Thursday Drops: What's Coming to San Francisco? More Than I've Ever Taken to a Show!

So as I write this I’m in the Delta Skyclub at LAX, with an hour or so to burn before I make my connection to San Francisco. Thankfully, the Delta App tells me that both of my bags made it as far as Los Angeles, so there’s that! This week’s Thursday Drops will focus heavily on what I’m bringing to the show with me - a selection of products that I think tend to be underpromoted at pen shows, either due to vendors thinking they are too “common” to take to a show despite being excellent (i.e., the Lamy 2000 and Pilot Custom 74), or simply because they aren’t widely distributed (i.e., Lochby cases and paper refills).

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Some items (Pilot Custom 74 fountain pens, certain TWSBI models) are available in limited quantities and therefore will be taken out of stock in the shop later tonight before going live at the show tomorrow. Other items (such as most Lochby goods and the Anterique pens) will remain in stock in the online store AND available in person at the San Francisco Pen Show. Our table is located between Vanness Pens and Enigma Stationery, so we’re in good company. Come see us!

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

1. Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. We will have at the table the excellent Custom 74 demonstrator in all colors and nib sizes. Read our recent review revisited here.

2. Lamy 2000 Pens (and Pencils). A personal favorite across the board, ranging from the iconic fountain pen to the matching rollerball, ballpoint, and mechanical pencil, the latter of which I reviewed yesterday.

3. TWSBI Diamond 580 Sunset Yellow. We have a handful of the latest TWSBI release, in this excellent gold/light orange color. I plan to restock once I return home, in time for the Navy Blue + Bronze Eco release!

4. TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape. TWSBI is doing more with the pocketable Diamond Mini lately, and I love it. The cap threads onto the back of the barrel when posting to create a full-sized writing experience.

5. TWSBI Diamond Mini White and Rose Gold II. Like the White and Rose Gold II Diamond 580, only smaller!

6. Lochby Field Journals. At the last few pen shows I’ve attended, it’s been a toss-up between the Lochby Field Journal and the Lochby Venture Pouch for most popular table item! This go-round I will also have the Lochby refill notebooks to allow you to build out your ideal planner/notebook setup at the table, and you will also be able to add-on accessories such as a pen case or roll.

7. Lochby Venture Pouch. One of those surprising products that sells extremely well in person but struggles online - or maybe it’s not so surprising! A stationery pouch that incorporates a four-slot zippered pen-case into the design is a bit hard to show off without an in-person demo. I did try.

8. Lochby Tool Roll. I failed the DC show crowd by only having a handful of these available for purchase at the table. I’m bringing more to San Francisco!

9. Lochby Quattro 4-Pen Case. The classic four-pen zippered case with offset slots so your pens don’t touch! All three colors will be with me this weekend.

10. Anterique Ballpoint Pens. Finally, the Anterique Ballpoints are one of my favorite discoveries from the past year, and I can’t wait to take them to a show. Everyone who buys one ends up getting more.

I hope to see many of you tomorrow!

Completing the Set: Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil

Due to the combination of timeless design, ergonomics, and quality, the Lamy 2000 series tops my list of personal favorite writing instruments. I started with the Fountain Pen, next acquired the Ballpoint and Multi Pen, and then the Rollerball. But what about the Mechanical Pencil? Lamy offers both .5mm and .7mm mechanical pencil versions of the Lamy 2000 in the same brushed black Makrolon finish as the rest of the line, and I decided it’s long-past time to check it out.

From top, the Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint / Multi Pen, the .5mm Mechanical Pencil, and the Ballpoint pen. You can also see different degrees of wear on the Makrolon as these pens/pencils are used and age. The Ballpoint dates to the 1980s, and is worn smooth. The multi pen is about 5-6 years old and starting to show signs of “break-in,” and the pencil is still brand new and therefore matte. I love the look of aged Makrolon!

In terms of design, the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil offers no surprises - the form factor is more or less the same as the Lamy 2000 Ballpoint in terms of both look and dimensions. The differences are what you would expect: the standard metal knock is replaced by a Makrolon knock/eraser-cover engraved with a “5” or “7” on top to denote the lead width (a thoughtful detail, actually), and the tip of the pencil reveals a bit of the lead protector sleeve.

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As with most mechanical pencils, the knock on the Lamy 2000 can be removed to expose an eraser and to refill the lead.

In the hand, the Makrolon (fiberglass-blend) pencil is of course both lightweight, balanced, and tactile. With a mechanical pencil, you need to pay attention to balance in particular, as an excessively front-weighted or back-weighted pencil can place pressure on the graphite and lead to frequent breakage. I had no such issue here, especially since I use the durable Uni Kuru-Toga or Pentel graphite in most of my mechanical pencils. (The stock Lamy graphite is also very good.)

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In hand, this is a very lightweight mechanical pencil, which feels very much on par with both Lamy 2000 ballpoints (standard and multi pen).

While I have long adored Lamy’s 4-Color Ballpoint (the multi pen), the one knock on it (pun intended) is that it doesn’t include a mechanical pencil option like the Sailor Imperial Black. In my opinion, the next best thing is to have a matching mechanical pencil (or, as in my case, a full matching set ;)).

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All the Lamy 2000 pens! (Well, most of them. I have more.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve been a fan of the Lamy 2000 in all its iterations for well over a decade. The Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is no exception, and if you’re a fan of either the overall Lamy 2000 design aesthetic or simply good quality mechanical pencils in general, this one deserves your consideration. As with other models of the Lamy 2000, we stock them directly in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, in both the .5mm and .7mm variations. The pricing on the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is around $55, which is the lowest price point of any pen or pencil in the Lamy 2000 range, making it a nice entry point if you would like to try the shape and feel before committing to a more expensive item.

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The mechanical pencil is conveniently labeled “5” or “7”, depending on whether it’s the .5mm or .7mm version.

Further Reading on the Lamy 2000

With the mechanical pencil, I’ve now completed my review series on the standard black Makrolon Lamy 2000 models. If you’d like to read up on the other pens in the Lamy 2000 collection, as well as more backstory regarding the history and story behind this Bauhaus-inspired pen design, check out our reviews of the Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Workhorse Pens Series), Ballpoint, Rollerball, and 4 Color Ballpoint - Multi pen.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.

Shop Update: Olive Traveler's Notebooks Are Back in Stock!

Late last week we received a small shipment of the Standard Olive Traveler’s Notebook Covers. Since Traveler’s Company sets up their own table at the San Francisco Pen Show and sells directly there, I probably won’t be bringing these with me unless someone places an order for pen show delivery. We also have a few of the matching Olive Pen Holders, as well as Sticker Release and Accordion Refills in both Standard and Passport sizes, as these were recently added to the standard Traveler’s lineup. Orders will ship until close of business on Wednesday August 23, and even though we’re traveling anything placed over the weekend will probably still fall within the 2-3 business day time frame. Many thanks!

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The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Traveler’s Company products, including the Traveler’s Notebook system as well as the Spiral Ring Notebooks and Watercolor Sketchbooks.

Sunday Reading for August 20, 2023

1. Empty All the Pens (via Stationery Pizza). I have the exact same habit/fear/hang-up of not wanting to flush pens when I have too many inked, and instead try to write them all dry, then ink more pens, then I never get to where I need to be.

2. A New Notebook Is a Decision Prompter (via mnmlscholar). The process of deciding how to use a new notebook is always interesting. Personally, I’m close to finishing several, so I’ll have some decisions to make soon…

3. Journaling Series: 5 Year Diary (via Writing at Large). I’m still following this multi-part series on journaling with rapt attention, as should you if journaling at all interests you.

4. On Grail Pens (via SBRE Brown). Do you subscribe to the concept of grail pens? Do those pens you’ve considered “Grail Pens” in the past actually have staying power?

5. Kakimori Glass Dip Pen Nib Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I love Kakimori’s Brass Dip Nib, but I’ve never been able to get my hands on the glass version.

6. Paper Basics: Oxford A5 Notebook (via A Fleeting Ripple). We don’t have Oxford paper available over here in the states (at least not readily available), but I love seeing quality inexpensive paper still out there.

7. Nautilus x Enigma Stationery “Brilliant Bunny” Nautilus Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). If you’re in San Francisco for the Pen Show, be sure to stop by the Enigma Stationery table for all sorts of uncommon stationery goods and special edition pens, including this collaboration with Nahvalur.

8. Ink Review: Ferris Wheel Press Poison Envy (via Well-Appointed Desk). Wow, that’s a crazy shimmer ink!

9. Rohrer & Klingner Solferino (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Rohrer and Klingner inks seem to have fallen by the wayside lately and off the radar of the fountain pen community, even though they offer a massive selection of colors and are quite reliable.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I took a deeper dive on the concept of “extra-fine” pens and when “fine” becomes “too fine”. I’m also neck-deep in the process of packing and preparing for the San Francisco Pen Show - if you’re going to be at the show, please be sure to come see me!

Finally, I’ll be posting a new YouTube video later today discussing my takeaways from the D.C. Pen Show and showing in further detail some of the items I brought home and might have in San Francisco with me.

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The latest line of inks from Anderillium (the “Lepidopteran Series”) might be my favorite range of colors yet!

This Week in the Curated Shop - Pre-San Francisco Shipping Deadlines

In addition to the latest line of Anderillium Inks, this past week I slowed things down to focus on new additions to our selection of desk and reading accessories! New arrivals include the “Perch” bookmarks and Line/Page Indicators from Craighill, restocked Midori bookmarks, along with a recently expanded selection of high-quality scissors. Finally, we have recently arrived stock of the Olive Traveler’s Notebook Covers in the Standard Size!

TWSBI

Anderillium

Craighill

Stalogy

We’re heading to San Francisco very early on Thursday morning, so if you have an order that you would like shipped before departure, please get your orders in by Wednesday at 5pm US Central Time. San Francisco is still a quick trip for me, despite the distance, so orders will otherwise ship within our 2-3 business day time frame.

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Only two pens remain from our collaboration with Hinze Pens and Starry Night Resins! The pens on the left and right in this photo are still available, with either red or black ceramic-plated nibs. If these don’t sell online this week, they’re coming with me to San Francisco!

Patreon Update - Support T.G.S. via Sample Sales, Early Access, and Meetups with Special Guests!

If you’re interested in early access and a right of first refusal for the periodic sales, consider T.G.S. Patreon, which features not only access to meetups and the early gently used sales, but more exclusive content. Everything that didn’t sell to Patreon members, including some older limited edition Baron Fig items and notebooks, is now available for general purchase on the “Gently Used” page, and I recently reduced prices on certain items to continue the clear-out!

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. If you’re interested in meetups and exclusive content, or simply supporting the site, we greatly appreciate your support! I’m working on something new - Guests for the monthly meetups! Yesterday we had J.C. Ament of The Nib Tailor on for a discussion of how he got into nib grinding, how he learned, and his personal favorite techniques.

Pen Show Prep: 5 Things Not to Miss at the Upcoming San Francisco Pen Show

August is a huge month for pen shows, featuring two of the largest shows in the world spaced just over two weeks apart. The D.C. Pen Show was held over the first weekend of August, and the upcoming San Francisco Pen Show will take place this coming weekend, from Friday August 25 through Sunday August 27. For me, San Francisco is a can’t-miss pen show, and if I were forced to choose between attending San Francisco and attending D.C., it would be an easy decision. If you’re primarily interested in modern pens, and especially if you enjoy imported Japanese stationery, you should consider visiting this show if at all feasible! Today’s post talks about five things to do at the San Francisco Pen Show sure to make it a successful trip.

Need a break from the chaos of the pen show floor? Take a class like this one from last year, where we made our own shimmer inks!

1. Take a Class. In last year’s recap, I remarked on how I love the San Francisco Pen Show because it’s more “enthusiast-focused” than other pen shows out there. Rather than just shopping, the show offers an extensive array of classes with a focus on calligraphy, sketchnoting, urban sketching, journaling, painting, ink washes, and more. In order for pen shows to keep growing, I personally believe they need to keep moving in this direction, as opposed to solely expanding by bringing in more retailers. At some point, people become saturated with new “stuff”, with many wanting to explore new ways to use their pens, inks, and paper. (Some classes are tuition-based because they include supplies. A number of free seminars are also available.)

2. Meet Japanese Makers in Person. Given it’s convenient proximity to San Francisco’s International Airport, the San Francisco Pen Show tends to attract a larger number of international vendors - particularly those based in Japan - than other events. This year, vendors include Styloart Karuizawa, Nagasawa Stationery, Toyooka Craft, Bungubox (who typically bring everyone’s favorite special editions!), Yamamoto Paper and more. If you live in the area, this is an excellent opportunity to purchase things such as pen chests and trays from Toyooka Craft, as well as more expensive special edition pens and inks without having to worry about shipping and customs. Nagasawa in particular brings most, if not all, of their extensive selection of special edition Sailor Inks, as well as their store exclusive pens.

3. Rickshaw Bagworks. Perhaps the most visible San Francisco-based vendor is Rickshaw Bagworks, which not only sponsors the show but brings bins of fun tote bags, pen cases, sleeves, rolls, and more. I did about half of last year’s holiday shopping at the Rickshaw table, and everything I brought home was a huge hit come December!

4. Peyton Street Pens. I love Peyton Street Pens because their shop contains everything from vintage to modern to custom pens made using vintage components. Personally, I’m looking forward to perusing their newly arrived selection of Ariel Kulloch Fantasy Parker 51 pens, and I will most likely take something back with me.

5. Visit Us in Person! My personal shopping will be somewhat curtailed at this show, since we have a table! The Gentleman Stationer is a vendor this year, and will be bringing a selection of goods that includes Lochby, iLootPaperie Washi Tapes, and various covers and cases from Midori. Subject to my suitcase weight limits (ALWAYS AN ISSUE!!!), I would like to carry as many A5-sized slim softcover refills as I can to give people the opportunity to build out their notebook cover of choice. I’ll also have a sample at the table of a new line that I’m going to be launching after San Francisco, to give people the opportunity to see it in person.

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Toyooka Craft pen trays that I picked up at the 2023 D.C. Pen Show! I might add a couple more in San Francisco. You need displays and all….

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in person and visiting during the show and at the after-hours event. (I’ll try to remember to put a TGS sticker on my name tag to be more visible.) In the meantime, if there is anything you would like me to bring to the show, either for a shop purchase or simply to see in person, feel free to message me with any requests. Online orders will ship until Wednesday, and given that the show occurs over the weekend, most orders placed will still ship within our general 2-3 business day time frame.

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I really hope that our table is this bare on the last day of the SF Pen Show!

Further Reading

I previously visited the San Francisco Pen Show in 2021 and 2022, both of which were great trips. While this year’s show is at a new location, these recaps should still give you a good indication of what you can expect!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.