======================================================================== Nib Noise * Volume 15 Number 7 * October 2016 ======================================================================== 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 DO NOT use the links in the footer of this email. Instead, visit the Free Email Newsletter page on our site: http://www.richardspens.com/?info=nibnoise ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Monthly "Pen Show Tray" Is Better than Ever! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last month's Pen Show Tray included some pens that might have been a bit too obscure. This month, the average has been shifted a little, to feature some pens that are less obscure -- but there are still some less common examples that you really will want for your collection. The Tray will open itself for sale promptly at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time tonight, so don't be late! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Commonwealth Pen Show Has Come and Gone -- for This Year *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Boston's own Commonwealth Pen Show went off without a hitch on Sunday, September 25, and attendance showed an amazing 40% jump from last year's great numbers. This is a great little show, and we had a blast. I strongly recommend that those of you who are near enough to come next year should join us for the festivities. It's only one day, and it's easy to get to by car or by public transportation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** The Ohio Show Will Happen Next Month *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 21st Annual Ohio Pen Show is coming early next month (November 10-13). Barbara and I will be on hand for all the festivities -- where will YOU be? With Weekenders' events cranking up on Thursday the 10th (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 some fabulous auction action for those who stay all weekend. The Ohio 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 variety of evening events. For much more information, visit the show's Web site: http://www.theohiopenshow.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 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 any of the several repairers who will be working at the show. We recommend Mike and Linda Kennedy of IndyPenDance, Martin Ferguson of Martin's Pens 51, or Ron Zorn of Main Street Pens. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We hope to see you there -- come and join the fun! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Hands-On Nib Workshop in Ohio *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'll be conducting my hands-on nib smoothing workshop at the Ohio show. For more information about the workshop, please visit the registration page: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=workshop Our site will automatically open registration promptly at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 28. There's a $20.00 registration fee to cover the materials you'll be using, and you should bring a good 10x hand loupe. Unlighted loupes work better than lighted ones for this job. If you're not able to register, come anyway; we welcome those who can only audit the class, and there will be copies of the handouts for all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Barbara'a Attic *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As I write, I'm in the process of freshening the offerings in Barbara's Attic. Not sure yet just what will be there, but I think I can promise a surprise. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Broad Strokes *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Will this new ink, the one with a color to die for, eat your favorite pen? Maybe. How acidic or alkaline an ink is (the ink's pH) can affect how friendly that ink is to various pens. This month I've put up a new reference page describing the process and difficulties of measuring pH and listing the pH levels of 62 popular inks. Check it out! http://www.richardspens.com/?care=ink_ph ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Pens That Write Right! *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale or unless otherwise noted in Barbara's Attic, I personally tune each new nib we sell at no extra charge before shipment. I test the nib in a pen filled with Waterman Mysterious Blue ink and write with it on paper of better than average quality, adjusting as necessary to bring it up to the RichardsPens.com "factory" standard for smoothness and flow. If you order a new nib with customization (gold nibs only), I'll modify the nib (for an extra charge), and we will ship it without any extra delay. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *** Follow Us on the Internet with Facebook and Twitter *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We'd like to be liked on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NashuaPenSpa And you're invited to follow our occasional tweets 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 DO NOT use the links in the footer of this email. Instead, 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.