Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[Chris Chalmers]

Oh Reprieve! What a Beauty!!! Congratulations............and which nib has it got? Have you inked it yet?

So many questions.......... are you going to do some photos of your pen???

[RitaCarbon]

Gorgeous!

[reprieve]

Oh Reprieve! What a Beauty!!! Congratulations............and which nib has it got? Have you inked it yet?

So many questions.......... are you going to do some photos of your pen???

 

I have inked it, with Herbin Larmes de Cassis. It is writing wonderfully! The Myrtle has a Conway Stewart italic broad nib (as do both of my Chatsworths). The pen is thin, and very light--about the size of one of the smaller Yard O Leds or a Parker 51. I am enjoying the contrast, as it is much more portable than the Chatsworths (which are too large to fit in my pen cases!).

 

I'm not too good at pen photos, but I'll try to get some decent shots tomorrow during daylight hours.

[reprieve]

Now that all of the details are out of the way, I just have to add a big *squeeeeee!* I'm really excited about this pen! :bunny01:

[reprieve]

Here are photos of the Myrtle, along with my classic green and pearl white Chatterly Chatsworths. I apologize for the bad quality of the shots--they are just quick and dirty snaps.

 

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4333401789_72cbd24ae7_m.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4334144408_8b41b9a700_m.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4334144100_e07efbb25e_m.jpg

[RitaCarbon]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

 

Do you write with them?

[Chris Chalmers]

Thanks Reprieve! I hadn't realised the size difference..........it looks about the same size as my Parker Acanthus Leaf which is an International size - but oh so very usable!!!

Now we need some writing samples please!!!

[Carrie]

Now that's my size of pen. Beautiful

[Ghost Plane]

Gorgeous, but I'm a Churchill size kind of girl. :embarrassed_smile:

[reprieve]

Rita, I do write with them. I now have Diamine Steel Blue (switched from Herbin Larmes de Cassis) in the Myrtle, which is a lovely ink, and Herbin Lierre Sauvage in the green Chatsworth. The white Chatsworth is not inked right now, as it needs its nib tweaked and will soon be going to Michael Masuyama for an adjustment.

 

I prefer the size of the Chatsworths, but they really are behemoth pens; I find them difficult to carry, since my pen cases are too short for them. The Myrtle will be the one that gets to leave my desk, as it slips into all of my cases quite easily.

[Ghost Plane]

Be a sweetie and post pics or scans of the pamphlet that goes with the pen? Henry isn't where he can do it and says there's really good pics of the pen on that as well. And you know we want to see more pictures.

[Ghost Plane]

Thanks muchly. :clap1:

[RitaCarbon]

Rita, I do write with them. I now have Diamine Steel Blue (switched from Herbin Larmes de Cassis) in the Myrtle, which is a lovely ink, and Herbin Lierre Sauvage in the green Chatsworth. The white Chatsworth is not inked right now, as it needs its nib tweaked and will soon be going to Michael Masuyama for an adjustment.

 

I prefer the size of the Chatsworths, but they really are behemoth pens; I find them difficult to carry, since my pen cases are too short for them. The Myrtle will be the one that gets to leave my desk, as it slips into all of my cases quite easily.

 

That's lovely. I have Larmes de Cassis in my Visconti Opera. Your Myrtle pen is an ultimate delight with Larmes de Cassis! Would you please scan your writing sample for us?

 

Rita

Edited February 6, 2010 by RitaCarbon

[ethernautrix]

My new Simpole arrived today!

 

TEMPTRESS!

 

When will I learn not to click on the link?!

 

 

 

P.S. I just clicked on the link AGAIN. That is a lovely pen, reprieve. I love that size and shape. Wow.

Edited February 6, 2010 by ethernautrix

[reprieve]

I had posted this above, for Ghost Plane, but there was a slight "oopsie" and it disappeared. So here it is again, as I think others might find some of the information interesting.

 

The photos in the pamphlet (except for the one on the very front) are the same as those in the Myrtle Gallery on Henry's web site. Here is the full text from the pamphlet:

 

The Myrtle Pen

 

Inspired by a silver overlay pen crafted by E Baker in 1913, the Myrtle Pen, like Henry's William Morris Pen, is entirely handcrafted.

 

Each cap and barrel overlay starts as a flat sheet of precious metal, and every piece of filigree is painstakingly pierced by hand. The overlays are then formed into cylindrical shapes on steel mandrills before the 'Myrtle' pattern is freehand engraved - a highly skilled process which takes many hours.

 

The solid silver Myrtle Pen is a limited edition of 50 and the 18ct gold Myrtle Pen is made and numbered to order.

 

Each will carry the London Assay Office hallmarks, 925 silver and 18ct gold, as well as Henry's personal hallmark, his initials HCS.

 

The base pen is made by Conway Stewart and fitted with the Conway Stewart 18ct gold nib available in a choice of widths from fine through to broad italic and oblique.

 

DEDICATION

 

The Myrtle Pen is named after Myrtle Williams.

 

[Opposite page]

 

HENRY SIMPOLE

 

Henry the 'Pen Man' perfected his techniques working in an antique restoration business in Gloucester, where he successfully restored and rebuilt Spanish guitars and lutes, before turning his attention to pens.

 

Henry had already become a vintage fountain pen collector in the late 1980s and learned how to restore his own collection. He has devoted his time entirely to restoring and trading in writing instruments since 1995, not just rescuing pens but also making precious metal overlays.

 

His first overlay pen was the Snake Pen - a limited edition in solid gold and sterling silver - which was launched in October 1999. No.1 in each precious metal was sold at Bonham's in London.

 

Henry's William Morris Pen, created in 2005, was inspired by the 19th Century English designer and master craftsman, William Morris. Both the Myrtle and William Morris Pens are crafted without any production compromise.

 

[back page]

 

"I realise most limited edition fountain pens are kept in mint condition - never filled or used to write a single word.

 

The Myrtle Pen has been made as a working writing instrument and I hope will be enjoyed for both its handling and its beauty."

--Henry Simpole

[Moravia]

I had posted this above, for Ghost Plane, but there was a slight "oopsie" and it disappeared. So here it is again, as I think others might find some of the information interesting.

 

The photos in the pamphlet (except for the one on the very front) are the same as those in the Myrtle Gallery on Henry's web site. Here is the full text from the pamphlet

 

 

What a beautiful overlay fountain pen reprieve. Do you find the Myrtle to be a heavy pen at all? I'm really liking the size of it. You mention that it's similar to one of your smaller Yard-O-Leds - do you mean the standard or grand size? I remember a seller had the Great Exhibition fountain pen that Henry Simpole made for Conway Stewart at the Toronto Pen Show a couple of years ago and it felt like a baton in my hands!

 

Also, does the Myrtle pen have a clip? If not, then I am officially in love!

Edited February 7, 2010 by Moravia

[Chris Chalmers]

Two of my four Henry pens are clipless - does that help? I think clipless is lovely - and think that most of his designs are sans clips - but I am willing to be corrected here!

[troglokev]

When will I learn not to click on the link?!

When you're living in a skip, with no internet connection.

[RitaCarbon]

Two of my four Henry pens are clipless - does that help? I think clipless is lovely - and think that most of his designs are sans clips - but I am willing to be corrected here!

 

I love clipless design in Henry's pens. The clip would be on the way of their beauty. It reflects timeless classic look of vintage eydroppers.

[reprieve]

What a beautiful overlay fountain pen reprieve. Do you find the Myrtle to be a heavy pen at all? I'm really liking the size of it. You mention that it's similar to one of your smaller Yard-O-Leds - do you mean the standard or grand size? I remember a seller had the Great Exhibition fountain pen that Henry Simpole made for Conway Stewart at the Toronto Pen Show a couple of years ago and it felt like a baton in my hands!

 

Also, does the Myrtle pen have a clip? If not, then I am officially in love!

 

It is very light weight. The Myrtle is similar to the standard (smaller) sized Yard O Led--and only in size, not weight. It is also comparable in size to a Parker 51. So it's a relatively small pen (and would be absolutely miniature next to the Great Exhibition!).