Our Paraphernalia

[Charles Skinner]

What is your favorite item of paraphernalia that you associate with our hobby? Mine, is by far, a 10 by 10 inch "corn bread" baking pan!

 

WHAT, you might say! A pan is my most important and useful paraphernalia related to fountain pen use!!!! --- How silly! --- Look at it this way ----- For years I feared spilling a bottle of ink on the carpet while filling a pen, and even other disasters related to filling pens. Then, I had a "brain storm!" I made a quick trip to Walmart where I bought a 10 by 10 inch pan meant to cook cornbread in. Now, ANYTIME I have a bottle of ink open to fill a pen or even to remove the ink already in the pen for some reason, ALL of these procedure takes place OVER the pan so that any disaster, large or small, will be caught in the pan, instead of on the floor or desk!

 

It could save a me having to hire a moving van to move "my things" out of this house, ---- to find another place to live and write!

 

C. S.

[CraigR]

Craig is having problems typing into his posts - Mod.

Edited January 11, 2018 by alc3261

[LizEF]

 

 

Yes, that's what I thought too.

 

But seriously, one of my favorite accessories (don't know that I could narrow it down to just one) is the Itoya ProFolio Journal Sidekick pen holder (the disposable FP is just a bonus). I have the brown one, and the magnet is strong enough to hold firmly on a journal, a clipboard (made of wood), and thinner stuff like the fabric separating the paper slot inside a laptop / tablet bag. Thumbnail:

http://cdn3.volusion.com/stnvf.ynoqe/v/vspfiles/photos/JS1-BRBP-3S.jpg?1514575076

 

Also available on Amazon (sometimes for less), not sure where else it might be found.

 

I have various other pen sleeves / holders that I like, but this one is rather unique and quick and easy to transfer from one use to another. It's also fun to fidget with once you remove the pen.

[inkstainedruth]

Hmmm. Where to start....

I could say the antiques Arts and Crafts style desk I bought outside Indianapolis a couple of years ago. Or the really nice (but apparently no longer available ) storage boxes from IKEA that I put ink bottles and sample vial trays in.

But I'm going to be a lot more prosaic, and say the inexpensive glass votive candle holder I use to flush pens. it's got straight sides and is way less top-heavy than a shot glass, so I don't have to worry about it tipping over, and the straight sides are also thick enough that I can use a cheap plastic clothes pin to hold pens upright, and balance the ends of the clothes pin on the sides. It's about 2" deep, so I can soak the nib and feed in even large pens, like the vintage Sheaffer Balance Oversize.

I think it cost me a buck at Target.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bogiesan]

Quiver leather pen holders for Moleskine and clones.

Ear cleaning bulb for cleaning pens.

Syringes for filling converters and reusing cartridges.

[vjones]

I keep an 8 1/2" by 11" notebook open and I fill my pens over that. If any ink spills, it goes on the paper. It also provides a surface for me to write on just after filling the pen. I've never spilled so much ink that I needed a pan to catch it. But who knows. It could happen. (I definitely stay away from the nice rug when refilling.) Oh, and I keep scraps from old t-shirts around to wipe ink off the pen after reloading. I keep them for a while, and wind up being multi-colored scraps of fabric.

 

I do have a shot glass that I use when I'm cleaning out my pens. I wrapped some electrical tape around the bottom, in case I drop it.

 

So, um, my paraphernalia consists of a shot glass and old t-shirts.....

Edited January 9, 2018 by vjones

[JakobS]

Sealing Wax is a big one for me, Atelier Gargoyle for flexible wax, and Abraxas for traditional wax.

 

Seals are pretty great too, but you can get far more quality wax for the price of a quality or meaningful seal!

 

For actual writing, it would be blotting paper, as a lefty, all my favorite paper is need of it!

Edited January 9, 2018 by JakobS

[CraigR]

 

[LizEF]

 

OK, now I'm really hoping that you're posting images that something between me and the image server is blocking.

[inkstainedruth]

OK, now I'm really hoping that you're posting images that something between me and the image server is blocking.

 

I'm not seeing anything in his posts either.... It's not just you.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[CraigR]

 

I'm not seeing anything in his posts either.... It's not just you.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

I like inkwells......got lots, got sets....don't have them all on my Igmur yet.

No reason to go over board.....a few will do for now.

French Art Decco, @ 1925 Birds Eye maple veneer.

 

 

I think this '20's but could be a decade before or later.

 

Square one sterling silver top, crystal, other with the nib cleaning brush, is silver plate.

Edited January 9, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[MKB]

ArtBin Super Satchel Slim, a 14x15x2 inch plastic bin, which I use as a lap desk for writing letters. Papers, envelopes, stamps, sealing wax, seals, butane torch, dip pen and ink stored inside. Battery powered fairy lights taped to white paper on the bottom for illuminating guide lines if necessary.

[dcwaites]

My most used paraphernalia would be

• a cheapy set of feeler gauges that I use to test, clean and adjust nib tine width,
• a reverse forceps (you have to press to open them) to dip freshly removed nibs and feeds into a glass of water for rinsing,
• and said long tall glass of water.

After one accident said glass is now attached to the desk with blu-tak.

[Runnin_Ute]

My Levenger Lapdesk for one. I do like Charles' idea of the bread pan though, I would probably get a foil one if I adopted it.

 

For flushing I have a glass I got at some restaurant-Red Lobster I think for some fancy drink.

I have a shot glass for filling out of a vial. Still not ideal though. I put a section or two of the daily newspaper on the counter, under glass, ink to protect the counter.

[CraigR]

 

I'm not seeing anything in his posts either.... It's not just you.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[praxim]

Craig, please try quoting this post, and write inside the quoted section rather than outside as you normally would.

 

I want to see what happens, hoping to establish communications so we can troubleshoot the problem. I have questions.

[vjones]

Tommy can you hear me...

[abstract49]

Glass bowl, about 8 inch diameter, 3-1/2 inches tall (chipped rim, so no longer “safe” for kitchen/dining use), 12 oz red Dixie cup, several disposable 2 oz plastic cups, large ear syringe, lots of paper towels, and like someone else said, old t-shirt pieces. T-shirt fabric is great for lots of things, including pen wipes.

[TMLee]

 

For me , it would have to be 'kooyah' ..... my bronze frog ... who is :

- my assistant photographer

- brush rest

- pen rest

- paperweight

... all rolled into one