======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 8 ======================================================================== 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 Tenth Annual Ohio Pen Show Is Coming! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Ohio Pen Show is one of the grand-daddies, and it's a super show, with an abundance of both vintage and new pens, from a wide variety of dealers from all over. And it's coming up THIS WEEKEND! It will run from Thursday through Sunday, in the Clarion Dublin Hotel, formerly the Wyndham. For information, check out the show's Web site: http://www.ohiopenshow.com/ 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. 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 haven't seen the Shanghai yet, you'd better get with it; this baby is radiant, and it'll be sold out before you know it if you don't act now.) If you don't have a Pelikan pen to go with your new nib, I'll also have M200 pen bodies. I'm expanding the range of new pens I offer for sale, and I'll have a few Bexley, Conway Stewart, and Filcao pens at the show, including the great new Filcao Atlantica Oro. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Tribute to a Legend *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1940, Sheaffer introduced the Tuckaway, a very small men's or women's pen that grew much larger when posted. Bexley's modern interpretation of the "big things in small packages" theme is a great-looking pen with a shape that's just the least bit "Oriental" in character. The Bexley Tuck-Away fits into a small purse or a vest pocket, yet when posted it stretches to fill even a large hand. Check it out: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_bex.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Winter Holiday Season Is Coming *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thinking about a pen gift for a friend or family member? Not sure what to get? A Richard's Pens gift certificate makes your gift personal; it says, "I actually thought about this gift. I know you like pens, and I want you to have the pleasure of choosing how you're going to enhance your enjoyment of your pens." http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/giftcert.htm My new 2005 calendar, featuring 12 different Wahl and Eversharp pens, is now available. It will make a useful addition to the walls of your den or library, or that of a friend or family member. This year, the pen photos are all new images, printed life size, in high resolution! http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/calendar.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Getcher News Here! -- On the Web, by RSS *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSS means Really Simple Syndication. You can subscribe to my RSS feed 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ So, you like big pens? Well, don't overlook the small ones. One of the potentially most interesting small vintage pen models seems to be slipping under almost everyone's radar. Interested? Give it a look: http://www.richardspens.com/?prof=bantam ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's been 86 years since the Red Sox won a World Series. Now it's time to celebrate--and for fans to spend like crazy on clothes, tchotchkes, and limited edition collectibles. Why shouldn't the pen manufacturers join the party? Here are 10 ideas they can have, free for the asking. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0411.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've been busy readying things for the Ohio Pen Show in four days, but I've managed to put up a small number of newly-restored vintage pens. 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 ---------- Aqua squeeze filler ("aerometric"), NOS 2668 nib. Condition: N. Price: $50.00 Gray SJ, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ 1945 Azure Pearl Vacumatic Major, 14K F nib. Condition: B. This pen comes from my personal collection, displaced by a new acquisition. Price: $110.00 Black Streamlined Duofold Junior, 14K F nib. Condition: B. Price: $135.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Black Snorkel Valiant, 2-tone XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $90.00 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral, 14K F nib. Condition: B. Price: $85.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Others ------ 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 an emotional roller-coaster ride. I couldn't put it down, and I'll bet it'll grab you, 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.