What, More Pocket Pens? Introducing the Penco "Perfection"

October 28, 2020

One thing I’ve considered as I redefine my current workflows is the extent to which I’ve allowed my personal carry to get a bit out of control. For starters, I feel like I’m carrying too much stuff around with me, and find myself using pens not because they’re necessarily the best tool for the job at hand, but because I want to use them, or feel that I need to carry them at all times to justify having them. I’ll have further thoughts on how my own stationery use is evolving as I figure things out myself, but I wanted to mention it up front because it sheds some light on why I’ve been so obsessed with pocket pens lately.

The Penco “Perfection” shown here in two finishes: chrome and brass. I believe the “gold” finish is plated, so it will not patina like an unfinished brass pen.

I’ve found pocket pens to be excellent practical tools for the workday, and if you can find one with a versatile refill system that allows you to customize your ink, all the better. One pen that I’ve carried recently is the Penco “Perfection,” a compact bullet-style ballpoint from Japanese Company Hightide/Penco. Capped, the Penco Perfection is about the same size and width as a tube of lipstick/lip balm, and extends to a full-size ballpoint pen that has a fair bit of heft (it’s plated brass) while remaining balanced enough for all-day writing. Yes, it’s a smooth metal pen, but since it’s on the smaller side it’s easy to grip and I haven’t noticed any issues with it becoming overly slippery.

Penco-Perfection-Pocket-Ballpoint-in-Hand

The Penco Perfection comes equipped with a standard folded metal clip that allows you to carry it clipped to the cover of a pocket notebook.

But the most attractive aspect of this particular pocket pen, in my opinion, is the refill system. The Penco Perfection uses the “universal” D1 sized refill, which is not only inexpensive and easy to source, but quite versatile in that it allows you to transform this from a traditional ballpoint to an ultra-fine gel pen, or even to a highlighter. Check out my review of the Lamy 2000 Multi-Pen, which also takes D1 refills, for a discussion of the various options I’ve tried.

The D1 refill uses a custom insert that ships with the pen. It’s quite easy to swap in your preferred refill. I would compare the stock Penco refill to a .5mm Uniball Jetstream.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Are you someone who enjoys the compact form factor of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet Pen” but wishes that it had (1) a bit more heft and (2) more refill versatility? If so, you may want to consider the Penco “Perfection.” Not only does the wider barrel make this a comfortable pocket ballpoint to hold, but the pen accepts D1 refills, which are easy to source and come in a variety of formats.

Penco/Hightide is a Japanese company that unfortunately does not get as much attention in the U.S. as it probably should. I still have a couple of these pens for sale in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $46, but the distributor has been sold out for a while and it may be some time before I can get more. I’ll keep trying though, as I’ve personally been enjoying this form factor.

The Penco Perfection, top center, shown here compared against three other favorite pocket pens, clockwise from right: Lamy Pico, Kaweco Steel Sport, and Schon DSGN Pocket 6.

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Penco/Hightide products. As a general matter, I only sell products I’m willing to stand behind and would use myself, but everyone has different needs so I strongly encourage everyone to do their own research as opposed to relying solely on my opinions as expressed in this blog.

Workflows: Resources and Recommendations for Working from Home

October 24, 2020

During the past several months, one of the most common requests I’ve received has been to talk more about my workflow. Now that I’m working from home nearly full time, what tools/products do I use and how do I effectively balance digital and analog in terms of actually getting stuff done? Well, to be honest, I’ve been avoiding the question because I don’t really have a good response yet. Things changed so quickly that I’ve adapted reactively rather than proactively, and my workflow is a mess. In fact, I’m not even sure that I can say that I have one. This past week I actually delved back into my own archive of work-related posts to see if I could figure out how to get myself back on track.

Strategic Paper Replacement. The biggest culprit? File organization, namely what to save on paper and what to save electronically. If left to my own devices, I’ll always print something out and work off a hard copy with pen or pencil, but unless the project requires deep concentration or is especially complex, it’s unnecessary. Moreover, I’m left with a ton of “junk paper” that needs to either be filed or shredded. My solution? I’m going back to the iPad Pro/Apple Pencil, and trying to be more mindful of what I actually print out. Sure, it involves an up-front investment, but now that I’m having to purchase my own printer toner and printer paper (and lots of it), not to mention dedicating my own personal space to storing physical files, it will eventually be a wash.
Workspace Organization. In the “before times,” my home office served primarily as a library/hobby space, but became a combination law office/library/stationery store/file closet overnight. For the first few months I had piles of notebooks, notepads, journals, binders, printed out legal briefs and exhibits, and more stacked up on the desk and floor, in addition to products for the shop, products for review, and my own collections of books and stationery. Over time, I’ve streamlined my desk setup to a core set of items, and it’s actually turned into one of the most pleasant workspaces I’ve ever had. But in order to further reduce the clutter, I don’t have much of a choice other than to “go digital” in strategic areas.
Planning My Time. A couple months ago I wrote about using a planner to structure my days and stay focused, which has helped me in that I actually complete one task before I pick up another. Otherwise half-finished projects start to pile up, adding to the clutter (both mental and physical). Incorporating a timer into my work routine has also helped, though I opt for a gentler hourglass/sandglass timer as opposed to more jarring buzzer or phone timer.
Apps. I’ve never actually written at length on things like apps and productivity software, partly because what I use isn’t exciting. I work primarily in Office, PDF Pro, Dropbox, and Apple’s suite of stock apps like Mail, Notes, TextEdit, and Calendar. Sure, “better” options likely exist, but people get so wrapped up in finding the “ideal” tool for the job that they spend all their time (and money) switching between apps and don’t get any actual work done. I do have a couple of specialized writing apps that I’ve used for years, such as Scrivener and iWriter Pro, and recently I’ve experimented with using the powerful (and free) Notion to manage my content calendar for this site. The challenge for me is to mindfully choose these tools when it makes sense, especially for things like notetaking and annotation where I instinctively reach for a pen.

I’m a work in progress, and fixing my workflow has been more of a struggle for me than it probably should. I love working with physical media, and my brain definitely functions better on paper than on a screen. But at the same time, new systems need to evolve where the sheer volume of documents and information we’re expected to process makes this unmanageable. My goal has always been to choose the best tool for the job, and I’m slowly coming to realize that the best tool for a specific job may not always be my preferred tool.

I’ve been advised that the “Fun iPad” is no longer work appropriate.

If you’d like to hear more about these and similar topics, let me know. I’m definitely open to delving deeper into the intersection between the digital and analog areas of our lives, and for a while I published a newsletter, Digital Divide, addressing these issues. I’ve considered bringing it back, but I’ve never asked the readership. Meanwhile, what work from home challenges are you experiencing? Have any of you had success addressing similar issues transitioning to full-time remote work?

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Factory-Green

Traveler's Company Brass Fountain Pen: A New Twist on a Vintage Form Factor

October 21, 2020

Before 2020 broke bad, one bright spot was the proliferation of good pocket fountain pens, after years of there being, well, the Kaweco Sport and not a whole lot else. I’ve already discussed my love for the excellent Schon DSGN Pocket Six, and today I’ll turn my attention to Traveler’s Company’s new twist on an old format.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Closed

The Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen (shown here in the special “Factory Green” finish) builds on TRC’s “Brass” lineup that originally held just the bullet pencil - a modern reissue of the classic pocket writing implement from the early 20th century. Over the past couple of years, Traveler’s Company has slowly built out the line to include a ballpoint pen (which I wrote about last week), a rollerball, and now a fountain pen. I started out as skeptical as anyone of TRC’s ability to incorporate a decent fountain pen writing experience into this form factor, but again I was pleasantly surprised.

I found the TRC Brass Fountain Pen to have good length and balance when “posted” (which is really the only way you can write with it). As with the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, the TRC Brass Fountain Pen features a clip and a loop, if you’d like… — I found the TRC Brass Fountain Pen to have good length and balance when “posted” (which is really the only way you can write with it). As with the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, the TRC Brass Fountain Pen features a clip and a loop, if you’d like to attach this pen to a lanyard or keyring. The integrated clip makes all of the TRC pens quite functional, if like me you regularly clip your pens to shirt pockets and the front of notebooks.

While the Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoints feel solid, they are still relatively inexpensive writing instruments that rely on the same metal ferrule system used in vintage bullet pencils. The fountain pen receives a bit of an upgrade, featuring a brass “bullet” section that makes the fountain pen feel like a more elegant, and likely more durable, writing instrument. The nib appears to be a JoWo No. 5, based on feed design and performance. While I’ve not experimented myself, I’ve heard anecdotal reports of JoWo No. 5 nib units being interchangeable with the one that ships on this pen. In any event, the included nib is stamped “Fine” with the Traveler’s Company Logo, and I’ve found it to be a smooth and reliable writer. This pen refills with short international cartridges. While I imagine Kaweco and Monteverde mini-converters will also fit, I typically rely on cartridges for most of my pocket pens due to issues with reliability and low ink capacity.

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Writing-Sample

Travelers-Company-Brass-Fountain-Pen-Disassembly

Takeaways and Where to Buy

No product is harder to do correctly than a pocket fountain pen, and the industry is littered with examples of poorly executed attempts and good ideas that simply never caught on. Occasionally, someone will absolutely nail the form factor, and what’s great is how Traveler’s Company has managed to make a pocket fountain pen that actually looks nearly identical to their Brass Pencil and Brass Ballpoint, drawing on a beloved vintage design to create an instantly recognizable aesthetic that captures the personality of the company. I’ve long been a fan of the Traveler’s Notebook and related accessories, and TRC has clearly put a lot of effort into expanding its product line in a way that maintains quality and doesn’t dilute the brand identity.

The Gentleman Stationer Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Traveler’s Company pocket pens and pencils, including the Brass “Bullet Pencil,” the Brass Ballpoint, and now the fountain pen, priced at $75. Currently, the fountain pen is only available in the “Factory Green” finish but I will be looking to stock more in the near future, along with additional Traveler’s Company products.

New Arrivals: Field Notes "United States of Letterpress" Edition and More!

October 20, 2020

The pictures don’t do this edition justice: “United States of Letterpress” might be one of my favorite Field Notes Editions of all time, and certainly of those released over the past few years. And this one has special meaning, as my friends at Skylab Letterpress in Kansas City printed the flyleaf for each notebook! A huge congratulations to Bob and Ana on this accomplishment, which I understand was in the works for a long time.

This Field Notes limited edition includes three different three-packs, with each notebook cover featuring the work of nine independent letterpress shops from across the United States. Featured artists include:

Letterpress & Design
Genghis Kern, Denver, Colorado
Full-Circle Press, Nevada City, California
Mama’s Sauce, Orlando, Florida
Brad Vetter, Louisville, Kentucky
Springtide Press, Tacoma, Washington
Ben Blount, Evanston, Illinois
Erin Beckloff, Springboro, Ohio
Rick Griffith, Denver, Colorado
Starshaped Press, Chicago, Illinois

Additional Printing
Thomas Printers, Ogden Utah
Skylab Letterpress, Kansas City, Missouri
Lake County Press, Waukegan, Illinois

I still have the coveted Field Notes Archival Boxes in stock, which will make excellent holiday gifts, especially stuffed with fresh pocket notebooks!

Check Out Additional Field Notes Releases and New Shop Releases

The Gentleman Stationer Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Field Notes, and carries a full array of Field Notes Limited Editions, in addition to standard releases. Recent additions to the shop include the new National Parks Series E, “Mile Marker,” and “Signature” editions. I also have added the Field Notes Undated Planner, a spiral-bound undated notebook with a setup for 56 weeks. Happy Shopping!

Pen Review: Opus 88 Omar Demonstrator

October 17, 2020

Those of us with occupations that involve significant amounts of writing are constantly on the lookout for comfortable pens with a reliable nib and a large ink capacity. Time and again, whenever I’m asked for such a recommendation, I keep returning to Taiwanese brand Opus 88. If you aren’t looking for flash or luxury, and you simply want a large, lightweight fountain pen that you’ll have to refill infrequently, the brand should be at the top of your list.

Each Opus 88 Fountain pen comes with a glass eyedropper in the box. Montblanc Hitchcock not included.

While Opus 88 has been at the vanguard of the recent trend towards ever-larger pens, they take a different approach in that their larger writing instruments are actually designed to maximize comfort and ink capacity, not to showcase rare materials or to drive up the price point. The “Omar” fountain pen, the model I’m looking at today, might be one of the largest fountain pens I’ve used recently, but it’s also one of the most comfortable, and it holds roughly 3.5ml of ink!

Ok, but there are tons of humongous acrylic pens on the market these days that you can turn into an eyedropper relatively easily. What makes Opus 88 unique? Opus 88 uses what’s known as a “Japanese Eyedropper” filling system, which incorporates a “piston” that, when closed, activates a system of stoppers and gaskets (o-rings) to minimize the chance of leakage. One drawback to “hacked” eyedropper fountain pens is that they tend to burp ink into the cap when the pen gets jostled in a bag, or when the pen is exposed to fluctuations in temperature and air pressure, such as in the car or on an airplane. Before Opus 88 brought this filling system into the mainstream, Japanese-style eyedroppers were typically found on much more expensive urushi pens from brands such as Danitrio.

If you plan on writing for longer sessions with a Japanese-style eyedropper, open the valve to allow a continuous flow of ink to the nib, similar to how you would write with a Pilot Custom 823 or TWSBI Vac 700.

As I mentioned above, the Opus 88 Omar is large, but also quite comfortable. While you may see stock photographs of this pen posted, it’s way too big for me to use in this manner. Since the Omar will likely serve as a desk pen, as opposed to an “on the go” writing instrument, I’m perfectly happy using this pen unposted. The JoWo No. 6 medium nib writes a predictably smooth line, and the eyedropper filling system ensures a steady flow of ink to the nib. The Omar makes a great workhorse.

The Opus 88 Omar does technically post, but not deeply and the pen is so large that it ends up looking a almost clownish.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though I was initially skeptical about the size of the Omar, it turned out to be one of my favorite pens in the Opus 88 lineup. If you’re not a serial ink-changer, and don’t mind the relative complexity of filling a pen using an eyedropper, the Omar might just be the perfect choice for your upcoming NaNoWriMo marathon. You can purchase the Opus 88 Omar in a variety of colors and materials from site sponsor Goldspot. The pen pictured here is the clear demonstrator, currently priced at $123.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

Check Out Additional Field Notes Releases and New Shop Releases

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

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