Krone Galileo Limited Edition
The Krone Galileo writing instrument honors the achievements of Galileo, a mathematician, astronomer and inventor.

Krone presents Galileo, an exceptional writing instrument.

A Renaissance Pen: The Stipula Da Vinci Infinity Limited Edition
Of course, the Da Vinci design is not unique to the Infinity LE; in fact it is available at lower prices in several different materials and colours, and in two sizes with different clip designs. But the version I fell in love with at first sight was the Infinity, thanks to the fascinating Stylophiles review and Bill Riepl’s alluring photographs of the pen therein. I knew I had to buy one, but what chance was there of finding a new pen from a limited edition of only 188 which had already been available for two years?

A review of the Stipula Da Vinci Infinity LE by Stuart Williams, photos © Bill Riepl used by permission of Mr. Riepl.

The last five years of developing FILCAO pen have produced a series of classic designs in the deco style of the 1920's and 30's with flat tops and taper balance shapes. The remarkable success of the classic-style COLUMBIA, ATLANTICA, SYLVIA, NEW LEADER and ROXY have the designs and features that pen users feel are the most comfortable in their hands and affordable so they can have more choices...

The Pentrace Report: Midland Pen Show, Lichfield, England
It is not often one sees the launch of a new pen show in the United Kingdom, and moreover one which deliberately aims to be different to what has gone before. Such a show is the brand new Midland Pen Show, which took place in Lichfield, England over the weekend 21st-22nd June 2008. As Pentrace's roving reporter in the UK, I was fortunate enough to be invited to cover the event..

Read Stuart's previous articles
The Pentrace Report: WES Birmingham (England) Meeting, 8 March 2008
The Pelikan 500NN Fountain Pen – A User Review
The Conway Stewart Churchill ‘Red Ripple’ Fountain Pen
On the Trail of Tolkien Series:
Part 1: JRR Tolkien: A boy, the man and his books
Part 2: Tolkien's Inspirations in Birmingham Locations
Part 3: In the Land of Mordor, where the Shadows Lie…

FILCAO is a family-run business based in the small Northern Italian town of Settimo Torinese, near Turin, in the industrial North-West of the Country.

FILCAO started manufacturing fountain pens in the late 1960s. After 43 years the company is still run by its founder, Franco Grisolia, who loves and collects pens and can still be seen, at times, working the lathes, fashioning a new prototype pen out of a rod of cured celluloid or acrylic resin. The current product lineup is vast: over 200 different pen models, in metal, celluloid or acrylic resin. In addition to fountain pens, there are mechanical pencils, roller ball pens and ballpoint pens.

FILCAO was the chosen manufacturer of the 2004 Pentrace Limited Edition fountain pen which was such an immediate success, the entire edition was sold out in a matter of hours after introduction.

Krone TYRANNOSAURUS REX Limited Edition
Tyrannosaurus Rex was the supreme carnivore of its era and represented the highest evolution of predatory dinosaurs. The name means “tyrant lizard king” and there has never been a land predator of its size, speed and power before or after its existence.

Krone presents Tyrannosaurus Rex, an exceptional writing instrument.

Friday Night
Well, there we were at the Last Chance restaurant (no grease just good eats) on Friday night. There was me, Bubba, Joe Bob and the Italian Babe chomping down on all you can eat catfish. I looked around and surveyed the situation. Over in the corner was Tommy the tattoo man sitting with a blue haired lady. Off to the side I could see Chuckles the clown making balloon figures for the little kids. Up front Jim Paul and the Texas Boys were knocking out some Willie Nelson tunes. Even though we had a full house something just didn’t seem right. It was like something was missing..

A new story from Will Thorpe.

The Stylus 2007 Pen Annual Volume II
The Stylus 2007 Pen Annual Volume II is praised as an "encyclopedia of pens", a must have for pen lovers and collectors. This is a showcase of 70 pen companies, their histories and latest products with retailers even using this as a sales tool. For pen collectors, this is the ultimate “candy store” magazine where you can visit to view your favorite pen products and start building your wish list for next year.

THINK about it
THINK fountain pens and roller ball pens are a combination of beautiful materials, excellent design and solid construction all rolled into a very attractive retail price. Mounted with quality Schmidt steel nibs and roller ball refills they are inexpensive enough to treat your vanity with multiple choices to fit changing moods or simply for “the pen color of choice for the day”
Read the recent Pentrace review of THINK pens.

THINK pens are available at your favorite pen dealer
or
Fountain Pen Hospital

Pentrace is happy to welcome Nakaya Fountain Pen Co as a new sponsor.
Nakaya pens have been a popular topic on Pentrace since introduced a few years ago by Russ Stutler on Pentrace East.

The Nakaya theme is “For Your Hand Only” as Nakaya produces hand made pens from hand shaping of hard rubber to decoration and the final shaping of the nib choice exactly to the owner’s writing hand.

More than a few Pentracers have actually visited Nakaya offices in Tokyo, Japan in their travels and provided us with their interesting reports. Pentrace appreciates the support from Mr. Toshiya Nakata, President of Nakaya and we look forward to their announcements of their newest products.

Governess on a Sheep Station in the Outback - Episode 5 [posted 06/25/2006]
A short story in seven parts by Chris Chalmers about her very early and short time as a governess on a sheep station in far western Queensland in the very early 60s - it doesn't mention pens - but is a good read!!

Read the Previous Episode:
Episode I [posted 05/12/2006]
Episode 2 [posted 05/20/2006]
Episode 3 [posted 05/27/2006]
Episode 4 [posted 06/09/2006]

The Da Vinci Code limited edition pen by TIBALDI
On May 19th 2006 Sony Pictures brought Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, one of the most popular and controversial novels of our generation, to the big screen.

Anticipating the huge success of what will most likely be the media event of this century, Aquila Brands entered into an exclusive license agreement with Sony Pictures to launch, simultaneously with the release of the movie, the one and only official collection of The Da Vinci Code luxury writing instruments, signaling the re-birth of the prestigious TIBALDI brand ninety years after its establishment.

Dateline KANAZAWA Part III
A Japanese Journal by Stan Klemanowicz. This is the second of four articles based on the journal posted to the message board by Stan.

Part I
Part II

Parker Flighters
Oh, you say, a Parker 61 Flighter. Well, maybe. But it could also be a Parker 65 Flighter. And that's what this article is all about: Parker's long pattern of producing pen models that are very closely matched. Some replaced a previous model. Others, like the 65, co-existed with its mate. And this pattern of pairs started with the 61/65, as fair as I can tell...

Dan Carmell examines the Parker Flighter range

Review: Fountain Pens of the World, 2005 Edition
FPOTW. Pretty much every pen collector past the “newbie” stage recognizes that five-letter abbreviation as a shorthand way of identifying Andreas Lambrou’s compendious Fountain Pens of the World. First published in 1995, this 448-page coffee-table-size tome is recognized as one of the indispensable books that form the foundation of any serious collector’s library.

"When You Can't Just Walk Away" XX
Concluding our weekly series by Myra Love.

Read Previous Chapters

Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume ( Tahitian Maiden )
The art of Maki-e holds a fascination for many Pentrace readers and over the years we have examined many different aspects and techniques of this Japanese form of decoration which dates back to the 8th Century. In general, much of the maki-e work applied to fountain pens has featured intricate renderings of wildlife, traditional Japanese scenes or flowers, but Classic Pens have taken a unique approach by featuring aspects of French Polynesia in honor of the late Marlon Brando in a new Limited Edition maki-e fountain pen to be launched at the Washington DC Show in August.

Care and Feeding: How to Replace a Pen Sac
Updated - Richard Binder's definitive article on re- saccing a fountain pen.

Legend
A short article for Father's Day by Lynn Brant.

Stylo gurus
Trevor Butterworth investigates the apparent paradox of the resurgence of the fountain pen in the age of digital communications. This article originally appeared in the May 7 2005 issue of FTmagazine, the supplement to the Financial Times.

Parker “51” by David and Mark Shepherd
Without reservation, this book now stands as the definitive reference source on the Parker “51” the world’s most successful fountain pen.

Krone Limited Edition Albert Einstein
Theme pen for the 2005 Chicago Pen Show

Also featuring at the 2005 Chicago Show..

Think

Pen Doctor:
Richard Binder answers questions on Parker “51”: Who’s On First?, Front-End Disassembly and Reassembly of the “51”

Previous Pen Doctor Columns.

Email the Pen Doctor with your question.

My meeting with the Pen God
Last June, quite by chance, I discovered that Mr Nagahara of Sailor Pens was coming to the UK to hold a pen clinic at Websters Penshop at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. I have to admit that when I first discovered that Mr Nagahara was coming to the UK and that I would have a chance to meet him I was as excited as a six-year old on Christmas Eve...
Faisel Sadiq reports.

Over on Pentrace East
The 2005 Pen Trading Show in Tokyo
Tokyo has two fountain pen shows each year. One is the event sponsored by the club "Fuente" in October (which I unfortunately missed last October due to a schedule conflict) and the other is the "Pen Trading Show in Tokyo" and is sponsored by the Pen Collectors of Japan. This is held every March in a room near Shirokanedai station. This year's Show was held on March 12 and 13.
Russ Stutler reports.

The Prince Protean Pen
Ever since I learned that Mark Twain once used a Prince Protean pen, I have been trying to find one. I’d be willing to pay several thousand dollars for one, but even if you had a million to spend it would be doubtful you could find one of these very early pens. And by early, I mean one of the first fountain pens manufactured in the United States. ....

Previous columns by Ron Dutcher.

The 2004 Pentrace Limited Edition fountain pen
Our Limited Edition sold out within 3 hours of the announcement on the message board.

The Pentrace LEs have been shipped! Already we have over 100 expressions of interest in the 2005 Pentrace Limited Edition FP.

Further updates as they happen.

The 2004 Pentrace Halloween Short Story Contest
He never gave a second thought why the pen was at the yard sale amidst the cast off debris of what must have been a dirt poor family. “How much?” he said...
By some ghoulish Pentracers

The Marco Aurelio Street Pen Meeting
Dario Giorgi reports on an extraordinary range of vintage pens displayed at a meeting in Marco Aurelio street, not far from the Colosseum in Rome.

Read Dario's previous article:
Dario and Sara visit Tuscany and the Florence Pen Show

A Visit to the Tilburg Pen Show 2004
Michael Richter reports on the 2004 show from Tilburg in the Netherlands

Read Michael's previous articles:
Galerie Jansen inks - Part I
Galerie Jansen Tinten - Teil 1 (German language version)
Private Reserve Pastel Inks
Pelikan Ink Colors
Private Reserve Inks

“Daddy-O”: Krone takes a look back at the 1950s
Daddy-O is a cool new collection from Krone that is reminiscent of my mother’s 1960 kitchen linoleum floor and the curvaceous design elements of that time. This was the first time I was able to recall great looking and genuine fake marble and stone laid into plastics...
By Len Provisor

Sheaffer Secretary — Not Just Red Radite!
Somewhere around 1923 Sheaffer introduced a new line of pens — the “Secretary”. Sheaffer saw the need to have a pen that was not guaranteed that could be marketed at a lower price. The name Secretary also suggests that Sheaffer was addressing the need of secretaries...
By Roger Wooten

Try our NEW RSS Feed!

We now have an RSS feed up and running. The logo's below link to the RSS file. For these to work, you need to have an RSS reader for your computer, or are using an online feed reader. Check this link for a basic explanation of how RSS works.

Pentrace Photo Competition
All the entries for the competition can now be viewed at the above link. The images are being sent to our judges Terry Clark and Eddy McDonald for review and critique, with a view to nominating a winner. There is still time to get your entries in!

Parker 100 — an Evolution and a Revolution in Design
When I first saw the new Parker 100 last year I had mixed feelings. The Parker “51” has been one of my favorite writing instrument for many years and this new visitor appeared to have an attitude...
Len Provisor reports.

The Fountain Pen Hospital LE, by Stipula
Since 1947, FPH has been serving the pen community. They've done it again, with a great Limited Edition pen by Stipula.
Len Provisor reports.

2004 Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen SUPERSHOW
The 2004 SuperShow is history. Read what you missed here, with lots of photos.
Len Provisor reports.

Over on Pentrace East
The Maruzen Limited Edition Parker Duofold Rashin
I went to the Maruzen Department store in Nihonbashi this afternoon and saw a new pen there that was so interesting it merited an article. It is made by Parker for Maruzen to commemorate Maruzen's 135 year anniversary.
Russ Stutler reports.

Also from Pentrace East:

The Amazing All-angle Sailor Trident

2004 Pen Trading Show in Tokyo

The 6th Annual Mitsukoshi World Fountain Pen Fair

Nakaya visit the 2004 Chicago Pen Show
Len Provisor meets the Nakaya team on their first U.S. visit.

Read Len's previous reports

A Review of the 2004 Chicago Pen Show
Wayne Samardzich presents a 'guy in the street' review of the 2004 Chicago show.

The London Pen Show 2003
Our roving European reporter Miroslav Tischler visits yet another Pen Show. This time it's London - from last October.

Check some more of Miro's reports from US and European pen shows last year.

The Pen Collector and His Wife
by Paul G. Neilan.
(Based on The Fisherman and His Wife, by The Brothers Grimm)

also read:

Slippery When Wet
Poetry from Pentracer Paul Neilan, recently published by the East on Central group.

Aldo
It was the North Texas Pen Collectors annual one day show of 2001. The crowd had been pretty good in the morning but now it was late afternoon and the rush was slowing down. I was sitting at my table half asleep paying no particular attention to anything. Suddenly I saw the eyes...

Will Thorpe recounts the story of Aldo.

Previous articles by Will Thorpe.

Saint Patrick- Krone Limited Edition
"This is a significantly large fountain pen with an extraordinarily brilliant decoration that commands an immediate presence. The barrel is a luminescent, brilliant colored painting in the fashion of 15th Century engrossed illuminations that are found on rare biblical documents and books. Each pen is hand painted over the hand turned ebonite barrel material. The brilliant transparency of the painting re-creates the glowing stained glass from the cathedrals of the period".
Len Provisor reviews the Saint Patrick LE.

The Colonel's Parker
The Colonel pounded his keyboard in livid rage, broken keys flying everywhere as alien beeps and squawks emitted from the computer's speakers. DO NOT SHOOT THE MONITOR! Do NOT shoot the monitor! O.K... O.K... o.k…. The cause of the Colonel's rage had wafted up out of the ether just seconds ago. The stark black letters on the screen mocked the Colonel's perseverance, mocked his concentration, his intellect, mocked his very manhood:
AUCTION CLOSED
YOU WERE OUTBID

David Mason brings us a tale of auctions and sniping!

It’s All Academic: The Columbus Academia by Yamazaki
KC Dockal (KCat) considers "another green pen" - The Academia - made for the Italian pen company, Columbus, by Japanese pen maker Yamazaki.

Read KCat's previous article:
A “User-Friendly Interface” A review of the CGB 2500

“La penna mai in panne” (The pen that never fails) The story of the amazing Pen-Co 53
The Rossi brothers started manufacturing fountain pens in the 1930s in Sandrigo, a small town near Vicenza, in the North East of Italy. Giovanni Abrate on the Pen-Co 53.

Also read Giovanni's previous articles
The ‘51s of Settimo
LUS : Umberto Legnani’s family shop
The 2003 Miami Pen Show
The 2003 Atlanta Pen Show

Pentrace Christmas Poetry Contest
The entries for the competition are now on line for your enjoyment!

New in the Box - Part II
A new pen related detective story from Jerry Heifferon, concludes this week!
New in the Box - Part I

Read Jerry's previous article:
Starting a Vintage Pen Collection: A User’s Approach

A Tale of Christmas
Richard Binder brings us an unabashedly sentimental fable set in the time and place of the author’s childhood, presented for the reader’s edification and, it is hoped, pleasure.

Read Richard's previous reports
Trip Report: The 2003 Ohio Pen Show
Providence Art Club Pen Fair
Chicago Pen Show 2003 Report
Washington DC Pen Show 2003 Report
Your First Pen Show

My Montblanc 149s - 1952 to 1990’s
Lex Villines explains his Montblanc vintage collection.

Also read
Collector Profiles - Lex Villines
When is it really too far gone?

The Halloween Scary Stories 2003
Marc D Smith and Ron Dutcher bring us some suitably chilling pen stories!
Want more?
The Halloween Scary Stories 2002

Marilyn Monroe - Krone Limited Edition
The name, the myth and the legend. Len Provisor reviews the latest Krone Limited Edition dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Monroe.

Discovered : Shakespeare’s Sonnet to a Fountain Pen
This article, originally submitted to the Zoss list, is reprinted here with slight editorial changes. It raises interesting questions about whether William Shakespeare had, or made plans to have, a fountain pen. The sonnet in question, if it is indeed Shakespeare's, would be grounds for pre-emptively concluding that he was fountain-pen capable. I'm sure that both pen aficionados and Shakespeare scholars will want to weigh in.
By Bernard Glassman

Pelikan 100/100LE - a comparison
Felipe Jordão compares two pens, the vintage Pelikan 100 and the modern “Originals of their Time” re-issues of the same. He also discusses a custom nib unit that can be added to the modern pen to essentially transform it into a ‘new’ vintage pen.

Read Felipe's previous article:
The Pelikan Toledo

Pelikan History - Part IV
The concluding article of a four part series by Rick Propas that traces the history of Pelikan, focussing on the years of pen production, 1929-present. (see "Pentrace online Pelikan Chat" below)

Pelikan History - Part I
Pelikan History - Part II
Pelikan History - Part III

What I Learned at the 2003 New York Pen Show
Mark Van Blargan reports on the NYC Pen Show.

Read Mark's previous articles
Pelikan M700 Series
Why Pelikan?
Welcoming a New Member to Our Obsession, or Acting as a Tour Guide at the DC Pen Show

The 2003 New York City Pen Show
Jimmie Cockburn reports on the NYC Pen Show.

A slide show of images from the show are also available here, courtesy of Maryann Zucker.

Writing Instruments Manufactured in Israel : Part II - Other Brands
Israel ben-Sinai, dedicated pen collector from Israel and member of the Israel Pen Club, PCA and WES presents the story of his research and collections of writing instruments made in Palestine and Israel.

Writing Instruments Manufactured in Israel : Part I - Katab

Mabie in America - Writing Instruments from 1843 - 1941
Len Provisor reviews the CD from author David Moak which presents what is arguably the most authoritative history to date of this well known pen maker, the family of John Mabie, and their business associations.

Every year, thousands of pens come to New York and L.A. hoping to make it big -- as a professional pen model.

These pens, some of them not more than 14 or 15 years old, come from the heartland of America, from places like Iowa, and Indiana, and Illinois, and other states that begin with "I" -- like Wisconsin. But the truth, unlike the pens, is not pretty.
Few make it.

Delta Indigenous People – Native Americans
Len Provisor reviews a unique LE from Delta, the second in their series honoring indigenous peoples. This pen will be featured at the Washington DC Pen Show in August.

Terry Clark takes the photos.

A Visit to the Nakaya Fountain Pen Company
Over at Pentrace East, Russ Stutler visits the new Headquarters of the Nakaya Pen Company in Tokyo and manages to get his hands on a new prototype!

A Special Product from the Urushi Tree
Fred Whitlock reviews the Nakaya Wajima-Nuri Shu, which was also mentioned in Fran and Adam's review of the Tamenuri.

Too Much Excitement
Steve Massey’s voice came floating across the lawn one hot summer evening. “Hey, Tom,” it said, “there’s an exhibition game gonna be over at the ballpark. Grab your mitt, let’s go!”

“No thanks,” I hollered back, “I don’t think I can stand that much excitement tonight.” I had just come back Stateside from eleven months chasing Hitler’s armies back to Berlin, and I was still getting used to being able to loaf around without getting shot at...

Read the short story by Richard Binder.

Conway Stewart Custom Pens
It would appear that one of the favourite methods employed by Conway Stewart for boosting their sales, especially during the 30s, was to produce special pens for commercial companies or stationery retailers. In the former case they would probably have been give-aways, while in the latter case they were often imprinted with names chosen by the retailer and sold as "special editions".

Jonathan Donahaye explains.

Read Jonathan's previous article.
Conway Stewart Repairs

Pen Photography - Part III
Terry Clark concludes his series with the third of his three practical columns. This week the subjects are "The Beauty Shot", Exposure, White Balance and the Evil of Flare.

Previous Pen Photography Columns.

R3 - The Refill Replacement Reference
Richard Binder tabulates some useful data on which rollerball/ballpoint refill fits which pen.

FAQ now online!
The FAQ compiled by Burt Janz is now online - try the link here or the FAQ menu item on the Reference menu at the top of the page.

New Biography Pages
The new bio pages are currently in test, with a few new bios input, the old page is still available here.

Namiki 2003 Limited Editions
Pentrace presents the Namiki 2003 Limited Editions that were introduced at the recent Frankfurt Paperworld exhibit. These Limited Editions will be presented here exclusively on Pentrace over three weeks. This week - The Yukari Collection and the Pilot Vanishing Point Manderin Yellow

The Emperor Collection and The Nippon Art Collection (from last week)
The Yukari Royale Collection (from previous week)

Profile: Sheaffer’s Snorkel
During World War II, the German navy adopted a device called a Schnorchel (often spelled “Schnorkel” in English-language writings), which was a tube that could be extended above the ocean’s surface by a submerged submarine, allowing the submarine to draw in fresh air without surfacing. In 1952, Sheaffer’s Snorkel TM appeared on the market, superseding the very successful Touchdown TM line.
Richard Binder profiles a classic.

The History of Casein Use In Writing Equipment. - Part 4
David Wells, vintage pen collector and dealer of primarily British writing instruments presents this discussion on a delicate material used by several pen companies in the past.

The concluding article examines the use of "Ivorine" by the Parker Pen Company

Pompeian Brown
George Kovalenko investigates the mysterious Parker Pompeian Brown Duofold.

Tebbel’s "Duofold"
Tim Barker explains the origins of the "Duofold" name.

Gaudí Commemorative Fountain Pens
Kurt Hammerbeck profiles the great Catalonian architect Antoni Gaudí, the inspiration behind no less than six different pens from six different companies.

Who is Joe Cali?
Maryann Zucker introduces pen designer and collector Joe Cali, who has become a regular at many pen shows.

The History of Casein Use In Writing Equipment. - Part 3
David Wells continues his discussion with details of Conway Stewart's use on the material, including current production techniques and a commentary from Conway Stewart President, Don Yendle.

The History of Casein Use In Writing Equipment. - Part 2
David Wells continues this discussion on a delicate material used by several pen companies in the past. This installment shows how to identify casein and shows some of the problems associated with it.

The History of Casein Use In Writing Equipment. - Part 1
David Wells, vintage pen collector and dealer of primarily British writing instruments presents this discussion on a delicate material used by several pen companies in the past.

True Believer 4
David Mason (aka StubHead) continues his tale of the unexpected. All characters and events are fictitious, although some of the pens bear a strong resemblance to real ones. You have been warned!
Previous Chapters..

Chapter XXI of "Roadblock" by Myra Love.
The concluding episode in our Tuesday serial!
Previous chapters..

On The Ink Spot..
Some new ink recipies, Michael Richter's Herbin Ink Color Charts and Water Resistance of Blue, Blue/Black and Black Inks by Johan Thole.

On The Nib Section.
Nib Primer by Richard Binder, The Flex Chart by the late Bob Helfrich and The Anatomy of a Nib by John Mottishaw.

An Open Letter: In Remembrance of Katie Hill
Katie's parents share some memories of Katie, who was tragically killed last year while attending a pen show