Independent Pen Brands — Several recent acquisitions, most discussed in this article, but one VERY new arrival peeking out at the bottom.

Consolidation, Consolidation, and More Consolidation: The State of the Personal Collection

December 10, 2022

At the beginning of 2022, I wrote about how I wanted the focus of this year to be about cycling out those pens I didn’t use as much, and consolidating my own personal collecting around unique and/or custom pens from independent makers. I’m happy to report back that as far as this goal went, 2022 was a success! (Though I don’t think my wallet would agree.)

I purchased very few pens from major makers this year, and none from the “Big Guys” like Montblanc, Pelikan, or Aurora. Not necessarily because I dislike what those companies have been doing - there have been some great releases this year - but I already have so many pens from these companies that more wouldn’t be additive to my collection. On the other hand, each of the “indie” pens I’ve added this year is unique. I thought it might be fun to showcase a few of my favorites.

The Kanilea Pen Company Classic Flush Section is possibly my favorite for longer writing sessions, with a true hourglass shape that fits the way I hold a pen nearly perfectly.

Kanilea Pen Company Kai Huli and Lewa Lani

I spent most of the summer trying to decide which of the recent Kanilea Pen Company releases to add to my collection, and settled on the Lewa Lani (released around the time of the 2022 Chicago Pen Show), as well as one of the “pen show special” Kai Huli pens in a coral and yellow marbled acrylic that I regrettably passed up in D.C., but was thrilled to discover was still available in November. I enjoy the personal stories that inspires each of the Kanilea creations, and I’ve settled on the “Classic Flush” shape as my favorite as it fits my hand the best.

Kanilea Pen Company Lewa Lani and Kai Huli — On the left I a “Kai Huli” (which isn’t a model name but rather a designation for one-off show exclusives); on the right is the standard Lewa Lani model.

I of course couldn’t resist this yellow-veined coral red acrylic.

Two Schon DSGN Full-Size Fountain Pens in “Saffron Cement” (Top) and 3D Purple (Bottom). The 3D Purple is still available; the Saffron Cement has cycled out of rotation for the moment.

Schon DSGN Full Size Fountain Pens in “3D Purple” and “Cement Saffron” Finishes

Easily one of my favorite releases from the past two years, these Schon DSGN full-size metal fountain pens feature a lightweight, comfortable build, along with the added benefit of JoWo No. 6 nib compatibility and the ability to post, a relatively rare feature in machined metal pens. The finish, particularly the anodization, on Schon DSGN pens are top-notch. Picking up a new one has become a bit of a pen show tradition for me, and Ian’s creativity seemingly knows no bounds.

I love the texture on these pens, which you can literally see in the photo. It reduces the slickness found in many metal fountain pens, and makes this particular model comfortable to write with for longer periods of time.

I like this pen because of the slightly peaked, but not pointy, ends!

Primary Manipulation Custom Pen by Nicolas Pasquale

Purchased at this year’s Nashville Pelikan Hub, I wanted to feature this creation from local (to me) pen maker Nic Pasquale, who goes by @pensbypasquale on Instagram. This is a very comfortable design, with not only the Brooks material but a Bock nib tuned by Kirk Speer. I love how it’s not the basic flat-end shape favored by many makers, but slightly peaked.

This one is another comfortable everyday writer!

Further Reading and the Indie Pens Holiday Gift Guide

I previously discussed several of these pens (and a handful more) in the first-ever 2022 T.G.S. “Indie” Gift Guide. Believe me, I know from my own experience that we’re all in the depths of the holiday shopping rush, but if you’re considering pen related gifts for others (or even yourself - wink), please consider shopping smaller makers and businesses. The decision to support independents makes the pen community a more interesting place, and maintains the variety that we’ve all come to expect and enjoy!

I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and by pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: Caran d'Ache Colour Treasure Restock, More Desk Calendars, Mnemosyne and More!

December 8, 2022

Just in time for the holiday rush, one more Caran d’Ache shipment of the “Colour Treasure” collection, including the Jumbo-size Maxi Pencil Sets. Caran d’Ache jumbo pencils are among my favorite products in their lineup, and though they’re no longer regularly available, you typically can find them as part of at least one annual limited edition series. This year’s version is sold as a set of five colors in a special tin/case.

In addition to the Colour Treasure releases, we’ve restocked shop favorites such as the WMS & Co. Undated Calendars in both keyboard and full sizes, as well as Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks in some of the more popular formats, including A4. Happy shopping!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands shown here. If you’re looking for gift ideas, don’t forget to check out our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide. We also periodically have pens available for sale on our “Gently Used” page, especially if you’re looking for good deals on more expensive pens.

Caran d’Ache Colour Treasure Maxi Pencil Sets. As I noted above, at long last we’ve received a shipment of the Caran d’Ache Jumbo Pencils, a product which I’d love to have as a permanent addition to the store, but I’ll take whatever limited editions I can get! This year’s release is sold as a set of five jumbo “Maxi” pencils.
Caran d’Ache Colour Treasure 849 Ballpoints. This year’s limited edition 849 ballpoint holiday release is designed to evoke the look of Caran d’Ache’s iconic colored pencils, and comes in two different variations: a warm tone (yellows, oranges) and a cool tone (blues and greens). Why not get both? :)
Caran d’Ache Colour Treasure Coloring Postcard Sets. These postcards make for perfect stocking stuffers, especially if paired with a gift of colored pencils, or if you’re buying for someone who already has a bunch!
Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Restock. I’ve received a lot of interest lately about the availability of a pen with the 849’s look and shape but slightly larger. Even if you’re not a rollerball fan, the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball accepts Parker-style cartridges, so you can use your favorite compatible ballpoint refill. (I use a Jetstream.)
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pens. The 849 Fountain Pen is a relatively inexpensive favorite, and many people love the slightly springy stainless steel nib. Create your own matching set of 849 pens!
WMS & Co. Desk and Keyboard Calendars (Undated). We now have more of the full-size and keyboard-size calendars in stock with different color borders, including yellow, gold, and blush.
Maruman Mnemosyne Spiral Notebooks. We have restocked our supply of fountain-pen friendly Mnemosyne notebooks in most sizes, including larger A4s, and now have dot-grid versions as well as the landscape grid and blank notebooks.
Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Steno Pads. These top wirebound Steno Pads were huge sellers, and we now have them back in stock in both Gregg (traditional lined steno ruling) and grid layouts.
Kokuyo Dual-Tone Mark+ Highlighters. You may have seen my post on Instagram from earlier in the week, but these dual-tip liquid ink highlighters might be one of the most interesting stationery products I’ve discovered lately.
TWSBI Precision Ballpoints and Mechanical Pencils. TWSBI’s lineup of technical pens and pencils are often overlooked in light of their more traditional fountain pens, but are equally excellent.

Four fountain pens, clockwise from left: TWSBI Swipe, Majohn C4, PenBBS489, and the Ellington “Stealth”

Four Pens Under $40: New Releases That Won't Break the Bank

December 7, 2022

Regular readers know that in addition to the more expensive stuff, I enjoy dabbling in the midrange and lower end of the pricing spectrum, especially when I discover or am asked to review pens that offer good value at a more accessible price point. After all, it’s these types of pens that got me started on my own fountain pen explorations back when I was in school, and I love having less “precious” writing instruments to carry around with me for work travel, etc. Here are four pens, all currently available for less than $40 (in some cases MUCH less) that I’ve enjoyed getting to use recently.

Majohn C4 Japanese-style eyedropper — If you want an inexpensive way to showcase your shimmer inks in an inexpensive pen, you could do a lot worse than the Majohn C4.

Majohn (f/k/a Moonman) C4 Japanese-Style Eyedropper

Inspired by larger vintage Japanese-style eyedropper pens, all the way down to the smaller clip, the Majohn (rebranded Moonman) C4 fountain pen features a high-capacity eyedropper filling system with a shutoff valve similar to that used in Opus 88 fountain pens. Available from multiple eBay, Amazon, and Etsy sellers and generally priced anywhere from $20-30, the C4 features a decent stainless steel nib (which I’ve not tried to swap out), clear acrylic, and gold trim. The one design critique I have is the mismatch between the “Moonman” branding on the nib and “Majohn” on the pen, as well as the decision to pair an unplated stainless nib with gold-plated trim. That said, this pen is gorgeous to use with shimmer inks, and is an excellent option if you’re considering a more expensive oversized fountain pen such as the Montblanc 149 and want to see how the general size/shape might fit your hand before taking the plunge.

I love PenBBS transparent green acrylics.

PenBBS 489 “Touchdown” Filler

I love PenBBS pens, and how this company always manage to combine attractive design, unique materials, good nibs, and interesting filling systems into a fountain pen that punches far above its weight class, price-wise. The Model 489 incorporates a vintage-style “Touchdown” filler - you extend a metal sleeve from inside the barrel, dip the nib and section into the ink bottle, and “touch down” to fill the pen. The one drawback is that touchdown fillers don’t necessarily hold a lot of ink, since it’s a sac-based filling system, but at $34 it was an insta-buy for me.

Ellington Pens “The Stealth” Fountain Pen

Ellington Pens “The Stealth” Pen

If you’ve spent any amount of time on pen Instagram lately, you’ve likely come across ads or influencer posts for Ellington Pens, a new UK-based brand that uses contract manufacturers in China to produce their pens in order to keep the price point accessible. While there has been a lot of noise (including some valid criticism) surrounding the launch and marketing of these pens - which Figboot addresses at length in his video and I won’t rehash here - I was pleasantly surprised with the pen itself. I’ve had the all-black “Stealth” model inked for three weeks or so, and it’s written consistently without hard starts, even after I’ve let the pen sit for several days. (This is a standard test I run with less expensive fountain pens, as the bad ones have a tendency to hard-start and skip if left idle for as little as a day.) If you enjoy the standard “professional pen” look of the Ellington, you likely won’t be disappointed with the writing experience. UPDATE: I previously had expressed some concern about consistency of the pricing on this pen. Ellington now has the pens priced at $39.95 across all retail platforms, including Amazon.

TWSBI Swipe in Salmon and Ice Blue

I finally got around to opening up a couple of the recent TWSBI Swipe releases, including the “Salmon” and new “Ice Blue” variations. At only $26, I consider the Swipe one of the better “all-in” value propositions out there, since it’s a cartridge-converter pen that ships with two different converters in the box, in addition to a TWSBI cartridge. The Swipe’s main drawback is the clip, which looks sleek but isn’t very substantial, so if you’re looking to carry this pen clipped to a bag or a thicker pen case you may want to consider spending a few more dollars to upgrade to the TWSBI ECO. I’m glad to see TWSBI release this pen in different colors, especially unique shades like the coral-pink “Salmon” that don’t get as much attention in the fountain pen world. Now if we could only get a mustard-color Swipe like that Japan-exclusive ECO they released? I’m pretty sure that would be my “forever” knockaround pen.

TWSBI Swipes in Ice Blue (left) and Salmon (right)

Takeaways

All of the four pens here basically have nothing in common other than the price point. So why review them together? Because I love how doing so showcases the variety that’s available right now for not a lot of money. The pen world - yes, even the fountain pen world - isn’t just a hobby for those with a lot of disposable income. You can find many working fountain pens that write well and still looks interesting at the sub-$40 price point. Sure, you have to control expectations, and depending on how adventurous you are, you’ll probably get some duds, but I’ve always found it fun to discover hidden value.

Disclaimer: I purchased the Majohn and PenBBS pens featured in this review with my own funds for review purposes. The Ellington Pen pictured here was provided to me by Ellington Pens, free of charge. We are authorized retailers of TWSBI pens, including the Swipe.

New Arrivals: TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils

December 6, 2022

Fans of technical pens and mechanical pencils will appreciate TWSBI’s “Precision” line, which feature all-metal construction and a comfortable, softly-knurled grip. The mechanical pencils come in eight different variations: both matte black and silver finishes, .5mm and .7mm tip sizes, with either fixed or retractable pipes. As with all things TWSBI, both the ballpoint and the pencils represent good value, priced at $25. The pencil ships with both replacement erasers and leads, and the ballpoint ships with an extra Parker-style refill. Available for purchase now in the shop!

TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pencil Set — (For my own personal set, I’ve of course chosen the matte black finish with the .5mm retractable tip.)

The TWSBI Precisions aren’t the only “drafting-style” pens and pencils that we carry. For shorter, pocketable versions, check out the Penco Drafting Pens and Drafting Pencils.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

This week has been a mix of old and new.

Sunday Reading for December 4, 2022

December 4, 2022

Diamine Invent 2022 Day 1: Bliss (via Writing at Large). I successfully resisted the siren song of the Inkvent Calendar, one more time, but I’m going to be following along with all of you opening up the new ink each day.
Diamine Invent 2021 21-25 (via Mountain of Ink). And if you haven’t finished your 2021 Inkvent Calendar yet (or simply want to see another example of what’s in store for you this year), check out Kelli’s post on the last five from 2021!
Phoenix Pen Stands Pen Tray and Rests (via KraftyCats). Pen trays are a grossly underappreciated desk accessory, and simple, functional designs such as this one need more exposure.
NaNoWriMo Wrap-up 2022 (via Pen Addict - Sarah). For all of you who participated in NaNoWriMo this year, congratulations!
A Third Bitly into Bullet Journaling for Teaching: Curriculum Pacing Logs (via mnmlscholar). I love reading posts about how people use bullet journaling and other notetaking techniques, even in professions completely different from my own.
Kilk Orient Fountain Pen Review (via SBRE Brown). The longer you do this pen reviewing gig, the harder it gets to find companies whose pens you haven’t yet tried. Turkish company Kilk is one of those companies on my list. That section shape looks extremely comfortable for how I hold the pen.
My Pen Collection, 2022 (via Notebook Stories). One of the longest-running notebook review sites on the internet talks about their pen collection!
Gravitas Pocket Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). If you enjoy the pocket pen format but would appreciate something a bit larger than a Kaweco Sport, consider giving these Gravitas pocket pens a try.
Ink Traveling Kit (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ever wonder how the Well-Appointed Desk travels to pen shows? (And I’m always happy to see the Lochby Field Journal shout-out!)
TGS in the NFocus Magazine Holiday Gift Guide! (via NFocus). Many thanks to my friends who saw fit to include me in this year’s NFocus Magazine Holiday Gift Guide! I’ve been trying to establish more of a local presence in the community.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I published my thoughts on a pending Kickstarter project, the “Writewell” writing desk from our friends at Good Made Better. You have a little less than two weeks left to back the project, if you’re interested! I also wrote this editorial piece on “Hot Takes” and myths about pens, including several common misconceptions about our hobby/passion that I hear from new users.

This Week in The T.G.S. Curated Shop - New Arrivals and Holiday Season Craziness!

Just in time for the Holiday shopping season craziness, TONS of new stuff is hitting the store, and I’ll be listing it as fast as I possibly can. This week saw the arrival of the TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in the new “Ice Blue” finish, a color truly suitable for winter. There’s also been a full TWSBI restock, including all colors of the Swipe, both ECO Glows, and the Vac700R Iris. Finally, this week we received the Midori MD Multi-Year Journals in three, five, and ten-year formats. Read more about these and more restocks in this week’s Thursday Drops post.

Midori MD Notebooks

Caran d'Ache

Field Notes

Opus 88

Consider T.G.S. Patreon!

For those who want to support T.G.S. without necessarily adding to their accumulation via shop purchases, the Patreon Program offers two options for tiers of support: $3 and $5 (with a discounted annual option) and plan on making monthly meetups, pen show events, and periodic exclusive content the primary benefits. Of course, Patreon members will continue to get first access to periodic sample sales, with right of first refusal on gently used pens. (Reminder that those items which made it through Patreon become available to the general readership, and this week you can get an extra 10% off Gently Used items with the coupon code referenced above!) Many thanks to all of you who already decided to back via Patreon. Your support means the world to me!