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In 2004, I was on a long work related visit to Hyderabad. On the day of my departure back to Mumbai, the official car dropped me at Nampalli, some 2 hours in advance of the time of departure of the train that was to take me back. I put my bags in the cloak room and to kill time, walked into the Abids area which is very near to Nampalli. I entered the Abids main road from the Chermas end. so it was a 100-150 metre walk upto Orient estate, when I saw a shop sign saying "The Deccan Pen Stores". Now, I was not already a full blown pen nut in 2004 but yes, I was then very much pen crazy and was thrilled to see a pen shop. I entered. On the counter to the left were rows of big huge pens. While I was looking at the pens, Mr. Wasim greeted me and offered to take out the pens and show me. We had a long conversation about pens and I ended up buying two Black HR Advocates for a princely sum of 125Rs each. I was about to miss my train that night. Anyway, there has never been a subsequent visit to Hyderabad where I have not visited the shop or asked my dear Hyderabadi friend Jai to pick up some new models for me and we meet and I bring the pens home. A few months back, Jai informed me about some new rippled ebonite Advocates that Deccan had made and apparently they had come out very well and gorgeous etc, so I had to have them... I think this might be a good time to show you folks how the model Advocate has evolved over the last decade. This evolution is a forced thing. There are only a handful of people who make nibs, clips rings etc in India and once they discontinue a style, the pen makers have to make do with the alternatives available. Deccan have managed to keep their Advocate alive despite these changes and it still remains the long, flat top reliable ED that we know it as. Onto the pics: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9531.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9532.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9533.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9536.jpg The three generations compared: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9537.jpg open: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9538.jpg subtle evolution of the section shape: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9539.jpg The clip profiles(newest at top, oldest at the bottom) and the "Advocate" engraved by hand: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9540.jpg Some shots of the new rippled ones: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9541.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Advocate/IMG_9542.jpg Cheers! Hari

I was looking for some pictures in my album and came across these pictures taken one evening in April 2008 when I was visiting Hyderabad. The RP road, Secunderabad branch of Deccan pen stores: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0915.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0916.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0917.jpg The gold nibbed Indian beauties. Rare as hen's teeth now. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0918.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0919.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0920.jpg The Abids branch of Deccan pen stores: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0921.jpg One of the older employees, I have not seen this gentle man for the last 2-3 years. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0922.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0923.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0924.jpg The Ebonite counter: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/deccan%20visit%202008/IMG_0926.jpg Cheers! Hari