======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 4 ======================================================================== 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** FILCAO's Designers Have Been Busy! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The New Leader -- this is really a whole new pen in a more vintage-like style, with a button filler, a screw cap, and a machined acrylic section like Columbia's. It will be available in Big Red, translucent Mandarin Yellow, and Orange with a Black cap. The first production run of Orange and Black New Leaders is only 30 pens; this gem will be in short supply! Price: $100.00 Nobile -- named for polar explorer and pioneer airship captain Umberto Nobile, this pen is a direct descendant of Columbia, a little fatter and made of FILCAO's great new Cracked Ice celluloid. Price: $145.00 Atlantica -- another Columbia family member, this pen will be the same size as Nobile. Made of Columbia's Lapis Blue, it will feature a 14K gold nib and gold furniture, including a solid gold band suitable for engraving. Atlantica will be priced somewhat higher than Nobile. I have a supply of New Leaders already on the way. Nobile won't be far behind. Atlantica is scheduled for release in the fall. If you would like to reserve one of these pens now, SEND MAIL. You can see color chips for these new pens on my Web site's FILCAO page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_fil.htm#comingsoon On the same page, I currently have celluloid Leader 1918s and Celluloid Forevers from FILCAO. Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, I dip-test each new pen before shipment, aligning and smoothing the nib and ensuring that it has good flow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** They're All Gone. Thank you! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My supply of custom-ground Waterman Phileas pens is gone, sold out, kaput, ended. I've really enjoyed offering them, and I appreciate all the people who chose to purchase them. I hope they're delivering great service and a wonderful writing experience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Customized Pelikan Pens and Nibs*** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** It's Time for a Marketing Survey *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you visited my CafePress shop? Have you bought anything there? Please take a few moments to tell me what's good about my shop, what's bad about it, and what I can do to make it a more attractive place to shop for pen accessories. Here's a link to my shop: http://www.cafeshops.com/richardspens/ Please bear in mind that I can offer only the merchandise selection that CafePress makes available to me -- but if different images or kinds of merchandise I don't currently offer would make the shop more appealing, that's something I want to know. Give me your opinion: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=cafepoll.htm And while you're at my CafePress shop, if you see something that does catch your fancy, please feel free to purchase it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Continuing with the "picture is worth a thousand words" theme, I've added another 40,000 words or so to my site's glossary, with the addition of nearly 40 images to the second half of the alphabet (N-Z) plus another two or three to the first half: http://www.richardspens.com/?gloss=N The glossary now holds the place of honor on the Reference Info page, at the top of the list where new collectors will see it first. Thanks to Ramon Pajares Box for suggesting I give this useful information more prominence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last month in an online poll, we asked what kind of paper you like best when using fountain pens. We were surprised not only at the number of responses, but at their breadth and depth. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0407.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 J, NOS 1555 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $45.00 Late Burgundy Deluxe, NOS 2668 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $55.00 Gray LJ, 9668 nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Black SJ, NOS 1551 nib. Condition: B++. Price: $50.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ 1947 Black Vacumatic-filling "51" Demi "set," F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $120.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- RHR 3-25 Ringtop Flat-Top, XF 3-25 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $150.00 Late 1930s Silver Pearl Striated Balance 350, 14K No. 3 M nib. Condition: B. Price: $90.00 Marine Green Striated Vacuum-Fil Lifetime Valiant, 2-tone M Triumph nib. Condition: B. Price: $90.00 Persian Blue Lifetime Statesman Touchdown TM, 2-tone M nib. Condition: B. Price: $75.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Other ----- Conklin's Crescent-Filler No. 20, 14K No. 2 flexible XF nib. Condition: B-. Price: $130.00 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 a little out of the ordinary: 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.