Celebrating 4th of July with Golden Age of American Pens at Kibbutz Gaash

The July 4 meeting of the IPC was held at our newly established venue of the Moadon or ”social club” in Kibbutz Gaash half way between Tel Aviv and Netanya, by the blue seas of the Mediterranean coast from 1030-1230 to talk pens, wheel and deal and just gossip.

IPC group with American Ambassador Daniel J. Kurtzer (centre white shirt) and Indian Ambassador Raminder Singh Jassal (turbanned)

But this time it was special, being the first Friday, and perhaps not –just by chance – the fourth of July. In light of the auspicious date, the meeting was entirely devoted to Stilographica Americana, The Golden Age of American pens and Parker 75. A&Y Eliyahu importers of Parker and Waterman and Zila Listenberg, Sheaffer Cross Swatch Samsonite lent their support and pens. Yair "Jerry" Greenberg of Yafa and U.S. distributor of Delta pens based in Los Angeles, a local boy made good in the U.S., displayed his new Monteverde lines and HaKarem their wonderful California wines. The way to the moadon was decked with the Stars and Stripes and Israel's Blue and White Star of David. Vintage Parker and Sheaffer advertising adorned the walls instead of the usual kibbutz fare.

Pen lectures were on the agenda but the cream on the cake was a visit from the U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer and his vivacious wife Sheila. Dov Randel presented the Ambassador with an original President Lyndon Baines Johnson White House Presidential bill signer (Eversharp felt tip; LBJ as a man of the people had "simple" tastes) gift of Ofer Ben Zvi and Dov.

Dov introduces U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer

Also presented to the Ambassador was an historical print by the Jewish American artist Arthur Szyk "Prayer for Unity" which President Franklin D. Roosevelt had in his office was sent by our friend Len Provisor, Long Grove, Illinois. This was from the collection of Historicana, www.historicana.com Rare Prints and Historic Art, Burlingame, California.

Even though ambassador Kurtzer is not a pen collector per se he appreciated the pengesture and referred in his speech to the strength of the pen and written word. He referred to the peace treaties that have been signed and formulated with famous pens. Hopefully in our region too.

One cannot mention one diplomat without mentioning in the same breath our friend and regular attendant the charming and urbane Raminder Singh Jassal, the Ambassador of India, pen lover and collector par excellence. Ambassador Jassal graciously hosted our meeting a few months ago at his beautiful Indian style home in Herzelia Pituach. Another penster who is very busy these days with Israel President Moshe Katzav is our member Ambassador Avi Granot who used to frequent the Washington, Virginia and Maryland pen establishments. Raanan Gissin, Israel's spokesman to the world who always sports a fountain pen in pocket and hand attended and enjoyed himself away from Middle East crises. In addition we were delighted to have Dr Ihab El-Sherif the Acting Ambassador of our southern neighbor Egypt with us. May future meetings soon be graced by the presence of other Middle East representatives. Omar pen dealer cum collector from Gaza was unable to attend as he had to travel to Jordan.

Indian Ambassador to Israel Raminder jassal talking to Jerry "Yair" Greenberg and son Dr Gal Greenberg

Our pen club is a club of the members for the members. IPC members come from all walks of life. Businessmen, lawyers, engineers, doctors, dentists, hospital directors, politicians, military officers, academia, etymologist, hi tech, an opera singer, a former trade unionist, retirees and young people starting out their lives. We have no political aspirations other than showing the world the beauty and excitement of pen collecting and making pen friends through the hobby. The U.S. Ambassador in his address to the club emphasized the axiom “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Wars are waged with military hardware, but peace treaties are signed with fountain pens.

IPC stalwarts, Sami Dan of Haifa, pen and nib meister, Jonathan Donahaye of Conway Stewart fame, Arye levanon, Siviu Pincu, Shir Adivi (cut in half)

We extend our hand in pen friendship and solidarity to the pen collectors of the region and invite them to join us for our pen meets on the green grass of Kibbutz Gaash on the Sharon's Mediterranean coastline. Peace through pens!

Kfir

And now to the program: according to IPC tradition we like to believe that our knowledge is enriched monthly by pen specialists talking in their field of knowledge. At this meeting we had three.

Julien Papier, who started the Association of Canadian Pen Collectors and whom we are fortunate to have in our ranks, opened the session by pin-pointing the Parker 75 as an outstanding pen within the wealth of pen designs that flourished during their course of pen evolution. Julien described their great diversity from their inception in 1964 in the U.S., through the UK models until their final flourish in France. Many of these very rare, extremely beautiful and desirable models found their way to Israel.

At this point he handed over the talk to Tsachi Mitsenmacher who's expertise is unquestioned and who has one of the most comprehensive collections (if not the most), of Parker 75s in existence. Tsachi Mitsenmacher, with the aid of an excellent Power Point presentation from Lih-Tah Wong www.parker75.com and numerous pens he brought with him, made our mouths salivate long before arrival of the hot-dogs and mustard prepared by Gaash Tourism's Monica Kuperman that were served up at midday and downed with Hakerem's latest Californian Wine offerings (Merlot Chardonay and Cabernet) organized by Shir, Hakarem's Dupont Lady. For those who do not imbibe cold drinks and ice cold water.

Tsachi Mitsenmacher on Parker 75's his favourites

Lastly we listened, to a fascinating lecture by Uri Orland who also prepared an illustrated document of his talk for each and every one of us. Uri is a born researcher and it is not the first time that he has fascinated us with historical aspects of pen technologies and the socio-economic aspects that influenced their rise and fall. The title of his thesis was "The Golden Age of Fountain Pens in the US" which he defined as taking place from the end of WW1 until WW2. He lead us through the styles of art-deco, the transition from hard rubber to plastics and the ways different companies strove to reach supremacy. Uri Orland is one of the masters of penology and it will not be a surprise to find the bookstores enriched with Uri's book on the subject in the not too distant future.

rivited by Uri Orland

At the end of his talk we went into buying and selling mode, which of course includes holding, posting, fondling, trying out the nibs and discussing pros and cons. This is something very difficult for non pensters to grasp. How grown up men and women can wax ecstatic over a 1929 Duofold, a special resin, a broad or extra fine nib.

At the Yafa/MonteVerde table Dov Randel, Yair Jerry Greenberg of Yafa, Haim Avraham, and Indian Ambassador Raminder Jassal

Yair Greenberg, of Yafa and Monteverde displayed his beautiful range of new Monteverde writing instruments. Yair was in town to celebrate the birth and brit of his newest grandchild Roi (Roy). Haim Avraham father of Beni, Hizbullah captured Israeli soldier, received an Intima fountain pen from Yair. The event helped him somewhat to get away from the daily tragedy.

Raanan Gissin

As per usual we held our lottery. Tension was electric as the draw commenced. For a mere 20 shekels per ticket ($4.20) which help defray expenses, members raffled pen prizes. Our sponsors for the American pen event, A&Y Eliyahu (Elgan) importers of Parker and Waterman and Zila Listenerg, Sheaffer Cross and Samsonite kindly donated beautiful pen prizes for the door lottery. Israel Genossar of Elgan gave a lovely modern Jasper Red Parker Duofold which Barry Swersky, Suntree and his beginner's luck won. Congrats Barry and welcome to the wide and wonderful world of fountain pens. Tsachi Mitsenmacher won the green Sheaffer Legacy from Listenberg and another for the Ambassador. Thank you to Yarden, Kfir and Listenberg who displayed the latest Sheaffer models which were admired by one and all. Special show discounts through Shali Friedman Pens Mi Eit Le Eit Haifa. Shali is on the way to recovery from his illness. Check out our site www.israelpenclub.org for details of the deals.

Sandra, Barry Swersky who won the Parker Duofold, Egyptian charge d'affaireds Dr Ihab el Sherif

To soften the blow for those who did not win the grand prizes, many of us won consolation prizes. A number of Sheaffer scholars donated to the lottery by IPC member Akiva Keith Gordon, Fountain Pen Hospital calendars, Geo S. Parker Spitfire and Sailor pen posters from the last Chicago Pen Show.

checking Dov's pens

I want to add acknowledgement to Zvi Galil one of the original 3 founders who ably manned the door and cash box. The Israel Pen Club logo above is designed by Zvi, and his sister is a Chicagoan.

Our thanks to Itzik Fleishon for his sterling job in "coercing" people to buy tickets for the door prizes. He is a penster in his own right and good repairer under member Sami Dan's capable tutelage. Itzik works with Sami in the IMI (Israel Military Industries) Haifa. Sami is a “Richard Binder ++” He grew up with pen and nib in hand and married the daughter of a stationery store owner. As a mechanical engineer and chief safety officer of IMI he is a boon to the club. Shali Friedman our resident dealer/cum collector, delightful young chap is finally back on his feet after a long and hard illness which the doctors could not diagnose. He is back at Shali Pens "Mi Eit L'Eit" (time for a pen, pen for all time) his same old friendly safe. Shali's pen specials are listed on our site.

Those of us who still had energy after this Pentastic time sported their swim suits and enjoyed the refreshing waters of the Gaash spa and health centre (included in the entry price.) We parted our separate ways after a Friday morning ours of penextasy with a taste for more next month.