======================================================================== Nib Noise * Volume 10 Number 2 * May 2011 ======================================================================== Welcome to Nib Noise. This e-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 our site: http://www.richardspens.com/?info=nibnoise ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Summer's Almost Here -- and That Means Raleigh! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In less than three weeks we'll be taking off for the Eighth Annual Triangle Pen Show in Cary, North Carolina (within spittin' distance of Raleigh). We're looking forward to getting in the car to head south. North Carolina is a pretty nice place any time, but with a pen show in the offing, it's even more attractive. The show begins Thursday, June 2, at the truly deluxe Embassy Suites (free breakfast and Happy Hour, woo hoo!), and it runs through Sunday the 6th. Public days are Friday afternoon (starting at 1 p.m), and Saturday, and Sunday. Mawhorter-run shows have always been extraordinary -- and the 2011 show should be no exception. With some really luscious properties being offered in the auction (check out the 2009 photo gallery on the show's site), this is one not to miss. It's looking to be one of the best shows ever, for both old-time experienced troops and pen show virgins. 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/?shows=firstshow For more information (and auction pix), visit the show's Web site: http://www.raleighpenshow.com/ Barbara and I will also have a selection of new pens from Aurora, Bexley, Gate City Pen, Namiki and Pilot, and Pelikan, as well as a stock of my pre-ground Pelikan M200 and Vanishing Point specialty nibs, along with demonstrators of them all for you to try before you buy. If you don't have a pen to go with your new nib, we'll be happy to fit your nib with a new pen body in your choice of colors. I'll be bent over my Dremel, regrinding and tweaking 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, we'll be happy to save you some shipping costs by collecting them at the show and bringing them home to the Nashua Pen Spa. REMINDER: We bring most of our normal pen stock to shows, but we can't bring everything. If there's one special pen you've just gotta have, please feel free to send us an email to ask us to be sure we bring it for you. And if you want to use a credit card, we'll provide a way for you to make your purchase online before the show. That way you won't have to hold out that extra bit of cash while you're strolling the aisles drooling over the juicy delights on other tables! We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Calendar Check *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ June is going to be a complicated month for RichardsPens.com. We will have some unavoidable shipping delays next month, and we want to make sure you know what it looks like. As the month opens, we're heading out the door for the Triangle show. After the show, we're going to take a few extra days on the way home. Here is our shipping schedule for June: Order by Mon 5/30, we will ship on Tue 5/31. Our next shipping day will be Wed 6/15. This is a TWO WEEK break. As always, we'll acknowledge purchases made while we're on the road. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The STEALTH Vanishing Point Is Sneaking Right Along *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ever since Namiki discontinued the ultra-cool "Stealth" Vanishing Point, we (and you) have been hopeful that it would come back. It's back. It flew into the Nashua Pen Spa last month, and we have it on our Pilot page NOW. But it's flying out at a brisk rate, so be sure to turn your radar up high and fly your own Stealth before they're all gone! http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=nam+vp ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Don's Cigar Box Pen Chests *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This month, Don's unveiled another exciting lineup of the best pen- storage buys in the hobby. Each one's an individually hand-outfitted wooden former cigar box, felt-lined and custom fit with pen trays for your finest vintage and modern pens. Go now while there's still a wide selection -- they sell fast, and the early birds get the first crack at them! http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=boxes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Protect Your Pens with Fine Leather Pen Cases from Pelikan *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A few weeks back, we plugged a hole in our line by adding leather pen cases from Pelikan. We quickly learned that these cases are winners, and we're glad that we can offer them to you! Real leather is a natural product. It breathes, and it's warm and durable, with individual characteristics that make each hide unique. Pelikan fine leather pen cases are individually hand crafted by experienced European bag makers. We have Pelikan 1-, 2-, and 3-pen cases in stock. And even Vanishing Points will fit into them very comfortably. http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=pel_cases ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** April Showers Bring May Pen Trays? *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ That title may not make any sense at all, but we do have a nice new tray for you, and since we're a bit late this month due to Internet Service Provider hassles, there isn't as much time as usual for you to drop in and snag some of our tray offerings. Go for it, before someone else gets your pen! http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=vint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "This nib is scratchy! Here, you try it." Vivian handed the pen to Roger. "What do you mean?" he asked after scribbling a moment. "It's like butter!" They were both right. How can this be? In a word, tuning. http://www.richardspens.com/?ttp=tune BONUS ARTICLE: I've also returned to ome of my old favorites, the Pen Doctor. I've added a new article that answers clients' questions on silicone sacs, Vanishing Points, and how to deal with pens that seem gradually to lose flow as you write. http://www.richardspens.com/?pendoc=xxi ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ***"Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The out-of-sight price of gold these days doesn't mean you have to forgo awesome new pens. Richard and Don hash out the pros and cons of steel nibs. http://www.richardspens.com/?xf=1105 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pens That Write Right! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, we tune each new pen or nib at no extra charge before shipment. We fill the pen with Waterman Blue-Black ink and write with it on paper from the same fountain pen friendly pads we sell, adjusting as necessary to bring it up to the RichardsPens.com "factory" standard for smoothness and flow. If you order a new pen with a customized nib, I will modify the nib (for an extra charge) and ship the pen immediately instead of putting it into my regular queue. Remember, we are authorized retailers for Aurora, Bexley, Gate City Pen, Namiki and Pilot, and Pelikan. 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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 on our site or by plugging the following URI into your browser or RSS reader: http://www.richardspens.com/richardspens.rss 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/?info=rsshelp ======================================================================== 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 our site: http://www.richardspens.com/?info=nibnoise Note: We will never sell your name or email address. Your privacy is as important to us as it is to you.