Photo - Len Provisor

The plans for the 2004 Chicago Pen Show were in the making as soon as the dust settled in the ballroom after the 2003 show. After almost 30 years of organizing pen meetings and shows, constant growth, changes and the usual bumps in the road the show still goes on…and it never gets any easier. However there is a certain method to this madness and everything always falls into place by the time the curtain goes up. Organized pre-show publicity and advertising was long ago planned and placed, an ABC television interview a few days before created more public awareness, newspaper articles and announcements helped to alert the public that a major pen event was coming to Chicago.

Organizers Dan Zazove and Michael Fultz with staffers LA and Patty. - Photo Don Lavin

Almost 200 exhibit tables, over 500 hotel rooms booked, visitors from over 18 countries and everyone is on the same mission. The production team is Don Lavin, Dan Zazove, and L. Michael Fultz, each with years of experience as vintage pen collectors and pen show organizers. Together they produce a world-class pen show, the largest and oldest vintage pen auction in the country and non-stop scheduled events starting on Thursday with Hospitality Suites for welcoming guests and immediate early trading.

Part of the Krone exhibit - photo Don Lavin

Krone is the host sponsor for the 2004 pen show and the theme pen unveiled at the show was the Sun Tzu – The Art of War Limited Edition pen. In addition to the Limited Edition production the Sun Tzu Magnum has arrived. This is an oversize version with similar Chinese portraits executed in microscopic detail on a golden palette background.

Some of the Krone pens on display - photo Don Lavin

Krone Limited Edition pens are a breed apart. Each is a story, each is an historical artifact that commemorates a famous Writer, an Adventurer, an Entertainer or an historical moment in time. Viewing and touching Krone Limited Edition pens and their embedded artifacts places one in touch with this memorable time in history. Perhaps not for everyone, however this is still a brilliant concept recently brought to the pen collecting audience and has proven to be very successful since the first Limited Edition issue Abraham Lincoln with encapsulated replica DNA.

The Krone exhibit - photo Len Provisor

In attendance at the Krone exhibit was President Robert Kronenberger, Executive Vice President Jim Stringwell and Marketing Manager Dana Piet.

The Krone exhibit was the centerpiece of the pen show. A massive museum quality display about thirty feet long containing a remarkable Krone Collection of about forty writing instruments used or owned by many famous notables such as Charles Dickens and his 1870’s quill and signed document, also a steel dip pen used by Abraham Lincoln to sign the Homestead Act. Ernest Hemmingway, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Presidents Rooselvelt, Truman, Carter, Kennedy, Nixon and Bush writing instruments lent a touch of class to the pen show. This exhibit construction began on Friday requiring three men working eight hours from detailed blueprints and finally security guards entered to safely deliver the framed historical relics for display. This was quite an exhibit that attracted much attention with every artifact mounted with a signed document from the famous owner.

The David Oscarson Exhibit with David Oscarson. Photo Don Lavin

The very serious Sport of Pens begins
So why does a weekend pen show start on Tuesday? It seems that many people coming to a world-class city want a few extra days to enjoy the sights and attractions. Pen show visitors are truly international, coming from Australia, Europe, Asia, South America and these visitors endure a major travel effort having great expectations for some serious pen business and serious Chicago style entertainment. This year Tuesday and Wednesday had more early arrivals than ever before with the hotel booked to capacity weeks in advance.

Jon Messer with David Shepherd. David is the author of the upcoming book on Parker 51s and that portfolio on the table contains his gallery proofs - photo Don Lavin

Tuesday I happened to arrive early to assist the Nakaya Fountain Pen Co having traveled from Japan. The Nakaya group included President Toshiya Nakata, master nib maker Mr. Watanabe, lathe machinest Mr. Matsubara and Ms Noritsuke. The purpose of their early arrival was to check all materials and cartons that had just arrived. This was their first visit to Chicago and they were really excited. Nothing was left to chance, every detail and tool had to be checked before, even the exact location of their exhibit and displays. I gave a grand tour of the hotel, the exhibit rooms and all meeting areas for the show.

Although Wednesday is not an official Pen Show day with scheduled functions, many collectors meet early for a casual breakfast eager to get on with the sport of pens. Eyes constantly dart to the restaurant entrance, the halls and lounges so not a single pen case would be missed…it’s kind of a badge you know. One can easily tell a pen guy from across the room by the shape of the leather case. Knowing certain collectors very well after all these years, especially their focus, one simply knows when early Conklin, Wahl or Waterman overlays walk into the room. You can almost smell that ebonite. After lunches and brunches we meander to the lounges in the lobby for some serious open pen case discoveries, small groups mingle and rotate among one another for trading and gentle arm-twisting. One friend needs an early Parker #3 lazy “S” nib, I have a few, I make a trade plus receive a few nice vintage ink blotters, we are both happy. It’s also stories and updates on families, friends and travels. Friendships and conversations continue from last year or the last pen show as if it were only yesterday. Friends would bring particular pens that were pre-sold a few continents away and finally delivered to buyers at the show. Here we see how international trading, buying and selling is actually the very engine that keeps propelling vintage pens around the world. One day a vintage Waterman or Parker pen is resting in a private collection located in Milan, Italy…and a few days later tucked into a new pen case on the way to a display case in Melbourne, Australia or Brooklyn, NY. It seems there is more mileage on some pens in the last few years of trading than it’s entire lifetime. I have literally seen the look of amazement on a collector’s face when he bought a pen he was seeking for many years, only to realize this was the very pen he had missed the chance to buy many years before from someone else. I have seen the stunned look on a woman’s face in NJ ’92 when she points to a vintage Victorian pen/pencil on display commenting the engraved name was the same as her own…then suddenly realizing it was her grandmother’s pen from the 1890’s. To witness these surprises are absolutely priceless. On Thursday a friend showed me a faded orange Duofold in Permanite, commenting that the cap did not match and it was for sale. He looked disappointed. Permanite plastic color does not fade, in my opinion it was an example of the very elusive c1928 Parker Pompeiian. I have seen the alleged Pompeiian in both early hard rubber and the Permanite, we think this is the same color. This color was made for the very first 1921 hard rubber Duofold, named in early advertising but perhaps never produced, or maybe just a few. We just do not know for sure, yet.

Thursday is the calm before the quickening. Early breakfasts and pre-arranged transactions are completed before the Hospitality Suites open on the 12th floor. Pen people are arriving all day, the lounges and hallway settes are filling, the subtle din of chat is growing to our usual fraternity crescendo. As soon as the Suites are ready people start a trot called the Chicago “quick-step” to the elevators. The funniest scene is walking to the elevators and seeing new arrivals at the registration desk in the lobby, they look stunned with their eyes begging to say…”wait for me, wait for me…I’ll be right there, please save me a space!”

Up to floor 12 and it is first-come first-serve…grab a half table, unzip the cases and spread the pens. We’re on the top floor in full view of O’Hare approach with 747’s literally gliding past the floor to ceiling windows. That’s old hat already, no one looks at the planes, it is all about the pens from now on. The two rooms fill quickly, name badges are passed out, as if we need them. One can tell exactly who is who just by the familiar hands reaching over the tables, you just know what that hand is reaching for…the controlled frenzy has begun. The two Suites have about 40 tables and about 60 –70 some pen folk and every one is on the make for vintage. Yes, we are also getting vintage ourselves. The girth is spreading on some of us and the hair is thinning on some and not on others, some move a bit slower, some are more calm in our enthusiasm, some are not and that is fine, too. At times a person will change their collecting focus and begin to sell or trade off part of their collection. I have seen entire collections of pristine specimens liquidate that had taken many years to accumulate. Recently liquidated was a major collection of vintage Montblanc, Security and early Parker eyedroppers. Here you again see how a load of quality pens are now dispersed around the world. More than likely many of these pens will be right back to this room on another early trading day before another Chicago Pen Show, or maybe DC or OH or NY…and the cycle continues. However what is never lost or traded away for a moment is the shared information and knowledge we constantly learn from one another. There is a unique comeraderie in this room…almost every person has come to this pen show for at least the last 8 to 10 years. Same floor, same room, same friends. Most of us know the other person’s collection focus and their interests. Pens, parts and ephemera will always find their way to the right people. Some are traded, sold or just given as a “thank you” for past favors.

As the crowd grows some stunning new inventory has come into the room. Lee Chait is always on a road trip and brought a major load of Parker 75’s, Parker ephemera and parts. If you are into Parker 75s, you should know Lee or Li-Tah of parker75.com. Somehow Lee just has a nose for finding really good “stuff’ and is often one of the first to have his table swamped. Craig Bozorth always has a surprise vintage treasure and also brings some nice custom Torelli pens, the “51”s in particular guarantee your knees will go weak every time. Gary Lehrer’s displays are always exceptional and abundant and Peter Ford from Australia looses no time diving into the mix. Bert Heiserman walks in and the room lights up, he is literally everyone’s best friend and a walking encyclopedia. Cliff Harrington the Wahl Guy and Mark Hoover who always has exceptional pens arrive with plenty of pens in tote. The Chicago Pizza Party is at 8’ish and the delivery guy is swamped. Usually, no one thinks of food when there is a room full of pens, but always a break after 8 hours for some Chicago style pizza.

Lee Chait - photo Len Provisor

The trading room stayed open to late evening with several die-hard traders remaining, however others rushed out to sample various restaurants and night spots. The favorite eatery that night was Papadeauxs with all-you-can-eat lobster for $30. Fortunately I had to rush off to the office that night, but I heard the record was 27 lobsters and I don’t think it was one of our guys. I know it was not Lee Chait, our champion lobster eater, but he sure holds every other lobster record.

Friday 9am about two-thirds of the main ballroom is filled with dealers and early traders streaming in to claim some tablecloth, one table per person. Nakaya Pen Company has set up on the wall and a small crowd is gathering to watch Mr. Matsubara turn ebonite on his vintage lathe producing caps and barrels. There is an auction preview in the Auditorium with literally 1,000s of vintage parts in bag lots up for silent auction. All of these parts were consigned by the family of a retiring pen repair shop owner from Chicago. These parts were literally saved by a member of the Chicago Pen Club, as he discovered they were within a few hours of being deposited in a dumpster. There are more parts than can possibly be liquidated at this show, these lots may will be back again next year.

Today the majority of these parts were for Parker “51”s. Oddly we wondered why there were not as many Wahl Eversharp parts in this load. Then it dawned on me, Chicago is where Wahl was located, so pens were naturally returned to the factory for repair.

More people are arriving all day and soon the room is filled with almost 100 tables occupied. It was pen heaven…wall to wall as far as you can see. I can’t see my friends at the Nakaya table…they are literally surrounded by people standing and sitting in front of the table. I smell the subtle odor of ebonite burning so I know the lathe is working OK.

Geoffrey Parker - pen display - photo Martin Ferguson

Geoffrey Parker and his brother Steven arrive with a terrific laptop slide show of early Parker advertising and images from early manufacturing. Their exhibit display also includes a selection of family “51” and 61 pens that were given by their grandfather Kenneth Parker to his wife. The “51 is engraved with her name and is a very unusual never before seen very light mustard color. Other family pens include a gold filled slip cap Vacumatic, a “51” and a 61 thermometer holder. Also a collection of Flaimaire lighters in many test model colors. Fascinating items on display, we were very fortunate the Parker brothers were able to visit again this year. Of course, once in a while one would disappear from the table…they were on the hunt also for …guess what?

Geoffrey Parker - Flaimaire lighters display - photo Martin Ferguson

Everyone is moving around, looking and deciding if to buy or hold for Saturday and Sunday. The rule is, and always is…the right time to buy is when you see what you want. I guarantee it will not be there in another 10 minutes. At least 4 people came to my table on Sunday asking for an item I had sold on either Friday or Saturday and they were very disappointed.

Roger Cromwell - photo Len Provisor

Saturday 8am set up – 10am open to the public. Early buyers constantly scamper around the room to visit new exhibitor arrivals as they unpack treasures from new boxes and luggage. Besides new and vintage pens, this show had two other items had high profile attention.

Fountain pen inks and pen magazines. It was almost a sub-theme with inks literally overflowing on display at many dealers. Of course Sam and Frank Fiorella at Pendemonium had a huge display and testing set ups for Private Reserve, Diamine, Herbin and the new kid on the block Noodler Ink. All have a brilliant color selection and were very popular, the inks were literally walking off the tables at Pendemonium and Anne Marie’s Ink Pallette. Private Reserve’s DC Blue is back and show inventory was quickly sold out, I literally could not find any blues among any ink brands by Sunday afternoon. Sunday we had a surprise visit with Terry Johnson and Susan Schube from Private Reserve Ink. They drove up from Zionsville and had a great time visiting customers and friends.

Sam Fiorella from Pendemonium - photo Len Provisor

Seminars were held by Joel Hamilton and Sherrell Tyree of Inkpen on Repairs for Collectors. John Mottishaw held audience with his lecture and demonstrations on Working on Nibs. David Isaacson gave a lecture on Digital Photography.

Joel Hamilton - photo Len Provisor

Pen World International distributed free copies of Pen World and InSync watch magazines. Publisher Glen Bowen and his wife Susan attended- Pen World International is Co-Sponsor of the Chicago Pen Show
( Glen and Susan Bowen )

Glen and Susan Bowen PWI - photo Len Provisor

Stylus magazine was a sponsor of the Saturday evening auction providing refreshments during the event. Jon Messer, Managing Editor and a very long time vintage pen collector attended and provided free copies of Stylus and iW International Watch magazines.

Stylophiles magazine was also present with Bill Riepl, Editor Anna Lawson and Dean Tweeddale distributing magazines from their table. The surprise of the day on Saturday was the public announcement that Bill Riepl and Mary Burke are to be married in June. Our best wishes and congratulations to them.

Fountain Pen Hospital - photo Len Provisor

Fountain Pen Hospital had their usual huge display of the latest in new pens attended by Ed Fingerman, Terry Wiederlight and Rick. Stay tuned for a very remarkable new/old pen that will be available from FPH.

John Mottishaw, Nakaya President Mr. Toshiya Nakata and Krone President Robert Kronenberger - photo Len Provisor.

Maryann and Steve Zucker of Empire Pens had a huge spread of new Ornamenta pens all inked for sampling. Really nice weight and balance and smooth writers, another decision…what color and what nib, definitely my next target pen.

Signum Ornamenta - photos Maryann Zucker

Saturday 4 pm the front two-thirds of the trading room had to close for a wedding that was scheduled in error, however another ballroom was set up for trading to continue across from the auction auditorium.

A small selection of the pen parts which were auctioned - photo Don Lavin

The pen auction is a major event which attracts exceptional pens and a nice attendance. Collectors have a chance to bid and win very scarce pens, and sometimes at bargain prices. All but two of over 200 lots sold, with several remarkable oversize Waterman. A 58 ripple sold for $1100., a 58 Cardinal red went for only $1250., and an outstanding #20 in Cardinal red with sterling overlay hammered down for $6000.

Not so surprisingly pen ephemera is always strong and growing in demand. A very scarce introductory Parker “51” dealer magazine dated 1940 sold for $950. In the trading room I saw an early metal Montblanc ink traveler with intact bottle go for $500. Dealers continued to trade again after the auction, and many people scampered to pre-arranged dinners and evening events.

Sunday is the Main Event. Dealer set up from 8 to 10am and the lines were forming at 7:30. Early set up, plug in my Pentrace laptop presentation, mount my Parker “51” Mustang display and I’m off like many others to hunt around until the doors swing open for the public.

Mr. Watanabe of Nakaya - photo Len Provisor

It was a busy day. I was set up with Nakaya on my left and Geoffrey Parker on my right. Nakaya had an outstanding show with a constant crowd of people literally standing and waiting in line to take a seat so they could purchase a custom nib for their new Nakaya pen. A large selection of very beautiful maki-e pens were totally sold out by late Saturday. Mr. Watanabe sat quietly and patiently working all day shaping and grinding nibs to fit for the buyer’s pens.

Mr. Matsubara of Nakaya at work - photos Len Provisor

Mr. Matsubara sat on his bench working his vintage lathe, boring and shaping caps and barrels with his hand tools. He made it look so easy he actually invited guests to sit and try to work his lathe also. The lathe runs by foot power at controlled speed, and also by a small electric motor which runs at 50 cycles, Japanese current. In Chicago the lathe is turning at 60 cycles, a much faster speed. Mr. Matsubara is still able to control his shaping and precision thread cuts with his sensitive finger tips in spite of the speed difference. Nakaya President Mr. Toshiya Nakata and his associate Ms Noritsuke were extremely busy all day Saturday and Sunday, neither hardly had time to sit down. At the end of the day they were very happy to have met so many customers. Several visitors, some of the pen dealers and a few pen manufacturers actually came back to purchase a second pen.

By the end of the day I could see many dealers were still busy with customers still in the aisles and mingling at tables. Some dealers started to pack up and leave with farewells until the next show. It will be exciting to visit the new shows this summer at Raleigh and Portland, and of course DC, NY and OH will be major attractions as well.

And so another successful Chicago Pen Show comes to a close. Still too hyped to be tired, it will hit me in a few hours right after I pack up my displays and pens. I have to choose carefully where I will sit down because I know I will not be able to get up. I end up in the lounge and my pen show closure with Maryann and Steve Zucker, my Penakala friend from Zagreb Miroslav Tischler and Guido Saltari from Australia. I see a few others nearby, happy and having a final drink together before departing. One collector sits in the group totally motionless, he’s just staring at the wall and not moving. I know the look. He has made it just so far and has just “crashed”. He has pushed the pen show envelope and has just hit the wall. I check his pulse, he’s still alive so we give him a few minutes to gather himself and he will be ready in a few minutes talking about his next show. As for me…hugs and kisses goodbye and home for a very long nap.

Jimmy Ryan, Sam, Dan Zazove and Don Lavin

Thank you to Don Lavin, Dan Zazove, L. Michael Fultz and their support team for another great Chicago Pen Show.