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Sunday Reading for February 7, 2021

February 7, 2021

Shine Bright Like an S.T. Dupont Diamond Guilloche (via Penquisition). Along with Caran d’Ache, Otto Hutt, and others, S.T. Dupont is one of those luxury fountain pen brands that receives less attention than it probably should. I need to get my hands on one at some point.
ASC Studio (Set of 5). As you may have heard, Armando Simoni Club (ASC) has launched a new line of mid-market pens at a markedly lower price point than their prior offerings. Ana takes a look at all five materials from the “Studio” series.
Binge and Purge: Reaching Equilibrium with Sets of Five (via UK Fountain Pens). I’m glad I’m not the only one who operates this way. But I will never purge my bookshelves. They seem to only expand.
Leonardo Officina Italiana Ink (via Mountain of Ink). I have to say, I’ve been impressed by Leonardo’s ink line, to the point where I now have four or five bottles, all of which have made their way into regular use.
Visconti Homo Sapiens Lava Color Fountain Pens (via Pencilcase Blog). Visconti has been heavily promoting the latest releases in their “Homo Sapiens” lineup. It will be interesting to see how far they can take this particular pen model, and I do like these new colors.
Papier Plume “Desire” (New Orleans Collection Fountain Pen Ink) (via Well-Appointed Desk). One thing I’ve definitely missed over the past year has been the opportunity to visit my friends at Papier Plume in New Orleans and see their new ink creations.
Scribe x Troublemaker Inks Pawikan (via Rants of the Archer). A really cool muted green color. Adding to my global list of pen stores I need to visit.
Ink Review #438: Lennon Tool Bar Saira (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Lennon Tool Bar is another one of those ink brands I have yet to try. I love this dark gray color.
The Scale of Paper Absorption, Part II (via Left Hook Pens). I’m trying to add some new blogs to the lineup, including this blog specifically directed to left-handed fountain pen writers for whom paper absorption is a big deal! Also check out Part I of this post here.
Fountain Pen Nib Comparison: Sailor Zoom v. Platinum Double Broad (Coarse) (via Gourmet Pens). Looking for a wide writer? You may want to check out Azizah’s comparison of these two specialty nibs.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I looked at a collaboration between two “heritage” brands, Accutron (watches) and Esterbrook, to release a green Camden fountain pen designed to match the new line of Accutrons. I also took a look at the specs on the Caran d’Ache Léman fountain pen in Caran d’Ache’s limited edition “Klein Blue” finish.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

The post-holiday restocks are starting to roll in. Check out the full list of new arrivals in this week’s Deals & Drops post. Most recent arrivals that I haven’t had much of a chance to highlight yet include:

Swiss Wood Pencils

Caran d'Ache Klein Blue

Book Darts

Kleid + Life

Sponsorship Changes - Consider Joining T.G.S. Patreon for 2021!

You may have noticed that over the past several months, I’ve been allowing paid sponsorships to lapse and relying on direct support from readers and visitors, either in the form of Patreon pledges or Curated Shop Purchases. I plan to continue this trend in 2021, with the goal of T.G.S. being completely self-sustaining by the end of the year. While I will continue to collaborate and work with select partners, I do not wish to rely on paid advertising going forward, with the possible exception of smaller brands and makers who you may see on my sidebar from time to time.

You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. I will be rolling out some new content in 2021 that will be exclusive to Patreon subscribers, including the return of the “Digital Divide” newsletter (you can read back content here), as well as features such as a monthly video hangout. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

Introducing the Caran d'Ache Léman Fountain Pen (in "Klein Blue" Lacquer!)

February 6, 2021

This morning I’m introducing the latest Caran d’Ache + Klein Blue collaboration product that’s made its way into The T.G.S. Curated Shop - the Caran d’Ache Léman Fountain Pen in the signature Klein Blue lacquer. I’ll confess - I’ve been more than a bit nervous in advance of this launch, as it’s my first foray into (1) stocking a limited edition fountain pen and (2) a high-end one at that, but after getting my hands on the other Klein Blue products I’ve fallen in love with this shade of ultramarine to such a degree that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

The Caran d’Ache Léman is, by most accounts, unfortunately overlooked by the U.S. community of fountain pen enthusiasts. Similar to pens from other European brands such as modern Waterman, S.T. Dupont, and Otto Hutt, which focus on a more understated design, the Léman tends to fly under the radar despite many characteristics that warrant closer consideration. Let’s take a look.

By today’s standards, the Léman is a moderately sized fountain pen, measuring 5.5” capped, 5” uncapped/unposted, and 6.25” posted. Proportions-wise, it feels similar in hand to the Otto Hutt Design 06 or the Montegrappa Passione, with slightly more heft and a longer section. The body of the pen is lacquered brass, so the Léman has some weight to it, but it’s balanced to the point where I personally did not have issues writing with the pen posted or unposted. Like the Otto Hutt Design 06, the section has a concave hourglass shape to it, though as I mentioned, the Léman’s section is longer and the shape less pronounced, offering a bit more room to adjust your grip on this pen.

The Léman comes equipped with a rhodium-plated 18k gold nib, which writes a moderately wet line with just a touch of feedback that I found pleasant. The cartridge-converter filling system accepts both the included Caran d’Ache converter, as well as short international cartridges.

The Caran d’Ache Léman fountain pen shown here next to the Otto Hutt Design 06.

The Caran d’Ache Léman Klein Blue Limited Edition Gift Set

I’m pleased to offer the Caran d’Ache Léman in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, in the limited edition Klein Blue finish. Due to the limited nature of this release, I was only able to procure two pens for sale, both with 18k medium nibs. Each pen ships in a gift box, with 50ml bottle of Caran d’Ache Chromatics limited edition Ultramarine ink. These are priced at $640 per set, which will include fully insured shipping. You can check out the rest of the Caran d’Ache + Klein Blue products I have available here.

Sales through the T.G.S. Curated Shop are how I plan to support this website going forward. As such, if I am posting information about a product I sell, that fact will be plainly disclosed, much as I disclose sponsor/affiliate relationships.

Accutron-Esterbrook-Camden-Collaboration

Accutron x Esterbrook Camden: A Heritage Brand Collaboration

February 3, 2021

What I refer to as “heritage brands” have taken off in recent years, and in the pen world, Esterbrook serves as the best example of a brand resurrection done correctly. While I certainly can’t speak for everyone, I’ve personally enjoyed both the Estie (Esterbrook’s first release), and the Camden (the second). This past year, Esterbrook has begun issuing both pens in special and limited edition finishes, and recently announced an exclusive collaboration with another heritage brand, watch company Accutron.

Those who follow the watch world may be familiar with Accutron, a line of watches formerly manufactured by Bulova and recently relaunched as a separate company by the Citizen Group. You can read more about both vintage and modern Accutron watches on dedicated watch sites such as Hodinkee, and the story behind the development of the technology is fascinating. Short version: Accutron watches bridged the gap between traditional mechanical watches and modern quartz watches, introducing a unique “tuning fork” movement that was one of the first mass-market electronic watches available. The vintage Accutron pictured here belonged to my father, and dates from the early 1970s.

Vintage-Accutron-Esterbrook-Camden-Comparison

To commemorate the release of the new Accutron watches, the company has partnered with Esterbrook and other American boutique brands to offer special release products that compliment the new lines, including a green Esterbrook Camden. While clearly an Esterbrook fountain pen (and marketed as such), the Esterbrook branding has been replaced by Accutron’s, including the Accutron “tuning fork” logo on the cap finial and engraving around the base of the cap.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I noted in my original review of the Camden, Esterbrook fountain pens make excellent writers, and the Camden is no exception. The dark green color on this pen is stunning. That said, accessibility on this particular release will be limited. The Accutron Camden limited edition is priced at $295, approximately $100 more than the MSRP on a standard Esterbrook Camden, and from what I can tell, is currently available exclusively from Accutron dealers. Clearly, this pen is targeted towards the Accutron collector and enthusiast, and if you are looking for a fountain pen to match your new electrostatic Spaceview watch, the two will pair together nicely. Most interesting to me about this collaboration, however, are Esterbrook’s emergence as a higher profile presence outside the niche of fountain pen enthusiasts, and the convergence of the watch and pen communities. As a small-scale watch collector, I’ve always believed that pens and watches complement each other, and two companies with similar histories successfully embracing the overlap in their customer bases should generate a lot of excitement about similar collaborations in the future.

Disclaimer: I received the pen featured in this review from Esterbrook and Accutron for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain affiliate links.

My Personal Traveler's Notebook, Plus Traveler's Notebooks in The Curated Shop!

January 30, 2021

Earlier this month, I teased my notebook setup for 2021, and the biggest change was that I have my Traveler’s Notebook firmly back in the rotation. Two things drove this: (1) After experimenting with pretty much every notebook format out there, I’ve come to realize that I prefer taller/narrower notebooks for most of my writing as opposed to a standard A4 or A5; and (2) I prefer versatile formats that allow me to easily subdivide notebooks into sections and add planners and organizing accessories, without being locked into a “dated planner” system. After using the Traveler’s Notebook on and off for the past six years, I’ve come full circle and feel very much at home here. Today’s post is a few shots of my personal notebook setup, with a brief description on how I use each one and links to the specific refills.

For organizational purposes, my Traveler’s Notebook has sticker pouches on the inside of the cover, as well as one of the zippered PVC pouches to hold things like paper clips, stamps, and a few Book Darts.

After the zippered pouch, I have a Kraft Paper Folder that I use to hold travel itineraries, notes, and other loose paper (typically folded). Back when I was traveling extensively for work, any hard copy travel documentation went in here.

The first refill I use is the Standard size “Free Diary” (Weekly + Memo), which I use for blog planning (with notes) and logging various things I track during the week. It can also serve as a mini-journal and repository for quotes and snippets of th… — The first refill I use is the Standard size “Free Diary” (Weekly + Memo), which I use for blog planning (with notes) and logging various things I track during the week. It can also serve as a mini-journal and repository for quotes and snippets of things I’ve read during the week.

The second refill I use is the “Free Diary (Daily),” which is an undated daily planner refill that I use as a journal. (Since I don’t always write every day, I tend to ignore the numbered pages and just write in the date.) These refills have enough … — The second refill I use is the “Free Diary (Daily),” which is an undated daily planner refill that I use as a journal. (Since I don’t always write every day, I tend to ignore the numbered pages and just write in the date.) These refills have enough pages for 60 days, assuming one day per page.

The last refill I’m using (for notes, etc.) is the standard blank MD Paper refill that ships with all Traveler’s Notebook starter kits.

So I use three refills total for writing. After the last refill, I have one more pocket sticker on the back cover. Here, you can also see the Medium Pen Holder in Blue (with my Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pen). This particular Traveler’s Note… — So I use three refills total for writing. After the last refill, I have one more pocket sticker on the back cover. Here, you can also see the Medium Pen Holder in Blue (with my Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pen). This particular Traveler’s Notebook cover was a limited edition from a few years ago, but Traveler’s Company has since released a standard blue notebook. I purchased the orange band separately, as part of a Traveler’s Notebook Repair Kit that allows you to upgrade your band to one of eight colors.

New Traveler’s Company Products Available in The T.G.S. Curated Shop

As you may have seen already, I’m happy to announce that the T.G.S. Curated Shop now stocks the full line of Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kits, Refills, and Accessories! I currently have notebooks available in most sizes and colors (both Standard and Passport), as well as most of the paper refills and accessories, though some are on backorder with the distributor. Please feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions about the Traveler’s Notebook system and how I personally use it. I will also be posting more in-depth Traveler’s Notebook content in the coming months, including a Passport notebook I’m setting up for pocket carry.

Starter Kits

Standard Refills

Diary/Planner Refills

Accessories

This post contains links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop. All products shown here are authentic Traveler’s Company products. The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Traveler’s Company Products and The Traveler’s Notebook.

Vintage Gem: The Dixon Ticonderoga Woodgrain Pencil

January 27, 2021

While the standard Ticonderoga sold in stores has been on and off my “favorites” list over the years, depending on quality control at any given time, recent iterations have been on the lower end of the quality spectrum and it’s fallen out of favor. Fortunately, I have a “healthy” stock of vintage pencils, including a few dozen of the coveted Ticonderoga “Woodgrain” pencils.

I took mainly pencils with me while I was away this week, including the Ticonderoga Woodgrain and Blackwing 10001. (As an aside, I’m not sure I’m digging the five sides on the latter. It’s weirdly uncomfortable.)

I’m not a pencil historian, so I don’t know exactly when these were sold, but since mine are marked “U.S.A.,” I’m going to assume they’re well over ten years old. (Dixon ceased production in the U.S. sometime in the 2000s.) If I had to guess, these pencils likely date from the late 1990s, early 2000s, and have aged well. The erasers remain soft, and the wood sharpens better than many of the more expensive pencils in my collection.

The Ticonderoga actually sharpens better than this particular Blackwing Volumes edition (maybe due to the odd shape of the latter?). Point here is done with a M+R Castor.

While the graphite on this pencil is a touch harder than I prefer, the finish is absolutely beautiful. To think that not so long ago, you could get a pencil like this in an office supply store for a few bucks a dozen makes me sad (and a little angry, honestly), given that the closest equivalent I have in my collection now costs more than $3 per pencil.

Both of these pencils felt oddly locale-appropriate.

Since the Ticonderoga Woodgrains are no more, you’ll need to resort to scouring eBay. While standard vintage U.S.A.-made Ticonderogas are fairly easy to find (you can still get a half gross for around $45 shipped), the Woodgrain variant is rare. I actually received these as a pleasant surprise, when I purchased a larger eBay lot and found that it included three dozen of the pencils shown here.