======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 5 Number 6 ======================================================================== 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Coming in 2007: The Pharaoh Limited Edition *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Richard's Pens is proud to announce the advent of our first Limited Edition. The Pharaoh, produced in collaboration with David Broadwell and the Bexley Pen Company, will be a classically styled pen in orange and black woodgrain ebonite. Its distinctive Art Deco flair will gleam with investment-cast solid 10K furniture designed and hand finished by David Broadwell. Like all pens of my design, The Pharaoh will be a writer's pen, not just eye candy that writes -- and it will feature a 14K nib for the best writing performance. At 5-9/16" capped and 6-13/32" posted, it will be just the right size to write all day long without fatiguing your hand. The Pharaoh will be priced at approximately $900.00. I'll be creating a colored artist's rendering soon, but in the meantime all we have is David Broadwell's concept sketch for the cap design: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/pharaoh.htm On the strength of this sketch, we have already accepted pre-orders for four of the twenty-four numbered pens. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Long Island Pen Show is REAL! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Space has been reserved in the student union at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, and Richard's Pens is already signed up. The show will be two full days, Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18. Check it out on the show's Web site: http://www.lipenshow.com/ I'll have my table set up to work on nibs. If you have pens that need repairs not possible at a show, we'll be happy to give them a free ride to New Hampshire. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** And Don't Forget That "Other" November Show! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Preparations are on track for the annual Ohio Pen Show in Columbus. It's a tight squeeze, two shows only two weeks apart, but we'll be there -- I wouldn't miss it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pens That Write Right! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. Remember, we are authorized retailers for Bexley, Conway Stewart, Filcao, Pelikan, Platinum, Signum, and Taccia. We don't always have a complete line up on the site, but we can get anything our manufacturers offer -- if you don't see it, just ask! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Here Now! Japanese Value from Platinum *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We now have Platinum pens in stock for immediate delivery. As always, we have chosen a few models we think will appeal to our clients, but we can order any currently available Platinum model -- including the new models that are being readied exclusively for the US market. Check out our new Platinums: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_plt.htm If the Platinum pen you want isn't shown on our site, please contact us by email. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Bexley Armed Forces at a Special Price for Service Members *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For all members of the United States Armed Forces who are on active duty, we offer the Bexley Armed Forces pen (MSRP $99.00) for the special price of only $60.00 (with steel nib). We ship worldwide, including to APOs and FPOs. To take advantage of this offer, for yourself or as a gift for someone in the service, please contact us by email. This is not a limited-time offer. We will have these pens at this price for as long as the Armed Forces is available. To see the Armed Forces, follow this link: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_bex.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** For $190.00, You Can't Beat the Signum Orione with an 18K nib *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Signum's exquisite Orione Collection is an amazing value. These pens feature lovely resins and furniture plated in sterling silver, and the rhodium-plated nib is 18K gold. Filling is with a piston. Each Orione pen includes a fabric-lined two-pen case made of genuine hand-tooled Italian leather. We made a special purchase to bring you the Orione at the unbelievable price of only $190.00, a $45.00 whack down from the $235.00 we've sold this model at. No, the Orione is not this week's fad pen. That's all the more reason to add one to your stable. How long will we be able to offer this price? We don't know. Get your Orione now: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_sig.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Last Month's Calendar Page Is This Month's Wallpaper *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The August calendar page was a woodland shot featuring a vintage Pelikan 100. Now you can download that image as a 1600x1200 desktop wallpaper file for your computer. To complement the Pelikan, I've made a new coordinating wallpaper with a Vista Blue Parker 61. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=wallpapers.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fifty-two ways to love your Waterman: this can only mean I've finally gotten around to finishing up my profile of one of collecting's most popular pens, Waterman's Ideal No. 52. http://www.richardspens.com/?prof=52 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After outings to the Toronto pen show in back to back summers, our intrepid columnist has some tips for U.S. collectors who might consider taking this (worthwhile) trip across the border next year. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0609.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This month I have a few very special pens along with some that are more usual; all are good writers. Reemember, these are not all the vintage pens on our site, so check them all out. 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 ---------- Gray J, 2668 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Copper J, 2668 nib. Condition: B-. Price: $40.00 Black first-year J, 2668 nib. Condition: B-. Price: $45.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_est.htm Parker ------ Marbled gray Challenger, F nib. Condition: B. Price: $65.00 Azure Blue Pearl 1952 Vacumatic, semiflexible F nib. Condition: B+. This pen came from my personal collection to make room for a BCHR Salz pen. Price: $120.00 Dove Gray "51", XF nib. Condition: B. This pen came from my personal collection to make room for a "51" of a different color. Price: $110.00 Gold plated 45 Brocade, 14K XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $85.00 Dark Gray 45 GT, brushed cap, 14K M nib. Condition: B. Price: $40.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Burgundy Snorkel Statesman, PdAg F nib. Condition: B. Price: $95.00 BCHR Craig, XF nib. Condition: B+. Price: $140.00 Black Imperial Touchdown, 14K F nib. Two-tone metal cap. Price: $70.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_she.htm Others ------ Waterman's Ideal Na 0754, XF nib. Condition: B-. Price: $150.00 Brown Eversharp Skyline, flexible XF nib. Condition: B-. Price: $75.00 Black Eversharp Skyline, semiflexible XF nib. Condition: B-. Price: $75.00 Other Pens for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sale_oth.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Subscribe to our RSS Feed *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RSS means Really Simple Syndication. You can subscribe to our RSS feed by clicking the orange RSS button at the top of any page of our site. If you're not already hooked up to RSS and what it can do for you, take a peek at our 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.