Free Email Newsletter

Free Email Newsletter
On the first of each month, we publish Nib Noise, a free email newsletter. This is not spam; we will not send Nib Noise to you unless you subscribe, and we’ll stop sending it to you if you unsubscribe.
Each issue of Nib Noise contains two primary articles:
Broad Strokes — usually a new article that Richard has added to the Reference Info section
Extra Fine Points — a disquisition by Don Fluckinger, sometimes seemingly far afield but always, in the end, related to pens and writing
There are also a few short articles about what’s new for sale, where the next pen show is, and other items of interest.
The most recent issue of Nib Noise is posted below — except that we don’t post it here until a week after we’ve mailed it to subscribers.

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Nib Noise                                              Volume 7 Number 1
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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

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*** If you purchase something in the next week or so... ***
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... we'll take a little longer than usual to ship it to you because --
heck, read the next article!

We'll be gone from Wednesday, April 2, through Wednesday, April 9,
reopening on Thursday, the 10th. While we're on the road, we'll acknow-
ledge your purchases, and we'll ship as soon as possible after we get
home.

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*** Springtime in the South ***
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The Great Southeastern Pen Show, aka the Atlanta Pen Show, is a great
show in a great city in a lovely season. After an unfortunate layoff
last year, it'll be open for business THIS WEEKEND, April 4-6! Barbara
and I will be on hand for all the festivities -- where will YOU be?

With festivities beginning at noon Friday for dealers and weekenders,
and two full public days on the weekend, this year's show is guaranteed
to be better than ever. As always, there will be exciting new products
and more vintage pens than you can take in; this show is Southern
hospitality in a nutshell, and it's really not to be missed. For more
information, visit the show's Web site:

http://www.atlantapenshow.com/

If this will be your first-ever pen show, be sure to read my pen show
virgin's guide:

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info/firstshow.htm

We'll have a selection of pens from the companies we represent: Bexley,
Classic Pens Inc., Conway Stewart, Namiki/Pilot, Pelikan, and Signum.
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!

I'll have a stock of my preground Pelikan M200 and Pilot Vanishing Point
specialty nibs. If you don't have a pen to go with your new nib, Barbara
will be happy to fit your nib with a new M200 or Vanishing Point pen
body in your choice of colors.

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. Bring a pen, and share a little time
with friends at my 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/?page=tabletalk.htm

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.

We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  We hope to
see you there.

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*** The new Signum Solare Collections are here! ***
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Signum created the Solare collections in hues of Midnight, Sunset, and
Sunrise to represent our solar system -- and for the daring souls in the
crowd, there's also a surprising retro Pink! The Solare Grande is an
exquisite pen, featuring a curvaceous new shape that nestles in the hand
like an extension of the soul, while the Solare Piccolo features
Signum's new take on the classic cigar shape, in a size that you can
slip into a purse or a vest pocket.

Each Solare comes with a certificate that entitles you to a second
barrel at no extra charge. Mix or match: go wild or take a back seat.

Check 'em out here:

http://www.richardspens.com/?newp=sig

And while you're there, take a peek at the lovely Imperial Rome LE!

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*** Prices will be rising on Classic Pens Legend and CP8 ***
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Classic Pens Inc. has informed us that the continued strengthening of
the euro against the U.S. dollar means that prices will be going up. Our
price for the LM1 Flame Red Legend will rise from $460.00 now to $510.00
on May 1. Classic doesn't yet know what the increase will be on the CP8
but will have more information in May.

We will honor our current prices on these pens for all orders that we
receive before May 1 -- you can save yourself a fair chunk o' change by
purchasing a Flame Red or reserving a CP8 before the end of April.

Here's our Classic Pens Inc. page:

http://www.richardspens.com/?newp=cla

Oh, by the way, while you're there you might want to purchase one of our
Legend prototypes -- the price for these great pens won't go up in May,
but the selection is dwindling. Don't be left out!

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*** Come to the Richard's Pens Pen Show ***
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Spring has sprung, but the Richard's Pens Vintage Pen Show Tray just
keeps truckin' -- with new (old) pens, of course:

http://www.richardspens.com/?newp=

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*** Don's Boxes -- plus ca change! ***
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This month's selection of cigar box pen chests contains the usual mix-
ture of grand boxes and bargains -- with an emphasis on large boxes at
the top of the list for you oversized fountain pen addicts! Don will
also bring a selection of chests to the Boston Pen show this month, if
you happen to be in town.

http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=dons_boxes

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*** Try Your Hand at Nib Smoothing ***
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Our Student Smoothing Kit has been flying out the door. Even Susan, one
of our new apprentice/assistants, is using one! This kit includes the
Basic Kit and adds two complete brand-new Autopoint fountain pens with
excellent Mutschler steel nibs. I had to mess up the nibs on Susan's kit
before she had something to work with -- you might want to save one of
these pens to use right out of the package while you teach yourself the
moves on the other one.

http://www.richardspens.com/?acc=lapping_films

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*** Richard's Been Mugging ***
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Or, to put it another way, I've been designing new coffee mugs for our
CafePress shop. These are really nice mugs, sized for 11 ounces of your
favorite brew (not "brewski," that's a different kind of mug). Each one
is unique, emblazoned with a pen or two and the logo of their manufac-
turer. If your favorite pen isn't there, drop us an email -- if we sell
it, I'll make a mug for it. See our selection of "paper- less" mugs
here:

http://www.cafepress.com/richardspens/3042322

As the selection of mugs grows, I'm adding them to our site, along with
the pens they match! Check 'em out there!

Note, please, that we do not keep any of our CafePress items in stock.
When you make a purchase from our CafePress shop, CafePress makes the
item and ships it directly to you from California.

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*** Pens That Write Right! ***
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Unless otherwise requested at the time of sale, I tune each new pen or
nib at no extra charge before shipment. I 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 and
ship the pen immediately instead of putting it into my regular queue.

Remember, we are authorized retailers for Bexley, Classic Pens Inc.,
Conway Stewart, Namiki and Pilot, Pelikan, and Signum. 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!

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"Broad Strokes" by Richard Binder
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What makes one nib better than another? Many fountain pen aficionados
assume that gold trumps steel, and if 14K gold is good, 18K just has to
be better. That's not really true. Read the rest of the story:

http://www.richardspens.com/?refp=nib_materials

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"Extra Fine Points" by Don Fluckinger
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Celebrating his first decade of collecting, Don lists his favorite
modern pens -- an entirely subjective list but fun nonetheless. Read the
article:

http://www.richardspens.com/?xf=0804

Then tell us what your personal favorite pen is by posting a comment on
my April 1 blog entry. As I write this, I haven't written that entry
yet, so if you get there before I do, please check back! You can find my
blog here:

>http://web.mac.com/richardspens/

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http://www.richardspens.com/?page=rsshelp

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