Ampad Gold Fibre 20-007 and 20-008

[adair]

Has anyone tried these lovely writing pads from AMPAD? They are spiral-wire bound at top and have brown-to-burgundy old-fashioned covers, with a label that claims "America's First/America's Finest." The paper is an ivory cream color and quite smooth. The smaller 5x8 brings 50 sheets, the larger 81/2 x 113/4 contains 70 sheets. Their item numbers are, respectively, 20-007 and 20-008.

 

Now, the bad news: I purchased these beauties at Staples a few days ago, but a web search (including the Ampad website) fails to locate any further stock. Have these pads been discontinued? This would be unfortunate: these are the first American pads that I have found that I feel can compete with Rhodia and Clairefontaine.

[adair]

I've tried to upload two photos of the cover of the smaller Ampad 20-007 as well as a test page with different pens and inks. I experienced no feathering or bleed-through.

[JohnS-MI]

I haven't tried them, but I'll watch for them. The small one might be a good substitute for a steno pad, about the same size. How is show-through? Is the paper heavy enough you can write on both sides legibly?

[adair]

There is absolutely no show-through. The paper is heavy enough. While I described it as quite smooth, there is a very subtle surface texture, creamy but also like the thinnest layer of gesso. Writing with the Esterbrook (a 1555 point), there is a slight and not at all unpleasant tooth. Smooth but not the slippery glassiness of Clairefontaine, which can make my Lamy 2000 skate off the page. This ivory Ampad paper is extremely interesting, complex. And yes, the smaller 20-007 makes an ideal steno pad. The larger pad has two-sided paper, ruled on one side and squared or graphed on the other. Same lovely texture, though. I was able to find more at a different Staples but, unfortunately, Ampad has not answered my query about future availability. The pads are not on their website product list .

[Stylo]

I sometimes use Ampad Gold FIbre A4 size notepads. The paper is fairly good overall, but wet pens do lay a line that slightly overwhelms the papers and feathers just a little bit.

 

As a side note, many people who think their medium nibs lay too thick of a line on typical paper will be shocked to see how much thinner that line looks on Clairefontaine type papers. Of course, you pay a price for it in slower drying times.

 

[hardyb]

I bought and have been using one of the small ones and like it very much. I will get the 8.5x11 pad next time I need to buy some.

Edited May 28, 2007 by hardyb

[donwinn]

Has anyone tried these lovely writing pads from AMPAD? They are spiral-wire bound at top and have brown-to-burgundy old-fashioned covers, with a label that claims "America's First/America's Finest." The paper is an ivory cream color and quite smooth. The smaller 5x8 brings 50 sheets, the larger 81/2 x 113/4 contains 70 sheets. Their item numbers are, respectively, 20-007 and 20-008.

 

Now, the bad news: I purchased these beauties at Staples a few days ago, but a web search (including the Ampad website) fails to locate any further stock. Have these pads been discontinued? This would be unfortunate: these are the first American pads that I have found that I feel can compete with Rhodia and Clairefontaine.

 

Walmart actually sells a variety of Ampad products. I purchased a package of two (2) refills for an Ampad Embassy notebook, because they are of a size to fit my 3-pen carrier. They are wonderful! I can write on them with any of my pens, with 3 different inks (maybe 4 or 5, some are various cartridges) and not a hint of feathering or broadening of the line. It was the first paper I found which would allow my Parker 45 M to write an actual medium line.

 

I purchased, but hav enot yet used, a pad of Ampad lined correspondence paper, to write letters to my daughter and son in San Diego. I expect (perhaps overoptimistcally) that it will likewise be fp friendly.

 

You might check your local Wally World to see if they have the notebooks you crave. I did not notice them online, but there are many things in the stores which are not online. It is at least worth a try.

 

Donnie

 

[JakobS]

As far as the question of have these pads been discontinued, I can only say I just bought the 20-007 version of this notebook at my college bookstore, and so it seems unlikely that they are. I, like you, have had difficulty finding a supply of them from an online source. They are really nice for me to write poetry on and send it to my girlfriend, so I may have to stock up on them from my college bookstore!! They're only $2.49, making them very affordable. On a side note my college bookstore sells Rhodia No. 14 Graph staple bound notebooks for $2.75, I may have to stock up on those too, though I wish I could get them in ruled!! No. 18 for $8.50, and No. 38 for $11.75. I wish the Ampad gold fibre came in a 8x11 vertical wirebound notebook!! Or does it?

[PAKMAN]

I use the regular AMPAD Gold Fibre note pads and am very pleased with how they handle most pen and ink combinations!

[JakobS]

I just wanted to give an update to my own situation with purchasing the 20-007 model. I have found that my college bookstore has about 25-30 pads, so it seems they certainly have not been discontinued. Unlike mentioned in the original post this 20-007 model seems to have had added thirty additional pages for it is now 80 pages of 5x8, medium ruled, micro-perforated, 20lb heavyweight ivory paper. For a 20lb paper it seems on the thicker side. I now have three, one for my poems, prose, and plays that I send to my girlfriend. This has become one of my favorite notebooks, and definitely my favorite 5x8 in. one. As I mentioned before it costs $2.45, and must agree that it gives Clairefontaine, and Rhodia a run for their money and costing less then half of an equal sized notebook of either brand a affordable choice as well!!

 

P.S. The bookstore is the Auraria Campus Bookstore, in Denver Colorado. They also sell Waterman Black Long Standard ink Cartridges for $4.00!! Pendemonium sells them for $6.25, And the Pear Tree Company sells them for $6.00 to name but a few!!

Edited July 17, 2007 by JakobS

[JakobS]

I think I may be addicted to these notebooks, looking on Staples website I found they were selling both the 20-007 and 20-008 and thought 'What the heck, why don't I head to the nearest Staples and see if they have any 20-008 to buy'. Well, I went, and lo and behold there they were waiting for me so I picked up two of the 20-008 8x11 variety and love them as much as the 5x8 ones. I love the ivory paper, and the organization is something, having ruled paper on one side and graph paper on the other is great for the multi-use writer, especially for outlines, sketches, doodles. Only $6.29, it will take awhile to go through these! A very nice writing experience, and am glad to keep seeing them around!!

[adair]

Yes, these are great pads. The label on them has changed, is a little less "retro," but they retain the same excellent paper and stiff brown covers. For my money, they are the finest American-made pads available. And because they are rather less expensive than Rhodia or Clairefontaine, I am less self-conscious when writing on them. In other words, I really use them! I'm glad that they haven't been discontinued. They are among the few reasons left for going to Staples. Office Depot does not carry them.

[RandyE]

I just bought one of these, in a sewn binding (goes by the Ampad name 'Executive Journal' and Ampad item #43011 or Staples #673763) in a nice, warm brown, soft leather cover. Two sizes were available as well as the option for a black leather cover. The paper is a really nice mild cream color that takes ink quite well. It comes with a ribbon bookmark and the pages are lightly lined on both sides - 240 pages by the way. I wrote in it using Waterman Havana Brown and it looks fantastic! No bleed through anywhere, and little, if any, feathering (to my inexperienced eye.) For 10 bucks US, it seemed like a fair deal for a nice book.

 

If you hit up Staples, steer clear of another journal they have called a 'Writer's Journal' made by 'Markings'. The paper does not take fountain pen ink well. It does not feather but the ink will not go down evenly. Also, there is easily enough bleed through that you would not be able to use both sides of a page despite the heavy weight, which by the way, is heavier than the above mentioned journal. They do have nice covers, which is why I picked it up when I got the Ampad book - it has a leather cover imprinted with leaves - but it won't do for fountain pen use as far as I can tell.

 

- R

Edited April 1, 2008 by RandyE

[hardyb]

From Office Max website:

Docket Diamond Legal Rule/Laid Finish, Nice Paper for Fountain Pens

Fountain Pen Friendly! 8.5X 11, Laid Finish, Lined on side, Blank on the back. 24lbs.; White and Ivory, 2 pads to a box, Office Max, about $12.00 (USD). hardyb

Edited April 1, 2008 by hardyb

[Thornton]

Perfect, perfect notepads. I use them all the time and plan on stocking up for school in the fall. I'm glad they've continued to make them.