Schon’s ‘Full Size’ Fountain Pens Have That Special Something (via UK Fountain Pens). One of my biggest regrets about missing the 2022 Philadelphia Pen Show last month was the fact that I didn’t get a chance to pick up one of Ian’s full-size metal pens. If you haven’t already, check out his latest model and set of finishes.
Wancher Bakelite Seven Treasures (via Dapprman). Wancher resurrected a vintage penmaking material, Bakelite, for this series, which could have been great, but to put it mildly, the results were not up to expectations.
Where the Day Meets the Night: Gioia Alleria Crepuscolo (via A Fleeting Ripple). Gioia Pens have not caught my interest, until now. Something about the material on this one and the more understated trim.
Shifting Towards Pens and Inks that Get Me Excited (via mnmlscholar). Inking up a new set of pens with inks that inspire me and/or that I haven’t used in a while is one of my favorite techniques for breaking myself out of a “pen funk”.
The Good and the Bad… But at Least They’re Not Ugly (via Quieter Elephant). A survey of several matte black pens currently on the market, none of which I’ve tried. As the title notes, some of these were good, some bad, but all look very nice.
Noodler’s Anti-Feather (X-Feather Blue) (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Noodler’s “X-Feather” or “Anti-Feather” series was designed to function on very poor quality office paper and other thin paper that can’t typically hold fountain pen ink. I’ve never tried it, since the color range has been limited to black, but this blue caught my eye.
Wearingeul Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde (via Rants of the Archer). Ok, now that South Korean manufacturer has officially taken over my Instagram pen feed and my local pen club, I need to place an order.
Ti Click EDC Pen Orange Cerakote Review (via Writing at Large). I love Cerakote pens, and I’m happy to see BigiDesign (from my home state) issuing this Cerakote-Titanium beauty.
You Need a Platinum Preppy Wa. Or Six. (via UK Fountain Pens). This pen took a while to catch on, surprisingly, but once people found it, they flew off the shelves of the Curated Shop. I hope Platinum keeps doing things like this with the Preppy, or even the Plaisir, because the limited edition game at this price point can be a lot of fun.
In Praise of Ink Cartridges (via Well-Appointed Desk). As I’ve grown in this hobby, I’ve tossed aside the misconception that cartridges aren’t for “serious” fountain pen users. They definitely have their place, and Ana highlights some of the best brands here.
In Case You Missed It….
This week on the blog was a busy one! I (finally) released a review of the TWSBI Vac700R fountain pen, along with a piece comparing pen rolls vs. pen cases, including the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other. Finally, I updated the “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” resource that looks at different levels of compatibility with fountain pen ink.
New in the T.G.S. Curated Shop!
The big news this week was our launch of Lochby, a line of pen cases, notebook covers, and pen/tool rolls in waxed canvas. We also added additional reading accessories from WMS + Co, plus a batch of the Soumkine Universal Planners! Look for more great additions in the weeks and months to come!
Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!
For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales.