Sunday Reading for July 31, 2022

1. Drama in the Pen World (via SBRE Brown). A very interesting response with some observations on certain controversies that have roiled the pen community over the past year.

2. Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Magico, the OG (via Pen Addict). The Momento Magico, with the ink window, is the one Leonardo model I’ve not yet tried. I need to give this one a shot given how much I’ve enjoyed the standard Momento Zero.

3. My Humble Workspace (via Well-Appointed Desk). I love seeing how others work, especially fellow reviewers!

4. A Look at My Brown Ink Stash (via Fountain Pen Blog). Breaking down the ink stash is one of the more sobering tasks for any fountain pen user, especially when you start looking at colors together. Are these shades too similar? How many bottles of this same color do I really need?

5. Musgrave Tennessee Red Pencil Review (via Writing at Large). The Musgrave Tennessee Red, is, in my humble opinion, one of the prettiest pencils made right now, and the dark core is sublime.

6. Pen Porn: Benu Forest Pond (via Rachel’s Reflections). This is a new look for Benu, and I have to say that I’m enjoying it!

7. 2022 State of the Scholar: Tray One (via mnmlscholar). It’s always fun to see if my writing inspires anyone to take similar action. I especially love to see people’s curated pen collections and hear about why they select the pens they do!

8. How to Sell a Fountain Pen (via Inkjournal). During last week’s Patreon meetup, we had a discussion about the best way to sell fountain pens that you no longer use. This article is a great resource!

9. Dominant Industry Autumn Forest (via Mountain of Ink). The one new ink that’s still on my list!

10. Edison Pen Co. Comet Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Sarah). The Comet is Edison’s newest fountain pen model, which debuted at this year’s Chicago Pen Show. Be sure to check it out the next time you’re on their site or at their show table.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote an article about seeking the “sweet spot” in pen size, especially with pens seemingly becoming ever larger. I also reviewed a pen I’ve had in the queue for a long time: My Hinze Pen in “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” resin. I’m looking forward to spending some time with Hinze and the rest of the pen community at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show this week!

D.C. Pen Show and Curated Shop Updates!

Many of you may have seen the announcement posted by Vanness yesterday that due to unforeseen circumstances, they will be unable to attend the D.C. Pen Show this week. I was planning to work with Vanness this week, so we’re busy rejuggling plans. As of now, the plan is that T.G.S. will be taking over two of the Vanness tables, though it remains to be seen whether we will be selling directly at the show, or instead set up with samples and testers. Be sure to stop by!

In the meantime, we are still running a 10% off “pre-pen show/summer inventory reduction sale”, with the discount automatically applied to certain items at checkout. While not discounted, we do have a handful of Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Limited Editions available in the blue “Airline” cover. Now is a great time to pick up a Traveler’s Notebook and stock it with refills and accessories! Finally, be sure to check out the “Gently Used” page, as there are a few pens still available, all in great condition!

Traveler's Company

Lochby

Maruman

Book Darts

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

I would love for the T.G.S. Patreon to become a core method of support for the T.G.S. website, and have tried to streamline it. I’ll also need to be a bit more vocal about its availability and what it offers. The Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5, and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. Attention Patreon Members: Yesterday I posted half-a dozen or so new “gently used” products to the sale page, so check it out. I’m doing a general “stash and sample” reduction, so more will follow.

Pen Review: Hinze Pens "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"

At pen shows, it’s always Five O’Clock Somewhere! Always. Especially at the Hinze Pens table. I’ve been sitting on this review for a few months, waiting until just before a pen show when readers might be able to see and pick up a Hinze Pen for themselves. You’ll have that opportunity next week in at the 2022 Washington D.C. Pen Show, as the team from Hinze will be in attendance with a full table’s worth of pens.

This “Five O’Clock Somewhere” resin has so much contrast, and is a far cry from what “The Gentleman Stationer” typically goes for, yet somehow it works!

As I’ve sought to re-spark my interest in fountain pens and refocus my own collection, one goal has been to reduce the percentage of “stock” or “standard” pens that I own, in favor of supporting independent makers and small manufacturers. I’ve known Jim Hinze and Francisco Lopez through the show circuit for years, but had never acquired one of their pens. At this year’s Baltimore show, the pen pictured here caught my eye, and since only one pen in this particular material remained in Atlanta, I went ahead and took it home.

View fullsize

There are so many different color patterns and swirls in this material that it’s easy to get lost!

This particular pen is the classic Hinze model, which features a minimalist shape designed to showcase the underlying material. In this case, the resin used is dubbed “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” by Starry Night Resins. While I love the pen itself - and I’ll discuss that more in a bit - the resin steals the show. it’s a swirled combination of purple, orange, blue, and grey, with subtle hints of pastel green and cream in the cap. While there are plenty of makers out there releasing colorful swirled acrylic pens, the use of grey, green, and cream in this pen alongside the purple and orange offered a unique color patter that I hadn’t seen before. I hope these blanks come back at some point because I’d love another pen in this material.

View fullsize

This side of the cap might be my favorite feature of the pen. I love the combination of light green, cream, pink, orange - there are just too many colors to name and it seems like I discovery more everyday. Sometimes I find myself staring at this pen, lost in thought.

The pen features a flat-topped, cylindrical shape with a longer section and subtly tapered barrel. It does not post by design. If I had to pick one thing about this pen that I love, it would be the longer section, which I have found exceedingly comfortable for extended writing sessions. As a lighter acrylic cartridge-converter pen, the longer tapered barrel is probaby necessary to create a good balance, one that I’d compare to the “Classic” or “Classic Flush” designs by the Kanilea Pen Company.

View fullsize

Ultimately I went with a dark blue nib - I felt this color complemented the section better than the original magenta.

A Note on Hinze Nibs

One of Hinze Pens’ trademarks are their multicolored nano-plated nibs. Unlike ordinary anodization, these nibs undergo a different process whereby they are coated in a ceramic plating that is much more durable than typical anodization. Here, I opted for a dark blue, which I felt complemented and drew out the grey-blue tones in this particular pen. (Purple or magenta would have been another option.)

View fullsize

Note that I did have this nib modified, so there is a small gap in the coating where Matthew Chen ground a .5mm cursive italic. Ordinarily, if you grind a coated or plated nib, there is a risk of the coating peeling back and flaking off from the area that’s been ground. So far, I’ve seen none of that with the Hinze nib, and I understand that due to the process used, there’s much lower risk of it happening. Care instructions are included with each pen, including recommendations on “safe” inks and cleaning practices.

View fullsize

Here’s my same pen with a different color nib, as originally shown at the Hinze Pen table at the 2022 Baltimore Pen Show back in March. You can see some additional “Five O’Clock Somewhere” pens on the right.

The inlaid finial that Hinze incorporates into their cap is a nice touch, and gives the pen a high-quality, finished appearance.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

There are many bespoke and “small-batch” penmakers out there. It’s easy to get lost and if you’re new to the fountain pen world (and the pen show world especially), to not know where to start. Hinze Pens can serve as a great starting point for those newly interested in bespoke fountain pens, or a new destination for the experienced enthusiast who enjoys unique materials in a well-made workhorse. The price point is extremely reasonable, with most pens priced from $200-250.

View fullsize

The Baltimore Pen Show display that initially caught my eye.

You can purchase Hinze Pens directly from the company via their website, or even better, visit them at a pen show! They will be attending the 2022 Washington, D.C. Pen Show, running from Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7. Stop by and see their table. (And come see me while you’re at it!)

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for review purposes, though Hinze Pens was kind enough to offer me a discount on the price. This post does not contain paid sponsorship or affiliate links.

Thursday Drops: Which Watch? Take All Five! Introducing The Lochby Watch Wallet!

So I’ve been busy these last few days! In addition to reorganizing/cleaning up the shop, I’ve been prepping a new product for launch that focuses on a secondary passion: watches. While I’m not a “watch guy” to the same degree as pens, I’ve been on the hunt for a functional watch case that offers a good degree of protection while not costing an arm and a leg. So of course when I saw that Lochby was now offering a “Watch Wallet,” I was all-in on a test batch.

View fullsize

The Lochby Watch Wallet holds three larger watches in the primary slots, with a microfiber lining and flap to protect your watches from scratches.

View fullsize

The other side is technically intended to hold two straps and a spring bar tool, but you can also use it to hold two slimmer watches.

The Lochby Watch Wallet is now available for purchase in the Shop, in the three Lochby classic colors Brown, Charcoal, and Navy, priced at $59. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all Lochby products, including the Field Journals and Pocket Journals, as well as pen and tool cases such as the Quattro four-pen case and the versatile Lochby Tool Roll. We’ve expanded our holdings to include all colors!

In addition to the main T.G.S. Curated Shop, I’ve updated the “Gently Used” Pens page. Be sure to check it out for deals on slightly used stationery in excellent condition, including some now-discontinued limited editions!

View fullsize

In Pursuit of Balance: What's the Sweet Spot for "Oversized" Pens?

Almost exactly two years ago, I wrote a piece about the trend towards “oversized” pens, and how fountain pens were seemingly ever-increasing in size. I do think that things have calmed down a bit, with companies not chasing the extremes with pens as large as the Wahl-Eversharp Decobands and some of the ASC Pens special and limited editions. But companies continue to make oversized versions of many designs, and I sometimes find myself having to decide whether to buy the standard or “big version” of a given pen. How do I personally make this choice?

View fullsize

Unposted, I find the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande to have near-perfect balance. But what if I almost always want to post my pens?

For me, by far the most important consideration when evaluating any fountain pen is balance. I use the term “balance” to refer to how the weight of the pen sits in your hand as you write. I like my pens to be either front-weighted (towards the section), or centered in the web of my hand between thumb and forefinger. Too much weight at the back leads to skipping and hand fatigue, at least for me.

View fullsize

I love freaking people out by posting fancy pens. Yes, I know that posting might leave marks on the barrel, but (1) it hasn’t so far after 4 years of use; and (2) I don’t care that my pens look like they’re actually written with.

Even a very large pen can be well-balanced. For example, both the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande and the Esterbrook Estie “Oversized” have excellent balance unposted. (The Estie Oversize won’t post by design.) That said, both of those pens use a cartridge-converter system or lightweight piston to keep the pen from getting too back-heavy.

View fullsize

The Leonardo Momento is probably just a touch too long for me to enjoy using posted, but it’s light enough that it’s workable to post the cap.

The issue I run into is how balance intersects with practicality. While there are always exceptions, it’s a general rule that unless you have larger hands, larger pens can be more difficult to post. The Estie Oversize doesn’t post at all, and the Momento Zero Grande sits at the threshold of what I can comfortably use. Even if the weight of the pen doesn’t cause an issue, pure length might make it look unwieldy. I enjoy posting my pens and nearly always have to do so at work. Most weekdays, I find myself running between meetings in different conference rooms, and I hate setting caps on crowded tables where they might get knocked onto the floor, covered with someone else’s papers, or, annoyingly, commented upon (“Why do you use that old pen?”) when I’m trying to focus on something else. It’s one of the many reasons why I will always love the iconic, yet extremely subtle, Lamy 2000. It posts deeply, is the perfect size for me, and looks relatively inconspicuous.

View fullsize

Three of my favorite fountain pens that I think hit the sweet spot in terms of balance and practicality: From left, the Leonardo Moment Zero, the Montblanc 146, and the Lamy 2000.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I have a decision to make. At the end of the day, modern oversized pens typically don’t fit my hands as well as the “standard” model. While there are certainly exceptions, the inability to post these larger pens without sacrificing balance, and the, ahem, “lack of subtlety” when using them at work, makes it hard for me to give them a regular spot in the rotation. Even though I enjoy pens such as the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande and Montblanc 149, I go back and forth on whether to keep them in my primary collection or sell them off in favor of acquiring what would be, to me, more usable pens in the standard size.

View fullsize

I do think it’s important to push back on the narrative - often implied but sometimes express - that the “better pen” or “more luxurious pen” is always the larger version. Companies subtly push this by making the larger version more expensive, and the thread of FOMO that tends to run through the community whenever a new model or design is released encourages that nagging voice at the back of your head asking whether you’ll later regret not picking up the “more expensive” or “upgraded” version. Don’t fall prey to this - I certainly have in the past - because bigger is NOT always better, especially with writing instruments, and the best pen for you is the one you will comfortably use long-term.

This post does not contain sponsored content or affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges through the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

In the Shop: Mid-Summer Spruce-up, Discontinued Pens and Limited Editions

We spent the weekend getting the “shop” (i.e., the warehouse) spruced up for a revamp, and it’s a much less intimidating prospect now that we’ve cleared out some excess inventory. You can actually see what’s in and out-of-stock, which is helpful! As it turns out, I found some extra items that I thought were long sold out, and which are now live in the shop, including:

1. Hightide Folding Metal Bookstands in White, Red, Pink, and Blue.

2. TWSBI ECO Jade. If you missed this one, I found another with an EF nib in stock.

3. TWSBI ECO Lilac. I’ve heard through the grapevine that these are slated to be discontinued (or at least go out of production for a while). We have a handful.

4. Midori MD 70th Anniversary Fountain Pen and Ink Sets. Just a few of these remain!

Also, Traveler’s Notebook Limited Editions are getting low. We still have several “Traveler’s Airline” editions in stock, which is a standard size with a blue cover, but only one “Traveler’s Train” passport edition and maybe one or two Hotel notebooks left.

Finally, check out the new layout!

We’ll also be bringing in more Maruman Mnemosyne!

And don’t forget that we also carry core stationery such as Rhodia and Clairefontaine!

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