======================================================================== Nib Noise Volume 5 Number 11 ======================================================================== 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Why Do We Go to Pen Shows? *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ While driving home from the Philadelphia show, I got to thinking about why I go to pen shows and whether shows are worth the trouble. The upshot of that mind voyage was a new essay on the site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=writings/showswhy.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Hello, Namiki and Pilot! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We've been selling Pilot Vanishing Point nibs, both standard and my preground specialty shapes, for several months now, so when we got to thinking about it, it was patently obvious that we should sell the pens, too. We contacted Namiki USA, they didn't slam the door in our faces, and we are now an authorized Namiki/Pilot dealer. We took a boatload of Vanishing Points and Falcons to the Philadelphia show, and they sold very briskly. They're not all gone, and we have more coming -- and remember, even if we don't show it on our site, if we can get it from Namilki USA, we'll be happy to provide it for you. Check out our new Namiki/Pilot page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_nam.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The 2007 Bexley Owner's Club Pen Are Now Available to All *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bexley 2007 Owners Club pens were restricted to registered owners through the end of January. At that time, Bexley made the remaining pens available to the public, but there is no guarantee that we can get you a specific number. Our price for these pens, including my usual nib adjustment and smoothing, is $335.00 including shipment anywhere in the world. Bill Riepl's picture of these gorgeous hard rubber pens is on our site: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_bex.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** New Pelikans are Coming *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pelikan announced some very sweet new models at Paperworld last month, including a lozenge-patterned M215, a nre Famous Places pen honoring Niagara Falls, M625s in red and green, and more. As soon as we can get these pens, we will announce their availability, Watch our site, and watch our RSS feed! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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, Namiki and Pilot, Pelikan, 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 Richard's Pens Calendar Is Still Available! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you're looking around wondering where's that great 2007 wall calendar you didn't buy yet, this is it. This year, just like last year, you get a professionally printed calendar instead of an inkjet one -- which means it's twice the size of the old ones, and prettier besides. It has twelve unique wallpaper-type pictures featuring a mix of vintage and modern pens. Here's a link to my calendar page, with more information and a direct one-click link to purchase your own copy. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=accessories/calendar.htm No new wallpapers this month, but more will be along as the year passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Some Special Pens for Sale *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have six very nice pens on consignment this month. They've been restored to top-notch shape, and they come with my usual warranty. * Parker Duofold "Big Red," 1926-1927. Raised band, correct flat-top Duofold nib and Lucky Curve feed. Excellent color throughout. Band is more than half brassed, clip shows the usual brassing on ball and shoulder, but this is nonetheless a very nice pen. Price: $250.00. * Parker Duofold "Big Red," 1926-1927. Raised band, later Arrow Duofold nib and serrated Vacumatic-style feed. Excellent color throughout. Band is not brassed, clip shows the usual brassing on ball and shoulder. This one is a seriously nice Big Red. Price: $300.00. * Parker Vacumatic-filling "51", India Black Double Jewel model, grouped parallel-line cap with no dings, solid 14K furniture. Clutch ring's gold wash is superb. Fine nib. $500.00. * Parker Vacumatic-filling "51", Blue Cedar Single Jewel model, parallel-line cap with no dings. Clutch ring's gold wash is superb. Fine nib. $175.00.00. * Parker aerometric-filling "51", Black, converging-line cap with no dings. Fine nib. $150.00. Caran D'Ache silver-plated Ecridor, slender hexagonal pen with smooth F steel nib. MSRP is $170.00. Pen shows some wear but no wear-through of plating. $90.00. In an effort to devote less time to making pretty pictures and more time to working on pens for our clients, I've taken a few quick photos of these pens: Duofolds: http://www.richardspens.com/images/febsale/capped.jpg http://www.richardspens.com/images/febsale/uncapped.jpg http://www.richardspens.com/images/febsale/sections.jpg http://www.richardspens.com/images/febsale/nibs_n_bands.jpg "51"s and CdA: http://www.richardspens.com/images/febsale/51s_cda.jpg If you're interested in any of these pens, please send email! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** In the Reader's Corner *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Handwriting is a skill that is so universal these days that we are often unaware that things were not always so. Learn more! http://www.richardspens.com/?page=bks_txt.htm#potm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The long-awaited Parker Duofold profile is here! http://www.richardspens.com/?prof=duofold ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don responds to Vacumatic supercollector/dealer David Isaacson's alternative perspective on destickering new-old stock pens. http://www.richardspens.com/?page=extrafine/xf0702.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.