This year was always going to be an interesting pen show for me and I was very interested by Len Provisor’s invitation to write a review for this year’s New England Pen Show. This was only my third pen show and all have them have been the New England / Boston show in Somerville. I have had many changes in my life over the last few years and somehow have managed to miss all pen shows with the exception of my local event. This is a little strange when my job used to involve a lot of travel but somehow I was never in the right city when the pen shows were on. Consequently the only show I have been able to attend has been the Boston show and even then I had to make a hurried visit last year since I had to meet with friends from New Jersey who had come up to run in the Boston Marathon.

The biggest problem facing me in previous pen shows was what to buy. With such a vast array of temptations and a limited budget my biggest problem facing me had always been prioritizing what to buy. This year my limited budget was basically zero but we all know what that really means when it comes to seeing a pen you just have to have so I stopped at an ATM on the way to the show since I knew that fate would take great delight in putting temptation in my way if I had no money on hand. This turned out to be a good decision. Parking as always was plentiful (and free) and the show was thankfully easy to find, right where it had been before which was handy since I did not check the event board in the lobby and just headed straight to where I thought the show would be.

The Boston Show

I only attended on Sunday and the show rapidly got quite crowded and it was tight to move around and find good positions to look at the pens on display until around 1pm when it started to thin out again. I heard one exhibitor saying that it always seemed to do this around 1pm but that business had been very brisk, and better than last year. I made a couple of circuits around the hall and saw some faces I recognized from previous years: Ed Unger (the source of my Aurora 88), Howard Kaplan (the source of my Stipula Ventidue), Richard Binder, Paul Erano, Frank Dubiel, and many others many of who I did not know. I strove to find some interesting photos that were not simply pens. Giovanni had provided some great photos of Pentracers from the Atlanta show so I looked for something different and failed. Then I got distracted by the pens again, initially by a blue Sheaffer Balance for $65 but I decided to wait until I had seen some more.

The Caliper Studio - pens by Joe Cali

Then I met Joe Cali. I wish I had spent more time talking with Joe and less time just salivating over his pens. He is a gentle man who very much reminded me of a friend I have not seen for a year or so. Joe’s beautiful collection of unique pens stopped me each time I passed. If I had had the money to buy one then that is where my earnings would have instantly been spent. The only problem would have been deciding which one to choose. Each time I stopped Joe continued to graciously accept compliments from those that stopped to try his pens.

More of Joe Cali's pens

This year there were some faces not present that I had expected to see but there were still plenty of good deals, especially on new pens, and lots of interesting people to talk to. A few weeks ago I had posted a thread asking for advice on where to find parts for Vacumatics. I only have one Vac but I love the look and feel of it and the way it writes. Last year when I first tried the Parker gel refill for ballpoints I actually went for about three weeks without using a fountain pen. I just loved the way these refills wrote and for reasons I still do not understand I was overcome by a desire to own a Vacumatic rollerball and so after my failed attempt to find parts online my one “must have” goal for the New England Pen Show was to find parts from broken Vacs that could be cannibalized to make a rollerball Vac. I had no idea if the refill would even fit so this was an exploratory exercise. A matching barrel and blind cap (brown), a section and a blue diamond cap (green) that all fitted nicely were all I needed to put together my first try. Next time (if there even is one) I will look for matching colors or perhaps I will just look for a brown cap to go with the existing pen. It still needs some work but I may just keep it the way it is. It is different and I like it. The parts cost $15 and made the whole show worthwhile for me, aside from all the other great reasons to go. It was a small thing but it meant a lot to me.

Paul Erano

I had expected to meet several Pentracers but with my almost constant downward stare at the tables I probably walked past many. I spotted one badge but then lost track of the wearer so whoever you were I hope you enjoyed the show. I was the guy with the Pentrace badges on his sweatshirt and Patriots cap. Richard Binder I did not miss but then again my focus on the exhibition tables could hardly fail to miss the Pentrace blotters on Richard’s table.

Richard Binder at work

On my second tour around the hall I met Bryan at Richard’s table and it was good to be able to put a face to a fellow Pentracer. However, some spare cash (remember the ATM?) and a few minutes to play with Richard’s pens conspired to relieve me of the rest of my cash in return for a nice blue M200 with one of Richard’s Italifine nibs that I am using to write this review. I tried all the pens but found the italic to be very smooth. It got even better when Richard pointed out that although I liked the nib I had missed the real point (“turn it upside down”), no pun intended.

Erano pens

Paul Erano made a nice offer price for one of his books that I decided to take up in the event that my money and I were still together when I left the show and passed his table by the entrance/exit. But the Italifine put paid to that. Still, Paul had a nice selection of pens for sale (see pictures) and I got a chance to look at my first Parker T1. My second came but a few minutes later at Jonathan Steinberg’s table where he was signing copies of his latest book. Had I known I would have bought mine with me. Jonathon is a friendly guy and I enjoyed his book - and he liked my camera so he’s alright in my book. Still no pun intended.

Jonathan Steinberg signing copies of his book

I realize this has been a rather slanted review and not just a list of who was at the show this year and who wasn’t but for me this was a very personal show. For once I went along without any concern over which pen to buy in advance because I genuinely expected to come away with nothing except, hopefully, for some Vacumatic parts.

Vacumatic rollerball frankenpen

This year I just went to wander around in my own private world and enjoy the show. And as it turned out it was a huge success. I now have my Vac rollerball and my Italifine M200. If only I had had the money to buy a pen from Joe Cali the day would have been perfect. Did I forget to mention how nice Joe’s pens were?