Pen Show Adventures: 2024 Chicago Pen Show Friday Recap!

As one of the older pen shows on the circuit, the Chicago Pen Show has a rich history. Over the years it’s been considered one of the “big” shows at times, but for now I would place Chicago in the category of mid-size shows that draw an extremely diverse group of vendors. And as a show that’s very easy for me to attend logistically, it’s not uncommon for me to jump on a cheap flight and go last-minute, which is what happened this weekend!

The Chicago Pen Show is actually located in Hoffman Estates, a suburb. The hotel is fairly large and part of the show takes place in this well-lit atrium.

The trend at pen shows has been to make Friday a hybrid weekend trader/public day, meaning that weekend pass purchasers get a few hours in the morning to shop the show exclusively before it opens to the public on Friday at around noon. This is the best of both worlds, in my opinion: The weekend pass is still worth the money for attendees because they get early access, but vendors also get the benefit of additional public foot traffic in the afternoon (especially around 2-3pm when people skip out of work early to hit the show). I made sure to pick up most of the pens I was looking for in the morning, before the show got crowded.

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Clockwise from the top: Waterman Exception Night and Day, Skogsy Low-Volume Eyedropper, Good Made Better Ebonite Pocket Pen, Edison Jameson Scheherazade, Newton Prospector in Arkansas Abalone, and Edison Collier in Dragon’s Night.

This particular pen show trip ended up being a mix of business and personal, meaning that I didn’t take a table and set up as a vendor, but I did meet with a couple of different makers and manufacturers on T.G.S.-related projects. Once those were taken care of, I was free to roam a bit, visit with friends, and pick up six pretty significant pens, including two customs I had been looking to add to my collection, two new releases to evaluate, and two pens (one semi-vintage) that I’ve long coveted but had never found “the right opportunity.” Sometimes those opportunities hit you all at once. :) Here we go:

• Custom Pen No. 1: Newton Prospector in “Arkansas Abalone”, which I couldn’t pass up. I’ve been looking to add a second Newton Prospector (Shawn Newton’s triangular pen) in a fun material, and this turned out to be the one. Featuring shades of iridescent pink, silver, mother of pearl, and some dark green, it’s a stunner. The resin is by D Squared, also from Arkansas. I believe Shawn has a few more pens in this material.

• Custom Pen No. 2: Skogsy Low Volume Eyedropper in Beige Sand Acrylic. Designed to moderate the ink flow by limiting both the amount of ink in the barrel and the volume that can travel through the ebonite feed at any given time, Skogsy’s “Low Volume” eyedropper aims to avoid flooding the feed with ink, which leads to ink leaking into the cap and sometimes onto the page as you write. Did I mention this one has a No. 8 Magna Carta nib and ebonite feed? Expect to see more of this pen.

• New Release No. 1: Good Made Better Ebonite Pocket Pen. Dan had been teasing these pens all week on Instagram, and I already had planned to take one of these home with me. I chose this mottled black, beige, pink, and orange ebonite pen with a matte finish. As always, Good Made Better’s workmanship is excellent. I understand that these pens are show-only for the time being, so if you’d like to pick one up, get one at the Chicago Show or else you’ll need to wait for the official launch.

• New Release No. 2: Edison Jameson 2024 Chicago Pen Show Limited Edition. My pen is No. 7 of a (very) limited run of 15, made from older Bexley Scheherazade resin, which is a black translucent acrylic resin featuring streaks of silver foil. And, yes, it has a No. 8 nib. (You’re noticing a trend here.)

• Personal Acquisition No. 1: Edison Collier in Brooks “Dragon’s Night” Resin. Does anyone else remember when the Edison Collier was first released and everyone thought the pen was oversized? I never added one to my collection, which I’ve come to regret, and I couldn’t leave this one on the table. Translucent black acrylic with dark blue/teal shimmer. I considered the Collier Grande but found it slightly too oversized, despite the No. 8 nib which was tempting.

• Personal Acquisition No. 2: Waterman Exception “Night and Day”. I’ve been looking to add one of the oversized Waterman Exceptions to my collection, preferably in the black with silver trim and matte pinstripes on the side. Guess what? I ran into someone looking to unload one in excellent condition! Instant buy, and I’m thrilled to come closer to completing my “vintage” Waterman collection of most models spanning the late 1980s through early 2000s.

For Saturday, while I may pick up some smaller items and shop samples, and get a couple of nibs looked at, major shopping is over for this weekend. I expect the show to be much more crowded today. See below for some bonus pics of the new Good Made Better pens, as well as some vintage after-hours finds. (Yes, those are miniature keychain whiskey bottles that turn into fountain pens!)

If you enjoy our content, you can support us directly by visiting our own T.G.S. Curated Shop, as well as the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks to all of our readers and supporters!

A close-up of the Good Made Better Pocket Pen I picked up.

In addition to a pocket ebonite fountain pen, Good Made Better also has these full-sized models.

Five Takeaways from the 2022 Chicago Pen Show

These are strange days. Inflation is rising, gas costs a fortune, and the lingering pandemic continues to make travel a pain, yet pen shows live on! Each show I’ve attended since D.C. back in August of 2021 has felt more “normal,” and in terms of the number of vendors attending and the total number of out-of-town attendees. While I technically had a table, and handed out stickers for part of the time, I spent most of my weekend roaming the show and trying to get a feel for what attendees were looking at, how vendors were doing, and what seemed to be interesting to people. For more photos, be sure to check out my post from Saturday!

1. Custom Pens Are the Main Focus. Pen shows used to be nearly all about vintage, and while that started to change years ago as modern vendors began attending, vintage remained a core presence. This past weekend I was struck by the sheer number of not only modern vendors but custom pen makers. Shawn Newton, Ryan Krusac, Hardy Penwrights, Hinze Pens, Kanilea Pen Company, and many more were in attendance, and all seemed to do well. I even witnessed one enthusiast literally purchasing a fistful of ten pens from Shawn! While there’s still typically a length waiting list if you want a truly custom pen made to your specifications, visiting a pen show is an easy way to see custom and handmade pens in person to determine whether the size, color, etc. works for you before you spend the money. Plus you can browse available stock without waiting years.

2. It’s Easier Than Ever to Get Nib Work Done. While Chicago didn’t have as many nib workers present as the Baltimore or Atlanta shows, Gena Salorino (Custom Nib Studio), Kirk Speer (Pen Realm), and J.C. Amend (The Nib Tailor) were all grinding nibs and stayed busy. In the past, people have expressed concerns about having too many nib grinders at one show, but I’ve not seen anyone with a lot of down time. This is a wonderful development, especially at larger shows with lots of demand where there was usually a rush on Friday and Saturday mornings to sign up, and if you were even a little bit late you couldn’t find anyone with capacity.

3. There Is So. Much. Ink. If you’re an ink enthusiast, we are truly living in a blessed time, but I’m beginning to wonder whether we’ve hit “peak ink.” Personally, I’m starting to feel tapped-out, and I know I don’t buy nearly as much as many people. It’s also entirely possible that I’m not speaking for the majority here, since in the throes of my recent home remodel, I’m questioning my life choices as I struggle to figure out exactly where to store all those bottles. That said, I heard reports from at couple different vendors that they weren’t selling as much ink as they used to. I did pick up a bottle of the Anderillium show ink, which was a gorgeous teal based off the color of oxidized copper/bronze.

4. Pricing on Certain Vintage and “Hyped” Pens Are Unsustainable. This topic probably merits further development in a stand-alone post, but I was absolutely stunned at how much money several vendors were asking for certain models of vintage and limited edition pens, particularly Pelikans and Montblanc. Yes, they’ve always been relatively expensive but the asking prices for many models have now settled well over $1000, and I even saw Sheaffer PFMs and other vintage models pushing the $600 mark. Look, if the dealers can get that for their pens, good for them, but I personally didn’t see a lot of brisk business being done in vintage as opposed to custom and modern. The market will bear what the market will bear, so this is a trend I’m interested in following to see if prices come back down. I’d be looking to dabble in vintage once again, but given this current pricing trend custom still interests me more.

5. The “Buy It All Now” Trend Is Fading A Bit. I alluded to it above in my point about “peak ink,” and there were definitely exceptions, but people seemed to be making more focused, considered purchases rather than indulging the gotta-catch-em-all mentality. Of course, this translates into fewer sales for vendors at shows, but at the end of the day, perhaps it’s better for all involved if we move into a more sustainable relationship with out stuff. I’ve always been a proponent of buying what you will use, and it’s encouraging to me to see less hoarding and impulse buying, a trend that will only continue given the current economic trends.

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Just one of many tabletops from after-hours at the pen show bar on Saturday night!

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The Anderillium Inks table. I have three different inks from them, and I really enjoy their grey and sepia. Stay tuned for a review of the Chicago Show Ink, which I’ll likely crack open this weekend.

What’s Coming at T.G.S. (and a Shameless Plug for Patreon)

I have a lot of stuff in the works, and I’m REALLY LOOKING FORWARD to getting my new workspace finished so I can start doing full reviews again. (Not to overdo the all-caps, BUT THE UNIVERSE NEEDS TO ALIGN AND THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NEEDS TO END.)

In all seriousness, I should be back in full swing by the weekend, with a review of the new Sanzen Tomoe River Paper, samples of which I obtained in Chicago. How did I decide on this particular review? I polled my Patreon supporters and asked them which of my various Chicago acquisitions they’d like me to write up first, and the Sanzen paper (unsurprisingly) won. Later today, I plan to poll the higher-tier supporters, who will have the opportunity to select a pen purchased specifically for review from the Patreon proceeds - sort of a choose-you-own-stationery-adventure. To read more about T.G.S. Patreon and the benefits offered, please check out the Patreon page. Membership starts at just $3, and all backers receive a handwritten note from me - again, once I have a place to actually write them - as well as access to monthly Zoom meetups, shop discounts on T.G.S. exclusives, and early access to limited release products. Patreon is purely a bonus for those who would like to further support the site - all content here at T.G.S. will remain free and nothing will go behind a paywall, but it’s Patreon and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop that make it possible. Thank you for your readership and support!

Behind the Scenes at a Major Pen Show: Chicago 2022

I don’t often have a table at pen shows - ordinarily I prefer to be able to roam around the show, and given my status as a hybrid blogger/retailer with a small operation, it’s logistically difficult for me to bring enough inventory to a show to make selling in person worthwhile. This year, however, I had prepaid for a table at Chicago back before the pandemic, so I decided to go ahead and set up with a small meet-and-greet station featuring stickers, a card with a discount code for the shop, and some products to try out (including the new Sanzen Tomoe River Paper, more on that below).

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It’s amazing what some people bring by the table for me to look at. Paper shown here is the new Sanzen Tomoe River.

For those of you who have never attended a pen show in person, they typically span Thursday to Sunday and work something like this: Vendors begin arriving on Thursday, and sometimes the show organizers have reserved a smaller ballroom, or there are tables set up for trading (mainly vintage). I’ve never partaken to any great degree, but I hear you can score some pretty good deals on rare pens in these “presale” or “after hours” trading sessions.

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If you’re looking to score an uncommon pen from one of the many small makers who attend pen shows in person (like Shawn Newton), it’s always a great idea to pick up a weekend pass so you get first pick before the public opening.

Most of the action starts on Friday morning, when the full show opens to weekend pass holders. If you’re making a weekend out of a pen show, I always advise attendees to purchase the weekend pass instead of paying by the day, because that way you get to start earlier, and it also gets you access to “exclusive” events like pizza parties and after-hours socials. In Chicago, the show opened to the public at noon on Friday, but there will be an extra hour of pass-holder access from 8-9am on Saturday morning before the public opening.

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Chicago features two full ink testing stations with literally dozens of different inks to try out in dedicated tester pens.

Attendance on Friday was slower on Friday morning, but picked up as the day went on. I mainly spent the day browsing the show with friends who I had not seen in years. Even more so than Atlanta, this Chicago show feels much more like a pre-pandemic pen show in terms of the number of vendors and other exhibitors present. If you’re in the area, I would highly recommend attending. I’ll have a full recap of this particular show next week, which I’ll write after the two public days on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s shaping up to be a great one. For now, enjoy my Friday pics!

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The new Kanilea Pen Company “Lewa Lani,” featuring this gorgeous flecked material with subtle sheen. They’re available with and without the cap band.

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Vanness brought Vinta inks, Ferris Wheel Press, and more!

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Schon DSGN brought a fresh batch of anodized full-size fountain pens, including these as-yet-unnamed dark matte beauties.

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I walked away with a Copper Pocket Six with a dark patina, as well as an Anniversary Edition Machined Pen v.2 in bronze.

Another shot of the three available finishes on the Machined Pen v.2, Anniversary Edition.

Not everything was about the sales - Conid had an “ambassador” on site showing off their wares. The rumor is that they’re restarting production soon….

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Erick at Amarillo Stationery brought all the Monarca inks!

T.G.S. Curated Shop Orders will continue shipping on Sunday, within our 2-3 business day shipping timeframe even though we’re at the show. We still have Midori 70th Anniversary MD Notebooks available in the “Light” format, thought the Stationery Kits are sold out for now.

April 28-May 1: Chicago Pen Show!

Just a reminder that this coming weekend I’ll be attending the 2022 Chicago Pen Show, so if you’ve been considering a shop order and would like something to ship before Thursday, please get your orders in before Wednesday (tomorrow) at noon. I may be able to do show pickup, depending on logistics and size of the order, so e-mail me and we can arrange to drop shipping charges.

While I will have a table in Chicago, I will NOT be set up as a vendor. The table will be a meet-and-greet, informational resource only due to things like inventory management and travel burden. I will have things like stickers and buttons, however, along with pens and paper to test out and see in person. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the show, so please stop by!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, as well as the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

2021 Chicago Pen Show Recap: Back to Normal ... Slowly

Nothing made me happier than to see pen shows return for 2021, and so far I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Washington, D.C. Supershow in August, the San Francisco Pen Show for the first time later that month, and just this past weekend, the Chicago Pen Show. Despite some initial apprehensions, I was pleasantly surprised at both the level of attendance, the efforts by show promoters to keep the shows safe, and the graciousness with which attendees dealt with difficult travel conditions and the necessary masking and other safety precautions in hotel ballrooms that could, at times, be a bit “stuffy.” (Fortunately, in most instances the shows were able to convince the hotels to crank up the A/C, eventually.)

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A case of vintage Sheaffer WASP Vacuum-Fil fountain pens.

The D.C. and San Francisco shows saw attendance that approached pre-pandemic levels, even though there were fewer out-of-town attendees, resulting in slower-than-usual Fridays. Chicago, on the other hand, was hit with the double whammy of being rescheduled from May to the weekend after the Dallas Pen Show, in addition to rising COVID levels and increased travel hesitancy. As a result, it was somewhat distressing to see fewer vendors and attendees at what I understand is typically a fairly large show. Saturday got decently busy by the middle of the day, but Friday and Sunday remained slow. It’s therefore difficult to write an accurate show report, since I’ve never attended the Chicago Show in an “up year” and can only rely on discussions with others at the show about how this year compared with years past.

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Anyone know what that creepy-looking green pen in the center is?

Because Chicago will return to its normal early May timeslot next year, most of these issues should resolve themselves. Many vendors simply couldn’t turn around inventory/travel arrangements/life in time to do the Dallas show one weekend and Chicago the next. (I know I couldn’t.) If more vendors return - especially large draws such as Vanness Pens and Franklin-Christoph - attendance will also increase. I currently plan to attend Chicago again in May 2022, and it will be interesting to compare the “real” show to other large shows such as D.C. and San Francisco.

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All the pens that Pierre from Desiderata Pens brought to the Chicago Pen Show.

So with that out of the way, what did I think of Chicago 2021? For what turned out to me a smaller show, vendor-wise, it ended up as a great weekend. I attended in my personal capacity, just for fun, and enjoyed hanging out at a pen show for the first time in a while. Going forward, I’ll need to pick one or two shows a year just to visit as an attendee, because it offers a perspective on the pen community and makers that you don’t get sitting behind a vendor table for three days.

The Desiderata Pens Show Special, featuring Carolina Pen Company Acrylic.

Vendors and Makers at the Chicago Pen Show

Vendor-wise, the main retailers were Atlas Stationers, Papier Plume, Lemur Ink, Federalist Pens, The Pen Show (Jimmy Dolive), Toys from the Attic, and Crazy Alan’s Emporium. Independent and smaller makers included Ryan Krusac, Desiderata Pens, Ironfeather Creative, Hardy Penwrights, The Chicago Pen Company, and Hinze Pens. The show also featured a fairly large array of vintage traders. Kirk Speer (Penrealm) was the only nib grinder present. Finally, there was a massive ink testing station, with two separate blocks of tester pens filled with some rare and unusual Montblanc and Parker Penman inks.

One of two ink testing blocks at the Chicago Pen Show! These things can both cost and save you money. I personally always end up discovering new inks I like, while realizing that I don’t like other inks as much as I thought I would.

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My Ryan Krusac Scrimshaw “Navigator” fountain pen. Look for additional photos of this one in the days to come.

My Show Pickups: Classic Additions to the Collection

This year I’ve made a concerted effort to purchase fewer mass-produced fountain pens for my personal collection (especially high price-point limited and special editions) and invest instead in handmade and smaller-run pieces from independent and smaller makers. In D.C. and San Francisco, I picked up several pens from Schon DSGN, as well as some hand-turned pens with vintage nibs from Peyton Street Pens. In Chicago, I continued that trend and acquired a Ryan Krusac Scrimshaw “Navigator” (Check out the inlaid abalone and mother of pearl constellations in the cap!) and a Chicago Pen Company “Sheba” in a flecked Erinoid acrylic. I’m looking forward to getting both of these pens into rotation soon. I also picked up two bottles of Anderillium Ink (“Cuttlefish Brown” and “Shoebill Stork Grey”, and a bottle of the Sailor x Tinterías Podcast “Homemade Tortillas” collaboration ink.

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The “Sheba” model from The Chicago Pen Company. Check out that Contoured Cap!

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Anderillium Ink “Cuttlefish Brown” (which dries to a grayish-sepia, appropriately), and my Chicago Pen Company Sheba in a leather sleeve.

A Friendly Reminder: Support Your Small and Local Independent Retailers and Makers

Somewhat sparse crowds at Chicago did remind me of one thing: How important it is to support smaller retailers and makers as we head into the holiday season. We’ve already lost C.W. Pencil Enterprise, and I sadly suspect it won’t be the last closure. While pen shows have returned, things are far from “normal,” and most of your favorite small businesses have been deprived of a big chunk of income for the past two years. It’s more important than ever for them to have a strong year-end close, and I can personally vouch for the stressful nature of having to make huge inventory purchases during the slower summer months just to have enough stock to meet the (hopefully) increased demand of November and December. Whether its shopping at the T.G.S. Curated Shop, one of my friends on the sidebar, or somewhere else entirely, please make conscious choices about who you support, especially if you value having independent retailers and makers available to you for the long term. To the extent you can attend a pen show (and feel safe doing so health-wise), both the Detroit Pen Show (Oct. 29-31) and the Ohio Pen Show (November 11-14) remain on the calendar, and the organizers and vendors would greatly appreciate your support!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk recently featured a timely post on the importance of supporting your favorite creators, which I would highly encourage you to read, not only for support but to discovery new faces in the stationery community.