Personal Stationery Obsessions: Zenith Plier-Style Staplers

Beyond pens and paper, I enjoy desk and reading accessories, including bookmarks, analog timers, scissors, pencil sharpeners, and more. I’ve written a lot about these previous categories, but haven’t dealt much with another common office tool: the stapler! I’ve long been obsessed with the Zenith plier-style staplers from Italy, which are different from classic “desktop” model that you usually see in the U.S. Not only do these staplers have a unique and somewhat quirky design, but I find them more ergonomic to use as they require very little pressure.

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I had a hard time choosing which of these colors I wanted for my personal stapler. It was a toss-up between the red and the yellow model, but I ultimately went with the red.

What Do I Look for in a Quality Stapler?

Because I like to work on paper, I frequently print out articles and documents to read and annotate, so my staplers see a lot of use. Honestly, you don’t realize how important a quality stapler is until you have a bad one. In my opinion, a good stapler has the following:

• Good ergonomics, light weight, and the ability to staple at least 10 pages with minimal pressure.

• An anti-jam feature that prevents the stapler from getting clogged/blocked.

• Maneuverability so that you can precisely place the staple where you need it.

• A relatively compact size so you can tuck it away. I’ve been trying to limit the amount of stuff that sits on my desk to the things I’m actually using at any given time.

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The Zenith staplers tick all of these boxes for me. Not only are they more compact and lightweight than my classic vintage-style desktop staplers, but the smaller staples are easy to position precisely on documents and don’t jam nearly as much as the larger standard-size U.S. staples. Refilling the Zenith stapler is straightforward: You simply push the “trigger” part of the handle forward and lift the top to access the dispensing mechanism. Drop in your staples, snap it shut, and you’re ready to go.

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Once you open the top, reloading the stapler should be a familiar experience for most people.

Note: The Zenith 590 and Zenith 591 look nearly identical and are roughly the same size, but they take different staples. The Zenith 590 takes Zenith 130 Staples, which are slightly larger than the No. 10 staples that fit the Zenith 591. (No. 10 staples are a common size in Japan - the original target market for the Zenith 591 - and the same size staples that fit “mini staplers” like those found in the Midori XS Stationery Kit.) Each stapler ships with a box of 1000 Zenith-brand staples, which are among some of the sharpest I’ve used. They posed no issues even with thicker paper and are rated for up to 15 sheets.

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The classic Zenith 590 is the 590 “Mix” style, featuring four different colors.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though plier-style staplers can be somewhat uncommon in the U.S., you can find them if you look. I first saw these Zenith models at C.W. Pencil Enterprise 5 or 6 years ago, and meant to purchase one before they closed, but I missed the opportunity and they fell off my radar. Fortunately I’ve been able to source a handful of Zenith colors for the shop in both the 590 and 591 models, along with compatible staples (which are commonly available). I would love to make this a core offering of the Desk Accessories/Office Supplies category, and have just been looking for the right opportunity to bring these in. I hope you all like them as much as I do.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us and see any products we sell directly at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee!

If you would like to see a demonstration of how the Zenith 591 Stapler works, head on over to our YouTube channel. After initially posting this review, I decided to do a quick video showing how to use and reload the Zenith.

Pocket Pen Converters: Has Kaweco Solved the Mini-Converter Problem?

While I love pocket pens, and pocket fountain pens in particular, those of us who also enjoy using bottled ink have been frustrated by the lack of a functional converter that fits most pocket pens. While Kaweco had released a smaller plunger-style converter designed to fit the Sport series that worked reasonably well, two things kept it from becoming more popular than it did. First, the converter was still too large to fit other popular pocket pens like the Schon DSGN Pocket 6 and the Tom’s Studio Studio Pocket; and second, the plunger didn’t lock, so when the converter was full you could accidentally expel ink into the cap by bumping the plunger.

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Kaweco recently redesigned the mini converter to address both of these issues, and the fix was somewhat creative and fairly simple: The plunger rod folds down and “locks” once the converter is full. This not only reduces length, but a slight “lip” on the top of the plunger prevents it from accidentally depressing once folded. I’ve tested the new model, and it not only fits all of the cartridge/converter Kaweco Sport models, but the Schon DSGN Pocket 6, the Tom’s Studio pocket pen, and even the recently released Good Made Better Jester.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Is a mini-converter revolutionary? Not really, but sometimes small incremental improvements like these can drastically increase your enjoyment of a pen. You’ve always been able to refill cartridges with bottled ink using a syringe, but many people (including myself) find a converter more convenient, and having this converter option makes it more likely that I’ll reach for my pocket fountain pens. Plus, plunger-style converters make it very easy to clean out a pen since you can flush water through the nib and feed with more force than with a piston-style converter. The more options, the better!

We currently have a small-ish number of these Kaweco Mini Converters available in the shop, but since I’ve liked how they work so far, we will probably plan to carry these as a regular item. We’ve also recently restocked our supply of Kaweco bottled ink and Kaweco cartridges, not to mention a bunch of new releases from the Sport and Perkeo lines.

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Pen Show Discoveries: NFP Design "Tile" Series

Though I tend to focus on practicality when it comes to pens and their accessories, I also pay attention to design. Well-crafted accessories - especially those made by small makers - always have a home on my desk. From the Toyooka Craft pen trays that I use to hold pens at my workstation(s), to Superior Labor Pen Rolls and Roterfaden Organizers, lately I’ve been enjoying accessorizing my core workhorse tools more than adding to my personal accumulation. This week, as everyone enjoys the promotional pomp of Fountain Pen Day, I thought it might be fun to take a look at a new maker that recently came on my radar: NFP Design.

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The slots in the NFP Design cases are large, and will accommodate most pens. The two shown here are the TWSBI Kai fountain pen (which is a fairly thick piston filler) and a TWSBI ECO-T in Rosso. The pen slots are soft, and the inside of the lid features foam padding to protect your pens if you need to transport them in the case.

Based in Turkey, NFP Design attended the 2023 D.C. Pen Show and was located in the third ballroom close to Galen Leather. They specialize in woodwork, namely wood pen boxes and inlaid pen rests featuring traditional lacquer and tile work. They were kind enough to gift me a two-pen “Tile” box to take home for review, and while the case itself is fairly self-explanatory as far as the product’s function is concerned, I absolutely love the lid inlaid with traditional Turkish artwork.

NFP Design includes a slip of paper with each tile case, explaining a bit of history:

“Within traditional Turkish art, tiles have been prominent both in the Seljuk and in the Ottoman eras, appearing both in daily objects and as a plating material in architectural surfaces. Today, whilst maintaining these functions, they make a scene for themselves as artistic or decorative products combined with various mediums.”

— NFP Design

Lately I’ve been trying to reduce the number of objects that I have in my office and on my desk, so those pieces that I do choose to keep need to tell a story, preferably about the place where each item was made. Here, not only is this box inlaid with Turkish tile art specific to the place of its creation, but the painted and glazed tile is adorned with a bird that reminds me of a blue heron, which is common in the area where I live.

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The NFP Design Tile case measures approximately 8” x 3.5”, so it’s fairly compact and doesn’t take up much room. Shown here next to a Rickshaw Bagworks 6-pen case for scale.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve enjoyed spending time with the NFP Design product line since first having the opportunity to meet them at the D.C. Pen Show this past August. In addition to the “Tile” 2-pen box shown here, NFP Design offers a wide range of different storage options, including some beautiful lacquered boxes in various sizes. (I see a “Blok11” in my future as soon as the orange or yellow color options come back in stock.) Currently, NFP Design sells directly through their online shop, and I believe our friends at Vanness Pens have certain of their cases in stock as well, though they may not be listed on the site quite yet. I spent most of the Dallas Pen Show behind their table working with the “Blok” series, so inquire directly at Vanness if you are interested.

I chose the tile with an inlaid blue heron (or what looks like a blue heron), since we have so many of them in my neighborhood.

NFP Design products are competitively priced, with the “Tile” design shown here selling for the equivalent of around $40 USD. If you’d like to add one of these beautiful pieces to your own desk setup, the barrier to entry is very low!

Many thanks to NFP Design for providing this item to me for review, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Trays and Accessories: Toyooka Craft and the Beauty of Simplicity

I would venture that the most popular draw at both the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows was the Toyooka Craft table. Toyooka Craft Co. is a family-run woodworking company founded in Hamamatsu, Japan, and while their business extends beyond desk accessories and stationery products, they are known in the pen community for their simple - yet beautiful - pen trays, chests, pen rests, and other items. I really can’t overstate the popularity of their products. In San Francisco, for example, a long line formed on both Friday and Saturday mornings, and persisted until at least midday. For those who have seen videos of the Friday morning attendees lining up and racing to the back of the show in San Francisco, many of these people headed directly to the Toyooka Craft table.

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Toyooka Craft uses the "kumi-ki" metal-free construction method, discussed in more detail on their website. Woods used include a combination of Alder and plywood, with liners made from soft rayon that won't scratch your pens. I went into the month of August with zero Toyooka Craft products in my personal collection and began September with three: two of the small stackable pen trays in a black/burgundy combination, and one larger covered pen tray in Hinoki Blue, a color I didn't expect to love as much as I did when I saw it in person.

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My Hinoki Blue Tray holds 15 pens and features a non-attached, removable lid. I like this because it means I can stack the tray with others should I (or, “when I”) purchase more in the future.

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The seams/joints are nearly invisible, and I love how the blue lacquer still allows the wood grain to show through.

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I keep one of these small six-pen trays at each of my workstations. Partitions in the small pen trays are raised enough to keep the pens separated without destroying the sleek aesthetic. In other words, these trays look flat, and there's no fumbling with "slots" whenever you need to pick up a pen to write. While extremely lightweight, the trays also have rubber pads on the bottom so they will remain stationary and not slide around.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I find that many "traditional" pen chests and trays sold in the U.S. lack a sense of subtlety - they’re either too large for my taste or overly ornate. These Toyooka Craft trays are so sleek that they essentially disappear on your desk, despite my having chosen relatively loud design choices such as the blue lacquer and red lining.

I’ve been using Toyooka Craft Pen Trays as part of my pen show table display. They really look great with demonstrator fountain pens like the Pilot Custom 74.

Unless you plan on waiting until next year's D.C. or San Francisco Pen Show, the best way to obtain a Toyooka Craft product is by direct order through their website. While some products are likely ready to ship, depending on stock, there may be a slightly delay in the event the item you order needs to be made.

I find Toyooka Craft products reasonably priced given the quality. The small pen trays shown here list at 4,500 Yen (roughly $30), and the larger pen tray with the separated lid at 1200 Yen ($80), though adding the Hinoki Blue lacquer will increase the cost. Pen show pricing was roughly double what is listed on the website, presumably to reflect freight, import duties, and the expense of attending the show. Some, but not all, of these costs will need to be added to your online order as well, so don't expect the website price to be inclusive.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases through the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertising or third-party affiliate links. I purchased the products featured in this review with my own funds for my own use.

Notes From the Curated Shop: Five Desk Essentials for Your Office or Dedicated Writing Space

In addition to standard pens and paper, we stock a wide range of desk and reading accessories to make your everyday work and home life more enjoyable! The reason I love this particular product category is that it’s often overlooked by many pen retailers even though it’s a natural extension of an interest in writing. At this past weekend’s D.C. Pen Show - there will be a full recap forthcoming, I promise - I brought along a range of non-pen items that included a handful of cases and desk accessories, and they sold quite well. Here are five of my favorites currently in the shop that can help you build out your ultimate desk setup.

1. The Penwell Desktop Pen Holder. I’ve long been a fan of the Penwell desktop pen holder, which turns any capped fountain pen or rollerball into a desk pen! Good Made Better, the maker of the Penwell, was kind enough to do a custom run for our shop in a deep “Aged Red” finish.

2. Quality Scissors. Until I started using good scissors, I didn’t appreciate how invaluable they are, whether it comes to opening mail or packages, trimming photographs or mementos to paste into a scrapbook, or craft projects. We stock several brands of high-end scissors that are both sharp and functional.

3. A Compact Ruler or Straightedge. I always find myself needing to measure something, and it’s rarely long enough to warrant pulling out the measuring tape unless I’m shipping packages. Rulers also serve as a handy straightedge for formatting plain paper, or when you want to transform a standard notebook into a planner.

4. A Book Stand. Another long-running product I’ve carried is the Hightide Folding Metal Bookstand. While you can certainly use it for reading, it’s versatility goes far beyond that - I use mine to hold notepads and notebooks as I transcribe my notes or to hold a handwritten draft of a document as I’m typing it into the computer. This particular model conveniently folds flat for easy transport in a briefcase so you can take it on the road.

5. A Pen Tray. I keep a lot on my desk, and it’s helpful to have a catch-all to hold pens, pencils, paper clips, erasers, sharpeners, bits of paper - you get the idea. These Hightide Marbled Pen Trays are made from melamine and come in either long rectangular versions or a smaller round option.

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While these five categories are fairly mainstream, other more specialized products to consider include a self-inking stamp, which can be customized to feature your letterhead, return address, or signature to add to written correspondence, or an analogue timing device like a Sandglass. We’re actively adding additional “home office” and reading accessories, so keep checking back!

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