Walden Woodworkers Istanbul is the name under which Galen Leather produces its wood desk accessories.

Mahogany Desk Accessories from Galen Leather

August 30, 2020

Although they started out making leather goods, Galen Leather has expanded their lineup to include a line of handcrafted brass and wood desk accessories. Previously, I’ve written on the Galen Leather Writing Box and how I’ve used that particular product as “home base” for my journaling setup. I recently received a box of additional samples from Galen Leather, including their mahogany pen rest and brush stand, as well as the “ToolComb” pen and brush holder.

Both are examples of well-made, useful products that look great on your desk and don’t cost an arm and a leg. The pen rest/brush stand is a small wooden block containing three grooves large enough to accommodate pens of various sizes (though if you try to use it to hold larger pens, they may touch). It’s perfect for those who keep three or fewer pens inked at any given time, or have pens that live permanently on the desk.

The Mahogany Three-Pen Stand, shown here with three Fisher Space Pens.

The ToolComb is also handcrafted from solid mahogany, and per the Galen Leather website inspired by a mid-century Danish design. Come to think of it, the ToolComb does have a vintage-meets-modern flair that I very much appreciate, and it looks exceptional on a desk, especially paired with my Dudek Modern Goods “Divide.” The ToolComb holds up to 13 pens or artist’s tools (Galen specifically mentions paintbrushes), and with a hole size of 15mm most pens will fit.

Many have used the Galen Leather ToolComb to showcase their collections of 13+ Kaweco Sports. I don’t have that many Kawecos, but you can see that it fits the both the Sport and the Schon DSGN Pocket Six quite well.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I look forward to enjoying these two mahogany pen stands for a long time to come. You can purchase both products directly from Galen Leather’s online shop. The Mahogany Pen Rest/Brush Stand is priced at $16, with the ToolComb slightly more expensive at $30. Other options from Galen include a larger Desk Organizer, a Washi Tape Dispenser, and of course the Writing Box. Many thanks to Galen Leather for making these products available for review!

Disclaimer: I received these products from Galen Leather, free of charge, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

The Penwell Desktop Pen Holder

November 29, 2017

Penwell Co. was formed this year “with the simple goal of making and selling a useful, attractive, and well-built product.” That product is the eponymous Penwell, a pen stand that “turns any pen into a desk pen” and not only comes in quite handy, but looks great at your workspace.

Based in Wallace, South Dakota and run by pen enthusiast Dan Keller, Penwell Co. is “Singularly Focused, Singularly Named.” The company aims to do one thing very well, and by this standard has not only succeeded but should have a bright future.

The Penwell is ingeniously simple, and has only four parts: (1) the base, currently available in either walnut, aluminum, or brass; (2) an internal clip, which grips the pen; (3) a foam insert, which protects and pads the pen cap; and (4) a microsuction pad that adheres to your desk or other surface. The Penwell does not use any sort of adhesive, but rather thousands of tiny microscopic suction cups. The microsuction system works incredibly well. It stays put, and I’ve moved my Penwells multiple times without damaging the finish on my wood desk.

To turn your pen into a desk pen using the Penwell, simply insert the pen cap-first into the foam insert until it’s fully secured. Larger pens and slip cap pens may require further adjustment, and Penwell Co. offers detailed use and care instructions on its website, including pointers on how to make these pens fit. For the record, I’ve had no issues with any of my pens not fitting in the Penwell, including larger pens like the Montblanc 146 and my Kanilea pens (which look absolutely gorgeous in the Walnut version).

Kanilea Pen Co. Nui Nalu fountain pen in the Walnut Penwell. The Penwell matches the wooden box that comes with all Kanilea pens.

The great thing about this product is that it creates versatility. I love desk pens, but I don’t like the fact that a dedicated fountain pen desk set has to stay parked on your desk all the time. I’ve had issues with the ink drying up from disuse. Penwell solves this problem by making it easy to grab your "desk pen" out of the Penwell and go - to a coffee shop or my downtown office, for example - and then re-park the pen in the Penwell once I get home.

Another thing I love about the Penwell: it helps me out with those pens that won't post at all or are too long posted to use comfortably. (Parker’s Modern Duofold and Conklin’s Duragraph are two that recently crossed my desk.) I generally prefer to post my pens, in part because I have so much stuff sitting on my desk at any given time that I tend to lose track of caps or drop them on the floor. These longer, "unpostable" pens are perfect for the Penwell, which will hold the cap while I'm writing. Another problem solved!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Many thanks to Dan at Penwell Co. for sending me these two Penwells and making this review possible. This is one of those well made, thoughtful products that makes you smile and which I have been using every day. Since the Penwell was released just in time for the holiday season, it made its way directly into my 2017 Holiday Gift Guide, and would make a great present for any pen enthusiast.

You can purchase the Penwell directly from the Penwell website. The walnut version costs $49, the aluminum version $59, and the brass $89. These prices are more than fair, given the quality, originality, and obvious effort that went into finalizing and packaging this product.

Disclaimer: Penwell Co. sent me the products featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes.

The Dudek Divide, right, and the Dudek Block, left.

Pen Storage Options: "The Divide" by Dudek Modern Goods

February 25, 2017

Well, I was planning blog content for the next couple of months and I realized that I had never written about one of my primary tools for pen (and pencil) storage: Mike Dudek’s handmade wooden pen stands. You may also know Mike from his blog, The Clicky Post, but if you've not had the opportunity to check out his creations over at Dudek Modern Goods, do so now. I’ve owned a few of Mike’s pieces over the years, but my most recent acquisition, The Divide, is by far my favorite.

Pens, Pencils, and Notebooks, Together!

The Divide holds up to six pencils on one side, six pens on the other, with a slot in the middle for pocket notebooks and/or index cards. For me, the Divide serves as the "dock" that holds whatever primary writing tools I'm using at the moment. It's a larger pen stand, measuring H 2.5" x W 5.25 " x D 3", and exact details, such as the diameter of the pen slots, are customizable. For example, if you favor larger fountain pens, Mike can drill the holes a bit wider. Here, I have three larger-gauge holes that can fit fountain pens as big as the Pelikan M800, Montblanc 146, or Visconti Homo Sapiens. The other three spots on the pen side are designed to hold slimmer pens like the Parker Sonnet or Pilot Metropolitan. For pencils, the Divide can keep three "Jumbos" and three standard pencils sharpened and ready to go.

Like all of Mike’s other products, the Divide is handmade from solid walnut, “finished with a smooth satin poly finish,” and branded with the Dudek Modern Goods logo on the bottom. These pen stands are versatile and classy looking, and probably receive the most compliments of any item I keep on my desk.

Of course, my standard Dudek "Cube" has special meaning, since I won it in the raffle at last year's Atlanta Pen Show!

How to Order

If you’re interested in adding one of Mike’s pen stands to your collection - and every true pen/pencil addict should own one of these, IMHO - head on over to Dudek Modern Goods and place your order now. Each of Mike’s handmade pen stands is made to order, so turnaround time may take up to 3-5 weeks. The Divide runs $65 + shipping, with other models ranging from $45 for the standard “Cube,” all the way up to $99 for the “Workspace.” Given that these are classic pieces that will last forever, Mike's prices are a bargain.

Disclaimer: Mike Dudek is a friend of mine and sponsor of the blog, and he provided me with the Divide featured in this review free of charge. That said, I was a customer of Mike’s long before I knew him personally, and have always recommended his work.