======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 4 Number 2 ======================================================================== 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. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS NEWSLETTER! For comments or questions, send email to: richard@richardspens.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Springtime in New England *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The New England Pen Show, in Somerville, Massachusetts, is only a few miles from the spot where the Shot Heard Round the World was heard. It's not the biggest pen show, or the longest, or the most famous. But it's always a great time, and for the new collector it's an ideal show to get your feet wet. If you plan to come and haven't ever been to a show before, you might want to read my article on Your First Pen Show: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/firstshow.htm The show runs May 21 ands 22. For more information, visit the show's Web site: http://www.vintagewriting.com/new_england_pen_show.htm 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 few vintage pens for sale as well as a selection of new pens from Bexley, Conway Stewart, Filcao, Pelikan, Signum, and Taccia. 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 M620 City series and the new Piazza Navona. If you don't have a Pelikan pen to go with your new nib, I'll be happy to fit your nib with a new M200 pen body in your choice of colors. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Nova means New -- and Signum has it! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I ordered the new Signum Novas in January. Did I get them in January? Nope. February? March? Apr-- Well, if March 31 counts. They were worth the wait; they're beautiful. Check them out at my table in Somerville, or -- if you can't make it -- look them over on my site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_sig.htm#nova ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Bexley's New Submariner is here -- and more Bexley specials! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As soon as I laid eyes on the preview photos of the Bexley Submariner, I knew this was a pen I had to stamp my mark on. I was on the phone to Howard Levy before my inkjet print was dry, and I've commissioned my own Submariner SE. The standard colors are relaxing, almost summery; the SE, in brilliant Red Pearl, is all set to get you fired up. I'll have some SEs with me in Somerville, too. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_bex.htm#submariner At the Atlanta show I tackled Howard and snatched a case of special pens for you. There are discontinued models, prototypes, and more. If you missed out when you saw these pens, you can fix that mistake, but you shouldn't wait -- they're selling fast. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_bex.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pelikan prices are going up. But not quite yet! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ According to Chartpak, prices for Pelikan pens and nibs are going up May 1. But I'm going to hold off a couple of days. Any Pelikan order received by midnight, Tuesday, May 3, will be yours at the old price. This isn't a "stock" sale -- if what you want is sold out, I'll back-order it and you'll get it at the old price. Check out my Pelikan page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=newp_pel.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** I'm a full-service retailer *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm not the world's biggest retailer, and I don't have every color of every model made by the six great pen companies I represent. But I can get the pen you want for you, so don't hesitate to check out what I have to offer. Find out why my clients are my best advertising. Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, I dip-test each new pen at no extra charge before shipment, aligning and smoothing the nib and ensuring that it has good flow. If you order a new pen with a customized nib, I will modify the nib and ship the pen immediately instead of putting it into my regular queue. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Subscribe to my RSS Feed *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This month I'm featuring a guest article by David Isaacson, an essay that touches on one of pen collecting's ongoing controversies: http://www.richardspens.com/?misc=mint_pens ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEWS FLASH: We found Sumgai. At least, we've found one of them. While he was in our clutches, we interrogated him, pumping him for information on his modus operandi so we could share the results with you, just in case you wanted to become an acolyte. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0505.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have a few vintage pens for sale, of course -- please remember to check out my vintage pages: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=vint_txt.htm In the meantime, however, take a look at this list of Esterbrook Renew-Point nibs. I just scored a huge buy, and I have all of these in stock for sale. I don't have these listed on my site, though, so please write for prices. 1314 1461 1550 1551 1554 1555 2048 2284 2312 2314B 2314F 2314M 2442 2550 2556 2668 2788 2968 FINE MEDIUM BROAD 3550 3556 5284 5550 5788 8556 8668 9048 9128 9312 9314B 9314F 9314M 9450 9460 9461 9550 9555 9556 9668 9788 9968 For descriptions of these and other Renew-Point nibs, you can consult my site's Renew-Point reference page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/estynibs.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 belongs on the reference shelf of every collector: 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.