Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[Truffle Finder]

I suppose I fell into that one, didn't I?

It looks as though Parade Antique's loss is Little Rock's gain! So I'll bring them!

I've spent most of today, working on the overlaid pens which have been 'on order' for far too long! So I will be off to the Assay Office tomorrow, and to the post office, as well.

Roast shoulder of lamb for supper, lovely!

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

Someone at my favourite pen store (Vanness in Little Rock) wondered if you were planning to attend any other pen shows in the US this year.

I wonder the same....Could you satisfy our curiosity dearest Truffle?

[Truffle Finder]

The way things are looking over on this side of the pond, I think that it will be very unlikely that I will be able to make it to any other pen shows in the USA this year!

Sorry about that!

But I'm quite sure that the earth will keep revolving, despite my absence at the shows!!! :embarrassed_smile:

Truffle Finder.

[Truffle Finder]

I am pleased to say, that I have been very busy these last few days, working on the overlays.

An Onoto 18ct glod O/lay, a silver William Morris pattern pen and another silver pen, that I had noticed last Saturday, had somehow missed going to the Assay Office, and needed marking!

I spent quite a bit of time early this morning, double engraving the Clouds House cap and barrel overlay masters, so that they will be nice and 'crisp' when they go up to the caster's.

Truffle Finder.

[Chris Chalmers]

Good work Henry! It sounds like you will be busy for a good while!!!

[Truffle Finder]

Having spent the last few days working on the overlay work, there is now a bit of a backlog of repairs that are waiting to be done and sent off to their owners!

Looks like it could be a pretty busy day.

Good news on the 'Cornwall-connection', [re:- my laptop computer], I have signed up with an offer that BT had sent me last time I was down there, and having received the 'Box of tricks', I will be trying to plug it in, and hook it up so that I will have a broadband connection, so there will not be the need to nip across the road to the Tavistock Arms, and drink their rather expensive orange juice while I connect with the outside world. This will hopefully be quite an improvement on the situation up until now, and at least I shouldn't have the need to re-log-in to FPN when I try to connect with this thread! It took me an age to do it last time I was down there!

I never thought that I would ever say it, but I actually wonder how life worked before I got the computer!

I wonder if I will ever get a Mobile Phone!!! :hmm1:

Truffle Finder.

[esterbex]

 

I never thought that I would ever say it, but I actually wonder how life worked before I got the computer!

I wonder if I will ever get a Mobile Phone!!! :hmm1:

Truffle Finder.

 

:roflmho: Hell must be about to freeze over!:roflmho:

[Ghost Plane]

Nah. The cat got loose from the test thread. :meow:

[Chris Chalmers]

Wot!!!!!!! You don't have a mobile phone????

[Truffle Finder]

Hell about to freeze over, and a cat getting loose from the test thread! I'm afraid I don't understand that one!

And on this morning's news, a meteorite shower hitting the Earth somewhere in Russia, and an Asteroid about to 'swing' around the Earth, [but not 'hit' us apparently!] and disappear again!

It's not exactly Earth-threatening news, but I have progressed with the 'Risky Lady' overlaid pen, it has been curled and silver soldered, and is about to be fitted to the base-pen, so with a bit of effort today, it should be ready to show to people at Portobello tomorrow. Lady Frances is coming to see me, and a gentleman who wants to talk to me about supplying Middle Eastern Royals, with 'presents' for their friends, so it could be quite an interesting day tomorrow!

Truffle Finder. :embarrassed_smile:

[tenney]

Just wait... one of these days Henry will get an iPhone!

(and then design a sterling silver overlay for it -- wait, it can remain flat!)

[bbbiswas]

I was at the WES pen show in London yesterday and had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Henry Simpole. He is a really nice guy and amazingly unassuming.He actually met up with a number of other FPN members who were attending as well.

For those of you who have never seen or handled one of his pens, I can tell you that they are eye popping. I saw and handled all his pens including the CS Great Exhibition.

Now to the heading of this thread.

When I met him and shook hands, I told him that I knew of him, and he asked where and how I had come across his name. I said that I was a member of the FPN and that I had read about him there among other places. He then said to me “When you are on the FPN next time, would you mind mentioning my name” and I said “Not at all, why” he replied “Well, it is nice to get my name around so that people will know who I am.”

To which I replied “What! You are a living legend – there are people on the FPN all around the world that would happily sell their Grandmothers to get their hands on one of your pens”. See what I mean about him being unassuming.

Worst of all, I found out that I live only about 2 miles from where he is located.

So, for those of you who have really never heard of Henry Simpole – I am doing what he asked me to do, and mentioning his name. More power to you Henry.

Check him out here

 

http://www.henrysimpole.com/

 

George

 

I visited Henry's website and realised he is a rich man's pensmith. So a poor man like me will not know about him. And I am not ashamed for that.

[Ghost Plane]

In some cases, poor women save up and indulge. Nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough.

[esterbex]

I visited Henry's website and realised he is a rich man's pensmith. So a poor man like me will not know about him. And I am not ashamed for that.

 

Methinks your spirit poorer than your pockets (noting bbbiswas' penchant for MB 149's and LE's....).

 

There are quite a few owners of Henry's pens who would not qualify as "rich men".

I am such a one and I am not ashamed for that.

 

 

 

[Truffle Finder]

This might not be the most appropriate moment to post this, [seeing as the topic is about the expense of buying one of my pens!] but I have just been asked to supply a Sliver William Morris for a 'celebrity's' birthday present, to be given to him next month!

BTW,' bbbiswas', my cheapest pen that I do at the moment, is the Acanthus leaf pattern Duofold, at a quite modest £450, which is considerably less than a current MB 149! At least that was the case last time I looked! Still, it is 'horses for courses' I suppose!

Truffle Finder. :embarrassed_smile:

[View from the Loft]

Expensive is a relative term.

 

Your pens aren't just pens - they are works of art that will outlast all of us. Given the time and craftsmanship involved, never mind the cost of materials, are they really expensive? In terms of my income, yes. In terms of what they represent, no.

 

Your point about the cost of say MB pens is well made. If I'm going to spend that sort of money, I'd rather it went to craftsmen rather than large corporations.

 

So I for one will keep saving my pennies ...

[Truffle Finder]

Geee! Thanks for that, 'View from the loft!'

Truffle Finder.

[Chris Chalmers]

If we all gave the same value to the same things.........it would be a very boring world! The heart and the head don't always agree - and I usually buy pens with my heart in charge!!!! It is, after all, a love affair for me, my hand and the pen (and the artist who made it!)

[esterbex]

Some things are just priceless....like that love Chris mentions.

[Truffle Finder]

I have got some photographs of two buildings, which are going to be built in the Middle East, and I have been asked to create some proposed drawings, using the images of the buildings as the theme for Pen Overlays!

It sounds quite exciting! :embarrassed_smile:

"From little Acorns!" as someone once said! :embarrassed_smile:

Truffle Finder.