======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 3 Number 9 ======================================================================== Welcome to Nib Noise. This e-newsletter is a joint effort of Richard Binder and Don Fluckinger. We hope you'll enjoy reading this month's issue. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS NEWSLETTER! For comments or questions, send email to: richard@richardspens.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Winter Holiday Season Is Almost Upon Us! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 I have three Northern Woods Pen Rests left. If you were considering one, or if you'd like one to give to your favorite pen lover, now is the time. When these three are gone, that's it. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/penrest.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** They're Back! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you are among the people who have used my fountain pen friendly pads, you probably lamented the "retirement" of the gentleman who used to make them for me. Well, a little negotiation, a little arm-twisting (read "sucking up"), and my pads are returning! My first shipment of new pads, with five brand-new high-resolution pen images, is in transit even as I write; I don't have them yet, but you can pre-order yours by going to my Web site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/pads.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Coffee, Mice, and CafePress *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In addition to a broad selection of coffee mugs and other useful items with pen images, I now have several of my famous pen wallpaper designs available on 7" x 5" note cards made of heavy stock, glossy on the outside. Check out all the items in my CafePress shop: http://www.cafepress.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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** New Pens and Customized Nibs *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm an authorized retailer for Bexley, Conway Stewart, Filcao, and Pelikan. I have a small selection on hand, and I can get any of these companies' pens that are in current production. And don't forget my wide selection of preground specialty Pelikan M200 nibs that fit all M2xx, M4xx, and M6xx Pelikans as well as the "Originals of their Time" limited editions: Check them all out: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_txt.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The history of the fountain pen is a history of invention, innovation, and technological progress. How would you choose the most significant pens of the 20th century? http://www.richardspens.com/?misc=significant ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Getting the annual Fountain Pen Hospital catalog offers a nice survey of modern pens. But which ones are the best "throwbacks" to vintage pens? Our intrepid columnist offers his subjective two cents' worth. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0412.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Subscribe to My RSS Feed for Continual Updates *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 your browser complains that "feed" is not a registered protocol, open your RSS news reader and subscribe to this URL: http://www.richardspens.com/richardspens.rss 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ---------- Blue transitional J, 2668 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Gray J, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Red SJ, 9314-M nib. Condition: B. Price: $55.00 Gray Dollar Pen, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $50.00 Copper SJ, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Foliage Green SJ, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $45.00 Blue SJ, 2550 nib. Condition: B. Price: $35.00 Gray SJ, 9550 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Red SJ, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Black J, NOS 2556 nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ Rare 1938 Silver Pearl Vacumatic Lockdown Standard set with gold-filled ("reverse") furniture, 2-tone XF nib. Condition: B+. Price: $375.00 1947 Cordovan Brown Vacumatic-filling "51", bright polished stainless cap, XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $105.00 Aerometric "51" Demi, Lustraloy cap, F nib. Condition: B. Price: $100.00 1948 Black aerometric "51" pen and pencil set, Lustraloy caps, M nib. Condition: B. Price: $120.00 Black 25, M nib. Condition: B-. Price: $20.00 1947 Black Vacumatic Major, 14K F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $85.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Black Touchdown Imperial desk set, 14K M nib. Condition: B+. Working eight-day Florn windup alarm clock. Price: $140.00 Black Snorkel Sovereign, 2-tone F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $90.00 Black Lifetime Balance 875, streamlined clip, XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $80.00 Red (orange) Radite 3-25, 14k F nib. Condition: B. Price: $100.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Others ------ Blue Waterman Skywriter, iridium-tipped steel No 3 F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $55.00 Black Waterman's 32, 14K semiflexible 0.8-mm stub nib. Condition: B. Price: $70.00 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 an essential reference on a relatively obscure brand: 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.