Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[esterbex]

:clap1: :clap1: Thank you Neal!

[Chris Chalmers]

Ooh! Some lovely pens in those cases Henry! Do I spot quite a few vintage Onoto Magnas?..

[Truffle Finder]

Yes Chris, you do indeed spot quite a few Onoto Magnas in that folder! Including the only Magna Stylo Pen, which is the only known example!

That particular folder is my 'Pension Scheme' which I may have referred to here before, they are my pride and joy, and sadly they are definitely not for sale, sorry Chris!!! :blink:

Most of the Lapis Blue pens are very special to me, as most of them are in almost 'mint' condition, and as beautiful as they 'look' in those pictures, that is exactly how they look 'in the flesh.' A couple of the Parker Duofolds are prototypes, which never went into mass-production.

Occasionally, I get the folder out to look at them, they are still having that special effect on me, that I first experienced when I first started collecting fountain pens! If and when they don't have that effect on me, I will know that it will be time to sell them, but I can't see that happening any time soon.

The Great Big Black 'monster' on the left hand side of the folder, is the largest Conway Stewart Pen ever made, and Stephen Hull, has not found any reference to it anywhere, but it is fully marked with the maker's name, it really is extraordinary.

Now I think I had better have a lie-down!

Truffle Finder.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Truffle Finder

[Truffle Finder]

I have just got back home, having done another talk, about the 'Potted History of the Fountain Pen'.

And I am just overwhelmed, my 'whelm' is literally running over!!!

If those of you have been doggedly reading this thread for a long time are still looking in from time to time, you might remember that I had a revelation one time when I gave my usual talk, and concluded with my personal involvement into the world of vintage fountain pens, on that occasion the response was much improved from previous times that I had given talks on the subject.

This evening, I only briefly skimmed over the F/Pen history, and concentrated nearly all the hour and a quarter, on my story! And it appeared to have gone down a storm!!! :blink:

The questions came at me thick and fast, and continued for at least half an hour after I had finished speaking. :blink:

At the end of the evening, the chair-person made an announcement of her thanks on behalf of the Society, and the whole crowd applauded me for what seemed an embarrassingly long time! It was lovely, and even better, they then handed me an envelope which contained my fee for the oration! It surely doesn't get much better than this!?!

I'm quite sure that I will sleep really well tonight!

Truffle Finder.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Truffle Finder

[esterbex]

I've no doubt they enjoyed your story...it's one of my favourites! Good on yer!

[Chris Chalmers]

Well done Henry!What will you spend your oration payment on? Maybe a pen, you seem short of a couple

I love your pension fund pens and would dream of buying any of them. By the time y retire they will be valued far too high for me. Some of us just dream and drool.

[Truffle Finder]

I might just treat myself to a nice lunch at the fish restaurant locally!

But usually, when I have missed a Saturday at Portobello, I find that I am offered quite a few vintage pens from 'general antiques dealers' who keep pens for me to see, so I think there will not be a problem spending the oration fee!!! :embarrassed_smile:

Roll on tomorrow!

Truffle Finder.

[my63]

Henry

I think that you will find that a story becomes something much more powerfull when it is personalised.

I think you may have the basis of a good book.

Michael

[esterbex]

Some early morning photos taken by the Truffle at the recent London show (kindly forwarded by billydo ♥). If some names are missing or misplaced, blame the Truffle.

 

Duncan Sewell

 

 

Serious pen men....

 

 

Jane Marshall

 

 

Brian Toynton

 

 

 

Mr. Craig, Canadian!

 

 

Gary and Myrna Lehrer

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Oldfield, The Pen Practice

 

 

 

Jeremy Collingridge

 

 

Stephen Hull(l) with Laurence Oldfield®

 

 

Bryan Lucas with Estelle, Worcester Pen Company

 

 

David Cooper, ONOTO

 

 

 

Young pen man with handsome handmade pens

 

 

Tim with Sterling Maguire

 

 

Sarj Minhas

Edited October 13, 2012 by esterbex

[esterbex]

Henry

I think that you will find that a story becomes something much more powerfull when it is personalised.

I think you may have the basis of a good book.

Michael

 

+1.

[tenney]

Henry, those pictures from the London show popped up a question in my mind for you:

 

Since you've recently attended both the Dallas show and the London show, what are the major differences in "feel" or "rules of etiquette" (e.g. handling pens or not) between a US pen show and a UK pen show?

[Bruno]

Is that Cliff Harrington in the fifth picture down (red/white striped shirt)?

[Truffle Finder]

Yep! Bruno, you notice he is wearing that slim-fit shirt!!! He looks quite engrossed in some vintage fountain pen deal!!!

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

The 'rules of engagement' for Pen Shows, on both sides of the Atlantic, are exactly the same.

Carry plenty of cash with you, always smile and be as polite as you can with everybody, unless they are rude to you, [in which case be as rude as you like in return!!!] and try to buy as many of the under-priced pens as you can get your hands on!!!

That's about the best advice I can give you.

Truffle Finder.

[tenney]

Thanks. Somehow I expected there to be some differences across the pond. Now all I have to do is make it to a London pen show.

[Truffle Finder]

News just in!

There was a gentleman at the Pen Show, who spent a considerable time at my stand, who tried quite a few of my overlaid pens, and near the end of the show, he decided to buy the last remaining Jasmin Pen [Edition of 50 in silver.] anyway, due to the fact that I do not have a credit card facility, we could not conclude the transaction, so, we decided to leave it until he returned home, and then we would sort things out then.

Well, he has sent me an E-mail, and he is going to buy it as we agreed, so that means that this year's London Pen Show was my best yet, I sold 7 of my overlaid pens!!! :embarrassed_smile:

I'm just a very happy bunny at the moment!

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

 

Now that's what I call a good day's work!

[Chris Chalmers]

Hit the boss for a raise - quickly! Wait! You are the boss! :roflmho:

Lovely results from what was a stressful time.....two shows so close together, and other work to do too!

 

I am sad to see the last Jasmin sold though.

[Truffle Finder]

Don't fret over the fate of the last Jasmin pen Chris!

I'm sure that it will be 'molested' with care in it's new home in Melbourne, and I'm sure that it will not miss the weather over here! :embarrassed_smile:

It is going to have it's nib reground by Oxonian before it is shipped around to the other side of this planet, so it will have a good start in life!!!

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

I think Chris is mourning the fact that she won't be the one doing the molesting....

I symphathise with her....