======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 7 ======================================================================== 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Second Annual Toronto Pen Show Is Coming! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What? Toronto has a pen show?? Yes, indeed. Last year's inaugural outing was scheduled against the Ohio Pen Show. You you can guess where that led... But this year it's coming up THIS WEEKEND! It's a half-day show, from noon to 5 p.m., in the International Centre. For information, check out the International Centre's page on the show: http://www.internationalcentre.com/main/events2.cfm?autoid=403 I'll be there to regrind and tweak nibs. Bring a pen or two, and share some chatter at my table while I jazz up your writing experience. For more information, check the International Centre's Web site: http://www.internationalcentre.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 pen bodies. Because of customs restrictions, I won't have any complete pens for sale. (Complete pens are dutiable, parts aren't.) I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Made in America *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My first high-quality fountain pen was a Bexley Fifth Anniversary LE. I liked it, but as my collecting focus shifted to vintage pens I sold it. Now, I'm coming full circle; I've become an authorized Bexley retailer. I have a small selection of Bexley pens; check them out here: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_bex.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Getcher News Here! -- On the Web, by RSS *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSS means Really Simple Syndication. Last month I announced that I've 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 My RSS index receives an update whenever something new goes up on my site. (But Nib Noise articles and the vintage pens listed here won't go up until a day or so after you read this, to give Nib Noise subscribers the first opportunity to see them.) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whatever happened to...? Have you ever wondered about buggy whips, razor-blade sharpeners, and other things of days gone by? Well, since I'm into fountain pens, I got to wondering whatever happened to the Lucky Curve. Find out here: http://www.richardspens.com/?feeds=luckycurve ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pen-wise, it's been a good year at the fleas for our intrepid columnist. Now that fall's rolling in to New England and the season's winding down, he shares his tips for those who live in warmer climes -- or who have good indoor fleas to plunder during the "offseason." http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0410.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've found some brand-new old pens for you this month; they came from a Florida stationer's shop that closed a few years ago. 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 ---------- Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ Rage Red "51" Mark III, B nib. Condition: A1. Price: $175.00 Black "51" Mark III, M nib. Condition: A1. Price: $140.00 Black Arrow, M nib. Condition: B+. Price: $50.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Sterling silver Targa 1006, M nib. Condition: A1. Mint in box. Price: $150.00 23k gold-plated Targa 1005, F nib. Condition: A1. Mint in box. Price: $100.00 23k gold-plated TRZ 70, M nib. Condition: A1. Mint in box. Price: $100.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Others ------ Gold-plated slender Montblanc, 14K M nib. Condition: A1. Mint in box, still stickered. Price: $75.00 Matte black Cross Classic 14K F nib. Condition: A1. Mint in box. Price: $50.00 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 great new book by Paul Erano: 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.