======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 5 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 To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit the Free Email Newsletter page on my site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=nibnoise.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** A New-Old Marriage of East and West *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've acquired something very, very special. in 2003, Bexkey collaborated with Mr. K. Kashimoto to create its special 116-pen Limited Edition for the Kensaki Pen Club of Japan, the Kensaki Premier Fountain Pen. During the development, Bexley made a small number of prototypes. I acquired nine of them, and I still have eight available for sale. Each is imprinted "Kensaki Prototype / Bexley Pen USA '03" -- when these are sold, there will never be any more. The Kensaki is a magnificent pen, large, well balanced, and fitted with a huge nib and a solid 18K gold clip. To check it out for yourself, follow this link. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_bex.htm From there, click on the framed picture at the upper right of the page -- and prepare to be awed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Italian Quality At Its Best *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We all know that Italian pens are beautiful. But we also acknowledge that some of them seem to have problems of one sort or another. The best Italian pens going are produced by a small firm called Essegi, and they are imported by Empire Writing Instruments under the Signum brand. How do I know they're the best? I'm the official warranty service provider for Signum pens, and in the three years they've been on the market I have not received even one for service. (I gotta say, I'm beginning to feel a lot like the Maytag repairman.) These are remarkably good pens, and they are available with nibs in either steel or 18K gold: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_txt.htm From there, click on "Signum." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Speaking of Choices... *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Signum isn't the only brand I have that offers its pens with either steel or gold nibs. I offer all Taccia fountain pens except the little Portuguese with steel or gold nibs, too: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_txt.htm From there, click on "Taccia." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Start Your Children Right with Pens *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not officially available in the USA, the Lamy abc is a school pen, plain and simple -- and we have it! Designed to be a child's first pen, the abc features a robust wood barrel that's warm and friendly, like high- quality wooden toys. The fine steel nib is the same as on a Safari, and that means it's a very nice nib indeed. The new, soft ergonomic section guides the fingers of a small hand to hold the pen correctly -- and, incidentally, feels pretty good to adult hands as well: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_txt.htm From there, click on "Other Pens." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pelikan Bling *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pelikan has been doing some really pretty things recently. There's the M625, a rich deep blue trqansparent pen with polished sterling cap, section, and blind cap. Then there's the M450, with its Tortoise barrel set off by a parallel-lined vermeil cap and blind cap (gold layered over sterling silver). Like all M2xx, M4xx, and M6xx Pelikans, both of these models can accept my specialty nibs in either steel or 14K gold: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_txt.htm From there, click on "Pelikan." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Last Month's Calendar Page Is This Month's Wallpaper *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The April calendar page featured a Fendograf green gold-filled overlay safety. This month, that pen can be wallpaper for your computer. Along with the Fendograf wallpaper I've also made a new wallaper featuring the glorious Bexley Kensaki prototype in Yellowstone. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=wallpapers.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I saw this cool hard rubber pen on eBay. The seller said it was a Waterman and it had 16 PSF stamped on the end of the barrel. What was it?" If people ask you questions like this, or if you ask them of others, here's a cheat sheet explaining Waterman's Standard Numbering System: http://www.richardspens.com/?tools=wat_nos ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ One of New England's greatest flea markets will be gone soon. Make a pilgrimage to Rowley this year, before the pen collecting scene loses one of its legendary stomping grounds. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0605.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** We Get a Month Without a Show -- But Don't Forget Raleigh! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We won't be going to any shows in May, but the first week of June will see us driving south. North Carolina is a pretty nice place any time, but with the prospect of a pen show, it's even more attractive. The Raleigh show begins Thursday, June 8, and runs through Sunday, June 11. Public days are Saturday and Sunday. This show is run by Terry and Sonia Mawhorter, who also run the terrific Ohio show every November. We found out last year that they do every bit as good a job a little farther south. And as if a good show weren't enticement enough, the Embassy Suites is a great hotel, offering registered show attendees a free buffet breakfast and a free before-dinner happy hour. Check it all out here: http://www.raleighpenshow.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Subscribe to my RSS Feed *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSS means Really Simple Syndication. You can subscribe to my RSS feed by clicking the orange RSS button at the top of any page of my site. If you're not already hooked up to RSS and what it can do for you, take a peek at my introductory page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=rsshelp.htm ======================================================================== If you received this newsletter from Richard Binder, you are a Nib Noise subscriber. If it came from someone else, I invite you to subscribe. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit the Free Email Newsletter page on my site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=nibnoise.htm Note: We will never sell your name or email address. Your privacy is as important to us as it is to you.