2017 La Pen Show Report

[ENewton]

Thank you for sharing the experience.

 

Who makes the pen with images of Noh masks on it (in post #13)?

[AltecGreen]

Because of the weather, they brought the line back inside for this year.







The Rush
https://youtu.be/iexQkveEZHU







It took a long time for the line to actually clear. This was the back of the line at 10:30 am




There was still a line well past 11am




Some aerial shots

[AltecGreen]

It got way too crowded once most of the line made it into the show.






https://youtu.be/fhY5qmgSkcg

 

About 15 minutes later
https://youtu.be/7aPngSdJ2FM

 

Edited February 21, 2017 by AltecGreen

[AltecGreen]

Trying to find a path
https://youtu.be/tkCIOFZmSB8





Sunday Miscellany

 

 

Joey Feldman, artist extraordinaire, did this piece of art for Aurora. Kenro handed out hand signed copies by Joey. Thanks Joey for the art.

 

There is a story somewhere






Wrap-up

All in all it was a good show. Most of the nonsense from last year did not happen and the show had a much better vibe. I was encouraged by the evening activity this year. It felt more like the show from a few years ago. We can see some trends from this show. David Nishimura and I chatted a bit yesterday about the show. From a vintage perspective, a lot of good stuff is beginning to flow back out into the market. There was so much to buy in LA. As evidenced by the large collection that changed hands, there is a changing of the guard and the market will see a lot more pens come out. The vintage market of course is dynamic. David talked about cycles. Right now some brands like Chilton are way down while I see a lot of interest in vintage and modern maki-e. You can find many modern companies like Taccia and Laban putting out urushi and maki-e pens. Vintage Pelikans and some modern ones seem to be slowing. As for modern, Aurora definitely is gambling on the flex 88. The market for flex has reached a point where one of the majors seems willing to take the risk. The nib itself is promising although people need to keep their expectations in check. This move is clearly driven by the younger crowd who are using pens and asking for flex. Whether this continues or is a fad, only time will tell. Tastes in color also seem to changing. Pastels seem to be in. I was talking about the robin egg color of the Sailor Fresca and some one noted an uptick in interest in the vintage Esterbrook pastel pens.

The situation with celluloid is a different story. There really isn’t a manufacturer of celluloid rods for pens right now. Mazzuchelli seem to be out and my go out of business. It is unclear whether quality rods can come out of China. It is likely that the knowledge of how to make the brown Arco pattern will soon disappear. On the other hand, people should not panic and pay exorbitant amount of money on recent Omas pens. Manu is going to be putting out pens for foreseeable future. They have a jumbo sized pen in the brown Arco coming out using the filling mechanism from the Wall Decoband. There will be seven Wahl Decoband set made Omas material coming. So things will be interesting.

Edited February 21, 2017 by AltecGreen

[AltecGreen]

Thank you for sharing the experience.

 

Who makes the pen with images of Noh masks on it (in post #13)?

 

 

Danitrio. Those were pens at Chatterley Pens

[Barkingpig]

Thank you!

 

This was surely the "next best thing....." Having already "been to MY bank prior to the show's opening, it was nice to "watch from afar," & be spared further withdrawals!

 

I thank you for the Omas & other Italian "eye candy;" their use of celluloids is unsurpassed & it feels very special to have shared them. You are a Gentleman to have included us with this report.

[jcgara]

Great report, Ricky! Thanks for sharing the movies and pix...I need to save up and go some year.

[empliau]

Thanks for the wonderful photos! I was there Sunday and met several people I've dealt with online. I've arranged for some repair/restoration and, of course, fell in love with an expensive pen (What! Only one? Yes, because the budget is so constricted this year.) which I am angling, scheming, and saving (don't know in which order) to get for my birthday. I did look for you, but couldn't find you in the masses of humanity.

Edited February 21, 2017 by empliau

[ethernautrix]

I always enjoy your thorough pen show reports, Ricky. Makes me wistful that I probably won't make it to another U.S. pen show until possibly L.A. next year at the earliest, but I do get to live vicariously through your reports AND the careful balance of my pen accumulation is maintained (and the snake in my pocket can relax).

 

 

 

 

(The snake in the pocket is a Polish idiom for skinflints - a person doesn't put his hand in his pocket for fear of the snake's bite. I've said to at least one Polish person, "I think your snake is allergic to money." Ha!) (Cos spendthrift.) (My snake is more of an earthworm. Fortunately? No?)

[rpsyed]

Thanks for sharing all those wonderful photos! Those Stylo-Art pens were gorgeous. The older Ryan Krusac pens with metal sections were always stunning but the new model, the one with the ebonite section, looks far more practical and the wood blanks he picks out are beautifully figured.

 

The Brown Arco pneumatic-filler sounds interesting. I feel lucky I was able to get a pen's worth of the Omas Burkina celluloid for a custom pen while it was on the market though.

 

Edit: I got to try the Aurora flex nib at the Kenro event in NYC a few days ago, and have to agree: it's not quite a replacement for vintage flex but it's the best modern flex I've seen outside of custom nibs, like the handmade Newton nibs, which are no longer available or the Romillo nibs.

Edited February 21, 2017 by rpsyed

[penhappy]

Thank you for sharing the pictures and comments with those people who could not attend. It

looked like a busy show which is favorable to everyone. There were some very good looking

pens.

 

Glad to see the ballroom was not restricted this year and vendors could set up all weekend.

[JonSzanto]

As always, Ricky, stellar job. Not many people can imagine how you pull this all off, and you always seem to have a good time. We're the lucky recipients of your sharing the experience.

 

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/EnvoyC/resource/clap_welles.gif

 

(Pretend that Orson looks happy...)

Edited February 21, 2017 by JonSzanto

[jmccarty3]

Ricky--

 

Thanks for all the terrific pics. Wish I could have been there.

[zaddick]

Another awesome report that somehow makes me want to both go so I can pick up some new, exciting pens and also to start selling off my pens so I don't leave my kids with cases to deal with. I also now want seafood.

 

A sincere thank you for the time and effort you invest. I always appreciate it.

[888007888]

Thanks for sharing. This was my first real pen show and I was amazed by everything. Such a fun weekend.

[AltecGreen]

Another awesome report that somehow makes me want to both go so I can pick up some new, exciting pens and also to start selling off my pens so I don't leave my kids with cases to deal with. I also now want seafood.

 

A sincere thank you for the time and effort you invest. I always appreciate it.

 

 

If you want seafood, check out El Malecon Mariscos Estilo Sinaloa in Oakland.

 

http://elmaleconseafood.com/

Edited February 21, 2017 by AltecGreen

[zaddick]

 

 

If you want seafood, check out El Malecon Mariscos Estilo Sinaloa in Oakland.

 

http://elmaleconseafood.com/

 

That's not too far from me. Thanks for the recommendation!

[888007888]

Vanness Pens Tomoe River notebook

[avlisyar]

Thank you so much for the photo journey through the show.

Someday, maybe I will make it there from the other coast.

 

Again, thanks for your time and effort!

[Omaslover]

"Last year a young man attended the show and said his grandfather passed away and he wanted to sell his grandfather’s pens. This year he brought the entire collection with the intent to sell."

 

So I'm confused, what was in the box ?