand.

I can’t pick a favorite. The Abhimanyu probably lends itself more to everyday writing, since it’s a compact pen that slips easily into a pen case or sleeve, plus it caps and uncaps with two turns, as opposed to the Bamboo which can take a bit of effort due to the longer section. The Abhimanyu also posts, though not deeply and some may find the posted pen unwieldy. The Bamboo makes an excellent desk pen, and I’ve been using it for longer journaling sessions at night and also for longhand drafting when working from home.

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The Ranga Bamboo in-hand. This pen does not post. (Technically, it can, but it’s ridiculously long and I can’t imagine anyone can actually use it this way.)

Writing Experience

I would consider Ranga fountain pens “user grade” pens in the best sense: They are exceptionally comfortable for longer writing sessions, mainly due to the length and shape of the section. On both models, the longer section offers plenty of room to grip the pen without running afoul of the threads, and on the Bamboo in particular, the grip area is slightly concave, which I find helps compensate for the weight of the larger body and gives the pen a nice balance. Ranga pens all take standard No. 6 JoWo nib units, so you can use the included nib as shipped, easily have the nib ground, or swap in another JoWo nib unit from a brand such as Franklin-Christoph, which I did here on the Bamboo.

Ranga Abhimanyu posted. The pen is long, but the cap is extremely lightweight so I can use it comfortably as needed.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve become something of an ebonite pen enthusiast over the years, with multiple pieces in my collection ranging from lacquered Nakayas to a custom Shawn Newton Prospector to the Nahvalur Nautilus piston filler. Ebonite has a feel to it that is difficult to duplicate elsewhere, reminiscent of the warmth of vintage celluloid (though much less expensive). Opting for ebonite over the more common acrylic or resin can allow you to purchase a unique looking pen with a premium feel at an exceptional value - both of the Ranga fountain pens shown here cost $100 or less. The Bamboo in premium ebonite sells for $100, while the Abhimanyu in premium ebonite retails for $89. Standard ebonite versions are $80 and $72, respectively, with some acrylics also offered. Suffice to say, both models have impressed me and I won’t hesitate to pick up another Ranga if a pen jumps out at me in San Francisco this year.

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Most of my ebonite pen collection, clockwise from top: Peyton Street Pens Custom by Teri, “Navigator by Stacey Robinson, Nahvalur Nautilus in Stylophora Berry; Nahvalur Nautilus Pen Show Edition 2022; Ranga Abhimanyu; Ranga Bamboo; Shawn Newton Prospector in Nikko Ebonite.

Ranga pens can be purchased in the U.S. from Peyton Street Pens, where I acquired the pens pictured in this review. To the extent Peyton Street doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for, you can also order directly from Ranga in India via their website.

I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Learn more about T.G.S. Patreon here, and don’t miss our periodic “Gently Used” sales.

Thursday Drops: Journals, Planners, and Journaling Supplies

It’s no secret that I’m going to lean hard into my journals and planners this year, as 2023 is shaping up to be a busy (yet exciting!) one and I need whatever help I can get to keep myself on track. To read more about what specific notebooks and planners I’m using for this coming year, check out last week’s posts about my personal setup, and also yesterday’s post about journaling goals.

My 5-year Journal is going to look a little funky for the next few days. 2023-ish.

Today, I’m revisiting some of my favorite tools and accessories specifically for writing and journaling - a product category that, at least in my mind, forms the core of the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Enjoy!

UPDATE: I moved several unsold items from the Patreon Sale Page into the main TGS “Gently Used” Page.

1. Midori MD Codex 1 Day 1 Page Notebook. Journalers, planners, and those devoted to a poem-a-day writing regimen love the Midori MD Codex, which is a large Midori MD Paper notebook that contains 360+ pages to use however you wish. Available in blank or dot-grid formats.

2. Midori Multi-Year Journals. One of my personal favorite products by Midori, the multi-year journals come in three, five, and a whopping ten-year format. A fresh restock just arrived so these are ready to ship.

3. Traveler’s Notebooks. The Traveler’s Notebook is one of the single-greatest journals out there, due mainly to its versatility and the ability to customize it to be whatever you want. Choose from a wide range of papers, including Tomoe River (“Lightweight”), Sketch Paper, Watercolor Paper, Kraft Paper for scrapbooking, and more.

4. Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook. Those seeking a traditional clothbound hardcover book to save for posterity will want to consider this offering from Write Notepads.

5. WMS & Co. Sterling Modern Page Markers. While I was counting inventory this past weekend, I discovered that I had an extra set of these handmade sterling page markers, perfect for use as a bookmark or page marker in your notebook or journal.

6. Field Notes “Ignition” Edition. This special release from Field Notes features a three-pack containing two 26-week datebooks plus one “Checklist Journal,” for those who may appreciate a pocket journaling or planning alternative.

7. Hightide Sandglasses. One of the key ways I use my sandglass is to time working sessions to ensure that I take regular breaks, and it’s also a great way to break out 30 or 15-minute journaling sessions. Hourglasses are “gentle” timing devices, so there’s no jarring electronic buzzer or phone alert when it’s finished.

8. Penwell Pen Stand. I keep a Penwell with one fountain pen parked in it at my “journaling station” where I do most of my writing by hand. The Penwell we offer is an exclusive “Aged Red” finish that Good Made Better creates for us here at The Gentleman Stationer, recently reordered to ensure that this is a standing offer for the foreseeable future.

9. Caran d’Ache Bicolor Pencils in Yellow/Graphite or Red/Graphite. One of my personal core journaling tools that I use when I read, allowing me to highlight and annotate passages and make marginalia, then copy the passages into my commonplace book.

10. Washi Tape! Are you into creative journaling, or do you like to tape mementos such as photographs, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia into the pages of your journal? Washi tape (Japanese masking tape) is not only functional, but it’s a fun way to personalize the look of your journal or notebook.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Journaling in 2023: Use It or Lose It

There’s one final New Year’s goal that I haven’t yet started on: Picking a personal daily journal and making time for at least 30 minutes of personal writing every day. This should be easy, right? It’s not as though I suffer from a lack of options around here, with dozens of different notebooks awaiting review, not to mention a retail store where I can “shop” pretty much any time. Regardless, I still struggle with putting pen to paper and actually getting words on the page, and I’ve found myself in a journaling rut for several months now.

How I Plan to Kickstart a Journaling Habit in 2023

When I look to add a good habit (or break a bad one), my main technique is to set an arbitrary goal for myself and start stringing as many successful days together as possible. For example, while I was planning out this post last night, I looked around and grabbed the first five half-finished or just-started notebooks and journals that I could find sitting on or near my desk.

The five notebooks off my shelves, from bottom: Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook, Paper Mind Passepied Notebook (which I’m extremely excited to use since I love this paper), a Letts of London hardcover I was sent for review, a Write Notepads Paper Notebook/Journal, and my Theme System Journal. The last two are half-full and what I plan to finish first.

“At least 30 minutes a day until these five notebooks are full.” Until then, no new notebook purchases for me. It sounds trite, but these sort of mental games keep me on track. What I’ve found more difficult is actually snagging 30 minutes a day to write. I still have a full-time day-job, which for the time being has to take priority over anything else and occupies the overwhelming majority of my time. T.G.S. is my “morning project,” which I work on during the quiet hours before anyone else is awake in the house. When I get home at night, I spend time with my family, eat dinner, and read, often too tired to do much of anything else other than possibly pack a few orders before going to bed. It’s not particularly difficult to find time to jot a few lines in my Midori 5-Year Journal, but I enjoy writing, and I’d like to do more.

Savor the small victories: So far I’ve only screwed up the date on two of my three 2023 5-year journal entries!

So how do I work in a bit of journaling? The obvious answer is to do my daily personal writing during my lunch break - and to actually take a lunch break - as opposed to continuing to work, surf the internet, browse social media, or whatever other bad habits I’ve fallen into. Taking a brief 15-30 minutes to write a few “morning” pages, process what I’ve been reading in my commonplace book, or simply reflect on whatever’s going on in my life is certainly a healthier way to decompress, if only briefly, and break up the work day.

Journaling technique is a topic that I plan to explore further in 2023, both personally and here on the blog. Do you have any favorite journaling techniques that you’d like to share, or tips and tricks for making time to write? If so I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to share them via the “Contact” link above or in the comments.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Check out yesterday’s post for more details about what Patreon membership entails! This post does not contain third-party advertising or affiliate links.

Sunday Reading for January 1, 2022: Happy New Year Edition!

1. No-Buy December: Year in Review (via A Fleeting Ripple). Today’s post will be year-end recap-heavy, I’m going for a modified no-buy 2023, limiting purchases to certain circumstances.

2. Thoughts Heading into 2023 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I agree with Kimberly that this year definitely felt like a whirlwind. We share many overlapping goals for 2023.

3. New Year’s Resolutions 2023 (via Well-Appointed Desk). “Use more of what I have” and “record more of my daily life” resonate with me.

4. My Favorite Five Pen and Ink Combinations from 2022 (via mnmlscholar). Here’s a shout-out to mid-toned grey inks!

5. Year in Review - 2022 Pens and 2022 Top Tens (via Rachel’s Reflections). There are some gorgeous pens featured here in the top ten, including several from companies with which I was not familiar.

6. Greatest of All Time (GOAT) 2022 Fountain Pens (via SBRE Brown). I’m sure many of you have been waiting for this one!

7. 2022: Some of My Fountain Pen Highlights (via Fountain Pen Blog). I love seeing what others picked up, and the directions they are taking with their collections as they evolve.

8. My Fountain Pen Drawings in 2022 (via Inkredible Colours). Speaking of what people do with their pens, this is incredible!

9. My Journey on the Path of Writing Instrument Enlightenment (via KraftyCats). Congratulations to Chloé on the profile in the PCA Pennant magazine!

10. Parker Vacumatic Shadow Wave and How I Look at Vintage Pens (via Writing at Large). This article captures the charming side of vintage pens. Sure, there are frustrations, and they can be high-maintenance, but the character of certain models is irreplaceable.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I finished my 2022 Year-End Review process and started looking forward to 2023, with a post on my personal reflections and goals for the coming year, as well as a post discussing my personal notebook and planner setup to enter the new year.

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This Week in the Curated Shop

Today is the last day for our Year-End/New Year’s Clearance Sale! Take 10% off most items in the shop using the coupon code “LOYAL10.” See this post here for full details on the promotion, and if you’re in the market for a planner/journal (dated or undated) we have you covered! Yesterday we received a massive restock of Lochby products, including the full range of A5 refills for the Field Journal, which features 68gsm Tomoe River paper (at least while it lasts)! We are also fully restocked on the Lochby Field Journals and Lochby Tool Rolls in all colors!

TWSBI

Caran d'Ache

Maruman Mnemosyne

Field Notes

Consider Joining T.G.S. Patreon for 2023!

Yesterday I posted what I consider the first post of the New Year for T.G.S. Patreon: a personal reflection on the current state of my pen collection and how I hope to further refine it in a way that ensures everything gets used - something that’s extremely important to me. This is just a start. One of my personal business-related goals for 2023 is to build out the Patreon program, which currently consists of a core group of my most dedicated supporters, into something that provides more benefits in the way of additional content that differs slightly from what you’ll find on the public blog. To start, I plan to bring back periodic “Digital Divide” content, which I enjoyed writing but for which I previously struggled to find an appropriate platform. Honestly, upon perusing the Digital Divide archive, several of the articles are dated and need to be refreshed, which gives me an excellent starting point. Patreon support levels begin at $3 and $5 per month, priced to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the community while providing me with adequate financial support for the site. A 10% discount applies to annual pledges. In addition to the exclusive content, Patrons receive early access to periodic gently used sales and access to monthly meetups.

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Finally, please note that I appreciate all of my readers, customers, and supporters, regardless of whether you decide to become Patreon members. There will be no change to the frequency or nature of the main T.G.S. content. Patreon’s just intended to be an extra. Best wishes for 2023!