Mike Masuyama hard at work.  I'm not sure Mike got to eat throughout the entire weekend. — Mike Masuyama hard at work. I'm not sure Mike got to eat throughout the entire weekend.

Atlanta Pen Show: Thursday/Friday Recap

April 18, 2016

Wow. That's about all I can say to summarize the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show. A big thank you to everyone who made the experience what it was. Seriously, so many people were there that I'm sure I'm going to leave people out of my recap, so I'll apologize in advance. The Atlanta Pen Show demonstrates how the pen community in general is growing rapidly: the small one-and-a-half room show that I first visited in 2014 bears no resemblance to what transpired this past weekend. Last year I had time in the mornings to write my show recaps on the fly and to provide you all with a real-time sense of the show. This year I was so busy visiting with people and keeping up with all the goings-on that it was all I could do to remember to take pictures. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the Instagram photos. You can find my photos and more via the hashtag #ATLPenShow2016.

Thursday Recap

I arrived at around 2:00pm on Thursday, in time for the scheduled "informal" pre-show gathering that night. Brad of the Pen Addict had reserved a room off the bar for early-arriving attendees to meet and socialize. After a group dinner at the Mexican Restaurant down the street (which was visited frequently over the course of the next few days due to the lack of walkable options), everyone gathered back at the hotel to talk and discuss their "acquisition targets" for the weekend. I made it an early night to ensure that I was rested for the first day of the show.

The few, the hardcore: those who showed up Thursday night to drink in an empty hotel ballroom with no chairs.

Friday Recap

After an early morning breakfast at the Waffle House (where Mike Masuyama and I shared neighboring barstools), the show kicked into high gear. The lines for nib work formed quickly. Mike Masuyama did not get through his entire list on Friday, and in a departure from his usual practice, allowed the list to "roll over" to the next day. As a result, Mike was running behind throughout the weekend. Fortunately, because the pen community is awesome, many people self-limited to having Mike work on only one pen, to make sure everyone got a chance to have a nib ground or tuned. I chose to have Mike tune my Platinum Chartres Blue 3776 with the Ultra Extra Fine nib, which of course now writes perfectly.

The beneficiary of Mike's delay was Mark Bacas, a relative newcomer who has been taking in paid nib work for a little over a year. Mark ground three pens for me over the weekend: a medium architect's nib on my new Pilot Custom 823 (see below), a smooth medium cursive italic on one of my Deltas, and an ultrafine nib he calls the "Concord Turk", which is essentially a super-fine architect's point that I'm enjoying. More on that later. Mark does quality nib work, and I understand that he also has a quick turnaround time.

Jeff and Brad from Nock Co. looking very serious.  Check out the stock! — Jeff and Brad from Nock Co. looking very serious. Check out the stock!

Nock Co. was present with a huge slew of stock, including Brasstowns, Hightowers, Sinclairs, and paper goods. Their Limited Run "Blue Label" products sold out so quickly I didn't even get a chance to take a picture, but they offered, for the show only, a navy blue envelope-style case with a snap closure. I'm looking forward to seeing what appears under the Blue Label line in the future.

Next door to Nock Co., Cary set up the Fountain Pen Day booth. Cary had a whole line of FPD swag for sale, including hats, pins, t-shirts, and best of all, pocket notebooks and Midori-style notebook covers. I really enjoyed getting to know Cary and meeting him in person for the second time (previously we had only spoken briefly at last year's D.C. Show).

The Montblanc Rouge et Noir pens that everyone wanted to see.

Brian and Lisa Anderson had the new Montblanc Rouge et Noir pens at the show. I'm not sure whether they sold many, but these pens prompted a hot-or-cold reaction from everyone I talked to: people either loved them or were lukewarm. The pen is too slender for me. It's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but it's off "The List."

Look at all that Akkerman Ink!  Pretty sure Vanness Pens brought most, if not all, of the available colors. — Look at all that Akkerman Ink! Pretty sure Vanness Pens brought most, if not all, of the available colors.

Vanness Pens was present with two or three tables of ink and pens, including their large "wall" of Akkerman and Bung Box. Between Vanness and the Andersons, nearly every ink brand in existence was well represented. Lisa Vanness also had one of the Joey Feldman limited edition Retro 51s at the show, and I'm glad I didn't miss the opportunity to pick one up. The red clip version (which comes with the signed artwork) has already sold out, and the black clip version is well on its way. If you've been sitting the fence on this one, act now because you're not going to get another chance.

Friday Purchases

Most of my pen show purchases.  From left:  Nock Co. Sinclair in Navy/Steel; my Fishing Vest Pin and Pelican Clip; Pilot Custom 823 with customized architect's nib; Fountain Pen Day leather notebook cover; Bung Box Ink of Witch, and KWZ Gr… — Most of my pen show purchases. From left: Nock Co. Sinclair in Navy/Steel; my Fishing Vest Pin and Pelican Clip; Pilot Custom 823 with customized architect's nib; Fountain Pen Day leather notebook cover; Bung Box Ink of Witch, and KWZ Green Gold.

Sticking to my goal of limiting pen acquisitions to those I truly want to have in the collection, I only purchased two pens this weekend. The first purchase was a Pilot Custom 823 that I bought from Brian Anderson and took to Mark Bacas for a medium architect's grind. Brian's customer service was, as always, impeccable, and this pen is going to be in my pen case more often than not. It's an ink tank with an excellent nib that makes a perfect daily driver. The second purchase? Stay tuned for the Saturday recap.

I dropped a boatload of cash at the Nock Co. and Fountain Pen Day booths. From Nock, I picked up a Sinclair in the Navy/Steel colorway, some pocket notebooks, a Pelican clip (which I may or may not have purchased because it doubles as a bottle opener), the "Fishing Vest" pin and sticker pack, some dot-dash notecards, and some pocket notebooks. From Cary, I bought a t-shirt, some Tomoe River pocket notebooks, and a Midori-style leather notebook cover that is set up to hold three Field Notes-sized notebooks at once. This might be my single favorite purchase of the show, and I'm going to give it more of an in-depth treatment on the blog later. I really hope Cary keeps making these notebook covers because they're quite nice looking and incredibly useful for those of us who keep multiple notebooks going at once and lack a viable method of organizing them.

Overall Impressions of Day 1

A shot of the large ballroom at the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show (though this may have been a Saturday shot).  This room was mostly vintage goods, though there were a few modern dealers and brands in here. — A shot of the large ballroom at the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show (though this may have been a Saturday shot). This room was mostly vintage goods, though there were a few modern dealers and brands in here.

I was impressed at how the show organizers dealt with the heavy traffic, which skewed younger than the typical pen show due to the publicity surrounding the 200th Episode of the Pen Addict, recorded live on Saturday. Jimmy Dolive of Total Fine Writing in Atlanta is the primary organizer, and he was super friendly and inviting to all of the newcomers.

I would also say that this show probably had a 50/50 split between vintage and modern pens, with custom pen makers heavily represented, including: Shawn Newton of Newton Pens, Jonathan Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company, Fisher of Pens, and Ryan Krusac Studios. The boys from Karas Kustoms were also present, showing off their line with some limited edition show-only Inks and EDKs. Shawn Newton's wife, Elizabeth, also showed her handcrafted pen sleeves and wraps, which were a hit. If you haven't visited her site, please check it out. **UPDATE: Franklin-Christoph was also present, but I didn't get a chance to spend any time at their table until Saturday, so look for a detailed discussion of everything they brought in the next post.**

Beer and Pens after hours.  What more could you ask for? — Beer and Pens after hours. What more could you ask for?

Best of all, everyone got along! The vibe of the show was energetic, enthusiastic, and happy (which tends to be the case when the show is crowded and people are spending money). On Friday night, the show organizers hosted a cookout for all the weekend pass-holders with surprisingly decent hamburgers and hotdogs from the hotel restaurant. Apart from a slight "misunderstanding" relating to whether we were allowed to bring home-brewed beer into the restaurant, the entire event went smoothly and people talked and swapped pens late into the night. I packed it in relatively "early" (11:00pm) to save my energy for the next day.

I could go on forever, but I have to, you know, go work my real job. I'm sure I missed something, so you may also want to check out the following blogs for pictures and recaps: The Well-Appointed Desk, The Pen Addict, Penucopia, Leigh Reyes: My Life as a Verb, My Pen Needs Ink, and the Goulet Pens blog. As I mentioned earlier, check out the hashtag #ATLpenshow2016 on Twitter and Instagram. A TON of people were posting pictures and videos, so be prepared to look for a while and be tempted to attend the show next year.

Once more into the breach... the 2013 DC Pen Show

Pen Show Primer, Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show

April 13, 2016

And not just surviving the pen show, but making the most out of your day, or your weekend, however long you have. Pure "survival" tips are pretty easy, and can be summed up as follows:

Wear comfortable shoes that will support you through a full day on your feet.
Drink plenty of water.
Don't forget to eat.

So what's my plan for making the most of my time at the pen show? I've had the opportunity to hone my "technique" over the past few years, and here's how I typically approach things:

Address Pen Work First. Do I need to get on Mike Masuyama's list to have nibs adjusted? What about other nibmeisters who I might want to work with for the first time, or any vintage pens I have that need restoration? As I mentioned last week, I always check the pen show website to see which of these vendors will be in attendance. The first morning of the least-busy day (usually Friday), I hightail it over to their tables and get my name down on the list. The ability to get into a show early makes the "weekend pass" worth the extra fee, at least in my opinion, if for no other reason than it makes it easier to ensure you can get nib work done.
Do a Walkthrough of the Entire Show. After I get my name "on the list" for any pen or nib work, I do a quick survey of the entire show by walking through all of the rooms. The purpose of this initial survey is twofold: First, you want to know where all the vendors are located. Second, you want to keep an eye out for various items that tend to go quickly, such as limited edition pens, discontinued inks, and "grail"-type purchases. If you're into buying vintage pens and fixing them up yourself, you'll notice that some vendors set out "bargain bins" of unrestored vintage pens at attractive prices. The ones in nice condition go fast.
Did You See Any Limited Editions or Items in Short Supply? If so, that's the next step. If something is at all rare, and strikes you as a "must have," then you're in the difficult position of having to make a quick call: Do I spend (potentially all of) my show money early on this purchase, or is it something I'm willing to risk not being there later? That's the pen show game!
Pick a Room to Start In. Once you've done your initial survey and picked up any "must have" items, you can take a more leisurely approach to the show, especially if you have a long time to wait for your turn at the nib grinder. I tend to go through the show room by room, spending an hour or two in each room really checking out each vendor's wares. I keep a mental list of things that I'm interested in, and note where they are located. If this list gets really long, I'll write it down, but my budget's normally not that big, and I've been more discriminating in my purchases as of late. I repeat this process throughout the day and through the weekend.
Take a Break Mid-Afternoon. I can't emphasize this enough. Pen shows can be a series of very long days, between getting to the show early in the morning to get your name on the list for nibwork, hanging out in the ballroom waiting for your name to be called, and talking/swapping pens at the hotel bar late into the evening. You can wear yourself out very quickly. Get away from the show for an hour or so to refresh/decompress. I normally try to get "off campus" to grab lunch solo, a trick I learned from work seminars and conferences. This way, you can be sure to save some energy for the after-hours activities. Much of the value in attending a pen show is in the opportunity to meet new people and try pens and inks they bring to the show, and all of this usually happens at night after the show itself closes for the day.

Leigh Reyes' Nakaya collection, which she brought to the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show and I hear she is bringing with her again this year!  After hours pen show meet-ups offer the opportunity to try pens you never otherwise might see. — Leigh Reyes' Nakaya collection, which she brought to the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show and I hear she is bringing with her again this year! After hours pen show meet-ups offer the opportunity to try pens you never otherwise might see.

One final note: I work pen shows in a pretty straightforward manner, though I certainly don't stick to this plan like a robot. ALWAYS take time to stop and talk to the vendors and other collectors/shoppers about pens you find interesting. You'll make a lot of new acquaintances and learn a lot about pens.

Because I'm attending the Atlanta Pen Show this weekend, the blog will "go dark" until next week (probably Monday). Expect some detailed recaps and reports from the show, and if you want to follow along live, follow me on Twitter and Instagram (links in the sidebar).

If you missed the first two installments in this series, Volume I discussed reasons why you should consider attending a pen show, and Volume II talked about getting ready for a show. Hopefully you can all put these to good use, and I'll see you in Atlanta this weekend!

Franklin-Christoph prototypes:  if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early! — Franklin-Christoph prototypes: if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early!

Pen Show Primer, Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show

April 9, 2016

So you've picked your pen show, created a valid excuse for skipping work and/or disappearing for a weekend, and committed to go. So what next? Is your head spinning from reading all of the pen show recaps discussing all of the things you need to see? Mine sure was before my first show. Here are a few things you can do in advance to make your trip more enjoyable, and ultimately, memorable.

BUDGET. I have this one in all caps for a reason. Before you leave for the pen show--and I would recommend a couple months before--sit down and figure out how much travel itself is going to cost you (in gas/airfare, food, drinks, lodging, etc.) and then set aside some additional funds for the show itself (admission, and, of course, pens and ink). I set a hard limit on spending for the show, and withdraw that amount of money in cash. While Square and the iPhone have made it easier for more and more vendors to accept credit cards, many still take only cash, and I've found that credit cards and pen shows are a bad, bad mix. You will always find one more pen you want, whether you can afford it or not.
Make a List. Not just a list of what you want to buy, but what you want to do. As with any big, highly anticipated event, you will get there and experience a huge adrenaline rush, and as a result forget to check out one or more vendors you wanted to visit. Check the show website. Most of them are fairly bare bones, I know, but at a minimum the show should list in advance which vendors are attending. Do you want nib work done by Mike Masuyama? Make getting your name on his list a top priority once you are at the show--as in, "as soon as you walk in the door"--because it fills up fast.
Get a good bag. I don't see this one discussed much in articles discussing "pen show strategy", but having a good "show bag" (or "bags") is extremely important. I bring both carry a messenger-style shoulder bag (I'm currently obsessed with Filson) and a clutch-style pen case. That way, if I need to carry around ink and paper, I can use the messenger bag, but if I have a day where I am just carrying pens to be worked on, or bringing pens down to the bar for show-and-tell, I can leave the larger bag in my room and go with the smaller carry. Good options include the Nock Co. Brasstown, the Aston Leather 10 or 20-pen cases, and if you're not squeamish about your pens touching, one of the Lihit Labs cases. On days when a show is very crowded, it can be nice to ditch a larger bag and not have to worry about it hitting people or knocking over merchandise.
Bring your own paper and ink. Hopefully, you'll have the opportunity to test lots of pens and inks. Is there a preferred type of paper that you typically write on? If so, bring it with you. Many vendors don't have paper at their tables, and the pads of paper at most ink testing stations are subpar. I usually also carry a bottle of "safe" fountain pen ink if I'm going to be dipping pens.
Connect with people beforehand. If there are people who you want to meet up with at the show, set a time and place to meet up ahead of time. This is especially true if you plan to attend a larger show on one of the busier public days, such as Saturday or Sunday. These shows can get crowded, and finding people in the ballrooms can be difficult.

Case-in-Point:  bring a bag to carry your stuff.  Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases. — Case-in-Point: bring a bag to carry your stuff. Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases.

Next week is the Atlanta Pen Show, so I will be traveling Thursday through Sunday. Posts next week will likely be thin, but before I leave I will post the last part in this series, Tips For Surviving at a Pen Show. Also, check out my Instagram and Twitter feeds for live show updates.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase something from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase an item you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

The Main Ballroom at the 2015 Washington, D.C. Pen Show at about 10:00am.

D.C. Pen Show Insanity: The Saturday and Sunday Recap!

August 18, 2015

I took a couple days to draft my recap of Saturday and Sunday at the 2015 Washington D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow. Exhausted after being on my feet for three days straight, all I wanted to do when I got home was sleep. But once refreshed (or overly caffeinated, or both), I've had a chance to collect my thoughts and post some pics of what was easily my best pen show experience yet.

The D.C. Show is the largest show in the country, and normally attracts the biggest crowds. I've heard that L.A. has gained popularity in recent years, especially on Sunday, so I'm not exactly sure how the two compare. All I know is that on Saturday morning, after an early coffee and bagel run with Thomas Hall and Leigh Reyes, by 8:45am the line for general admission (i.e., those who did not buy the $45 weekend pass) wound back through the lobby several times. The line cleared fairly quickly, and by 10:00am the show floor was packed.

A shot from the floor of the 2015 Washington, D.C. Pen Show.  Those overhead lights made it nearly impossible to take decent pictures (at least on an iPhone). — A shot from the floor of the 2015 Washington, D.C. Pen Show. Those overhead lights made it nearly impossible to take decent pictures (at least on an iPhone).

My main goal for Saturday was to take pictures, talk to people, and capture the spirit of the event for the blog. The hotel left the mezzanine overlooking the main ballroom open, so I was able to get some overhead pictures of what was happening on the floor. (Pardon the mediocre quality--the overhead lights were extremely bright throughout the weekend, so the conditions for photography were less than ideal. Great for examining pens, bad for taking pictures.)

Another pic in the middle of things . . . .

Anderson Pens was busy all day.  This year I think they had four or five tables at the show. — Anderson Pens was busy all day. This year I think they had four or five tables at the show.

So who was there on Saturday? In terms of bloggers/podcasters: Brad Dowdy of the Pen Addict, Thomas Hall of Penucopia, Leigh Reyes, Mary Collis, Paul Joynes, Brian from Office Supply Geek, Matt Armstrong of The Pen Habit, Gerald from My Coffee Pot, Dan Smith of The Nibsmith, Elizabeth from No Pen Intended, Tim Wasem of The Writing Arsenal/Erasable Podcast, AND Johnny Gamber of Pencil Revolution/The Erasable Podcast (who, disappointingly, was not picketing the show). Many pen makers were also present, including Jonathan Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company (showing off his "airbrush pens"--seriously, check these out--as well as many of his custom acrylics and alumilites), Shawn Newton, and Brian and Andrea Gray of Edison Pens. Brian and Rachel Goulet were also circulating among the crowds, though I didn't get a chance to talk to them (and make a Goulet periscope appearance!) until later that night. I'm sure I've left a ton of people out, but I met so many people this weekend . . . .

Franklin-Christoph was set up against the back wall, and from what I could tell was flooded with customers.  They had two or three trays of prototype pens on display and for sale. — Franklin-Christoph was set up against the back wall, and from what I could tell was flooded with customers. They had two or three trays of prototype pens on display and for sale.

So what did I buy on Saturday? Well, still no pens. My pen acquisitions for the weekend were a big zero. But I did pick up a TWSBI ink bottle from the Andersons and a couple bottles of Sailor Kobe Ink from Vanness, which Sailor manufactures for the Kobe-Nagasawa department store in Kobe, Japan. I believe there are approximately 50 colors in the Kobe line, so if you're a Sailor ink fanatic, Vanness Pen Shop stocks them periodically. If Vanness is out of stock, there are several eBay sellers who also carry them, but again, these are specially manufactured by Sailor so availability can be spotty, especially if you are looking for specific colors. I was tempted to pick up some KZW inks and some more Bung Box Inks (directly from Bung Box, no less), but realized that I was pressing my luck with airport security enough as it is and cut myself off. Bung Box did have some stunning custom Pilot and Sailor pens, including a yellow Realo piston filler dubbed the "Soleil" that I'm still contemplating. There's always mail order!

My 2015 Washington, D.C. Pen Show Haul.  From left, a bag of Franklin-Christoph ink samples (plus a couple others from friends old and new); a bottle of Bung Box Norwegian Wood; two TWSBI nibs custom ground; a bottle of Akkerman Shocking Blue; … — My 2015 Washington, D.C. Pen Show Haul. From left, a bag of Franklin-Christoph ink samples (plus a couple others from friends old and new); a bottle of Bung Box Norwegian Wood; two TWSBI nibs custom ground; a bottle of Akkerman Shocking Blue; two bottles of Kobe Ink (Nos. 4 and 37), a red TWSBI ink bottle, and the prize from this year's SWAG bag, a Monteverde limited edition ink, which looks like a blue-gray. Reviews all will be forthcoming at some point. (No picture of the Newton Shinobi that was delivered this weekend, I'm saving that one!)

The best aspect of pen shows is the after-hours activity. After dinner with the Erasable Crew and Joe Lebo (at a surprisingly decent Thai restaurant in the office park across the street from the hotel), we retired to the bar, where I actually lasted until 11:00pm or so. I returned to the show the next day, but Sunday was very quiet. Many vendors had packed up Saturday night and gone home, but I imagine those that remained did a brisk business during the afternoon. I grabbed some Rhodia pads marked at 20% off (nobody wants to carry paper home), took some pictures, and headed to the airport. I'm already making plans for next year.

In case you missed my write-up of Thursday and Friday, please check it out!

The spread of pens brought to this year's pen show by the Edison Pen Company.  If you're not here, look at what you're missing! — The spread of pens brought to this year's pen show by the Edison Pen Company. If you're not here, look at what you're missing!

D.C. Pen Show: Thursday and Friday Recap

August 15, 2015

As anyone who chooses to read this blog should know, The D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow is the largest fountain pen-related gathering in the world. The show spans four days (Thursday-Sunday) in August every year, and takes place at the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons Corner, Virginia. I’ve attended for the past three years. Usually, I arrive early Friday morning so I'm there for the first full day of trading. This year, however, I got in on Thursday afternoon. While some trading goes on in the atrium Thursday afternoon, it’s mainly vintage. The Sheraton had about 15 tables set up, and the trading seemed brisk.

Thursday night, a group of pen bloggers/collectors/enthusiasts assembled in the hotel bar, following dinner at the restaurant next door. Brad Dowdy and Jeffrey Bruckwicki, Mary Collis, Thomas Hall, Leigh Reyes, Gerald Taylor, Paul Joynes, and many others had made it in to town by dinner, and it was fun catching up.

Thursday and Friday are the “pre-show,” open only to exhibitors (who have tables) and “weekend traders” who have purchased the $45 show pass. Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. Lot’s of people ask: why pay extra when you can attend on Saturday and Sunday for only $7 or so? The answer: you avoid the crowds. Saturday at the D.C. Pen Show is very, very crowded. We’re talking shoulder to shoulder crowds most years, with lines backing up out the hotel doors in the morning. Sunday is better from a crowd perspective, but at that point a lot of the vendors have sold out of their choice pens and inks.

My Friday:

After grabbing a quick breakfast with Mary Collis in the morning, anybody who needed nib work done joined a mad rush to put their names on the list of their favorite nibmeister or pen repairer. Most of the major players perform nib work and/or restoration work at this show, including Mike Masuyama, Richard Binder (who now does shows only), Ron Zorn, and Deb Kinney. I was able to get on Mike, Deb, and Ron’s list, and I purchased a spare nib for my Aurora Ipsilon Quadra from Richard Binder, which he tuned as part of the deal. So with spots in line secured, I scoured the show for pens that caught my eye.

As I’ve talked about recently, I’m not in “acquisition mode.” There are a lot of nice pens in D.C., and many caught my eye, but this year I focused more on improving the pens I already have an getting nib work done. I did, however, pick up my Newton Shinobi! No pictures or teaser reviews yet—I want to use this pen and post a full write-up once I’ve spent some time with it. It’s everything I thought it would be and more.

A colorful array of Edison Menlos on Friday at the D.C. Pen Show.  I'm interested to see how many of these are still left after Saturday! — A colorful array of Edison Menlos on Friday at the D.C. Pen Show. I'm interested to see how many of these are still left after Saturday!

Some more Friday observations and purchases:

Vanness brought a huge amount of ink, as always, and they were set up down the aisle from Bung Box, who is attending the D.C. Pen Show for the first time. Bung Box brought a suitcase full of their ink and limited edition Sailor, Pilot and Platinum pens, which were going fast.

Franklin-Christoph is introducing a wide range of new ink colors.  I have samples of several of them and will be reviewing them in the coming weeks. — Franklin-Christoph is introducing a wide range of new ink colors. I have samples of several of them and will be reviewing them in the coming weeks.

I picked up some ink samples from Franklin-Christoph’s new line, a bottle of Akkerman Shocking Blue that I had ordered, some Bung Box Norwegian Wood, and a couple of spare TWSBI nibs that I had ground to an architect’s nib (by Mike Masuyama) and a .6mm cursive italic (by Deb Kinney). Finally, just before the proverbial bell rang and the show closed for the day, I got a Parker 51 vacumatic from a random eBay lot completely restored by Ron Zorn. The pen works perfectly and my vintage Parker collection continues to grow. Some other pictures:

Some Franklin-Christoph prototypes.  Some of these may become new editions?  Some may be one-offs? — Some Franklin-Christoph prototypes. Some of these may become new editions? Some may be one-offs?

Friday night: The Pen Addict Meetup

Brad Dowdy of the Pen Addict podcast and Nock Co. sponsored an after-hours gathering in one of the hotel ballrooms following the D.C. Pen Show Friday happy hour. From what I could tell, the turnout was excellent, including a periscoped appearance by Brian and Rachel Goulet! (I made a brief cameo on periscope, but I have no recollection of what was said given my state of exhaustion after about 12 hrs straight on my feet). Stay tuned for more Saturday fun!