Search the Community

Hello, I saw an old post from Brian Gray saying that Edison Pens was hoping to have two 2018 LE Group Buy offers as a result of skipping 2017. Anyone know the status of these, or did I miss them already? I couldnt find anything on Google or FPN (or I just havent figured out the proper way to search on FPN yet-very likely). Thanks!

A Note About My Ink Reviews: All of the images in my reviews are scanned at 1200dpi on a Brother MFC-J6720DW in TIFF format, converted to A4 at 300DPI in Photoshop CC, and saved as a compressed JPEG. All scans were edited on a color calibrated ASUS PA248Q with aΔE<3 to ensure maximum color accuracy. TL;DR: The colors should be as accurate as is possible. Not having a suitable green (well, any green at all) in my ink collection, and not having any Montblanc ink to speak of, I decided to pull the trigger on a full bottle of Irish Green from Amazon. Rarely do I ever feel like buying a full bottle sight unseen (aside from such reviews as I can find on the internet), but in this case I liked the color enough and the price wasn't awful, so I bought it, along with Lavender Purple (also Montblanc) at the same time. I usually prefer blues to anything else, with my go-to being Diamine ASA blue, with the backup of Noodler's Midway Blue for the times I need something more water resistant. I have a single black, Noodler's X-Feather, and then Noodler's Apache Sunset, J.Herbin Stormy Grey, and Diamine Oxblood, and those have been my only inks for ~18 months, and I felt like I needed something new and more exciting. Enter Irish Green. So let me delve into the properties of this ink for a moment. Scores, where applicable, are represented on a 10-point scale, with 10 being better/larger than 1. Flow: When I tested this in my Edison 1.1 Stub, which is quite the wet pen, I found the flow to be wet, as expected, but not so wet that I found it difficult to use on lesser papers. What I did find, however, on lesser paper, is that the ink loses some of this flow and becomes a bit dryer when writing, and this is a noticeable difference, but should not be troublesome to most potential users. 7.5/10 Saturation: This ink is what I'd describe as a very saturated shader, but this could be due to the properties of the test pen. Stubs (at the very least the ones which I have had the pleasure of using) seem to have both a darker, more saturated output, but also seem to encourage shading. Lubrication: Better than most of the ink I own, but I have tried a sample of the Noodler's eel series and can say that it is similar. Very smooth, very much like glass, but not uncontrollable like some I've tried in a stub. Show-through: Virtually none on any of the Clairefontaine paper's I've tried, but quite a lot (as expected in a wet stub) on cheaper paper. Rhodia 90gsm as well as 80gsm Rhodia and CF Triomphe etc. handle it very well. Copy paper (which is what I did the review on) shows significant show-through, and the back of cheaper papers is simply not usable. Shading: It varies with the nibs used (also tried this ink in a Visconti Rembrandt M, and got almost no shading), but is usually enough to be noticed, but not enough to qualify it as one of those inks that is nothing but shading. Also varies with the paper used, CF and Rhodia papers which are less absorbent exhibit more shading. Bleed-through: None, even on cheap papers. Spread: None noticed on any of the tested papers. (Rhodia, CF, and #22 copy paper) Smear (dry): None on any of the tested papers. (Rhodia, CF, and #22 copy paper) Feathering: Extremely slight (not noticeable unless you look for it) on less-than-FP friendly paper, but none on higher quality papers. Water resistance: While it wasn't sold to me as water proof or resistant, and I fully expected it to wash off the page, I could not get it to rinse off. *Dry time for the water test was roughly 12 hours after it was applied to the paper, if immediate water resistance is your primary concern. (In which case I recommend X-Feather, from personal experience.) Other: The color is nice, but not so vibrant to be in your face and scream at you, but rather it is more of a muted plant green. It reminds me of foliage, to be honest, which isn't a bad thing, but it isn't light like Gruene Cactus Eel or dark like Diamine Sherwood green. It has quickly become one of my favorite inks for annotations and some general notes, but I don't think it fits for general writing, simply due to the fact that it is green. I have experienced no startup issues or nib creep. On another note, I really like the bottles, as they are both a significant design departure from Noodler's, Diamine, and J.Herbin bottles that I've owned. Overall, I am highly impressed by my first Montblanc ink, Irish Green.

So, what do you like? I’d just like to know your opinion. I personally prefer flat ends, but tell me what you like!

Pen Pit Stop : Edison Collier Burnished Gold Welcome to the Pen Pit Stop. Here you will find reviews of pens that already have some mileage on them. More specifically, these reviews are of pens that are in my personal collection, and that have been in use for at least a year. I thought it would be fun to do it this way - no new & shiny pens here, but battered vehicles that have been put to work for at least a year. Let's find out how they have withstood the ravages of time. The fountain pen that enters the pit stop today is the Edison Collier Burnished Gold. This is a production run pen from the Edison Pen Co, which is situated in Huron, Ohio. Edison is a small family business started in 2007 by Brian & Andrea Gray. They create beautiful acrylic pens that are top quality products. You really notice the love & care that these pens receive. The Collier is one of the bigger fountain pens that Edison creates. Hefty pens, but still light-weight - very comfortable pens for long writing sessions. I bought my pen in September 2016, so it's been in use for some time now. Let's take a closer look at it. Pen Look & Feel The cigar-shaped Burnished Gold pen is made from a black acrylic with golden swirls in it. An unexpected characteristic of this particular acrylic is that the golden swirls appear and disappear depending on the viewing angle. A beautiful effect, that has to be experienced and that adds extra depth to the pen's body. On the barrel the words "Edison Pen Co – Collier" are engraved in a discrete manner. The only other branding is the company logo etched on the nib. The Collier pen has a sturdy golden clip ending in a ball. This comes in handy as a roll-stopper. You use the pen by removing the screw-on cap. No posting with this pen though, which is not really a problem with a large pen like this. The pen has a decent size JoWo #6 two-toned steel nib, that works well with this large body pen. My Collier Burnished Gold came originally with an F-nib, that I recently replaced with a 1.1 stub. Brian makes sure that all nibs are tuned to perfection before shipping. And it shows - these are some of the smoothest writing nibs I have ever experienced. Simply perfect! The Collier Burnished Gold is a beauty. I can only find one minor flaw, which is a result of the production process. As can be seen in the above picture, the cap's end is a separate piece of acrylic - probably due to the way the clip is added to the cap. This clearly shows because the colours don't match up, but it's not disturbing at all. The pictures above illustrate the size of the Edison Collier in comparison with a standard Lamy AL-star. Capped and uncapped both pens are about the same size, but the Collier has a lot more girth to it. It looks and feels substantially larger than the Lamy, even though it's the lighter of both pens. Pen Characteristics Build Quality : the pen is very well build, and polished to perfection. Mine is four years old by now, and still looks good as new. The acrylic used is definitely of high quality and retains its beauty without getting dull and losing its shine. This Burnished Gold pen has aged very well. Weight & Dimensions : a fairly large pen - almost 15cm capped and 13cm uncapped. The grip section is about 1cm in diameter. Aside from nib and clip, there are no metal parts to be found. This translates to a very light pen, that is really comfortable for long writing sessions. Filling System : this is a cartridge convertor pen, that uses standard international ink cartridges. To use bottled ink, I simply syringe-fill used cartridges. Nib & Performance : the Jowo #6 steel nib is well-proportioned for the size of this pen. On the nib, the Edison company logo is engraved. All Edison nibs are tuned to perfection before being shipped. And it shows! These are some of the smoothest nibs I've ever seen, and they are a real pleasure to write with. I also appreciate that the nib units are easily replaceable, and can be bought separately. The steel nib units cost about 24 EUR (taxed included), and come in sizes EF, F, M, B, 1.1 and 1.5. Price : the Edison Collier costs 165 EUR including taxes, which is quite acceptable for such a quality product. In my opinion: excellent value for money Conclusion Edison Pen Co produces high quality pens, and this Collier Burnished Gold is no exception. A very comfortable writer with an excellent nib - this pen is made for long writing sessions. And the Burnished Gold acrylic is really beautiful: a subtle combination of black & gold with a lot of depth to it. I'm glad to have this pen in my collection.

I know this has been discussed before so I apologize if I'm beating the proverbial deceased equine. I'm still unclear of the differences between JoWo nibs used by different companies. I see where Edison says they tune the nibs in house & Goulet says they inspect theirs, but I have not used either of these nibs before. I have several Conklin & Monteverde branded JoWo nibs which seem to span from smooth as glass to scratchy like a bad Christmas sweater. Most of them fall somewhere in the middle though. So is there any real difference between the different branded JoWo nibs? Or is a matter of quality control where a company like Edison pays more attention to ensure consistency or that a nib installed on a pen may have better QC than a loose nib? If it makes a difference I'm asking more toward EF & F nibs.

I'm a college student that got hooked or you could say got hit by the curiosity with fountain pens. The last several years I've been studying and since money was tight was satisfied with writing with the pens I already obtained. I already have a thread going on over in the nibs and tines section regarding my hunt for a flexy pen, but also am thinking about a different next pen as well. I should say I haven't decided which pen I will get first and there will be a significant amount of time in-between purchases. I will list the pens I already own as a jumping off point into a discussion of sorts I'm seeking surrounding my hunt for that "next" pen. Pens I own: Lamy 2000 - Fine Lamy Safari - Medium and 1.1 Stub Twsbi Eco - Broad and 1.1 Stub Pilot Metro - Medium, Fine, and 1.0 Stub Faber Castell Loom - Medium Jinhao x450 - Medium Goulet Churchmans Prescriptor - 1.1 Stub Conklin Crescent Filler Demo - 1.1 Stub My last pen purchase was the Lamy 2000 back in 2017. Actually the bulk of my pen purchases occurred at the start of my addiction to pens lol. Anyways the Lamy 2000 was my first big purchase and it really solidified how great it feels to write with a pen that truly speaks to you. I've learned as I grow in the hobby and learn more about pens that one pen isn't necessarily better than another pen; they just provide different experiences. I write with each one of my pens more so than others but nonetheless I reach for each one of my pens when I want to experience that unique experience that only that specific pen can offer. I'll admit my Lamy 2000 gets the most use, it's my favorite among all my pens. Time has passed and I'm starting to get that affinity again and looking at what else I can expose myself too. Here are some possibilities that I'm looking towards for my next possible pen in no particular order. Platinum 3776 Pelikan M200 / M400 Pilot Vanishing Point / Custom 823 / Custom 74 / Custom 912 Edison Collier Franklin Christoph Model 19, 20, 02, Parker 51 Waterman Caréne Diplomat Aero Sailor 1911 / Sailor Pro Gear I'll also admit price is a factor in that the ones I'm leaning towards seem to be easier to find deals, the Platinum's, Pilots, and Sailors especially. I think you can tell I'm honing in on sub $300 in terms of price. I'm leaning towards one of the pens listed with a gold nib, because I enjoyed the gold nib on my lamy 2000 and would like to experience other pens with gold nibs. At some point I probably will own all those pens listed, but for time being I'm leaning towards: Sailor 1911 or Pro Gear Platinum 3776 Pilot Vanishing Point / Custom 823 / Custom 74 / Custom 912 Pelkian m400 Waterman Caréne. Feel free to suggest other pens that you think I should definitely consider. So the discussion I'm hoping to generate is whats that gold nib pen that you think someone who hasn't experienced should definitely take a look at?

Greetings from (currently) SW Germany (along the A5, between Freiburg and the Kaiserstuhl)! Because of my job I travel moderately, and I have learned the time stuck in seat somewhere (whether the seat is moving or not) is a GREAT time to pull out a nice pen and some quality paper or notebook and write. Or sketch. Or draw. Often my origin/destination points of travel are either here in Umkirch or in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (both places where I live part of the time), but I travel globally and I like to use the travel time and the changing scenery for inspiration to express myself with paper and ink. I was introduced to fountain pens by my father as a child (when I guess he judged my writing skills had advanced to where I could handle it), but I was a few years too late to experience the use of fountain pens in school, where the ballpoint had (sadly) become the tool of choice for educators to teach writing with ink. I didn't really start writing a lot with fountain pens until my university days (early-mid 1980s), and for about 25 -30 years, my fountain pen enthusiasm waxed and waned. I have been infected as long as I can remember (about 50 years) with the joy putting pen to paper with liquid ink, but the full fledged manifestation of the symptoms from that infection has appeared only in the past few years, and my pen inventory has increased accordingly. A number of fountain pens have come and gone in my life, and some hang stubbornly around, but my collection today consists of mostly Pelikans of assorted sizes and colors, along with a few much beloved Edisons (Premier, Extended Mina, Pearlette, Herald Grande, and now the new Brockton), some Lamys (mostly sturdy, stout, and reliable Studios, plus a couple of Safaris, and a Dialog 3 not yet in-hand but firmly on the purchase list), and a couple of Montblancs, including a Thomas Mann WE, an almost-vintage Noblesse (with a spectacular broad nib), and a 35-year-old 144 that I love to hate. That 144 was my first non-disposable fountain pen, and it was a problem from almost the first day (mostly from the cap that never seems to want to close properly and stay closed, as well as from Montblanc themselves, who never seemed to really want to solve my cap problem). Over time, the pen and I have agreed to disagree, and I still use it once in a while, but it aggravates me anew almost every time. I have had other 144s over the years that have worked perfectly, but this was my first, and for me, the battle is personal. In the past couple of years my collection has started to grow significantly, as I am currently acquiring pens at a much greater rate than I let them go, and because I think perhaps I am more careful than in the past with acquisitions, and I know better what I like in a pen, I find it harder to let go of my hard-won acquisitions. Thus the collection grows, and it is becoming hard to keep them all in my regular rotation (and I keep having to expand my storage). I need to let go a bit. A lot of the growth has come from Pelikan products, part of which I blame on the discovery of sargetalon's blogsite a couple of years ago, which is a super source of information for all things Pelikan, and has served to feed my need for Pelikans. My favorite pen chassis is probably the Pelikan M6xx, which I have been carrying in various colors and nibs now for over 10 years, and on my desk I love picking up a Pelikan M10xx and using it to spew copious amount of ink onto paper (such very wet nibs are sometimes a particular challenge for me as a left-hander). Even though I am a long time Pelikan fan, and I have or have had many production models in my flock at one time or another, I just a few months ago bought my very first M8xx, the Brown-Black M800 in M. I really like the pen, but I am not sure the M8xx chassis is my favorite. It is right on the border between posting and not (I tend to not post the M800, but the M600 definitely posts for me), and I find the M8xx just a tad big for EDC and not quite the bold, arrogant statement I like in a desk pen. For desk duty, I like to use the M10xx or lately also one of my larger Edisons (which tend to be much lighter due to their minimalist construction, but IMHO have a build quality that can compete with anything out there). Every day in my pocket or planner, one is likely to find either a Pelikan M6xx in M or F, and/or an M2xx in a variety of colors and/or nibs, one of the smaller Edisons (I REALLY like the Pearlette, which posted feels a lot to me like a Pelikan M2xx/4xx, and I love the steel JoWo nibs that Edison hand tunes for each pen), and/or one of my Lamy Studios, of which one is almost always within arm's reach. Right now I am sitting at my desk in my remote European Command Center (a modest home office), and on my desk is an M1005 Stresemann inked with Edelstein Tanzanite, beside the M800 Brown-Black inked with Iroshizuku Tsukushi. Clipped into my planner is a Lamy Studio in Terracotta inked with Diamine Ancient Copper, and clipped to my shirt is a Lamy Studio in Aquamarine inked with Fritz Schimpf Gewitterwolke and a matching aquamarine ballpoint (which I think has a black cartridge in it, but I'm not sure--wait--yes it is a black cartridge. For 2020, my goals are to expand my horizons in choice of ink (I am looking right now for the perfect teal, and a dense orange that still flows well and doesn't crust up the nib). For pen acquisitions, I want to complete my vertical collection of Pelikan Souverän in Green-Black stripe (I have a 1000, 600, and 300; I need a 400 and an 800), and/or I would like to find a Pink-White M600 (any nib will do) at a non-ridiculous price. If anyone is looking to part with a Pink-White M600, feel free to contact me with your list of demands. Also if Lamy comes out with a cool color for the Studio, I am likely to purchase one of those as well. The Fountain Pen Network is a lovely and friendly resource! I have been lurking for many months, and I finally got around to joining. Thanks to all who encourage new members to post an introduction, and I look forward to continue to learn from this lovely and friendly forum. If anyone thinks I can provide any useful insights, feel free to ask anytime. Regards,

I'm just curious about what your favourite Edison pen is or what it would be if you had one. From all those materials and pens. I would have a Huron in Slate Lemon/Lime(Sadly, I am still a high school student, so I am saving up for university). I think that Slate Lemon/Lime is one of my favourite materials I've ever seen. Although, I have never seen a PEN made from it, just the samples. Also, if you have pictures of what it is even better and feel free to share.

There are already many reviews of the Edison Glenmont pen on FPN, but after receiving and using this particular Glenmont, made from the special Jonathon Brooks’ “Modified Japanese Autumn” acrylic resin that was used in the 2019 San Francisco Pen Show LE Edison Menlo Pen, I felt I needed to make a short review about this beautiful pen and also about the fantastic customer service that Brian Gray and the Edison Pen Company provides. This pen was a custom order from Edison that I made after seeing pictures of the San Francisco Pen Show Edison LE Menlo model. Brian had announced that he had a very limited quantity of the “Modified Japanese Autumn” material left, and so I immediately ordered a Glenmont made with it. Since I couldn't make it to the pen show, the next best thing was to order a custom made pen in that special resin, and I was very lucky to get this pen. Since the Glenmont has been around a long while and is very well reviewed, I mainly just want to comment on the pen material and the nib. Pen Material Jonathon Brooks’ “Modified Japanese Autumn” acrylic resin is a deep dark reddish-brown material with sinuous patterns of shimmering gold dust particles that form textural patterns, evocative of wood grain. Viewed in good light, hints of green also reveal themselves. Looking deeply into this material you have the sense of gazing into a galaxy of stars or a distant nebula. The glowing quality is increased by the translucence of the resin, so that light is both reflected and transmitted through it. All in all, this material is very beautiful and interesting, and it’s always a temptation to pick up the pen, just for the pleasure of looking at it! Nib & Writing The Edison 14K EF Flex nib is a classic looking single tone 14k nib, adapted (by means of cut-outs on either side) to offer moderate flex with light pressure. It gives a nice wet extra-fine line without pressure being applied, and allows for very expressive line variation when desired. The nib is pleasantly soft and flexes easily (for a modern nib), yet it writes very smoothly and produces a refined extra-fine line without any pressure. This nib is comparable to the Pilot FA nib. The section is comfortable to hold, though some might find it a little small. Cost & Value I paid slightly more than the standard pricing for a custom Edison pen, due to the cost of the special material. I believe this pricing is comparable to other custom pen makers out there. However, I consider it well worth the money for the exceptional service I received from Brian Gray and his team. Not to mention the quick turnaround time of approximately 1 month. The most impressive part of the overall experience, however, was the extraordinary customer service I received due to the pen having a very minor problem with the finial on the cap. When I asked him about this, Brian immediately asked me to send it back so that they could remedy the problem. Though he must be a very busy man, he took the time to explain, in multiple emails, exactly what he thought was wrong and what they were doing to repair it. Needless to say, I received the cap back in perfect condition. Final Thoughts Edison Pen Co. produces beautifully designed pens of exceptional quality and craftsmanship and they stand behind everything they make. Considering the considerate and helpful service I received from Brian and his team, Edison Pen is easily my first choice for custom made pens. Besides their great customer service, I really appreciate their design ethic; Edison pens have a classic look and a harmonious balance of form and function. I would highly recommend an Edison custom pen to anyone. Finally, though, the beauty of the resin created by Jonathon Brooks is what makes this particular pen very special to me.

Hello all, I partook in the Limited Edition Ebonite Edison Morgan (say that 5 times fast) this year and I have been enjoying the pen immensely. It's my first Ebonite pen, but certainly won't be my last. I recently splurged a little and ordered a Fine, Full-Flex nib from Richard Binder for the Morgan (after seeing Brian Gray's video, I just couldn't resist). It arrived yesterday and I've been playing with it a good bit. I've noticed that the converter is a bit... um... lacking in volume. Basically I'm having too much fun, but my fun gets cut short because I run out of ink (OH THE HORROR!!!). I know that a lot of Brian's pens can be converted to eyedroppers. Is it safe to do this with an Ebonite pen? Is there anything I should worry about? I have the silicone grease and eyedroppers and what not on-hand, I just don't want to ruin the Ebonite or something. Any insight would be great. Thanks so much! Matthew

Looking for my first non entry level pen with the intent to not leave my side. I work in an office with general note taking. I carry a satchel so size isn't a big issue. Then at night I do a page or so of journaling each night. I also see C/C as a benefit since I love changing colors. No B&M near by so having to wing it a little without trying. I am leaning very heavily on an Edison Collier or Premier in EF and spare 1.1 stub. Anything I should be worried about or is there something noticably better out there for the same $200 or so?

I was on a business trip and ordered some penny goodness in the form of a Edison Collier Persimmon Swirl, with an 18kt B nib. I also got a sample of sheening inks. It is a beautiful writer and the nib is gushingly wet. I’ve been playing around with the different sheening inks; both Iroshizukus, J. Herbin’s Emerald of Chivoir, and the Diamine Majestic blue. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but even with the super wet nib on Rhodia or Tomoe River paper, I only see the sheen in bright, direct sunlight. The Persimmon Swirl is beautiful, looking bright orange to a dark red, depending on the light. I bought from Goulet and they did a great job packaging the pen with lots of bubble wrap. Here’s a picture of the Collier and how it writes: Close-up of the pen body: And the nib: I am really enjoying this pen. I like bold nibs. Mediums are great for everyday use, but for letters and cards, a wet bold nib feels so much better.

Hey, I thought I'd post this here because when I went looking for any information on this (admittedly very specific) topic I couldn't find anything. Anyway, I have a Jinhao 159 and an Edison Collier. The Edison had some issues with hard starts and the flow wasn't as wet as I'd like it. I tried switching it's broad nib into my Jinhao, and it worked perfectly, no issues, so I figured the problem was with the Edison's feed rather than the nib. So I looked around to see if I could switch the feed from the Jinhao into the Edison, but feed switching is apparently not a very popular topic lol. I tried it, though, and it totally worked. It fits perfectly! So in case anyone else happens to have the same question (out of millions of people I can't be the only one, right??), I'm posting it here. I have some pictures of the Jinhao feed in the Edison, and some writing samples (none of before the switch, sorry).

A coworker came into my office yesterday. She had entered a raffle to raise money for a friend, and she'd won a custom fountain pen! Since I'm the biggest fountain pen lover in the office, she offered it to me for free. And here's what a I got: A custom pen from Mini Wood Productions (MWP). It's based on their "Füller" series. MWP is based in Conroe, Texas. Their website says that their pens aren't "kit" but rather "create one at a time on a manual lathe." What an interesting pen. The body is aluminum, but pretty thick (making for a heavy pen-- sorry that I don't have a small enough scale to accurately measure). On their regular Fuller pens, the section is aluminum too, but I think this one has a copper section. The section is long -- about 23 mm -- with a couple of grooves near the top of the section for grip. There's a serious step down from the body to the section, but because the section is so long, it's not noticeable when you hold the pen. The cap, though, is acrylic -- listed as "alumilite" on the package I got. The cap is gorgeous -- lovely green, red, orange swirls with flecks dancing and highlighting the pattern. But it is super light compared to the body of the pen. And it sits in stark contrast to the utilitarian look of the aluminum body and the aluminum finial. The cap has no band, but I guess it doesn't need one because of the contrast to the aluminum body. Almost like two different pens smooshed together. The cap doesn't post-- it's a few millimeters too small to do so. Finally, there's no clip, so the pen rolls were it wants (and the cap does too if you put it on your desk while you're writing). This pen comes with a #6 EF from Edison. It writes smooth and clean right out of the (cardboard) box. But the website indicates that the "standard" Fullers come with Jowo nibs. I have to say, I've never seen a pen like this before. I really dig the beautiful cap, and the body is not uncomfortable to write with (if you like heavier pens), but the juxtaposition of the two is just a little shocking, at least initially. I'm so grateful to my colleague who gave me the pen, and I'll keep it inked with Birmingham Pen Honus Wagner Brown for a while -- it might be my editing pen. And for anyone looking for a unique, customizable pen, check out MWP.

I'll just paste my 'about me' from my profile. I'll not get on the soap box again, thanks to you all already -BIn the second half of my life, I'm using my time while retired/disabled after 23+ years as an Officer of Marines; CWO4 (Marine Gunner) and former Master Sergeant (prior to my Officer lobotomy) I stay busy when not swamped with stuff or just feeling down right horrible as a book reviewer, editor, and still continue analytical work for various people/businesses and occasionally still do consulting work for the Marine Corps and DoD ....... Advocating for Liberty and Veterans who suffer with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Severe Memory Impairment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumas, and those with Crohn's Disease and Seizure Disorder. Of course too I may muster the courage to begin my Scale Models again but in addition to it all fight pain,tremor, and atrophy caused by neuropathy so bad that it maybe something best to just hang up and sell off. I've lost nearly every enjoyable skill and struggle with the idea of "doing it at all if I can't do so to the ability I once had". My 1965 Galaxie 500 LTD and Harley are gone as a result of the desires and memory issues so that and losing the opportunity of a second careeer sucks big time. I'm most busy with doctors appointments and maintaining my 118 year old house, my shop, ranting, retirement, and sometimes more... I spend most of the day in my library/study and may sometimes blog aside from my other stuff. My blog was begun right before my health, career, and entire life's direction was wildly changed, so though the page is 3+ years old, it is bare boned. My wonderfaul wife and partner of 21 years and I have 3 daughters (23, 20, & 10) and my service/seizure dog 'Reagan' (a Transylvania Hound).I have always insisted upon myself, my Marines, and my girls that their handwriting and deliverables that leave their desks are an example and often a first impression of their own character of professionalism and disciple. If it's your notes or your journal, that's one thinks; but if it is going to be seen by someone else it must be your best. I don't have extremely expensive pens, but what I have are of good quality and they are used extensively with my very rarely using a ball point pen or marker. Of course math/hand-analysis and editing markup is still often done with pencil, but everything aside is ink 'properly. I had to learn to read and write all over again after my brain injury, but I continue my journal that is now beginning it's 27th year and in addition I still write my wife of 21 years a love letter each day. I look forward to learning from each of you and pray I will be of assistance to many as well. I have much experience with different mediums aside from fountain pens to include, dip, technical pens, pastels, pencil, and alcohol pens with a solid background in what works and what doesn't with all brands, mediums, and surfaces while making sure the combination matches the intended purpose.Semper Fidelis, CWO4 Shannon Beaman USMC'Smooth is Fast, Fast is Smooth' Edited for errors only, content not altered. -B

I'm thinking about buying an Edison Collier Fountain Pen (Persimmon Swirl), with a 1.1 italic stub nib, from Goulet Pens. Does anyone own, or has anyone used, one of these pens? They look great, and I like stub nibs, but I usually don't like cartridge converter pens. So, if anyone has any experience with these pens, I'd love to hear it.

I was looking to buy eleven number five loose nibs. Does anybody have a list of all the people who sell such nibs? Also, is there any way to get #5 JOWO nibs without the feed? Thanks, Phillieskjk

Hi! Straight to the point: what pump-filler pens do you know of? I know of Edison's Pump-Filler but the price is more than what I can afford ($350 for a steel nib and $450 for the gold nib besides international shipping...) so I'm looking at a "51" Vac which is about a fifth of the price. Do you guys have any other suggestions at this lower price point? I'm also aware of the Pilot 823 and TWSBI Vac700 which have a plunger of some sort. Open to those kinds too that are not variations of a lever filler. Thanks!

So, today I am going to do a review of the 2016/17 Winter Edison Nouveau Premiere in Arctic Currents Ebonite. Overview: This pen is the first ebonite body pen I have purchased and I have to say that I quite like the material. It is light in the hand and very warm to use while writing. I bought this pen because I was very drawn in by the beautiful color of the ebonite. I'm not sure if my photos will have done it justice, but it is a beautiful mix of colors. The nib and clip are done in black which matches quite well to the color of the pen. I bought this pen with the 1.1mm stub steel nib as I didn't want to spend the additional cost to get the gold on a pen that is already not the least expensive you can buy. Plus, I like the fact that you can buy additional Edison branded steel nib units that are easily exchanged into the pen. Perhaps I will purchase a gold nib unit for it sometime in the future, but the steel works just fine for now. I will refrain from scoring the pen and just give my overall impressions of the various aspects of the pen. Nouveau 1 Body: The pen is a "torpedo" shaped pen and pointed on both ends. Some may be hesitant to order a pen that is so sharply pointed at each end with the idea of using it for every day carrying in a shirt pocket or the like. I don't find it to be so pointed that this would be a problem. The points are not extremely sharp and the pen is light enough that movement of your shirt should move the pen with it to keep any potential jabbing to a minimum. The blue and black ebonite is truly beautiful. I don't know if photos can do it justice, really. Fit and finish is also very good. The only branding on the outside of the pen is a very small engraved "Edison Nouveau Premiere 2017 Winter Edition" in two lines on the body of the pen. It is completely unobtrusive and does not interrupt the aesthetic of the pen. The section has a very comfortable hour glass shape that has soft threads for the cap which do not cause any discomfort for me when writing. Pen 2 Cap: The cap has a nice black finished clip with a gently curving stripe running diagonally about 2/3 of the way down it. It fits very nicely with the overall design of the pen to give it a wonderful cool and dark wintry look. The cap threads on snugly with no cross threading issues at all. The cap will post snugly, but it makes the pen somewhat long. Posting does not significantly throw off the balance of the pen, however, since the ebonite is such a light material. Pen 3 Nib & Filling: Edison supposedly checks and tunes all their nibs in-house. I'm not sure if this is true with their production model pens, but this nib writes very well. It has a slight amount of scratch to it, but it is a stub nib and the feedback is not anywhere near problematic. I'm pretty sure that part of it is that I need to adjust my hold on the pen slightly. You can tell this nib is very similar to the Goulet 1.1mm stub which I also have in a Conklin Nighthawk. I prefer this nib of the two, however, as this one writes more consistently. (In the spirit of full disclosure though, the Goulet 1.1 has J. Herbin Stormy Grey in it which can be fussy due to the gold particles in it.) The ink flow is what I would call a nice medium and the feed has no problem keeping up at what I consider to be my fastest practical writing speed. Nibs are easily exchanged, if you would be so inclined, as Edison uses a #6 modular nib unit and sells additional nib units separately including steel and 18K gold options. I won't comment really on line variation because, well, stub nib. Filling is accomplished by a nice capacity converter that is of very good quality and has given me no ink supply issues. I have included a writing sample sheet below which may help some. IMG_0382 Conclusions: This is not exactly an inexpensive pen at $175 and it could only be bought through Goulet. I say in my review that it was Winter 2016/17 because it first went on sale at the beginning of winter in December 2016 though they label it as the Winter 2017 edition. It is now completely sold out, however. I waffled on buying this pen since it was first released and was fortunate enough to jump on the second shipment they got in this January. I'm glad I did because I love this pen. I haven't seen anything else that looks quite like it and it really fits with the design and colors that I like. Is it worth the cost? Well, in this hobby once you get above, say, $30 that is a completely subjective thing. I don't think you will find many ebonite pens of this quality with this level of fit & finish in a limited production run for this price. I don't regret the purchase at all. As a side note, the pen did come with a nice Edison logo metal bookmark that I think was a nice touch. I hope this review was helpful and I apologize for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes.

Greetings fellow FP enthusiasts! I've been lurking here for a couple of months and finally made an account. About 3 months ago, I was talking to my son. He said that he had heard good things about fountain pens, and that I should try one. I logged on to the Amazon website and bought a Pilot Metropolitan (Medium). Worth a try for under 15 bucks, so why not? I liked it so much I bought some pens as gifts for my (adult) kids... Since I was buying gifts, I bought my self some good notebooks and accessories to reward myself for being such a generous dad. I liked those too so I bought some for my kids. Again, I rewarded myself for being so thoughtful. I also bought some pens and gave them as gifts to my friends, employees and coworkers. Again, I rewarded myself... and this cycle repeated several more times. After 3 months, here's the tally... Given as gifts: Pilot Metropolitans (several, M and F), Pilot Plumix (several, CM), Pilot Elite 95S (M), Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (F), Italix Churchman's Prescriptor (M italic), Pilot Prera (CM), Pilot Varsity/V-Pen (several, M and F), Maruman Mnemosyne B5 notebooks (several), Kakuyo Notebook Cover (x3), Aston leather pen sleeves/cases, inks, syringes, pen stands and other accessories. For me: Edison Collier with tuned nibs (B, EF, 0.8mm Daily Italic), Pilot Custom Heritage 92 (x2, F and M), Pilot Elite 95S (F), Pilot Prera, Italix Churchman's Prescriptor (M stub), Italix Captain's Commission (B italic), Pilot Lucina (x2, M and F), Pilot Penmanship (EF), Pilot Kakuno with CON-70 convertor (x2, M and F), Pilot Parallel calligraphy pens (one of each size), notebooks, notebook covers, calligraphy books, leather pen sleeves/cases, Maxpedition EDC and Beefy organizers, inks, syringes, pen stands and other accessories. One of my coworkers (who knows nothing about fountain pens) FOUND a fountain pen in the street and asked me to see if I could identify it and get it working. It turned out to be a Cross Townsend in Titanium Finish, with a gold-plated steel Fine nib, The pen was dry, and had been flatttened just a bit as if it had been run over by several cars. I conducted a thorough inspection, cleaning, tine realignment and re-inked it. The pen is fully functional and writes beautifully. I think it is a very durable, well made pen... and being suitably impressed by it, I am currently awaiting delivery of my first Cross Townsend (made in USA, Malachite finish). Shopping for Townsend #2 also. So, I'm starting to think that I may like fountain pens. I can't be sure until I try some more, and I've only been at this for a few months. One of my friends asked "how many fountain pens do you need?"... My answer: "At least one more."

I need help deciding! I have $380-400 (Canadian, that's about $300 US) to spend on a pen. I currently own and enjoy pens like the Lamy 2000, Pilot VP, Diplomat Aero, TWSBI 580, Pilot CH92, Lamy Studio, Edison Collier (steel nib), and Faber Castell Loom. Here's my question: Would you recommend the Pilot 823 or the Edison Nouveau Premier Arctic Currents with a gold nib? I like the look of the arctic currents, but am concerned that the grip section may be a little too small. Also, any other suggestions in that price range? Thanks!

Hello, All! My daughter will be 8 next month and she wants an Edison pen in Hawaiian (Unicorn Barf). She does use fountain pens and while I understand wanting a pen, I can't seem to justify a $150+ pen purchase for an 8-year old. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good, less expensive alternative? I looked at the Noodler's Konrad pens, but none of the colors were right. Thanks if advance for your help!

http://i.imgur.com/wOBHQP8.jpg Edison Pens is one of the most well-known of modern American companies. The company, initially the work of penmaker Brian Gray solely, now has several employees. Together, they turn out custom pens and production pens in wild-colored acrylics and ebonite, and even celluloid, when it was available from American Art Plastics. Now, celluloid pens from Edison are made only when the rod stock is customer-supplied. I got into fountains just about two years ago, and was quite immediately taken with them. Six months or so into my fountain pen journey, I bought a cappuccino Nouveau Premiere. The pen was well-made and beautiful, but was just too thin for me to use comfortably. I ended up gifting the pen to one of my penpals upon learning her birthday was coming up. http://i.imgur.com/gbdmufZ.jpg After coming across photos of the collaboration between Edison and lacquer artist Ernest Shin, I was taken aback by how gorgeous the pens were. Eventually, I caved and made the initial inquiry to Ernest and my order was placed. I went for the the Edison Pearl, in the Black-Gold-Clear Kara-nuri finish. The finish requires many layers and results in a stunning mottled pattern of black urushi, gold powder, and transparent light brown urushi. http://i.imgur.com/GHMW5YE.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Lamy Safari. This is a simplification of the lacquering process, but this is basically how the process works: 1. A few layers of raw urushi are applied and cured, then black urushi mixed with albumin (as a stiffener) it applied in a random pattern of dots and swirls on the pen. The stiffener in the urushi results in the pen having slightly raised dots of black urushi. 2. A layer of raw urushi is applied and 23.5kt gold powder is brushed over the entire pen. 3. Several layers of transparent, light brown urushi is applied, curing and sanding between each layer. 4. Then finally, the pen is sanded smooth and polished. The result is that that parts where the stiffened black urushi was applied is black and the gold powder shines through the urushi in the other parts. It’s really something to see and it’s impossible to capture it in photographs. This finish was used for a limited edition Pearl between Edison and Hakumin Urushi in 2010 or so, and has long been sold out. Ernest agreed to make me a pen just like the LE, though my pen is only signed without the numbering. Edit: Ernest emailed to say that while the pen is Karanuri, it is applied differently than the LE. http://i.imgur.com/FyE8kI7.jpg From top, Romillo Eo #9, Edison/Hakumin Pearl, Newton custom Gibby, Eboya Kyouka (medium-size) After I ordered I was given an estimate of 6 months for the pen to be finished. Ended up taking around 11 months. While Ernest did update me on the progress of the pen when I asked, he was not very proactive about it, even when he was behind schedule. However, aside from the lack of proactive updates, I’d say the ordering/waiting process was pretty smooth and pleasant. http://i.imgur.com/JoglrkC.jpg Pearl slightly out of a Taccia pen kimono. The packaging is the same as any other Edison, which is fine with me. I do wish, however that a pen kimono was included. I bought a Taccia pen kimono from nibs.com and the Pearl stays in that. http://i.imgur.com/DlAOgmA.jpg Nakaya Piccolo and Edison/Hakumin Pearl. Now to the pen: The Pearl, I’ve read, was inspired by the Nakaya Piccolo. Having the pens side by side, it’s very obvious. The peaked ends aren’t as severe and the Pearl is slightly longer, but major design points are present in both pens. http://i.imgur.com/eDUO0Ru.jpg From top, Nakaya Piccolo, Romillo Eo #9, Newton Orville (medium-size), Eboya Kyouka (medium-size), Edison/Hakumin Pearl, Danitrio Flat-Top Mikado http://i.imgur.com/5SzjJ2l.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Romillo Sil #9 The urushi models are built on black ebonite pens and everything seems as you would expect from Edison: smooth threads, tight tolerances, no play in any of the threaded parts. The lacquerwork is also first-rate and I love seeing Ernest’s kanji signature on the end of the barrel. http://i.imgur.com/ocalrJa.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Romillo Sil #9, both uncapped. The nib is a standard 18kt two-tone Edison nib made by JoWo. In my case, a fine nib. This is where we first get to a disappointment. The nib was very smooth — which was the problem. It was so smooth, it had the worst baby’s bottom I’ve ever seen. A little scribbling would get the nib to write and it would continue to write as long as I held the nib to the paper. Lift the pen for more than a second or two and it was back to skipping. I'm sure Brian Gray would have made it right had I asked but I was more disappointed in the fact that nibs being tested is used as a selling point and I can't see this pen as having been filled and tested. You literally could not more than a word or two before you'd get skipping and have to tap the nib onto the paper and get the ink flowing again. http://i.imgur.com/5cKqJT7.jpg Writing sample with Sailor Souten ink on Clairefontaine Triomphe paper. Normally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable enough to work on a pen in this price range myself but I figured I could buy a new gold JoWo nib unit from Mottishaw or someone else fairly easily should I mess up the nib. After an hour or so of very slow and very careful work, being sure to roll the pen as I worked to avoid flat spots, I managed to get rid of the baby’s bottom. Since that time, it’s been smooth sailing with the Edison/Hakumin Pearl. http://i.imgur.com/48EsBTF.jpg The nib was a bit of a disappointment, especially since the fact the nibs are tested is used so often as a selling point of Edison Pens, but I’m pleased with the pen and I would buy it again. Ernest’s lacquerwork truly is amazing and I look forward to seeing what kinds of designs and finishes he comes up with in the future.

I've got a couple of nice little vintage pens with flexible nibs, but I've long thought about a big, robust, modern pen with a flex nib. I mean a good one, not some cheesy something with steel or titanium sorta-flex. I know there are a few options. I have pondered. . . custom Edison with modified 14K flex nibGate City Belmont with modified 14K flex nibnew Wahl-Eversharp DECOBANDMy expectation is that the Belmont would be the least costly and not exactly elegant, but perhaps the most dependable, not having a sac or converter. The Wahl-Eversharp, obviously pricey and a thing of beauty to behold, but with a rubber sac that might somewhat limit my ink choices. The Edison, somewhere in between -- and it might be possible to get the nib from Edison for my Glenmont bulb-filler. But how do the nibs compare? Which is going to be the most pleasing to write with? That's the real goal here, after all.

Hi Folks, I'm pleased to be joining this forum, having spent some time reading posts and learning about pens I have then gone onto purchase. I'm not new to fountain pens, having used them since I was a child. I only started acquiring more pens earlier this year when I realised that Caran d'Ache had discontinued their Caribbean Sea ink. *shakes fist* I'll admit, I panicked and seriously considered dropping over 200€ on the last six bottles I could find online. Then I took a moment and thought about what else I could do with that money... Highlights of my collection are Pelikan M200, M400; Edison Pearlette; Franklin-Christoph P66 'Coke Bottle Pen'; Visconti Salvadore Dali, a couple of Conway Stewart from 1950's; Parker 51; TWSBI 580AL (no cracking yet). Suffice it to say, I'm enjoying myself. I'm also enjoying different inks and thanks to Diamine, I have not only found a reasonable replacement for Caribbean Sea, but broken my addiction to turqoise inks. I also like some of the Pelikan Edelstein inks, Noodler's, J Herbin, Graf von Faber-Castell... I have reached the point, however, that my friends are beginning ask questions: "You paid how much for a pen?" and "How many pens do you own? Seriously?" So I decided it was time to join up and talk to some people who understand. I'm pleased to meet you all.