* This is not a scientific poll, and is intended for entertainment purposes only. Statisticians please don’t come at me.

What's the Most Popular Nib Size? By a Wide Margin, It's Fine or Medium.

January 25, 2023

Sorry broad-nib lovers, but the numbers don’t lie.* You may have noticed that I’ve been doing some surveys lately, both via Patreon and via Instagram, and it’s for several reasons. First of all, I’m always curious about people’s preferences and what they use for their everyday writing. Second, I’ve noticed that as many as 65% of the pens I sell are fines and mediums. If that holds as true, my buying strategy of stocking up on equal numbers of all nib sizes probably isn’t the best idea, especially as I bring in more pen lines and invest in more expensive inventory. So I posed the question: If you’re purchasing a pen to use unmodified, in one of the “default” nib sizes of extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, or stub, what size do you prefer?

Here are the results (which as of the time of writing are still preliminary on Instagram, but overall consistent with data I’ve seen elsewhere so I have no problems going ahead and posting my conclusions):

On T.G.S. Patreon, 75% of respondents chose fine or medium. The other 25% chose broad, stub, or wider (if available). Surprisingly, nobody chose extra-fine.
On Instagram, as of the time of writing, 63% chose fine or medium. 16% chose broad or wider, and 21% chose extra-fine. The Instagram results are probably more reflective of the community at large, as it’s a bigger sample size.

More mediums and more fines. Based on a survey of my own collection and what nibs I currently have in most of my pens, I seem to be pretty “average” in terms of what I use on an everyday basis.

As I noted above, anyone with rudimentary training in statistics could find multiple ways to criticize this poll, and it’s neither intended to be scientific nor taken completely seriously. When I posed the question, I also framed it around “stock” nibs that are generally universal across brands, as there’s a lot of variation between different companies’ in-house nibs. But let me say this: the results of this poll are 100% consistent with what I see going out the door in my shop, so at a minimum the responses are a pretty accurate reflection of the nib preferences of The Gentleman Stationer readership. One of the fun parts of being a retailer is having a bit of insight into what people actually buy, as opposed to what gets the attention on blogs, social media, and podcasts. If you follow pen-related social media at all, you might be forgiven for thinking that most true fountain pen enthusiasts write only with broad nibs or stubs - nibs that lay as much ink as possible on the page - or microscopically small needlepoints. While many people certainly enjoy having a few unusual nibs in their collection, those of us who are forced to go out into the word and write on what passes for “office paper” these days recognize that’s not a sustainable approach to modern life.

For me, it’s medium nibs all around, and I have never had any issues having a medium nib ground into a cursive italic or stub (like the Franklin-Christoph medium S.I.G. nib on the left).

Personally, I default to purchasing pens with medium nibs. A medium is broad enough to show off ink without soaking a page of copy paper, and usually still has enough tipping to support a nib grind. That said, I have so many medium nibs in my collection - including handfuls of loose JoWo and Bock nib units - that I’ve recently taken to purchasing broad or double-broad nibs solely for the purpose of accumulating a ready stock of nibs for modification. Nahvalur nibs in particular have a LOT of tipping, so if you’re purchasing a pen with the specific intention of getting a specialty nib grind, keep that in mind. In San Francisco, I had C.Y. of Tokyo Station Pens modify my Double-Broad Nahvalur Nautilus into a Naginata-style grind, with an excellent result.

I’m still interested in hearing directly from readers: What factors do you consider when selecting a nib? Why do you prefer one nib size over another? Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail!

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain paid advertisements or third-party affiliate links.

Spotlight on Midori MD Notebook Journals: A Wealth of Versatile Formats

January 24, 2023

So far this year, posts on journaling have received a lot of traffic (and comments!), and journals are flying out the door in the shop. It’s encouraging and gratifying to see so many people enjoying analog journaling, and even if I haven’t been able to respond directly to all of your comments, I’ve enjoyed reading them, especially the comments discussing all of your journaling styles, methods, and prompts.

I can see myself using the Grid-Block Notebook Journal as a Planner: you will have eight “boxes” on two pages facing one another, so you can use a box per day plus a section for notes or a bullet list?

While we carry a lot of notebooks appropriate for journaling (and pretty much any notebook can be made to work as a journal), the Midori MD system is the most popular. In addition to the standard MD “notebooks” in lined, grid, and blank formats, Midori also sells A5 notebooks that they bill as “Notebook Journals,” which come in different layouts that many find helpful for creative journaling. Of course, the dot-grid version is a favorite (and probably our overall top-selling Midori MD Notebook), but the A5 “Frame” version is also popular with those who draw, paint, or paste in photographs and other mementos. The newly arrived A5 “Grid Block” notebook is the most interesting to me, as it divides each page of grid ruled paper into four quadrants. The Midori MD Notebook Journals are the same size as the standard A5 MD Notebook, so they are compatible with Midori MD Covers and other accessories.

Traveler’s Company Brass Index Clips and other Traveler’s Company/Midori Accessories enable you to organize your journals and notebooks.

Of course, for those who journal regularly and want a true day-to-a-page notebook in a single volume that will stand alone by year, the Midori MD Codex will remain the gold standard. We have Codex journals in both Dot Grid and Blank formats, along with the clear plastic covers. (Note that the Codex journals do NOT fit the standard MD Paper or Leather covers, which are intended for the slimmer MD Notebooks and Notebook Journals.) You can check out our full range of Midori paper offerings here, in addition to matching pens and pencils.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Midori and Traveler’s Company.

Offbeat Ink Colors for Everyday Writing: Anderillium American Goldfinch Yellow and Ferris Wheel Press Roaring Patina Black

January 21, 2023

This year, I’ve introduced a new rotation system that hopefully will ensure I use more of my pens, especially those favorites that haven’t been getting the attention they deserve. I’ll write more about specifics once things have broken in a bit more, but the gist is that I’ve divided my pens into several categories (“Desert Island/Favorite” pens, pens from independent makers, limited/special editions from standard makers, favorite brands, etc.), and the goal is to have a 1-2 pens from each category inked up at any given time, cycling in a new pen when one is written dry or at the end of the month, whichever comes first. It’s worked well, but a side benefit of this system is that I’ve been re-inking pens more, and therefore also using more of my ink collection and finally getting around to testing out a number of inks that have been in the queue. Today I’ll talk about two that I’ve really enjoyed, both of which are offbeat colors that pleasantly surprised me.

When wet, as shown here on Midori MD Cotton paper, the ink is a brighter yellow. Note the gold tones on the drier writing sample as opposed to the swab.

Anderillium American Goldfinch Yellow: Finally, a Legible Yellow Ink I Can Use Every Day

For years now, I’ve been on a mission to find a yellow ink. I know, it’s a somewhat odd color to fixate on, but I’ve really been wanting an ink that I can use to both highlight and annotate - one that’s not too dark, but at the same time legible. The latter has been the main problem. Most yellow inks are fine as highlighters, but when you try to actually write with them it looks, well, like you’re writing with a highlighter. You can’t read it easily.

On the off-white Plotter paper, Anderillium American Goldfinch dries to a darker golden yellow hue.

Anderillium inks are known for their offbeat, somewhat unusual takes on classic fountain pen ink colors. As it turns out, “American Goldfinch Yellow,” from their Avian series (based on birds), is exactly what I’ve been looking for. When wet, the ink resembles your classic yellow highlighter, but dries to a richer gold color that’s almost, but not quite, orange. It’s legible enough to use for annotation or everyday writing, depending on your use case. I currently have this ink in my Franklin-Christoph Model 20 in “Winter Pine” acrylic, paired with a medium S.I.G. (Stub Italic Gradient) nib that’s an excellent match for how I want to use this ink.

Of the two inks I’m reviewing today, American Goldfinch Yellow is the one that’s widely available, and we carry Anderillium Inks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $14.50 per bottle. I’ve previously reviewed other colors in the series as well, including Cuttlefish Brown, the Michigan Avenue Chicago Pen Show Special Ink, Colossal Squid Dark, and Green Kingfisher Green.

Ferris Wheel Press Roaring Patina Black

One of Ferris Wheel Press’s 2022 limited releases, I hesitated to pick this one up giving my limited use of shimmer ink, but I’m glad I have a full bottle. Roaring Patina Black is a relatively uncommon pairing of a rich black ink with gold shimmer and, according to Ferris Wheel Press, a red sheen. (I’ve not seen much of the sheen, but I’ve also not been using the right paper as most of my writing has been “practical” so far this month.) I wouldn’t characterize this ink as a pure black, as it has some rich blue/purplish-undertones that complement the gold highlights.

Roaring Patina Black features what I refer to as “subtle shimmer” - it’s not so in-your-face glittery that you can’t use it for work, and the shimmer particles are fine enough that they won’t clog your pen. I’ve had this ink in my Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar for the past two weeks without issue, and the “Art Deco” theme of this ink perfectly matches the look of the pen. Unfortunately, Roaring Patina Black was released as a limited edition so it’s no longer widely available, and I was unable to find any retailers with the ink in stock. If you can find it, buy it, because it probably won’t last very long. I enjoy Ferris Wheel Press inks, but looking back I haven’t reviewed very many, other than Peppermint Drop, another red sheener.

This week’s review pens: Franklin-Christoph Model 20 in Winter Pine (left) and Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Macassar.

Longtime readers of this site will know that I don’t use crazy inks: 80% of the time my pens are inked up with standard dark blue / dark green / dark red, but for the other 20% I like to play around with more offbeat colors. That said, even with more unusual ink colors or properties, I have little patience for inks that bleed, feather, and never dry, or only work on certain specific papers with certain nibs. Neither of the two featured here have given me any problems. Sometimes you have to hunt around - sometimes for a very long time - but well-behaved, relatively low-maintenance inks do exist outside of the standard blue/black/blue-black color scheme!

Note: Though I’ve found it to work fine in fountain pens, Ferris Wheel Press Roaring Patina Black is a shimmer ink, meaning that the ink contains fine particles of gold shimmer material. If left in a pen for too long and allowed to dry out, all shimmer inks will clog your pen. If this happens, flushing the pen with water should resolve any issues, but it’s always a best practice to clean your pen every few weeks if you’re using inks such as these.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising. I purchased the Ferris Wheel Press Ink with my own funds, for my own use.

Technical Pens and Pencils: The TWSBI Precision Ballpoint and Mechanical Pencil

January 18, 2023

So-called “drafting” pens and pencils are sometimes considered a category unto themselves, or as a subset of the slightly broader “technical” pen and pencil category. Long-dominated by the beloved (and excellent) Rotring 600 and 800, many companies have shied away from introducing their own version of this classic piece of stationery kit, despite it’s enduring popularity. Not TWSBI, who over the years has introduced four different mechanical pencils, two ballpoint pens, and a technical-style fountain pen through their “Precision” line of products. Today I’ll take a look at the Precision mechanical pencil and ballpoint.

TWSBI Precision Mechanical Pencil Black Fixed and Retractable — The Precision Mechanical Pencil comes in both fixed and retractable-pipe versions.

So What Distinguishes the TWSBI Precision Line of Pens?

If you (like me) already own multiple Rotring 600 and Rotring 800 pens and mechanical pencils, what differentiates the TWSBI Precision to the point that you might want to give this particular pen and/or pencil a shot? Here are my main points to consider:

Different Knurling on the Grip. The primary difference I would highlight is the knurling (or grip texture), because this aspect will likely affect your everyday writing the most. Rotring uses a rougher, almost sandpaper-like texture that people either love or dislike depending on whether it hurts their fingers. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Rotring grip, which I think gives the pen a tactile writing experience that’s not duplicated elsewhere, but I also enjoy TWSBI’s approach. The Precision grip appears to be molded into the barrel as opposed to machined, so the knurling is slightly more raised and can have a softer feel. It all comes down to personal preference.
Slightly Softer Edges on the Hexagonal Barrel. I’ve never noticed it until this direct comparison, but the edges on the Rotring pens are pretty sharp. The TWSBI Precision is more rounded, akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, though I would place the Precision “in the middle” between the other two.
Different Aesthetics. Rotring famously adheres to a black/silver + red color scheme, and though they’ve moved away from that in recent years with a few new base colors, the overall aesthetic remains consistent. I would characterize the finish on the TWSBI Precision as more “satin” as opposed to Rotring’s true “matte”, and the TWSBI’s chrome clip, knock, and tip look nice on either the black or silver pen/pencil.
Different Mechanism on the Retractable Pipe Mechanical Pencil. I previously reviewed the Rotring 800, and I love how that pen features a twist mechanism on the knock that allows you to retract the sleeve / “pipe” for pocket carry. The TWSBI Precision has a similar feature, though you need to depress the knock and press down gently to get the pipe to retract. It’s less convenient, but it’s also a less expensive pencil.

The knurling on the TWSBI Precision (top) and the Rotring 600 (bottom) is very different. One is not better than the other - they just have a completely different feel. Note that the tip on the TWSBI Precision ballpoint extends slightly farther than on the Rotring 600. Personally, I like this because I enjoy more needle-tip pens that feel as though they provide more control over my writing. Others prefer how the Rotring looks.
See the gallery below for a comparison between the Rotring 800 retractable mechanical pencil and the TWSBI precision mechanical pencil, both retracted (right) and extended (left).

General Functionality and Writing Experience

Overall, the Precision provides a very nice writing experience for the price point. The Precision pens and pencils are approximately the same weight and length as the Rotring 600, and slightly shorter/slimmer than the Rotring 800. Due to the different texture, the feel in the hand is more akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, and those who appreciate the 849 line of writing instruments but find themselves wanting a more textured grip section and slightly longer barrel should consider the TWSBI Precision.

While the pens discussed here all share certain design elements, they have their own unique feel in hand and will appeal to different users in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Though not a game changer, I wanted to point out that TWSBI adds value by including a pack of leads and replacement erasers with the Precision mechanical pencil, and a second Parker-style ballpoint cartridge with the ballpoint pen. The erasers are a cool touch - they’re super long, do their job well, and should last you for a while. The TWSBI-branded ballpoint refill is quite nice, but if you prefer something else it’s Parker-style so you can swap in your choice of the endless Parker-style ballpoint/gel/capless roller refills out there.

I love the long eraser on the TWSBI Precision. Plus you get three of them, likely enough to last you years unless you really enjoy your mechanical pencil erasers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

To be perfectly honest, now that I’ve been using my own Precision ballpoint and Precision .5mm retractable mechanical pencil for a couple of months now, I’m kicking myself for having waited this long. In my opinion, TWSBI doesn’t do a great job of promoting their non-fountain pen product line, and even though many people have commented about how nice their mechanical pencils are, it’s one of those products that I put off trying and reviewing for years. I’m now wondering whether it’s time to pick up a Precision fountain pen.

Three different pens/pencils, three great options: the Rotring 600 (top), the TWSBI Precision (center), and the Caran d’Ache 849.

We recently added the TWSBI Precision line to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and currently stock both the Precision Ballpoint and Precision Mechanical Pencil in all colors and subtypes. As noted above, the mechanical pencil is available with both .5mm and .7mm lead sizes, with a fixed or retractable pipe. Both Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils are priced at $25, which I personally consider a very fair value.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the Precision pens featured in this review. This post does not contain third-party advertising and affiliate links, and we are supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Spotlight on New Arrivals: Midori MD Letter Pads and Mr. Boddington's Studio Composition Books

January 17, 2023

Late last week, we received two new items that I’m particularly excited about: Midori Letter Pads and Envelopes in both Midori MD and Midori MD Cotton Paper, as well as a new series of composition books from boutique stationer Mr. Boddington’s Studio. The decision to add one of these two product categories may be more obvious than the other: In addition to multiple customer requests to bring in more letter writing supplies, the start of InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month) next month makes the letter pads and envelopes particularly timely. We should hopefully have a restock of these as well most sizes of the Clairefontaine Triomphe writing pads later this month. In the meantime, we’ve gone ahead and put together a separate section of the paper shop that we will keep updated with letter writing supplies as additional items come in.

Mr. Boddington Studio Illustrations — The quality of these illustrations is top-notch!

As to the composition books, I simply couldn’t pass up these cover designs, particularly the pencils, outer space, and shark patterns. The paper is traditional standard-ruled, and works well with most pens (and certainly pencils). While it is not intended for fountain pen use, extra fine/fine nibs should do ok, with some show through and pinpoint bleeding on wider nibs and wet inks. That said, these books are meant to be enjoyed for the whimsical artwork, and I’ve set aside a handful for journaling and gifting throughout the year!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold. Remember that all U.S. orders over $75 ship free!