======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 6 ======================================================================== 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. By the way, if you're getting more than one copy Nib Noise at different addresses and would like to cut down on your spam, let us know. We'll delete whichever address or addresses you tell us shouldn't be receiving Nib noise. Thanks! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Fourth Annual New York City Pen Show Is Coming! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'll be regrinding and tweaking nibs at the New York show, at the Crowne Plaza Times Square, over the weekend of September 10-12. This is a dandy show, with three big public days. It's getting bigger and better every year, and in its new venue it promises even more fun. Bring a pen or two, and share some chatter at my table while I jazz up your writing experience. For more information, check the show's Web site: http://www.nycpenshow.com/ If you have pens that need repairs other than nib work, I'll be happy to save you some shipping costs by collecting them at the show and bringing them home to my studio. I'll have a stock of my preground Pelikan M200 italic, oblique, and stub nibs, with demonstrators of them all for you to try before you buy. These nibs fit M200, M250, M400, and M600 pens, including the attractive M620 City series. If you don't have a Pelikan pen to go with your new nib, I'll also have M200 pens. I'll also have a few pens for sale, including the Columbia, Nobile, and Atlantica by Filcao, and the Academia by Columbus. (Remember, unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, I dip-test each new pen before delivery, aligning and smoothing the nib and ensuring that it has good flow.) I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** And One More Thing! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've been watching Conway Stewart with an eagle eye since the company's recent quality problems, and I have to tell you I'm really impressed with what the new owners have done to turn the company around. So much so, in fact, that when Conway's new US representative, Mary Burke of Luxury Brands, asked me if I'd be interested in becoming a Conway dealer, I said yes. I will have a small number of new Conway Stewart pens at the New York show. And here's the best part. Mary will be there with a supply of nibs, so you can have your choice of any nib from XF to broad italic. (And if it's not exactly the way you want it, I can regrind or adjust it for you while you wait.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** EXTRA! EXTRA! Getcher News Here! -- On the Web, by RSS *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSS means Really Simple Syndication. I have installed an RSS news feed on my Web site. You can subscribe by clicking the link on my site's main page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=main.html If you're not already hooked up to RSS and what it can do for you, take a peek at this introductory page: http://www.popcornpopper.com/rsshelp.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Phileas is Gone, But Here Comes the Insignia *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ One of Parker's nicer low-priced pens of recent years, the Insignia is built just like a Sonnet, with an ultra-reliable "Wing flow" nib that snaps in place on the feed and can't shift. These pens have very nice broad steel nibs, and for $50.00 you can have one that I've customized with a 0.9-mm cursive italic or a 0.8-mm stub. As part of the nib customization process, each nib receives an inked writing test to ensure that it will work at its best for you. Check 'em out here: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_oth.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Customized Pelikan Pens and Nibs *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have Pelikan M150 pens in three 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Glossaries rock. They give you tons of information in easily-absorbed chunks. After the success of my fountain-pen glossary, I stumbled across a great glossary written by a friend. With his kind permission, it's now on my site. It's about paper, and it's wicked cool. Check it out: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/papergloss/glossary_A.htm Don't forget to check out my fountain-pen glossary, too: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/glossary/glossary_A.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Does it seem as though you're always getting beaten at eBay, that you're perpetually 10 minutes late on a fantastic deal of an auction that just ended? Want to turn into the sumgai who always sneaks that eBay bargain under everyone else's nose? Here are some ways to do it: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0409.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've restored a few very nice pens for you this month. These aren't all the vintage pens I have, just the ones that weren't there last month. Give all my vintage pens 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 ---------- Gray J, 9550 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $40.00 Black transitional J, NOS 1555 nib. Condition: B+. Second version, round cap jewel but no ESTERBROOK imprint on clip; ridged spade-end lever. Price: $45.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ 1947 Black Vacumatic-filling "51" Demi pen and pencil set, Lustraloy caps, XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $120.00 Green "21", M nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- 1936-41 Pearl Gray striated slender Lifetime Balance, 2-tone F Lifetime nib. Condition: B. Price: $85.00 1935 Pearl Gray striated slender Balance 350, 14K F No 3 nib. Condition: B. $80.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Others ------ Dark Brown Mabie Todd Swan 3150, 14K No. 2 F flex nib. Condition: B. Price: $90.00 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 isn't a book, it's a whole passel of books: 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.