Show Us Your Oblique Penholders!

[Cryptos]

Arrived today.

 

[dhnz]

It's not to my taste. I take it this is the one you said was ugly. Who made it?

[hzsimms]

It's not a bad pen. Lot's of lathe work in it, that's for sure. "Ugly" is subjective, after all. The more important question is how does it feel when you write with it? One of the pens I use most is one that I'd consider "ugly". It was a purely experimental pen made from a cheap oak dowel that I wanted to try some pigment powder on. It took at most 15 minutes to turn and then I just played with it. As it happened, it was really comfortable to write with.

 

http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p743/hzsimms/B77C7CC1-C4E7-4D4A-AA04-BDCBF6D7F4F4_zpstm0yxvmb.jpg

 

Like I said, ugly. Never intended to see the light of day. But it felt really good when I used it, so I kept it around. Now, it's in a drawer in my office and I use it constantly. So, "ugly", imho, becomes secondary to usefulness.

 

Howard

[Cryptos]

How does it feel: well, the gripping section is a nice size and shape. The join between the acrylic and wood parts rests on the web of finger and thumb. Holding the holder perpendicular to the line of writing puts the nib slant angle at a more acute level than with the Hourglass oblique, and the nib angle to the page seems lower too.

 

It's a functional holder, feels okay in the hand, but lacks any aesthetic grace in my opinion.

 

So, looks like I'll be pitching in for the Century oblique and Zanerian models after all.

 

Edit: and thank you Howard for reminding me to look on the bright side of things!

Edited July 13, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[dhnz]

Another option is an Excelsior copy; you can get them from Scribblers in the UK, though it would probably be cheaper to get one direct from Mr Yoke. They're not as fancy as the Century or Zanerian models but they're made for functionality not looks.

 

I'm sorry your penholder was a disappointment. You can make a new flange easily enough, which may solve some of your issues with it. (There's a video on YouTube showing how to make flanges, though you can just figure it out from looking at the one in your holder.) I'm not a fan of combining acrylic with wood and I find the contrast between the two in your holder to be a bit garish, so even if it felt good in my hand I don't think it'd put me in the right frame of mind to do my best work. However, as Howard notes, beauty is subjective and I'm sure someone out there will love it, so you could always put it up for sale.

[Estefa]

Wonderful stuff here, it's been a while since I've been in this forum !

 

I don't have Instagram as I don't have a 'smart' phone. It seems that you cannot join the service except through a phone app. So, some tips would certainly be appreciated.

 

You can watch Brians Instagram feed also on your computer:

 

https://instagram.com/uniqueobliques/

 

(Brian, I hope you don't mind me posting this here!!).

 

I hope that helps .

[Cryptos]

I know, and I have watched but I get no alerts. Also, given the time differential the Wednesday line-up comes at 11am while I am in an environment where such internet activity is denied. I've never seen anything come up on a Saturday (Sunday for me) either. This leads me to the comment about lag on Esty when it comes to listings going live.

 

A bit academic now I think. Turning my attention elsewhere.

 

 

EDIT: I have yet to hear any customer provide evidence that at this level one maker is qualitatively better than another. If it is the case that any substantive difference exists only within the marketing strategy then it is simply more pragmatic for me to choose the route which has the least hoops to jump through, and the least amount of stress.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[Estefa]

I know, and I have watched but I get no alerts. Also, given the time differential the Wednesday line-up comes at 11am while I am in an environment where such internet activity is denied.

 

Sorry, I wasn't aware of that (the problems with internet access). I am not sure what do you mean by alerts – the posts just show up when they're posted. Or not, if you have problems with the internet access, which is really annoying I guess!

 

EDIT: I have yet to hear any customer provide evidence that at this level one maker is qualitatively better than another. If it is the case that any substantive difference exists only within the marketing strategy then it is simply more pragmatic for me to choose the route which has the least hoops to jump through, and the least amount of stress.

 

I really wouldn't know how to define that quality – as long as there are no obvious flaws like breaking wood, or flanges coming lose (which happens anyway if you adjust it too often, in my experience) or other stuff.

 

The rest is, imho, mainly a question of aesthetic preference … also, the angle that someone likes in the flange seems to be very subjective. And apart from the more classical designs there is the ergonomic type of holder like the ones for example Salman and Heebs make, and some people say they are the best for them, when it comes to actual writing (I don't have one of that type, so I can't say anything regarding this).

 

I have oblique holders from 4 different sources, and my own preferences vary! One quality thing you can maybe determine is the material of the flange, and the Century has the 'softest' flange of all my holders, it's a bit too bendy for my taste. All the others – the differ in design, length, color, material, angle of the flange, thickness … and I like to use each one, for different writing styles and using different nibs.

 

So, as a conclusion, I'd say there are enough other makers that build beautiful and qualitywise excellent pens!

[Cryptos]

 

So, as a conclusion, I'd say there are enough other makers that build beautiful and quality-wise excellent pens!

 

I must be missing something in this. At the moment I am aware of the holders at Paper Ink Arts - having bought an Hourglass from them, and considering getting a Century and a Zanerian. I am also aware of Yoke Pens and UniqueObliques. I don't know of anyone else, or even if there is anyone else. Bit of a black hole for this sort thing here.

[Estefa]

 

I must be missing something in this. At the moment I am aware of the holders at Paper Ink Arts - having bought an Hourglass from them, and considering getting a Century and a Zanerian. I am also aware of Yoke Pens and UniqueObliques. I don't know of anyone else, or even if there is anyone else. Bit of a black hole for this sort thing here.

 

1. You could send any of the gentleman posting their penholders here a private message and ask if they take custom orders.

 

2. There are several others selling obliques from the USA, like Jake Weidmann, Heather and Chris Held, Mike Sull and Bill Lilly. Also Huy Hoang Dao (Vietnam, I think) has started building and selling some (very beautiful, by the way ). Not all of them have regular shops online, but you'll find them! As, if I remember correctly, you said yourself, that is a niche market, so maybe you'll have to wait a bit, because it's more an aside thing for them, but there are options!

 

3. I think there is an initiative on the Philippines that started building pens. If you're in Asia, maybe that's a better possibility for you (I mean, because of the shipping hassle). I don't remember the name, but could find out if you're interested.

 

4. If you go on the Etsy site, and type 'oblique pen holder', there are even more suppliers.

 

5. Salvador Mendez (Mexico) makes very interesting obliques from aluminium and other metals (+ nice inkwells and other pen paraphernalia). His Instagram name is artemscribendi.

[Cryptos]

Great. Thanks for some interesting leads. I'll have a look around.

[Cryptos]

 

 

 

 

It was something of this kind (photo) of holder that I was expecting. Instead I get the acrylic monstrosity you can see in post #741

 

Really knocks any confidence I had.

Edited July 16, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[dhnz]

Hey, Empty, there are a lot of penholders back up at Yokepencompany.com. If you can afford it and live in the States, there’s a lovely 12-inch Magnusson-style pen, or there’s an equally nice 12-inch Zanerian-style.

 

I haven't bought from either Mr Smith or Mr Yoke, but from what I’ve seen and read, you won’t be disappointed whoever you buy from. It just depends on what style you prefer: Mr Smith makes a lot of brightly coloured hourglass-style holders using a lot of acrylics or resins, while Mr Yoke seems to concentrate more on all wooden holders and offers replicas of the less-flashy old-style models (Skeels, Excelsior, Gmeiner, etc).

 

As Estefa mentioned, there are others out there too. I've seen the aluminium holders on Esty but I don't think I'd warm to a metal holder, and there's also a guy who’s created an oblique by attaching a standard straight nib-holder assembly to the holder by a rod. He calls it a sidecar attachment.

 

I looked at Jake Weidmann’s holders some years back and, though they were well made, I found that my tastes just didn’t accord with his (though I can appreciate the skill it takes to do it, I really didn’t like the face of a person or an animal carved into the stem). I looked on them more as a piece of wood carving rather than as a usable holder. He’s since branched out into more ergonomic shapes but they’re still not for me.

 

I also considered buying a holder from Michael Sull at one time but was put off by the lack of choice I was offered; he would just send me what was available (which is also how Bill Lilly operated).

 

Let us know what you buy in the end (if you do buy one, that is).

[Cryptos]

Thanks. I think I am definitely leaning in Mr Yoke's direction. I prefer interesting or exotic woods over plastic (acrylic or otherwise). I'm with you on the metal versions too. Can't stand metal sections on a fountain pen, so I doubt very much that an all metal dip pen holder will be something I would yearn for.

 

I saw that Magnusson replica and it is quite lovely in its simplicity. Export not allowed though (I am in New Zealand). Currently trawling through the 700+ holders he has on his image page. Eventually I will find one that speaks to me - in some unfathomable way of course - and I shall start the wheels to turning.

 

Don't see any reviews of the Weidmann holders. Interesting designs, but not really my thing except as a curiosity.

 

Anyway, there is no great rush. I see at least two, maybe more, of Mr Yoke's excellent inventory heading my way over the next year or so.

Edited July 20, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[fountainpagan]

Arrived today.

 

 

I would not say ugly. It is more it lacks harmony: the two materials dont go very well together.

 

It's not a bad pen. Lot's of lathe work in it, that's for sure. "Ugly" is subjective, after all. The more important question is how does it feel when you write with it? One of the pens I use most is one that I'd consider "ugly". It was a purely experimental pen made from a cheap oak dowel that I wanted to try some pigment powder on. It took at most 15 minutes to turn and then I just played with it. As it happened, it was really comfortable to write with.

 

http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p743/hzsimms/B77C7CC1-C4E7-4D4A-AA04-BDCBF6D7F4F4_zpstm0yxvmb.jpg

 

Like I said, ugly. Never intended to see the light of day. But it felt really good when I used it, so I kept it around. Now, it's in a drawer in my office and I use it constantly. So, "ugly", imho, becomes secondary to usefulness.

 

Howard

 

Really? You think it is ugly? I find it quite lovely in its simplicity, there is a certain naif something to it. I like it (except for the whit band, but that can be easily replaced).

[Cryptos]

 

I would not say ugly. It is more it lacks harmony: the two materials dont go very well together.

 

The photo is flattering. In the hand it is one ugly, ugly pen. Poor finishing on nearly every turned part. Lathe marks everywhere. The slit that holds the flange looks as though it was hacked out with a chisel. the join between the acrylic and wood parts is not very even, and at that joint the acrylic is at least 1 mm wider than the wood and has a sharp edge to it. The wood is rough and the finial is irregular and looks burnt.

 

If I wanted a waster that I could throw in a bag and not worry about it getting broken, this is the perfect candidate. At the price ($65 not including shipping) it was twice the cost of an Hourglass Adjustable and less than a tenth of the quality. I get a bit fed up tiptoeing around with this stuff. Just because it came from a well-known person doesn't mean that it is above criticism.

 

Frankly speaking, in the circumstances I feel that I have been sold a lemon. The only upside, bitter though it may be, is that I have learned a lesson. A costly one. At least with someone like Mr Yoke I can see what I am getting before I put my money down. That counts for a lot right now.

Edited July 20, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[MusinkMan]

 

The photo is flattering. In the hand it is one ugly, ugly pen. Poor finishing on nearly every turned part. Lathe marks everywhere. The slit that holds the flange looks as though it was hacked out with a chisel. the join between the acrylic and wood parts is not very even, and at that joint the acrylic is at least 1 mm wider than the wood and has a sharp edge to it. The wood is rough and the finial is irregular and looks burnt.

 

If I wanted a waster that I could throw in a bag and not worry about it getting broken, this is the perfect candidate. At the price ($65 not including shipping) it was twice the cost of an Hourglass Adjustable and less than a tenth of the quality. I get a bit fed up tiptoeing around with this stuff. Just because it came from a well-known person doesn't mean that it is above criticism.

 

Frankly speaking, in the circumstances I feel that I have been sold a lemon. The only upside, bitter though it may be, is that I have learned a lesson. A costly one. At least with someone like Mr Yoke I can see what I am getting before I put my money down. That counts for a lot right now.

 

Empty-Of-Clouds, please check your private messages.

[MusinkMan]

Arrived today.

 

This pen was built by Bill Lilly, right? I recognize his work.

[Cryptos]

Yes, it was. I can understand the deference people - particularly his students - may have for him with respect to his writing, but when it comes to commercial transactions such sentiments have far less impact. Considering materials and craftsmanship I would have to say that the holders from PIA (Hourglass, Zanerian) are of a much higher standard and at a significantly lower price. Mr Lilly was uncommunicative beyond telling me that he still makes holders and where to send the money (and I had to ask a favour of a friend to aid with expediting the second of these). There was no indication of what I should expect, and I had to base my expectation on other people's images of earlier Lilly holders.

 

As I have said, this little 'lesson' has been costly, and has set back any thought of acquiring something from one of the genuine artisans for a while.

[caliken]

Another magnificent penholder from Brian Smith (Unique Obliques).

 

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/Lincoln%20900.jpg