A daily driver from this week: A Schon DSGN Ultem Fountain Pen with an Inverted Architect nib from The Nib Tailor.

Sunday Reading for September 19, 2021

September 19, 2021

Treasures in the Attic: A Time Capsule Rediscovered (via Pelikan’s Perch). I love stories about “lost treasures” and “time-capsule” discoveries. These vintage Pelikans literally look brand new.
Esterbrook JR Paradise Orange Sunset (via Rants of the Archer). I love the look of the cap on the JR Paradise series, with the bright acrylics and contrasting finial.
Introducing Susan: The Penquisition Tornado Exclusive Retro 51 Rollerball (via Penquisition). Congratulations to the crew at Penquisition for launching this gorgeous Maryland-themed Tornado. For each pen sold, $3 will be donated to the Living Classrooms Foundation. Learn more over at Penquisition.
Visconti Bronze Age with 18k Nib (via Dapprman). I have a Visconti Bronze Age that I picked up last year, and while I enjoy the new 18k nib much better than the palladium, I had the same issue with a nib with splayed tines. After Mark Bacas fixed it in D.C., it writes like a dream, but if you’re eyeing one of these I’d still budget for an adjustment.
Esterbrook Estie Sea Glass Review (via Writing at Large). I agree that the standard Estie is an exceptional writer, and the new “Sea Glass” material is absolutely gorgeous. Esties also offer the opportunity to try out pre-ground specialty nibs such as the Journaler (a smooth cursive italic) and the Scribe (an architect).
Fountain Pens from My Collection: Lamy AL-Star (via Fountain Pen Love). AL-Star or Safari? Which one would you choose? And how does the Vista fall into this category?
Color Traveler Ninoshima Baumkuchen (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This looks like another great color from the Color Traveler Series, in a gold tone, but it looks like this may be another example of a color with an extremely long dry time.
Waterman Serenity Blue (via Mountain of Ink). I just checked and realized that I’m out of Waterman Serenity Blue in my ink cabinet. What is wrong with me!?
The Pen Addict Podcast - Fountain Pen Companion with Urban Hafner (via Pen Addict). This week’s Pen Addict Podcast is a must-listen, especially if you’re curious to learn more about the Fountain Pen Companion website and database.
Ask the Desk: Sharpeners, Skripsert Converters, and Staples Legal Pads (via Well-Appointed Desk). I was featured in this week’s “Ask the Desk” post about legal pads. I probably should write a more thorough response at some point, but unless you can find the now-elusive Staples sugarcane/bagasse paper, I’ve had a terrible time finding decent legal pads that can handle fountain pen ink and allow you to write on both sides of the page. I’ve not been able to find a brand that writes consistently well, and have just gone the Rhodia/Write Notepads route (and sometimes just use a pencil or ballpoint).
Ink Review: Private Reserve Old vs. New (via Well-Appointed Desk). In case you haven’t heard, Private Reserve Ink is now owned by Yafa, and there have been changes to the ink formulation. Ana has a comparison that looks at some favorite colors.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I reviewed two inks from Color Traveler: Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red. I also wrote about two custom nib grinds from my friend J.C. Ament at The Nib Tailor, who recently launched his business full-time. We need more working nib grinders, as fountain pens (and especially custom nibs) only continue to increase in popularity!

Are you a fan of blue pens? You can’t miss the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue.

New in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

The big news was the launch of the TWSBI 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which I consider one of the better looking TWSBI ALR releases due to the fact that the color changes from navy to cobalt blue to … well, I see a bunch of different shades, depending on the lighting. You need to check this one out. We also now carry TWSBI nib units for the Diamond 580 series. This week’s Deals & Drops highlighted pencils and standard office supplies, a category we’re interested in building out.

Caran d'Ache

Kokuyo

TWSBI

Reading Accessories

Visit Us at the Dallas Pen Show This Coming Weekend!

The Dallas Pen Show takes place this coming Friday and Saturday, September 24-25. Dallas is a bit of a different experience because it’s a two-day show (which runs until 8pm on Friday!), and I’ve never been so I’m excited to meet some new folks. I will have a table next to Vanness Pens, and will be bringing goods from Traveler’s Company (including the full Traveler’s Notebook experience), Write Notepads, Caran d’Ache, Sunderland Machine Works and more!

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live and features the inks that I’m selling off as I thin out my personal accumulation.

Today’s review pens: a Scriptorium Balladeer and Schon DSGN Ultem Fountain Pen.

Spotlight On: The Nib Tailor, Featuring Architect + Inverted Architect Nib Grinds

September 18, 2021

I’ve known J.C. Ament for years, from way back when he was attending shows as an enthusiast, to when he started dabbling in nib work under his previous brand, Nibs on Point. I wanted to take a moment today to let everyone know about his latest endeavor, in which he’s embarked on nib work full time as “The Nib Tailor.” Before he took a break from pen shows, J.C. sent me two examples of his work for review: a broad “standard” Architect nib that has since lived in my Scriptorium Balladeer, and what J.C. calls an “Inverted Architect,” a nib that I’ve swapped between a bunch of different pens but which now lives in my Schon DSGN Ultem.

Before we get started looking at nib grinds, check out this eyedroppered Schon DSGN Ultem fountain pen, which is shown here holding a full 4ml ink sample!

Standard Architect Nib vs. Inverted Architect Nib

For newer readers, or those unfamiliar with specialty nib terminology, an Architect nib (also sometimes referred to as a “Hebrew Italic”) is the reverse of your classic stub or italic-style nib in that an Architect has broad cross-strokes and narrow downstrokes. If the grinder is skilled, you can usually use the reverse side as a needlepoint, or ultra-extra fine, nib.

Architect’s Nib Grind, with the signature blade-like shape. Turn the nib over and write with the tip for an extra-fine line.

An “Inverted Architect” is, well, the inverse: it’s basically a needlepoint/extra-fine nib with an Architect grind on the top, which you can use if you invert the pen. For my particular writing style and use case, the Inverted Architect serves a unique purpose: annotation and highlighting. I can use the extra-fine tip to take notes in the margins of documents, and the Architect side for highlighting/underlining, provided I select an appropriate ink color such as a bright orange or green.

“Inverted Architect” Nib Grind, with the needlepoint tip and “flat top.”

Writing samples for both a standard Architect nib (top, in Ferris Wheel Press Moss Park Green), and an Inverted Architect (bottom, in Ferris Wheel Press Main St. Marmalade), both inks courtesy of Vanness Pens.

A Word of Caution: If you’re new to fountain pens, or have never used an Architect nib, I would strongly advise you to consider borrowing one from a pen friend or visit a pen show prior to ordering this particular grind. Architect grinds can be a bit temperamental, in the sense that they can go from smooth to scratchy very quickly depending on the angle at which you hold your pen (and they’re not “butter smooth” writers to begin with, since you’re essentially making cross-strokes with a blade). It’s extremely important that the nib grinder understands your writing angle, so if you cannot visit in person, I would send multiple photos of how you hold the pen and the angle at which the nib hits the paper. That said, if you do decide that an Architect nib is for you, this grind gives your writing truly unique character. For those interested in reading further, I’ve previously written posts about various options for nib customization.

The Nib Tailor - Available Grinds and Pricing

The two nibs shown here are just a small selection of what The Nib Tailor has to offer. You can choose from pretty much any custom nib grind, and J.C. has a detailed form for you to complete alongside your inquiry. In addition to custom work (i.e., where you send in your pen), you can purchase pre-ground nibs in various styles depending on availability. Visit the Nib Tailor website for additional details. Pricing is standard, running from $25 for a simple tuning to $55-60 for more complex grinds. In addition to mail-in work and pen shows, J.C. occasionally grinds nibs in-store at Bertram’s Inkwell, and I believe he will be there this weekend. Check out his Instagram for details.

Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid advertisement. That said, I can’t recall whether J.C. gave me these nibs for free, or whether I paid for them. Either way, he’s a friend of mine but I still think he does good work. Given the increased demand for nib work, especially at pen shows, it’s great to see new faces entering the market. It keeps nib work accessible, and ensures that future generations will have the same opportunity to enjoy customized writing experiences!

This week’s highlighted products includes a variety of “workhorse” stationery that I use in my everyday life, including these bicolor pencils and, of course, my favorite Book Darts.

Deals & Drops: Hand-Picked Everyday Office Supplies

September 16, 2021

It’s not just about the high-end pens and paper around here. My shop offers, and I regularly use, items such as pencils, ballpoints, sticky notes, tape, and page markers. Be sure to check out our wide selection, and in addition I’m planning on bringing as much of it with me as possible when I visit the Dallas Pen Show next weekend (September 24-25) and the Chicago Pen Show the first weekend in October (1-3). These will be the first shows at which I’ve had my own table since Baltimore 2020, and I’m still in the planning process so if you plan to attend the shows and have any requests for what I bring with me, let me know!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

M+R Brass Bullet Pencil Sharpener. A classic piece of stationery beloved by pencil enthusiasts for both its portability and durability, you can get a quality sharpening experience that will last a lifetime. Just replace the blades if they dull.
M+R Brass Two-Hole Sharpener. Need a sharpener capable of handling larger pencils? M+R also makes this brass two-hole wedge, which accepts the same refill blades as the Brass Bullet.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Red/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Between this and the bicolor highlighter pencil included below, this simple editing tool is one of the most functional pieces of stationery in my arsenal. If I’m doing serious reading, it’s in my hand. Available individually or by the dozen.
Caran d’Ache Graphicolor Highlighter/Graphite Bicolor Pencil. Another great one, perfect for assisting me with my legal research as I highlight and markup caselaw. (You lawyers and anyone else doing serious research will understand.)
T.G.S. Signature Book Darts. Could these be considered my first product collaboration? Maybe! Book Darts was kind enough to add a custom label to one of the more useful - though slightly offbeat - desk and reading accessories. Use these to mark favorite passages from beloved books, or alternatively to add sections to a single-subject notebook or journal!
Tombow and Uni Mitsubishi Office Pencils. Sometimes all you need is a standard No. 2 pencil, with an excellent graphite core, that won’t break the bank. Both Tombow and Mitsubishi make awesome pencils perfectly suitable for stocking your office supply closet or desk.
Midori MD Pencils. Featuring a smooth, bold “B” core and a thick lacquer in Midori’s signature white, these Japanese pencils are one of the most popular items in the shop.
Uni Kuru-Toga Mechanical Pencil. What I consider to be one of the best mechanical pencils available, largely due to the proprietary mechanism that rotates the lead as you write, maintaining a sharp point.
Caran d’Ache Eco Ballpoints. Looking for the Caran d’Ache writing experience in a standard “office supply” pen? The Eco is a quality alternative, especially if you’ve been searching for a more sustainable option like the version made from extruded wood chips.
Writing Pads from Write Notepads and Rhodia. I’m often asked about my preferred “legal pad” - to be honest, 90% of my writing done on looseleaf or writing pads is done on either Write Notepads Memo Pads or Rhodia Dot Pads. Both are cost-effective options for fountain pen friendly paper, and handle nearly all pens and ink exceptionally well.

In addition to this week’s products featured above, don’t miss the latest arrival from TWSBI: the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue!

Every once in a while I need to systematically clear out samples and gently used pens from my collection. Be sure to check out the “TGS Gently Used” Section of the website for deals on barely used and vintage stationery.

Ink Review: Color Traveler Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red

September 15, 2021

I’ve always strongly believed that the best stationery brands - or at least my favorite stationery brands - are those that draw strongly on their own origins and sense of place when developing their brand identity and aesthetic. Color Traveler, an ink brand from Hiroshima, Japan-based stationer Tayama Bungu, is one of those brands. Like other boutique Japanese inks, the roughly 20 colors in the Color Traveler lineup are all named after regional “destination towns and their histories, special products and local goods, and other items which can accompany trips.” The two inks I’m reviewing today, Shodoshima Olive Green and Mihara Daruma Red, are perfect examples: the olive green is named after Shodoshima island, described as the first locale to successfully grow olives in Japan; the red is named after Mihara City, Hiroshima, which is famous for the production of Daruma, a traditional Japanese doll known as a “symbol of tenacity and good luck.” (Note: I don’t read Japanese, so all of my background information is drawn from the Shigure Inks website, where I acquired these two inks.)

Shodoshima Olive Green

The olive green is easily my favorite of these two inks, which will come as a surprise to most readers since you know how much I enjoy writing with my reds. Olive green is a difficult color to get right - it’s typically either too yellow and pale, in which case it ends up barely legible, or it’s too dark, in which case it’s not really an olive green. Color Traveler nailed the tone, plus the ink shades nicely, dries quickly, and is generally well-behaved, even in a broader, wetter nib. If you’re interested in seeing how this green compares to others, you can check out my green ink comparison here.

I used two pens for my ink testing: a Leonardo Momento Zero Grande with a 14k medium (a very wet writer), and a Sailor 1911 Black Luster with a fine nib. I swapped both inks between these two pens, and the combination shown here worked the best for reasons discussed below. All ink samples in this review are done on bright white Write Notepads paper.

Mihara Daruma Red

My experience with the Mihara Daruma Red was a bit more mixed. While a gorgeous color that strikes me as a dead ringer for the now-discontinued Montblanc Corn Poppy Red, in a broader nib I experienced extremely slow dry times and some smearing/tackiness up to an hour later. When I swapped the ink into a Japanese fine, I had no problems, but be warned if you like broader, wetter writers. Since the Shodoshima Olive Green dries quickly, I’m curious whether the slow dry time is unique to the dye used in the red ink, or whether other colors in the Color Traveler lineup have the same issue. If you know, please drop me a line or leave a comment. To see how this particular shade of red compares to others, you can check out my red ink comparison here.

Color Traveler inks come packaged with a small glass sample vial and a pipette.

Packaging and Overall Takeaways

Apart from the Mihara Daruma Red’s slow dry time, I had no other issues with these two Color Traveler inks. Neither bled or feathered on good paper. Moreover, the packaging/presentation are top notch, with an aesthetic similar to Colorverse. Each bottle of Color Traveler ink ships with a smaller vial for sampling/sharing, a pipette for pulling ink samples or filling an eyedropper fountain pen, plus some stickers. While not a huge selling point for me personally, I can see how the packaging and included extras could serve to raise the brand’s profile in an ink market that’s growing increasingly crowded.

I purchased the ink featured in this review from Shigure Inks, and paid full retail price. At $20 per 30ml bottle, I would say that Color Traveler is fairly priced for an imported Japanese ink, and in line with other similar brands such as Lennon Tool Bar and Tono & Lims.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain affiliate links, nor have I been compensated in any way for this review. Going forward, T.G.S is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Introducing the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue (Available Now)

September 14, 2021

TWSBI has been on a roll this year, from the Diamond 580 ALR in Prussian Blue to the recently released TWSBI Swipe cartridge/converter fountain pen. Last week, they added the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which is a gorgeous deep blue anodized finish that I find can appear quite different depending on the lighting. In some instances it’s a dark navy, in others, a brighter cobalt or even ultramarine!

What distinguishes the Diamond 580 ALR from the standard Diamond 580? The anodized textured aluminum trim. Like the other Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the ECO series, the Diamond 580 ALR features TWSBI’s high-capacity piston filling system.

The TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue is available for purchase now in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $65 in all nib sizes. Please note that we also now offer interchangeable nib units for the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the full line of TWSBI Inks.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including TWSBI.