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I had a great time at the 2023 Baltimore Pen show. I bought a pen from Jonathon Brooks himself and talked to the people at Schon Design about their new nib. I saw my friends at the DAYartSTORE. Got advice from Joshua J. Lax, the nibsmith. I got a vintage Waterman Safety pen for a good price. It was not too big, but it had representatives from several of the big pen companies like Pilot and Esterbrook. It was really cool to be able to talk to Jonathon Brooks and see a whole bunch of his pen bodies. I was able to ask him which ones were his favorites, and then I bought one and it writes really well and is so pretty!! I spent time in Baltimore and Washington too, looking at paintings, but was able to stop by on each day of the show and talk to someone new. I really thought it was worth it. I did a YouTube video about it at

I felt fortunate to get one of Eric Sands' rare slots for custom pens a couple months back. I really wanted a pen that takes a #8 Bock nib, and Eric has one model, the "Draco," which has this as an option. I shared a wish that I could have him make two pens for me, and he said "I can do that." So I ordered a Draco that takes a #8 nib and a spare section that takes a #6 JoWo nib. (I love having options!). For my second pen, I ordered a Carina 14. I already had two pens in this model and knew I liked it both aesthetically and ergonomically. The pens arrived yesterday. I am very happy with both. The two models are the same length. The Draco is a bit girthier and has a different shape section. Jonathon Brooks' "Combustion" and "Primary Manipulation 1" are among my favorite pen materials. Enjoy! David

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.