Cvs "caliber" Index Cards

[cellmatrix]

Today I picked these up cheap at CVS pharmacy as part of a back to school sale and I was very pleasantly surprised by the smoothness, the lack of feathering, as well as some preservation of shading. I give them a solid thumbs up!

[Gloucesterman]

_{Does the package have the production/ location - aka "Made in"?}

[cellmatrix]

_{Does the package have the production/ location - aka "Made in"?}

Yes....I thought I wrote that in my first post above. But below is a snapshot of the product location on the back of the box.

 

In a thread I started on this very same subject a couple years ago, it was agreed that TOPS cards made in Indonesia, were some of the most fountain pen friendly available at the time.

 

CVS used to carry TOPS indonesian index cards but stopped quite a while ago. I suspect "Caliber" cards are produced by the same supplier in Indonesia and just rebranded.

 

The bottom line is they are good cards for fountain pens, and now is a good time to snap some up, while they are on sale. Hope this helps.

Edited August 12, 2013 by cellmatrix

[elysee]

Sometimes the nicest items can be found in the most interesting places. My favorite writing paper -- the now discontinued Stuart Hall Fine Linen Writing Paper -- was a paper that could only be purchased in stores like CVS and Stop & Shop. I have never found a paper that is as ink-friendly as Stuart Hall Fine Linen Writing Paper since this paper was discontinued.

 

Since items at stores like CVS tend to change a lot, I would recommend that you buy a lot of these note cards so that you will have a sufficient supply to last you for a while.

Edited August 12, 2013 by elysee

[cellmatrix]

thanks for the advice, I will pick up some more next chance I get

[DanF]

Dang, no CVS stores in Spokane, and they don't show these cards on the website.

 

Dan

[Moynihan]

Dang, no CVS stores in Spokane, and they don't show these cards on the website.

 

Dan

Are these the same ones?

[Gloucesterman]

If you look at the label in the image posted, it says ©2009. It is now 2013, 4 years later. Somehow, I would not take it for granted that cards produced 4 years ago would imply the current manufacturer is the same.

 

Thanks for clarifying and confirming the same source.

[cellmatrix]

Are these the same ones?

I saw those same cards also for sale at CVS last week alongside the white ones I posted above. I did not buy any of them, but it seems the colored ones all came into the store at the same time as the white ones. I'll get a pack and test them. They are about a penny a card price at CVS - far far less than the Amazon price.

Edited August 20, 2013 by cellmatrix

[ravantra]

Just tried these they are the best index cards I have used. No feathering. Thanks!

[cellmatrix]

Are these the same ones?

Yes I think they are. They have the same date code and label. And their quality is good, perhaps only slightly less smooth than the white but certainly very acceptable. Here are some photos:

Edited August 21, 2013 by cellmatrix

[JMichael]

I just got two packs, same bar code, but the cards were made in 2012. The 2012 cards are very absorbent and make a pen write one degree broader.

 

With a fine nib, using Waterman Florida Blue the line looks medium, no feathering or bleed-through. This pen writes a little on the dry side with Ink flow about 4 of 10 where 0 is dry and 10 is gushing.

 

However, with medium nibs with good ink flow (8 of 10) and using both Diamine Green/Black and Parker Blue/Black the lines look broad or even double-broad. There was no feathering, but significant bleed-through.

 

I'm wondering if the2012 cards (also from Indonesia) are different.

[ttakacs]

They appear to be the same. I bought the 2012 cards, made in Indonesia, bar code 50428 20620 (stock #898130). Absorbent; but minimal feathering and bleedthrough. A wet XF Aurora 88 nib writes a medium line (ink: Waterman Mysterious Blue aka Blue-Black).

 

 

I just got two packs, same bar code, but the cards were made in 2012. The 2012 cards are very absorbent and make a pen write one degree broader.

 

With a fine nib, using Waterman Florida Blue the line looks medium, no feathering or bleed-through. This pen writes a little on the dry side with Ink flow about 4 of 10 where 0 is dry and 10 is gushing.

 

However, with medium nibs with good ink flow (8 of 10) and using both Diamine Green/Black and Parker Blue/Black the lines look broad or even double-broad. There was no feathering, but significant bleed-through.

 

I'm wondering if the2012 cards (also from Indonesia) are different.

[JMichael]

They appear to be the same. I bought the 2012 cards, made in Indonesia, bar code 50428 20620 (stock #898130). Absorbent; but minimal feathering and bleedthrough. A wet XF Aurora 88 nib writes a medium line (ink: Waterman Mysterious Blue aka Blue-Black).

 

 

I believe your experience is the same as mine. The finer the nib, the better the cards react. However, with medium nibs or larger, having generous ink flow, there will be some bleed-through, but no feathering. Depends on the ink, of course.

 

Has anyone tried dry nibs that are medium or larger?

[DanF]

Sounds exactly like the recent batch of Tops cards I got, minimal feathering, but the line balloons. I suspect based on the reports of the differences between the early and late versions, that these are simply rebranded Tops index cards, or at least made in the same factory.

 

The old Tops were great, smooth and very friendly, like writing on Rhodia or Clairfontain. The new ones are as described above. I never saw any bleed through though. Both were made in Indonesia.

 

Dan

Edited August 24, 2013 by DanF

[cellmatrix]

Since the 2009 are amazing and the 2012 seem so-so, it sounds like checking the date of manufacture is critical with these cards.

Edited September 1, 2013 by cellmatrix

[jccjr]

Nice deal on these cards. Will have to pick some up. Appreciate you posting this.

[bob_hayden]

I was in a CVS today and found the Caliber cards are now from China and the USA and carry dates of 2017 and 2018. They were $2+ to $4+ per package so I decided to look at cheaper options. Later I got 100 for $0.50 at Dollar General which worked fine, even with some very wet nibs.