======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 5 Number 9 ======================================================================== 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** It's Holiday Gift Giving Season -- Slip One In for Yourself, Too *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It might be hard to choose, among all the pens and pen accessories, just the perfect gift for another pen lover. If you find yourself in this quandary, we invite you to consider a Richard's Pens gift certificate. Available in any amount and redeemable for any products or services we offer, a gift certificate will tell the recipient that you know he or she loves pens but just couldn't choose the right one. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/giftcert.htm Just a quick note: You can also use a gift certificate to pay for having the nib customized on a pen you're purchasing for yourself. If you know what specialty grind you want, just check the price for that work on our Repair & Restoration page, then purchase a gift certificate for the right amount and describe the work you want in the Note field when you check out through PayPal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Update: The Pharaoh Limited Edition *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ More than half of the twenty-four pens in our limited edition, The Pharaoh, are now sold -- along with the numbers they'll bear. Don't miss out on your chance to own this luxury writing instrument. See the pen and read more about it here: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/pharaoh.htm The price of $900.00 includes nib customization and shipment to anywhere in the world -- even, if you happen to live there, the Ross Ice Shelf. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** HAND HIM THE HEISMAN *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Even non-football fans have probably read about Troy Smith, quarterback of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who is having a season for the ages. Capping off a perfect campaign in Columbus, Smith directed the Bucks over the archrival Michigan Wolverines in an epic 42-39 showdown of No. 1 and No. 2 in the national rankings -- the first time in the 103 meetings between the two teams where they'd been 1-2 -- and found himself again, on 11/27, resplendent in his scarlet No. 10 home jersey on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During Smith's 51-day layoff between the Michigan game and the national championship in Glendale, AZ, the consensus among pundits is that he will make a stop at New York's Downtown Athletic Club to receive the Heisman Trophy. Bexley Pen issued a Scarlet and Gray pen in honor of the Buckeyes this year, released at the Columbus Pen Show in November. We got No. 10, featuring Smith's jersey number. While there were 35 sets of matching Scarlet/Gray and Gray/Scarlet pens made for this ultra-limited edition, only one pen of each color bears the number shared by the Heisman shoe-in leader of this historic squad, arguably the most desirable number in this set. We have only one of our two pens left, with Gray cap and Scarlet barrel -- and it can be yours, if you're the first to respond to this email. ($225.00 including shipping in the U.S.A.) See the pen capped: http://tinyurl.com/y883vt See the pen posted: http://tinyurl.com/y4un5h ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pens That Write Right! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, I fill-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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The 2007 Bexley Owner's Club Pens Are Luscious! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ One of the oldest of writing instruments -- bamboo -- provides the inspiration for the 2007 Bexley Owners Club Edition. Classic wood-grained ebonite is formed into caps and barrels that echo the shape of bamboo. Gleaming metal accent rings and rollerball clips provide elegant contrast. In recognition of Bexley's fourteenth year, quantities are limited to a maximum of 114 pens with amber color ebonite and gold tone trim, and 114 pens with mahogany color ebonite and platinum tone trim. See Bill Riepl's enticing photo of these pens here: http://www.richardspens.com/images/sales/bexley/ownersclub07.jpg The pens are equipped with Bexley's two-tone 18K solid gold nibs in fine, medium, broad, or broad stub widths. They fill from standard ink cartridges or the supplied piston-filling converters. The Bexley Owners Club pens are bench-made in Bexley's factory in Columbus, Ohio. Each pen has 28 parts, more than any other Bexley product, past or present. Master craftsmen make each pen individually -- cutting, shaping, smoothing, test-fitting, adjusting, assembling, polishing the body, installing your nib, and testing the finished pen for proper performance. (And of course, if you purchase your pen through Richard's Pens, I'll test it again, and adjust it if necessary, to be sure it meets my standards.) In a world of mass production, says Bexley President Howard Levy, it is a pleasure to produce a bench-made, high-quality product. In fact, Bexley Pen is the only writing instrument manufacturer still making fine fountain pens in the USA. It would be our privilege to make one for you. The Bexley 2007 Owners Club pens will be available beginning December 2006. Our price is $335.00 including shipment anywhere in the world. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Something You Should Know About Pelikan M600s *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Did you know that, like the phenomenally popular M205, the Pelikan M600 in Transparent Dark Blue is a LIMITED PRODUCTION pen! There was one, and only one, production run of this lovely pen, and when they're gone the price will go up just as is already happening with the M205. We have a very small number of these blue M600s -- get yours now, before it's to late: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_pel.htm#m600 And as long as we're mentioning M600-series pens, we still have a few of the M620 Piccadilly Circus pens. Photos don't do justice to the luminous pearlescence of this pen's colors, so if you've been judging it by the pix on the Web, you should probably notch up the appeal a few dozen points. And then, as the Brits say, plump for one: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_pel.htm#m620 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Last Month's Calendar Page Is This Month's Wallpaper *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The November calendar page featured a Pelikan M620 Shanghai resting luxuriously on a bed of silk brocade. Now you can download that image as a 1600x1200 desktop wallpaper file for your computer. To complement the red and gold Shanghai, I've also uploaded the December calendar page, a Sheaffer Holly Pen -- after all, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to put up such a holiday-themed pen AFTER the holidays, would it? http://www.richardspens.com/?page=wallpapers.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Speaking of Months, Philly Comes Up Next Month *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Just when the winter blues are beginning to set in, it'll be time to go to the City of Brotherly Love for the 2007 Philadelphia Pen Show, set for January 19-21. Learn more at the show's Web site: http://www.philadelphiapenshow.com/ In case you don't know, the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel used to be known as the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel. Yup, that's right, you don't have to get lost looking for a new hotel; the show is right where it was last time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** In the Reader's Corner *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last month I featured Platt Rogers Spencer's method book for learning how to do American Round Hand. This month I've moved backward in time a few decades. Check out my Pick of the Month. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=bks_txt.htm#potm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Several years ago I wrote a series of columns for a popular pen site. Not everybody goes there, so I've decided to update and republish those articles on our site. Follow the link to the Reference Info index and look for the Pen Doctor heading: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_txt.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Our columnist checks out storage options for pen collections -- including a few innovative ideas you probably haven't considered. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0612.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vintage Pens for Sale ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This month I have a couple of unusual pens along with some that are more common; 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 ---------- Green J, 2668 nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Green first-year J, 1556 nib. Condition: B+. Price: $50.00 Copper Icicle LJ, 1560 nib. Condition: B-. Price: $35.00 Red Icicle LJ, final pattern, 2312 nib. Condition: C+. Price: $40.00 Esterbrooks for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/vint_est.htm Parker ------ Forest Green aerometric "51", Lustraloy cap, F nib. Condition: B+. Price: $175.00 Black "21" Mark II, F nib. Condition: B. Price: $45.00 Black 45 GT, brushed cap, GP steel B nib. Condition: N. Price: $35.00 45 Flighter, steel M nib. Condition: B. Price: $55.00 Parkers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/vint_pkr.htm Sheaffer -------- Black Dolphin Touchdown desk set, steel F nib. Condition: B. Price: $80.00 Black Lady Skripsert, PdAg M nib. Condition: B. This pen came from my personal collection to make way for one of a different color. Price: $70.00 Black 1949 Touchdown Statesman, two-tone 14K XF nib. Condition: B-. Price: $80.00 Black 1949 Touchdown Statesman, two-tone 14K F nib. Condition: B-. Price: $75.00 Sheaffers for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/vint_she.htm Others ------ Dubonnet Red Eversharp Skyline Demi, Budget Version, XF nib. Condition: B. Price: $70.00 Dubonnet Red Eversharp, unidentified model, XF nib. Condition: C. Price: $80.00 Other Pens for sale: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/vint_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. 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