My Most Excellent Visit To Art Brown’S International Pen Shop

[whichwatch]

Several months ago business took me to Houston, and I had a chance to make a most enjoyable visit to Dromgoole’s. For those who missed it, I posted a photo essay of my trip on FPN at this link:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/229885-my-most-excellent-visit-to-dromgooles/page__p__2462474__fromsearch__1#entry2462474

 

Last week, business took me to New York. My first visit was to Fountain Pen Hospital and my report yesterday on FPN can be seen at this link:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/241794-my-most-excellent-visit-to-fountain-pen-hospital/

 

Those who read the report know that I ventured out in a very wet snowstorm to see the New York City pen shops. I was soaked, but happy when I left Fountain Pen Hospital. I thought about going back to my hotel for a hot shower and a drink of something more warming than coffee. But no way! I hadn’t been to another New York icon – Art Brown’s. So back through the snow I mushed, back into the subway to Midtown, back out into the snow (now a virtual flood of water on the sidewalks and in the intersections) and on into Art Brown’s.

 

I was greeted by proprietor Bob (whose last name I didn’t catch) who looked totally amused at the dripping presence of a totally soaked fool who had ventured forth in such weather. By that point I probably looked like I had walked all the way from my home in Ohio. “Can I offer you a paper towel?” Hey, who says New Yorkers are impolite?

 

The store’s literature says they have been in business since 1924 – a total of 89 years! That is especially amazing when you realize they were only 5 years young when the US entered The Great Depression. They managed to survive that, World War II, the Viet Nam years, etc. My memory of the Viet Nam years is fuzzy (I was a college student – need to ask why my memory is fuzzy?) but I don’t remember the emphasis being on material things like luxury fountain pens! Somehow they survived all of that and I was standing in THE Art Brown’s, bigger and better than ever. I couldn’t wait to get started looking around.

 

Like Fountain Pen Hospital, Art Brown’s has a huge array of brands. To save you the redundancies from my report on FPH, I’ll try to take you through photos from different brands than I showed there. Rest assured that Art Brown’s has them all!

 

Readers of my reports know I like Italian pens, and Art Brown’s had plenty, including some nice thematic displays. The case of Visconti Van Goghs was colorful and eye catching.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B1ACF936A-D06A-4C99-92D2-4C5932A68447%7D/origpict/IMG_0461.JPG

 

Montegrappa’s tribute to Muhammad Ali was on display in it’s own case in the center of the aisle.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B46A1666F-8F45-48E8-AFCC-98D64AB81F63%7D/origpict/IMG_0462.JPG

 

Interestingly, my favorite watch brand also has a tribute to The Greatest of All Time. I’d love to own the watch and the pen! Note the watch is not sold at Art Brown's, but the pen is.

 

(Photo from IWC)

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B7E0859C3-61BB-472A-9B62-EF9C55F5C976%7D/origpict/iwc%2520ali.jpg

 

I drooled over a nice display of Stipulas. I own two, and enjoyed seeing more of the range here.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9BBFEDD6-CBDA-4CFC-9274-EBCDA11215D8%7D/origpict/IMG_0467.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B758413D8-11E5-4A45-BF9B-7B2EB2FD6C6E%7D/origpict/IMG_0466.JPG

 

Auroras always catch my eye

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3377521A-C5C2-4675-8374-15C8B6FC0C95%7D/origpict/IMG_0471.JPG

 

And of course, my favorites - Omas

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B05EEAFD7-3F44-44B5-95DE-5AB168B9FD6E%7D/origpict/IMG_0470.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B1E4A1803-D0E2-4841-9A26-43C0C2006E01%7D/origpict/IMG_0469.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BBEF8D45D-8347-41DB-8B29-6A579281A61C%7D/origpict/IMG_0472.JPG

 

Gorgeous Oscarsons, which once again made me grateful that the water dripping from my head and body covered the trail of drool running down my chin.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6C9186B4-13D4-4E95-BF9E-0BA494DE1131%7D/origpict/IMG_0473.JPG

 

Art Brown’s also had an attractive display of Pelikans, with the new Tortoise looking pretty sitting front and center in the lower case.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B7F402B26-411D-4713-8415-2ADFB0748791%7D/origpict/IMG_0464.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC46D604A-E61F-409C-A771-134B17600A51%7D/origpict/IMG_0463.JPG

 

Here are those Delta Fusions again. The Fuschia Fusion 82 looked a bit more effeminate than I had hoped, but the blue just sizzled! And the white Fusion One made a lasting impression.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B94C3C125-CD0C-4B7E-9323-309AD3AF9FF8%7D/origpict/IMG_0486.JPG

 

By now I was in the ink area. And what an area! Not only was there a very wide variety of brands, but there was a humongous stock of the color range for these brands. We all know how many colors De Atramentis, Diamine, and Noodlers offer. Here they all were, and more!

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B0370BD2D-DFEB-408C-A61A-4873ABD9D476%7D/origpict/IMG_0474.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3988EF7D-B8A6-46E8-B538-2B1F7D51B86B%7D/origpict/IMG_0477.JPG

 

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And the second consecutive shop that did not have Iroshizuku Fuyu Syogun on the shelf. Is there a message there?

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B5A7ED08C-4820-45C5-B327-438E97E38C95%7D/origpict/IMG_0476.JPG

 

On into the stationery section. Moleskine

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B74133A22-AFF2-4B2D-A6D7-05C80D290ACE%7D/origpict/IMG_0480.JPG

 

Clairfontaine

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3CD64EF9-8EB2-42C8-9B2A-24F6EE344CCF%7D/origpict/IMG_0481.JPG

 

And a display of Rhodia striking in both its breadth as well as its visual appeal.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B71C101CE-EB89-4111-9EE5-CE6CA5A296E3%7D/origpict/IMG_0483.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDF53B9F6-6717-440C-8C1D-43B5151ACA72%7D/origpict/IMG_0485.JPG

 

There was a ton of writing papers, cards, and the like but I was getting hungry so headed back towards the front to say goodbye to Bob. A young fellow had come in and was asking Bob what pen he should buy if he were going to buy only one. Seems he was a student at Fordham in one of the science curriculums and took copious notes. His only requirements were that the pen held a lot of ink and that it had a Stealthy look that would not be highly noticeable or noticed. Looking at me, Bob said “you’re a collector – what would you buy?” Far be it from me to mess up a store’s sale, so I hedged with the “do you prefer smooth or toothy feel?” approach. He said smooth. Bob and I looked at each other and the answer came from both of us at the same time. “Pelikan!” The customer was trying to choose between a black M800 and M1000 when I said my goodbyes and left.

 

Well, that’s about it. Another visit to a world class pen shop. I hope you enjoyed this little tour. By all means get to New York City and stop in to see Bob at Art Brown’s. Just pick a day when the weather is a little more forgiving!

[penhappy]

Whichwatch,

 

Thank you for your visual tour of Art Brown's and Fountain Pen Hospital. I hope you finally warmed up your feet

and enjoyed a warm drink! It was fun to take a tour with you of these two shops.

 

Happy pen touring!

 

penhappy

[georges zaslavsky]

very nice thanks for sharing

[da vinci]

Another great report - thanks

[Gloucesterman]

I think you uploaded two copies of the photos. It takes a very, very long time to load.

[whichwatch]

I think you uploaded two copies of the photos. It takes a very, very long time to load.

 

Twasn't me. I saw it, but it was an attempted response by a different poster, so unfortunately I can't change it.

[morbidsteve]

Yea, I'm not sure why he quoted you... just makes it take longer to get to posts by responders. But thanks, awesome photos, I may have to go here the next time I am in NY.

[welch]

Great pictures of a store I love. Went there yesterday on a day off -- oh, how much better I had it when I worked near Times Square! Said "hello" to Bob, and we joked about who has more white hair. Warren and Marion Brown had the day off -- Warren is son of Art B, and Marion is our East Coast Pen Goddess. Chatted with customer J--, who was dip testing some wonderfully smooth Diplomat pens. No rush, no hustle to "buy this now"...just Art Brown's staff trying to make sure the customer gets just the right pen.

 

The ink section really is what the photos show: almost every ink in production. Right on the shelves.

 

A great place. We are lucky to have both FPH and Art Brown's. Wonderful people.Great customers, too: I met another FPNer...could tell right away by his unreserved passion for inks, and his eagerness to have me try his favorite pen!

Edited March 14, 2013 by welch

[ethernautrix]

Another lovely visual tour. When I lived in NY, I worked near Art Brown's, wandered in a few times. Wish such a store were within wandering distance now. Look at all those inks and notebooks! Man....