======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 2 ======================================================================== Welcome to Nib Noise. This newsletter is a joint effort of Richard Binder and Don Fluckinger. We hope you'll enjoy reading this month's issue. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Coffee, Mice, and CafePress *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To better serve you, I've expanded the selection of items I'm offering in my CafePress shop. I now have all of my famous pen wallpaper designs, including the Columbia logo, available on dishwasher-safe white ceramic 11-ounce coffee mugs. These are high-quality items, made individually for you when you place your order. Indulge your love of Sumatra Mandehling or Jamaica Blue Mountain, or even Maxwell House, in a solid ceramic mug that shows off your favorite pen! The Columbia logo is also available as a ceramic coaster. The great new optical computer-mouse technology does away with the need for a mousepad, right? Well, maybe not. If your desk is polished black or silver, or any color that the mouse can't get a read on, you still need a mousepad, just for the texture if not for the entertainment value. I'm now offering all my pen wallpaper designs on thick soft mousepads, too. Pens are what desks have been all about for centuries -- don't you need a pen on your desk, even if it's only on a mousepad? I've also begun to create note cards with my wallpaper images. These are 7"x5", heavy stock, glossy on the outside. http://www.cafeshops.com/richardspens/ Ps. If there are other items you'd like to see my designs on, feel free to drop me an email. I'll consider it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Columbia and Other Gems *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A good supply of FILCAO's "Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean" has arrived from Italy, and I now have the pens in stock. They are selling fast, though, and I've already had to reorder twice. If you've been following the comments on Pentrace.com message board, you know how well Columbia writes and how good it looks and feels. For a modern pen with that classic "vintage" writing experience, you just can't beat Columbia. I also have celluloid Leader 1918s and sterling Forevers from FILCAO; take a look: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_fil.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Classic Fadeaway *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My supply of custom-ground Waterman Phileas pens is dwindling, and there may never be any more. I have only Green pens left, with your choice of 0.8-mm stub or 0.9-mm cursive italic nibs. Get yours now, or you may be left out: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_oth.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Customized Pelikan M150 Pens *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have Pelikan M150 pens in five different colors, with your choice of customized nib, either 0.9-mm cursive italic or 0.6-mm stub. Note: M150 pens cannot use M200 nibs. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_pel.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Customized Pelikan Nibs for Your Own Pens *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ And don't forget my wide selection of customized M200 nibs that will fit all M2xx, M4xx, and M6xx pens (including the M620 City Series, M700 Toledo, and Originals of Their Time limited editions). Check them out: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_pel.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** New Poll! New Poll! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ With over 60% of the voters agreeing that the Parker "51" is a good pen but not the greatest ever made, I thought I'd reverse the issue. My new poll asks your opinion of the ever-lovin, ever-hated Eversharp Fifth Avenue! Give us your opinion: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=poll.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Are you one of those people who wish they could find pens in the wild? Here's a hunting guide to help you learn how to bag the good stuff: http://www.richardspens.com/?misc=pensinthewild ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What makes for good writing about pens, and by that we mean words describing our fountain pens, and the words describing the emotional, aesthetic experience of using them? A good start would be to step out of the gutter. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0405.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've prepared some very nice and unusual pens this month. Give them a look! Pens are graded according to the following condition scale. Within a grade, I use + or - to indicate shades of variation; for example, a pen that is B+ falls into the B grade and shows so little use that it is only marginally not A2. Condition Description A1 Mint (uninked). Shows no signs of use. A2 Mint (inked). As for A1 but may have been dipped or inked. N New Old Stock (NOS). Unsold dealer or manufacturer stock. Not dipped or inked but may show shop wear. B Excellent. All parts original and showing only very slight signs of use. Very slight surface scratching; very minor discoloration or brassing; crisp imprints; no significant dings. C Fine. All parts original. Some discoloration and brassing; light or worn imprints; small dings to metal or scratching on plastic. D Fair. Some parts possibly not original; significant brassing or discoloration; very worn imprints; dings and scratches. Maybe a good writing pen or usable for parts. Esterbrook ---------- Red Dollar Pen, period-correct 1554 nib with flat serrated feed. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Foliage Green SJ, NOS 1551 nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ 1940 Azure Blue Pearl Speedline Vacumatic Major, Broad Jeweler's Band, 14K F nib. Condition: B-. Price: $175.00 1940 Silver Pearl Speedline Vacumatic Junior, 14K XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $120.00 Teal "51" Special, 14K GOLD F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $75.00 45 Signet, 14K GOLD B nib. Condition: B. Price: $50.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Wartime Crest, 2-tone M Triumph nib. Condition: B-. Price: $140.00 Gray Snorkel Clipper, PdAg XF Triumph nib. Condition: B. Price: $95.00 Burgundy Snorkel Statesman, PdAg F Triumph nib. Condition: B. Price: $90.00 Black Snorkel Statesman, PdAg F Triumph nib. Condition: B. Price: $85.00 Gray Craftsman Touchdown TM, steel Tip-Dip F nib. Condition: B. Price: $35.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Other ----- BCHR Mabie Todd Swan Minor No. 2, flexible F nib. Condition: B. Price: $85.00 Senator piston filler, 14K B nib. Condition: B. Price: $30.00 Others for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_oth.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the Reader's Corner ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My site's Reader's Corner features a monthly pick, a book that I like and think that you might enjoy, too. This month's pick is one of those gorgeous books that happen to be really informative, too: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=acc_txt.htm#readerscorner My monthly pick also appears as a link on my welcome page. ======================================================================== If you received this newsletter from Richard Binder, you are a subscriber. If not, you can subscribe by sending a mail message to richard@richardspens.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line, or by clicking on this link: mailto:richard@richardspens.com?subject=SUBSCRIBE To unsubscribe from this newsletter, send a mail message to richard@richardspens.com with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line, or click on this link: mailto:richard@richardspens.com?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE Note: We will never sell your name or email address. Your privacy is as important to us as it is to you.