======================================================================== Nib Noise * Volume 11 Number 8 * November 2012 ======================================================================== Welcome to Nib Noise. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** November Shipping Schedule *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Because we'll be going to the Ohio Pen Show (moere below) and taking time with our family for Thanksgiving (no more need be said), our shipping schedule will look a little funny this month. Here are the days on which we'll be shipping during November: Saturday, November 3 Tuesday, November 6 Saturday, November 17 Wednesday, November 21 Wednesday, November 28 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** News from Cigar Box Central *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The next-to-last batch is in the books. December's offering will feature a much reduced selection of boxes, so here's your final shot at a full crop of Don's famous cigar box pen chests. Go. http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=boxes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Ebooks 'R' Us *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last month we announced the iPad debut of "The RichardsPens Guide to Fountain Pens, Volume 1: Glossopedia" in the Apple iBookstore. Just today, we've added a whole raft of new territories where the iPad version will be available: most of South America and New Zealand. (If it's not there when you check, give Apple a day or so to get it ready.) We're happy to announce that the Kindle version is now available on Amazon. The Nook version will be available on Barnes & Noble as soon as they can get their act together. There are links to all the available versions of Richard's ebooks on our site, here: http://www.richardspens.com/?bks=collector+richards Remember, you can read Kindle or Nook books on your Android device, your iPhone, or your iPad with the appropriate free app. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Ohio Show Is Here! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 16th Annual Ohio Pen Show is coming next week (November 8-11)! Barbara and I will be on hand for all the festivities -- where will YOU be? With Weekenders' events cranking up on Thursday (30 tables) and running all day Friday (160 tables), and two full public days on the weekend, this year's show will be the ideal way to make up your Holiday wish list. As always, there will be exciting new products and more vintage pens than you can take in, as well as two fabulous auctions for those who stay all weekend. This show is one of the grandest of the grand old vintage festivals, and it's really not to be missed. In case you haven't already made your reservation, Terry and his minions will be happy to sell you a Weekend Pass when you walk in the door on Thursday, so you needn't miss out on the wine and cheese party -- or the special "Parts and Found Pens" auction! (There will also be the regular full auction on Saturday, of course. And the spectacular poolside Dessert Party before the Saturday auction.) For much more information, visit the show's Web site: http://www.ohiopenshow.com/ If this will be your first-ever pen show, be sure to read my pen show virgin's guide: http://www.richardspens.com/?shows=firstshow We'll have a selection of pens from the companies we represent: Bexley, Edison, Gate City Pen, Namiki/Pilot, Onoto, and Pelikan. Most of the pens we have at shows are offered at DISCOUNTED SHOW PRICES, with their nibs checked and smoothed -- and you save shipping costs, too. Talk about INSTANT GRATIFICATION! As always, I'll be regrinding and tweaking nibs while you wait. We use a list, like your favorite restaurant, so you can enjoy the rest of the show while you await your turn. (But we don't have those buzzy hockey puck things...) Bring a pen, and share a little time with friends at our table while I jazz up your writing experience. PLEASE READ OUR "TABLE TALK" FAQ TO LEARN HOW WE OPERATE AT A SHOW: http://www.richardspens.com/?info=shows If you have pens that need repairs other than nib work, you can hand them to Ron Zorn of Main Street Pens, one of the best repair guys I know, and have them fixed right there. To find Ron, just look for the traffic light! We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We hope to see you there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** All-New Attic Stuff This Month *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barbara's swept out her Attic page this month to make room for a fresh lot of stuff from that other attic upstairs. It's good stuff, too! http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=attic ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Extra Fine Points -- for Gate City Pens *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We've had many requests for extra-fine nibs for Gate City pens. We are pleased to announce that we now offer the New Dunn and Belmont pens with extra-fine steel nibs. We also have replacement nibs for these models and for the New Postal Senior (retired but not forgotten). http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=gct ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Vanishing Points in the News *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pilot hasn't said anything about this, at least not to us, but they've been shipping rhodium-trimmed Vanishing Point pens with rhodium-plated nibs. As our stock of older pens filters out, we're changing over, and most of our rhodium-trimmed pens are now coming with rhodium-plated nibs out of the box -- including extra fine! (Please remember that unplated gold-colored nibs are not available in extra fine.) http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=nam+vp ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** More from Pilot *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We also have returned to stock one of our favorite Pilot pens, the plunger-filling Custom 823. Joining it is the new Custom Heritage 92 clear demonstrator, a true piston filler and a dandy pen besides. If this isn't enough, the new Vanishing Point in Gunmetal with matte black furniture, possibly the coolest piece of Tac Tech to hit the shelves in 2012, is now in stock. http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=nam Ps. We had been told that the Blue Carbonesque Vanishing Point was being retired, but we've learned that that wasn't the case. We have more Blue Carbonesques on order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Onoto *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you've been dreaming of owning the Onoto Horatio Nelson or Emma Hamilton pens, or maybe the sterling Excel or the sterling or vermeil Magna, but have been unwilling to order and wait, now is the time. We have one of each of these pens actually in stock. They are NICE! We also have the Royal Ballet Contemporary and Aspirations LEs and the Cambridge University 800th Anniversary. (I haven't unlimbered the camera to shoot them yet, but you can see them on Onoto's site and then come to us to get them -- with Binderizing and at our usual discounted prices). http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=ono ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Bird Calls *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The limited-production M605 is sold out in black, but we still have a few with blue striated barrels left. Don't be left out on this elegant modern classic. And while you're thinking about elegance, think about the new limited- edition Ruby Red! The last time we saw Ruby Red from Pelikan, it was wrapped around an M320. Nice pen, but small. This time, it’s wrapped around an M600, and unless you are trying out for the part of a Munchkin in a remake of The Wizard of Oz (Ruby Slippers, y’know), you need this pen! http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=pel+m600 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** "Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ While we’ve covered this territory before, the volume of how-to questions rolling in as Don closes down his cigar box pen chest shop begs for a refresher course. http://www.richardspens.com/?xf=1211 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** "Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The War was over, people were buying again, and the Parker “51” was the target. It was 1946, and the Moore Pen Company of Boston introduced what was destined to be its last high-quality fountain pen, the Moore Finger tip Pen. http://www.richardspens.com/?prof=finger_tip ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Tray Time *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a student here last week for training in nib work. She got a look at the November tray -- but we've managed to clean off all the drool. http://www.richardspens.com/?pens=tray ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** 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 Bexley, Edison, Gate City Pen, Namiki and Pilot, Onoto, 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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Follow Us on the Internet with RSS, Facebook, and Twitter *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Follow us on the Internet by subscribing to our RSS feed. Click the orange RSS button at the top of our site -- or plug the following URI into your browser or RSS reader: http://www.richardspens.com/richardspens.rss We'd like to be liked on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NashuaPenSpa And you're invited to follow us on Twitter: @RichardsPens ======================================================================== 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.