tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43679397422568312802024-03-05T08:19:19.355-08:00Saint Austin's PubA quiet comfortable place where the "Other Demographic" escapes from the loud Bic Clic usersVanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-35140630411987556552017-04-20T18:48:00.001-07:002017-05-05T23:18:03.784-07:00Dry Parker 61 Revived with Levenger Cobalt Blue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I bought a Parker 61 capillary filler fountain pen and pencil set that looked like new. (I wrote a brief post about this back in June 2014.) Even the silicone coating on the filler system is perfect with no flakes or scratches. However, I couldn't keep it writing; the flow was so dry. </div>
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No doubt it needed to be cleaned well, but I'm not willing to risk taking it apart after reading how easy it is to break them. So, I've flushed it out with a bulb syringe several times and refilled with different inks to try to improve the flow. This has only been partially successful and has improved marginally by using increasingly wetter inks. Until recently the best ink combination for this Death Valley dry writing 61 was Waterman Serenity Blue. But even that was not a great solution - no pun intended. Obviously there must be some residue blocking the flow that I haven't been able to clear out and I was about ready to give up on it. </div>
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However, recently I was reading about intense blue inks and ran across a review of Levenger Cobalt Blue in which it was noted that one of the problems with this ink is that it bleeds and feathers so badly because it is such a wet ink. Since I have a bottle of Levenger Cobalt Blue, I knew this to be true and was the reason why I stopped using it even though I love the color. Then it dawned on me that Cobalt Blue might be wet enough to flow through my Parker 61. So, I cleaned it thoroughly with the bulb syringe and after expelling all of the water, I dunked the Parker 61 filler into the Cobalt Blue ink. </div>
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Afterwards, I tried writing with it and there was no ink flow at all. Out of frustration I put the empty syringe on the end of the filler to see if any ink was in the pen, because I then wondered if the capillary system wasn't picking up any ink. I squeezed it and ink came out of the nib. So, I dipped the filler back into the ink bottle and then reassembled it to try it out. Amazingly, it wrote the best it ever has so far. It still is a dry writer and feels a bit like writing with a soft pencil, but not as dry as it had been in the past. The next morning I took the cap off to try it again thinking it will surely have stopped flowing or skip as it has in the past. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still wrote just as well. The next day it is still writing easily with no skips, drag or false starts. </div>
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While this doesn't completely solve the partial clogging, it at least has the pen working at an agreeable and very usable flow. It is funny that an ink and a pen - both of which I had given up on - have turned out to be the perfect combination! </div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-82804217662659510282017-03-12T19:10:00.000-07:002017-03-18T05:57:16.119-07:00Ink Flow and Pen Cleaning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJiHqZnTOF9Qy_g5XcqkjxEyEYDeSpsrYnYkVJBbyqknfV6QFLWqTDFNdper3qfjmDAUACDJ_iFu3ZAmkw06iC4mbUWLgBXvETRJihsFqfOcDyAzcJjflMAUwne5IXKd6iFfJ7G9P6M4/s1600/2015-11-30+20.16.40-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJiHqZnTOF9Qy_g5XcqkjxEyEYDeSpsrYnYkVJBbyqknfV6QFLWqTDFNdper3qfjmDAUACDJ_iFu3ZAmkw06iC4mbUWLgBXvETRJihsFqfOcDyAzcJjflMAUwne5IXKd6iFfJ7G9P6M4/s320/2015-11-30+20.16.40-3.jpg" width="240" /></a>Some new pens are stubborn to get started, especially using an ink cartridge for the first time. New pens may have residue from manufacturing that make them difficult to start. So, washing the nib with mild soap and water can help them flow better. Dipping pens and filling them with bottled ink primes the feed. If you only have cartridge ink, try tapping the pen nib GENTLY on a paper towel or rag to start the flow. You might also need to gently squeeze the ink cartridge JUST A LITTLE to start the flow. If you squeeze too hard you'll have a mess. Once you do this the first time and have ink running through the pen from cartridge to tip, you shouldn't have to do it again, especially if you use the pen on a regular basis. If the pen and cartridge run dry and are left sitting for a while, you may have problems again. If you still have problems, try a different brand of ink. My favorite ink for pens with a stubborn flow is Waterman's Serenity Blue. Serenity Blue flows well. It doesn't dry in your nib as quickly as other inks, and it has a beautiful bright blue color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4uVkhl8iMh1t9JBYl7FUBQuqhsqdA6ZG1pyNnuwSo4iDMtSclriy4_NGz7midlnmnVgpykDFL8P9siAj9hUiC03oop0fr1v7yATmc6rJuBmQAPyWJdw94Ot3lF292_88Yx1KqhubEVQ/s1600/2017-03-12+20.06.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4uVkhl8iMh1t9JBYl7FUBQuqhsqdA6ZG1pyNnuwSo4iDMtSclriy4_NGz7midlnmnVgpykDFL8P9siAj9hUiC03oop0fr1v7yATmc6rJuBmQAPyWJdw94Ot3lF292_88Yx1KqhubEVQ/s320/2017-03-12+20.06.46.jpg" width="320" /></a>If your pen has had ink for awhile and clogged, a syringe is really helpful to clean out your pen quickly. Flushing the pen several times with lukewarm water nearly always brings your pen back to write-like-new condition. When I flush a pen, I stand at a sink with a glass full of clean water, drawing the water out with the syringe. <u>Hold the syringe firmly</u> into the pen nib assembly and force the water through, pointing the nib down toward the drain so the inky water is less likely to splatter on you or counter top. Even if you hold them together tightly be prepared to get sprayed.<br />
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The nib should be flushed several times until you see clear water coming through the nib. After the nib is clean, use the syringe (empty) to blow air through the nib assembly to help it dry faster. The nib will need to dry - usually overnight - if you want the ink to be full strength. If the nib still has water in it when you re-assemble it, and fill it with ink, the ink will be diluted. Surprisingly, even the tiniest bit of moisture will dilute the ink noticeably.<br />
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If your pen still has ink flow problems after cleaning, then you'll need to take apart the nib assembly, remove the feed, and clean the nib and feed with soap and water. When you do this, examine the channel in the feed for ink residue. Use a toothbrush or toothpick to clean out the channel, being careful not to damage the feed. The feed must be clean and the channel open in order for your pen to write well. Some of the better pen and ink dealers sell small copper sheets that can be used to clear the feed channel, even when the pen is fully assembled.<br />
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-26644756465067288172016-11-15T17:05:00.000-08:002017-03-18T05:55:23.665-07:00International Ink Cartridges<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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[PHOTO - left to right: International Short, Jinhao International, Waterman International Long cartridge.<br />
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Most of my fountain pens are filled from bottles of ink. However, when I am away from home or office and not certain my pen will last through the day without a refill, I use a pen with a cartridge. Ideally, that will be a Waterman long international, which fits in my Waterman Carene, Levenger Truewriter and Jinhao 159/x750, among others. Most pens that will hold a long international cartridge will also hold two shorts - one installed and one in reserve. Frustratingly, this is not always the case.<br />
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What drives me crazy is the number of pens that are only a few millimeters shy of holding two shorts or a long international cartridge! Dear fountain pen makers: Does it never occur to you to test that before you put them into production? Way back when I first began collecting fountain pens, I was impressed by how smart that was that you could always have a spare cartridge in reserve inside your pen. But the more pens I collected the more I was surprised that was not the case. That irritation faded into the background the more I used piston-fillers, pneumatics, bladders, capillaries and converters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0nViBRRgQtKq1bGJANSApfdbD2ptHp7_VgFk-AB69U5UI3AyrcrsxG07MKHeJSmbnC0Qf5hQnnN9amneb9NaY9YX7IVYXzrjym7RdGSszmIG04u18d-jPphFkb0yVHa9REYPFhyphenhyphenMbaY/s1600/Black+n+silver+pens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0nViBRRgQtKq1bGJANSApfdbD2ptHp7_VgFk-AB69U5UI3AyrcrsxG07MKHeJSmbnC0Qf5hQnnN9amneb9NaY9YX7IVYXzrjym7RdGSszmIG04u18d-jPphFkb0yVHa9REYPFhyphenhyphenMbaY/s320/Black+n+silver+pens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
[PHOTO - left to right: Taccia Portuguese, Levenger Truewriter, Waterman Carene, JinHao x750] <br />
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One of my favorite pens - a Taccia Portuguese is about the length of a pocket pen and writes perfectly, never drying or clogging, and no false starts. That makes it a perfect candidate for carrying around all day. Except that it is too short for an average length converter. One short international converter is all that it will hold. Until now I have used a plunger style micro-converter, which probably holds less ink than even an international short cartridge. And since the Portuguese is a wet writer, it doesn't write long before needing a refill. The metal band at the bottom of the body prevents it from being converted to an eyedropper fill. So, it has always stayed home in spite of its portability. Until today, when an order from China arrived that I had forgotten about: 5 packages of JinHao cartridges (25 cartridges) for less than three dollars and FREE shipping! The price was great, but even greater was the realization that they were medium length cartridges - a length between short and long international cartridges. This is a cartridge volume that appears to compare to that of proprietary cartridges like those of Lamy and Pilot. Unfortunately, I don't know the actual volume by comparison. But really, I don't care - I'm just thrilled to have an international cartridge that will last longer in those pens too short for long cartridges. Especially, my Taccia Portuguese, which can now become the awesome pocket pen it always was meant to be.<br />
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-47528606193620410102015-11-26T19:16:00.002-08:002016-01-24T15:36:09.230-08:00Esterbrook Radio Nib #914<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Esterbrook Radio Nib #914 combined with Tachikawa Comic Pen Nib Holder, Model 40 (T-40) is a great combination for drawing.<br />
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The nib was found on eBay and the holder on Amazon. The two together were less than $20.00.<br />
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The Radio Nib is supposedly the one that Charles Schultz used to draw Peanuts. This nib is long and flexible and easily provides a variable line. It is easy to see why it was Charles Schultz's favorite nib.<br />
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The Tachikawa nib holder is made from wood and has a soft band that keeps your fingers from slipping and makes the pen very comfortable to hold.<br />
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-49441585987955906942015-03-30T18:00:00.002-07:002015-03-30T20:04:47.083-07:00Wenger Junior Zippered Padfolio<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <b>Wenger Junior Zippered Padfolio</b> makes a great portable stationary kit, with room for four pens, stamps, pad and address book. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1. Interior pocket is large enough to hold a small Kindle.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It also has pockets for credit cards and drivers license. The Padfolio comes with the smaller white lined pad pictured below (#3), not the Rhodia pad. The folio appears and feels well made; constructed with "Ultrahyde", (a form of bonded leather that looks and feels like real leather) on the outside and synthetic materials on the inside. The zipper is sturdy and pulls open and closed easily. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pen loops comfortably hold full size fountain pens. The pens pictured are a Cross ATX, Cross Apogee, highlighter and Namiki Vanishing Point. All that combined with the Kindle is a bit too much (#1), but it will all zip closed. Without the Kindle, it zips closed easily (#2). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmTb24mqr6mbUewZqS_4ItXb0FfNmVB6bkalZ-UmEcAZNO9MSLbDvYk4SiFuLaf5mFd5lkuXyjIQSHlhVo4RtqbDTrlAmW1y3lDGoqJ7cTo_x_WWekq3W8pdt92NF7iYTEHLAK2lN6S0/s1600/2015-03-10+09.14.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmTb24mqr6mbUewZqS_4ItXb0FfNmVB6bkalZ-UmEcAZNO9MSLbDvYk4SiFuLaf5mFd5lkuXyjIQSHlhVo4RtqbDTrlAmW1y3lDGoqJ7cTo_x_WWekq3W8pdt92NF7iYTEHLAK2lN6S0/s1600/2015-03-10+09.14.31.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. A Rhodia No. 16 tablet fits snugly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Rhodia No. 16 pad just barely fits and is considerably larger and thicker than the stock pad. A book-bound style pad, such as a calendar, Circa Junior (Levenger) or composition book will not slide in securely. The fabric slot for the pad only works sliding in from the top; that is it is horizontal to the Padfolio, and there is no vertical slot. The interior pocket is roomy enough for a set of thank you cards and envelopes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaYjFtl3a_-K5WBnROPmxODCquIaZCKu7HiGyVIT_Ud18XIbwXv_1-yI6UDyWFhMF3ZzXbS3mwxw1xzOLpkUEQ1h9SOythyWMOAymetDvdDtg7pIKJexWi_s49zfSQ25IoqCXB5TBT-w/s1600/2015-03-10+09.15.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaYjFtl3a_-K5WBnROPmxODCquIaZCKu7HiGyVIT_Ud18XIbwXv_1-yI6UDyWFhMF3ZzXbS3mwxw1xzOLpkUEQ1h9SOythyWMOAymetDvdDtg7pIKJexWi_s49zfSQ25IoqCXB5TBT-w/s1600/2015-03-10+09.15.58.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3. Padfolio with stock pad of paper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cover pocket does not zip or snap closed, but is great for stuffing in a small address book or small envelopes (#4). The address book pictured here would actually fit in all the way but was pulled out a little for the sake of the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIiQsgUzWIx6s3TywA1ubu0alILzlamenz3YUdgiG_aL2xitCNDF_CPqdPr5d7vQEt3Zf4vxtoC8IYbjukkh0xZkRXAgmZL76zYL8jtL8KXYTEd4Jhg8_rYVqkcAhy47718VYlmE_PL4/s1600/2015-03-10+09.15.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIiQsgUzWIx6s3TywA1ubu0alILzlamenz3YUdgiG_aL2xitCNDF_CPqdPr5d7vQEt3Zf4vxtoC8IYbjukkh0xZkRXAgmZL76zYL8jtL8KXYTEd4Jhg8_rYVqkcAhy47718VYlmE_PL4/s1600/2015-03-10+09.15.02.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4. Padfolio includes one pocket on the outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At about $17.00 on Amazon (that includes shipping), the Wenger Jr. Zippered Padfolio is a great value for a leather(-ish) case, and compares well with genuine leather cases I have seen for as much as $95.00. Time will tell if it lasts well.</span></div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-58788149840310662222014-10-30T11:14:00.000-07:002014-10-30T11:16:39.659-07:00Book Release: The Meaning and Symbols of Holy Eucharist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6bDSMytY98qX6UGPdluQTaMH2tjQXy2aYeWQGs47_C-efMF2NiMO5wyGYAX80rGdWiL1CRAhp2fm-0YjKOakgZAVRJ0FIGziqdX1Lrle0F8eGmbtw1hHGy0IFGjj98-acmXP7qsRzKU/s1600/Cover+B+W+base+text_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6bDSMytY98qX6UGPdluQTaMH2tjQXy2aYeWQGs47_C-efMF2NiMO5wyGYAX80rGdWiL1CRAhp2fm-0YjKOakgZAVRJ0FIGziqdX1Lrle0F8eGmbtw1hHGy0IFGjj98-acmXP7qsRzKU/s1600/Cover+B+W+base+text_front.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Symbols-Holy-Eucharist-Instructed/dp/1499341008/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414692609&sr=1-3&keywords=instructed+eucharist" target="_blank">The Meaning and Symbols of Holy Eucharist</a>, which is an introduction to liturgical worship, has just been released on Amazon by Saint Austin's Desk, a subsidiary of Saint Austin's Pub. (Ha! It's just one person: me.)</span></div>
Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-31639658509760370242014-10-10T16:33:00.000-07:002014-10-10T16:40:30.763-07:00Brand New Book from 1898!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAcHKeJAZmwfKUO6_fufgu3tm09epXNXYWGd1QPfIgnYcJ60Kstxn0i-pq3T_ZiVh3A2RtSmXjpU8qBGNRBb2MEks4ijYlvR5QzGo7BGkXDnqjgfeMQAQdK61cnTmf-tsz8DO6z2rUTY/s1600/2014-10-10+16.39.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAcHKeJAZmwfKUO6_fufgu3tm09epXNXYWGd1QPfIgnYcJ60Kstxn0i-pq3T_ZiVh3A2RtSmXjpU8qBGNRBb2MEks4ijYlvR5QzGo7BGkXDnqjgfeMQAQdK61cnTmf-tsz8DO6z2rUTY/s1600/2014-10-10+16.39.20.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>How can you have a brand new book from 1898? <br />
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Well, when you order it from Abe Books and it comes to you with not a single page cut! <br />
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Books in the past were bound in folio form with larger sheets of paper folded and sewn into the binding, which meant the pages had to be "opened" (cut) to be read. In the nineteenth century, books were being trimmed before they were bound, but some books were left uncut for the more refined readers. A brief article and video about this appears at Abe Books <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2012/07/16/deckle-edges-or-uncut-edges-on-a-book/comment-page-1/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7Bmt0x1Ztxj_E6X92TI1UGu3B1IXjbtxClm03B1tCqpjeFD-wrVlEprkt9OqsOcP1vBfeg7Exx2wyTCMLef7iyCb-CXtGbDAWP5Yx6xAe_RoExg_3dzY9rfhcsSh7wwnfd0xX0IdHZs/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7Bmt0x1Ztxj_E6X92TI1UGu3B1IXjbtxClm03B1tCqpjeFD-wrVlEprkt9OqsOcP1vBfeg7Exx2wyTCMLef7iyCb-CXtGbDAWP5Yx6xAe_RoExg_3dzY9rfhcsSh7wwnfd0xX0IdHZs/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.07.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I enjoy reading books on Kindle, if it is a book I am reading cover to cover, but I prefer reading reference books and non-fiction books the traditional way - because I like to quickly skip around as I am studying or researching a topic. The other problem with Kindle books are footnotes - especially from old books. Several months ago I began reading the biography of Thomas Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry the VIII) by Arthur James Mason. It was one of those free, or nearly free, Kindle books with awkward formatting. While reading, the footnotes appear in the middle of a sentence with a few odd characters thrown in. I can handle that OK, but it is often difficult to match up the footnote with the originating text. Not a problem, if I wasn't interested in that point. But if it did pique my curiosity, I found myself wasting a bunch of time trying to find the source. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUtsO-T-vI11dTeABz7DNJTp0aFA4kHqsBqeZDYgyGdBkRnj0BYB51mX9F-oXhbDoJPAy9REScMauyo4MTPUcmHORGAaIjtuY5Q6pf459HHMuQUsY2Eruxg4DO8cL0Mb34gPzq9Oz5s/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUtsO-T-vI11dTeABz7DNJTp0aFA4kHqsBqeZDYgyGdBkRnj0BYB51mX9F-oXhbDoJPAy9REScMauyo4MTPUcmHORGAaIjtuY5Q6pf459HHMuQUsY2Eruxg4DO8cL0Mb34gPzq9Oz5s/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.33.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>After several episodes of that, I decided to go to abebooks.com and see if I could find a used copy. I prefer hardbacks if I can afford them, so searched for that first. Surprisingly, I found a nineteenth century copy from England purported to be in very good condition, and it was just about the least expensive copy available. When it arrived I was pleased to see that the cover was in excellent condition. However when I opened the book up I realized that not a single page had been cut. The book is 116 years old and it has never been read! You might respond, "No kidding. It is a book about Thomas Cranmer. No wonder no one read it!" I get it, but it is actually a very well written history book, and I am Anglican. So, I love it. The crazy thing is, I am so pleased with the idea of having a new uncut book from 1898 that I can't bring myself to cut it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnbLIEyHW-3qvBQArTllAiYPJJvmmLOoClA84gV35PsXNfCDHIa4z1hvzulBcSfrEqjHoj-x72to0oYlhjDOGFLnFElG17vi097sF4ktiRFNThULpmTPXCoPfva5nU-GVMYqxT1fkHM0/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnbLIEyHW-3qvBQArTllAiYPJJvmmLOoClA84gV35PsXNfCDHIa4z1hvzulBcSfrEqjHoj-x72to0oYlhjDOGFLnFElG17vi097sF4ktiRFNThULpmTPXCoPfva5nU-GVMYqxT1fkHM0/s1600/2014-10-10+16.53.57.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexjUCo5A79RR6dDkWQytbhcJI4dpVj45mjt8Fbg7pF2LsFftC8yB3UboQ8JqA6mBh0USDffTAiK80SNCBoZc8Wi_yL0mSkVaRaCLaHEgvPG5AhvNrxvP1Ds7QxvfFGg3Exjc3XR6F-9E/s1600/2014-10-10+16.54.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexjUCo5A79RR6dDkWQytbhcJI4dpVj45mjt8Fbg7pF2LsFftC8yB3UboQ8JqA6mBh0USDffTAiK80SNCBoZc8Wi_yL0mSkVaRaCLaHEgvPG5AhvNrxvP1Ds7QxvfFGg3Exjc3XR6F-9E/s1600/2014-10-10+16.54.29.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibktSj3_WO6Y2su3ZFbCH_7FoOGzHjH9DO0u9J-pZLN_aIqdY_qkeJyyjj0Hw4hvkJhtajTohhj10e35snLxMe23gNKeHEBIyBGmZJgWWRvicG0R2dhb2Y6vPLrahuyxAgnXgUFCjnXCg/s1600/2014-10-10+16.55.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibktSj3_WO6Y2su3ZFbCH_7FoOGzHjH9DO0u9J-pZLN_aIqdY_qkeJyyjj0Hw4hvkJhtajTohhj10e35snLxMe23gNKeHEBIyBGmZJgWWRvicG0R2dhb2Y6vPLrahuyxAgnXgUFCjnXCg/s1600/2014-10-10+16.55.57.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMrUTeHsJ7GosiQqy2nt9f3BNUMGDIEUjI5qLrpnusg04eOizl-gGwzdXatp32aLF4AqKftr654OgQGAHhJFCj8MjXW0_vQdDrUGUV8stzJ_SSOA0t_vpt48iNNNDyMu_ddpQts_SGs4/s1600/2014-10-10+17.34.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMrUTeHsJ7GosiQqy2nt9f3BNUMGDIEUjI5qLrpnusg04eOizl-gGwzdXatp32aLF4AqKftr654OgQGAHhJFCj8MjXW0_vQdDrUGUV8stzJ_SSOA0t_vpt48iNNNDyMu_ddpQts_SGs4/s1600/2014-10-10+17.34.05.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-75471548417497273962014-09-01T08:40:00.000-07:002014-09-01T08:40:42.347-07:00Retro 51 - Tornado Elite Mechanical Pencil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroKYXK94P0OFbtOU_l5AJ-Ma9dDUFfYm2zeIj9Ad75herZ41KiVOHEl0Y5R2euH_CbP5n_mOIqvIA6ObIpg-mJ7T4JPZcJi8tC5fYLMPygN4_PhqRn1rolj5E47uPCdWjqoOGq3O0PYs/s1600/SN850448-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroKYXK94P0OFbtOU_l5AJ-Ma9dDUFfYm2zeIj9Ad75herZ41KiVOHEl0Y5R2euH_CbP5n_mOIqvIA6ObIpg-mJ7T4JPZcJi8tC5fYLMPygN4_PhqRn1rolj5E47uPCdWjqoOGq3O0PYs/s1600/SN850448-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The Retro Tornado Elite mechanical pencil follows the design of the Retro 51 pens. However it is much smaller, measuring only 3 3/8" in length. The Tornado Elite takes 1.1mm lead and comes with a tube of 20 refills, and a tube of six replacement erasers. So, there's no need to buy refills for quite awhile. As expected from Retro 51, the build quality of this little pencil is excellent. Even though it is small, the pencil feels substantial to use. The graphite used for the lead writes smoothly - not scratchy like some poorly made graphite. The eraser is soft and works easily. The pencil fits perfectly with a journal, sketchbook or small pocket.<br />
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I brought the Tornado Elite and a small sketchbook to the Chicago Art Institute to sketch some of my favorite pieces of artwork. If you are looking for a compact mechanical pencil, the Tornado Elite is an excellent solution.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIbyAhwQr5ZJ591SuEkwavoDtv9lYgEVscejF5sM0_KJ53o21g047EjJNa_BpEQSddHkeDFbUvH7T_b-caEc3px89TiIYduazcM5KFUph2o5mmlvTHVlig-BqI75zpVsnnz2z68YxbnQ/s1600/Retro+Tornado+Elite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIbyAhwQr5ZJ591SuEkwavoDtv9lYgEVscejF5sM0_KJ53o21g047EjJNa_BpEQSddHkeDFbUvH7T_b-caEc3px89TiIYduazcM5KFUph2o5mmlvTHVlig-BqI75zpVsnnz2z68YxbnQ/s1600/Retro+Tornado+Elite.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-47154493115275758252014-08-30T10:51:00.000-07:002014-08-31T12:11:30.960-07:00Big Pens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsxEmnaT0sYTO9MebYy1-ABPYTQqqpLF4ln94AlDRJAHqHP6RKZhIHMimDSINbDdcF0TOoElBRBjLjb4J0bebxfhP89tHkp_9S7k-akOqJ9RYOKtZVyMonZojmyaWlT-5cQq9L4vkV88/s1600/2014-08-25+21.22.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsxEmnaT0sYTO9MebYy1-ABPYTQqqpLF4ln94AlDRJAHqHP6RKZhIHMimDSINbDdcF0TOoElBRBjLjb4J0bebxfhP89tHkp_9S7k-akOqJ9RYOKtZVyMonZojmyaWlT-5cQq9L4vkV88/s1600/2014-08-25+21.22.24.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I love large pens. However, it is difficult to determine the relative size of a pen online. So, here is a somewhat random assortment of my favorite large pens together for size comparison. They are listed left to right: (1) Jinhao 159, (2) Delta Scrigno, (3) Laban Mento, (4) Levenger Boulevardier, (5) <a href="http://www.austinsdesk.com/2011/08/libelle-siena-fountain-pen-nero-black.html" target="_blank">Libelle Siena</a>, (6) <a href="http://www.austinsdesk.com/2010/09/sheaffer-legacy-1.html" target="_blank">Sheaffer Legacy</a>, (7) <a href="http://www.austinsdesk.com/2010/09/pilot-custom-823.html" target="_blank">Pilot Custom 823</a>, (8) Bexley Poseidon, (9) <a href="http://www.austinsdesk.com/2011/06/visconti-rembrandt-fountain-pen.html" target="_blank">Visconti Rembrandt</a>, (10) Lamy 2000.<br />
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If you had never held any of these pens, by looking at the photo, you might think the Libelle Siena or Sheaffer Legacy are relatively small pens. But they are both fairly large. They just look small next to the Jinaho 159, Delta Scrigno and Laban Mento, which are simply immense.</div>
Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-47299093884012615312014-06-05T08:48:00.003-07:002014-06-05T08:55:26.893-07:00Parker 61 Fountain Pen and Pencil Set<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG1fOWmHIt24sGmjDDbk02ge6CYvMHtzAyS2ovG82sz4XKLe8TBy1JSITYp5XuWZShA_ZkbIhihCiQ0M7deESr-t2I-xj3pM3OCqJhdBpkR1uj9gU8uZJsp_8MH2MjWEt115DehfKZUs/s1600/Parker+61+set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG1fOWmHIt24sGmjDDbk02ge6CYvMHtzAyS2ovG82sz4XKLe8TBy1JSITYp5XuWZShA_ZkbIhihCiQ0M7deESr-t2I-xj3pM3OCqJhdBpkR1uj9gU8uZJsp_8MH2MjWEt115DehfKZUs/s1600/Parker+61+set.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
I am probably the only fountain pen collector who doesn't have a Parker 51 or 61. So, I have had my eyes on them for several years. But up until recently had not found one of the quality/style I would like, and that I could afford. Yesterday - with the help of a very pleasant eBay seller - I purchased my first Parker 61 (pictured here). I had been searching for either the black plastic model like this one, or the stainless steel Flighter. I don't care for the gold trim versions, so that limited my choices considerably. This set is in mint condition, and included the mechanical pencil, as well. While, I have not received it yet - I already find myself with the dilemma of whether or not I should use it. I buy pens to use them, not as collector pieces to be displayed. But this set almost seems like it should be kept in pristine condition. Plus, from what I have seen from other owners of the capillary fill system, they are not very easy to clean. Hmmm...I probably won't be able to just store it away, since I originally wanted these as daily writers. My only other matching pen and pencil set is a Cross ATX, before they were made in China - same color scheme: black and chrome. If you have one of these Parker 61 sets, I'd love to read your impressions...please add a comment.<br />
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-25219292550911679122013-07-30T19:15:00.001-07:002013-07-30T19:15:44.213-07:00Custom Namiki Falcon, Part 2<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XMolEvB5EqA" width="480"></iframe>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-29427555406427192082013-06-28T18:48:00.003-07:002013-06-29T11:21:47.909-07:00Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy Set<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Occasionally, I will fool myself into thinking I will take the time to learn calligraphy. This is not one of those moments. I purchased this set because I love Rembrandt pens and it was too good of a deal to pass up. As I am writing this, I think the set can still be found for $160.00 or less. I purchased my set from Goldspot, who provides excellent customer service.<br />
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WHAT'S IN THE BOX.<br />
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One Rembrandt pen body and cap of one of the following colors: ivory, black, red, orange, blue or purple; Three palladium steel nibs: .5 italic, 1.5 italic and standard medium (Note: not all sets include the medium nib); A pad of blotting papers; A booklet on calligraphy; A bottle of black ink; And two converters. The box itself includes a couple of built in nib holders, so that you can alternate between two nibs without removing the converters.<br />
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OBSERVATIONS.<br />
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<b>The italic nibs</b> are housed in plastic sections, rather than the steel housing of the standard pen. This reduces the weight of the pen considerably. I found the lighter weight to be so comfortable that I've been using the .5 Italic nib as a daily writer.<br />
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<b>The calligraphy booklet</b> is written in Italian, English and German. It is a brief 24 pages long, four of which are taken by the cleaning, filling and warranty information. The booklet includes samples and instructions for the following alphabets: Italic, Gothic, Uncial, Foundational, Rotunda and English Script.<br />
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I find it difficult <b>choosing a pen color</b> online, because I don't trust the accuracy of the colors on the photographs. I already had the black pen and none of the other colors appealed to me. I prefer dark colors for pens, so that left only the purple pen, which is not a color I'd normally choose. I was pleasantly surprised by the deep rich color and the hint of red in the swirls. Had I been able to see the pens in person, I might have chosen the red or the blue, but they appeared too light online.<br />
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THE BOTTOM LINE.<br />
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Whether you are a calligrapher, artist, or writer, this is an excellent pen for a reasonable price with a lot of options.<br />
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For a thorough review of the standard Rembrandt pen, read my post<a href="http://austinspub.blogspot.com/2011/06/visconti-rembrandt-fountain-pen.html"> here</a> from June 28, 2011.<br />
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-58399639968589607562013-04-18T09:54:00.004-07:002013-04-18T09:58:12.132-07:00Graphics Tablet Review<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKkXYhgHoDQ3t3Joe_x_exqbs0ZOkuTD5JD5xgFslvCTnGaaVM0CFHvaunZzZ5Hw4KWgyC7_f4G_etYdAm9Tvp0uENrVWTV-lEkjBfGHQ9mc7RKSztzhiFl7SVAd5duaCXth6rlRB2xLo/s1600/Graphics+Tablet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKkXYhgHoDQ3t3Joe_x_exqbs0ZOkuTD5JD5xgFslvCTnGaaVM0CFHvaunZzZ5Hw4KWgyC7_f4G_etYdAm9Tvp0uENrVWTV-lEkjBfGHQ9mc7RKSztzhiFl7SVAd5duaCXth6rlRB2xLo/s1600/Graphics+Tablet.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Recently, I have been looking to purchase an active graphics tablet - the kind where you can actually see what you are drawing on the tablet. I have a Wacom Bamboo Create Pen & Touch, which has a lot of nice features, but I find it really difficult to draw on the tablet surface while looking up at the monitor. It works OK for rough sketches but is difficult for more detailed drawings or paintings. So, I started looking at the Wacom Cintiq ($2,400), but it was much too expensive for me. Then I looked at the Yiynova Tablet-Monitor ($450), which was much more affordable but got mixed reviews. I also considered getting an iPad because I saw some impressive You Tube videos of artists using the iPad Retina ($500) for artwork.<br />
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But yesterday I was surprised to find this amazing tablet (pictured) at Krogers grocery store of all places, for $2.50! The pen-stylus didn't come with it and I had to buy that separately, but since the tablet was so affordable, I really didn't mind. I chose the upgraded Sharpie with fine and ultrafine points built in one. It doesn't require batteries either!<br />
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PROS<br />
+ Absolutely perfect WYSWYG display.<br />
+ saves drawing instantly and flawlessly<br />
+ sizes drawing at 100% every time.<br />
+ wireless<br />
+ zero charge time<br />
+ zero start-up time<br />
+ no batteries, ever!<br />
+ never needs charging.<br />
+ very affordable<br />
+ fully rotational<br />
+ no software to load<br />
+ does not require a computer to operate<br />
+ it can be used anywhere<br />
+ synchronization between the tablet and Sharpie are instant and flawless.<br />
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CONS<br />
- No layering<br />
- does not include any software<br />
- limited to 50 drawings<br />
- you must supply your own pen, pencil or marker<br />
- requires a scanner to digitize<br />
- this tablet is not designed for painting<br />
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SUMMARY<br />
In spite of the "CONS", I would gladly buy this tablet again. I highly recommend it!<br />
<br />Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-56878146979065264742013-01-21T22:11:00.000-08:002013-01-21T22:14:50.438-08:00Black and White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realized, once again, how stuck I am on black and white, or silver and black pens. This photo is actually several years old and I have added a number of pens since then, most of which are black and white or black and silver. Recently, I was about to purchase another pen, which was black carbon fiber and silver. I paused and wondered why I would buy another pen of the same color combo as most of my others? The answer was simple, I still like that color (less) combo! (Although, I did not buy that pen due to marginal reviews.) No surprise, my favorite ink is basic black - though I note that they are not all equal. For example, Pearl Noire from J. Herbin is the blackest of blacks, I love that ink. My pens seem to like Pilot black the best:" it doesn't clog or dry out very easily. While I would never wear a tuxedo that is not basic black, I do have some pens in other colors, which I enjoy and use often. But in the end my first choice is always basic black. By the way, one of the best and most affordable basic black fountain pens is the Levenger Truewriter Obsidian. It is one of my basic work pens, filled with Noodler's Polar Bulletproof black. The TW Obsidian is always ready to write, even if I've not used it for several days. No matter how beautiful a pen is, knowing that it will write the moment you touch it to paper is the best feature of any fountain pen.Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-4641537333279338302012-03-05T21:25:00.000-08:002012-03-05T21:25:54.941-08:00How to Annoy an Artist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFBY2ceE1JtkWI5tv1BmJqfT-491shSIXT7Md5P704Kca8pV5yNr0JB2pwyPMSeEsNtV85rKVfQwnzzrSVZ843d8DZTPTYx0v83mfbr2N6hWvgos9bP3bOvLVlSKQJsrEPXIoy0Ft4fyB/s1600/Annoying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFBY2ceE1JtkWI5tv1BmJqfT-491shSIXT7Md5P704Kca8pV5yNr0JB2pwyPMSeEsNtV85rKVfQwnzzrSVZ843d8DZTPTYx0v83mfbr2N6hWvgos9bP3bOvLVlSKQJsrEPXIoy0Ft4fyB/s320/Annoying.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />
</div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-44947797643972140272011-12-06T15:17:00.001-08:002012-03-05T21:34:20.240-08:00Giant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dEhQfgMP1LDx1jQthZllTAtSYRxS0jX6Rgp34GDXgF-ljQr2P4Kffpvm_dEbLMjGVYU1XUdfzX04MN0yoKtd84whczuOlGP1a3deSP53ZiWilGGlhyuxKvOhnlbfUFc76FDxGDGPuBbu/s1600/Giant+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dEhQfgMP1LDx1jQthZllTAtSYRxS0jX6Rgp34GDXgF-ljQr2P4Kffpvm_dEbLMjGVYU1XUdfzX04MN0yoKtd84whczuOlGP1a3deSP53ZiWilGGlhyuxKvOhnlbfUFc76FDxGDGPuBbu/s320/Giant+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a recent doodle using a Laban Mento fountain pen (M nib) with Noodler's Kiowa Pecan ink. </div><br />
</div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-86125554928711814282011-09-22T21:19:00.000-07:002011-09-22T21:19:37.272-07:00TWSBI Diamond 540 Fountain Pen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My Diamond 540 fine point just arrived today from Goldspot Pens. I haven't even decided which color of ink to fill it with yet, but wanted to post a pre-review: This is a lot of pen for $50! I missed the 530 at that price and vowed not to let that happen next time. Next time was two days ago! Kudos to Goldspot for the Twitter notice of the intro, the great price and quick ship!<br />
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PRE-VIEW: Demonstrator piston-fill fountain pen with interchangeable nibs for $50.00! Even the display box is so cool, you feel like the whole thing should be kept unopened and put on a display shelf along side of the model and diorama that you spent hours building. It looks like a cross between a Pelikan demo and a Levenger Truewriter, with the best attributes of both pens. The only thing that I'm not crazy about is the faceted barrel; I'd rather it be a smooth tube, but that's just personal preference. A piston filler this nice for $50 - who cares about a few facets!</div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-48941284780426249322011-08-29T10:02:00.000-07:002011-08-29T10:05:10.860-07:00Libelle Siena Fountain Pen - Nero Black<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year, and I replied with an embarrassed grin that it was already on the way. I had been eyeing the Libelle Siena fountain pen and when it went on sale, I grabbed it up. I've read a number of comments by fountain pen collectors about black pens with chrome trim being boring, but they are still my favorite. It is just a classy masculine combination. The Libelle Siena combines it with a ribbing that reminds me of designs from the 1930s. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc-bBi2_2lWcmMOI4LHwHW99z1eQFPqxKqX5BZ9taqFyNG9uhLSHhfu2cjzl9SV2dXVWG_oaIFzBbv9ncUpK8g2EvQb2ZQUR3w9c3t6nGNteDMc9BtBnDEos_z5r114fKpUsbsOwYFRk/s1600/Summer_219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc-bBi2_2lWcmMOI4LHwHW99z1eQFPqxKqX5BZ9taqFyNG9uhLSHhfu2cjzl9SV2dXVWG_oaIFzBbv9ncUpK8g2EvQb2ZQUR3w9c3t6nGNteDMc9BtBnDEos_z5r114fKpUsbsOwYFRk/s320/Summer_219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Libelle Siena Fountain Pen</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">This pen is large but not heavy: 5 3/8" capped. 5/8" in diameter. 6 3/8" posted. 4 7/8" with the cap off.</div><br />
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The clip is solid (not folded metal) and due to the up-turned end, it slides easily over a shirt pocket. The tell-tale Libelle dragonfly logo is well-presented in the cap button. The etching in the cap band is very shallow, which always looks cheap to me. But the rest of the pen looks and feels well made.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HhUcm-BgHUZ2FYq-F80crz22zPU0ZVvrFZilh0DIgZ53Q9N84BR-xdEkEPJ5cWd3lQso8aKZ4eJr4DVyFFUY8Fgl9Di9ww0lntYcZNezr56E6e1CzcEx4P8TYT9t33VUEgqqu6iJJws/s1600/Summer_225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HhUcm-BgHUZ2FYq-F80crz22zPU0ZVvrFZilh0DIgZ53Q9N84BR-xdEkEPJ5cWd3lQso8aKZ4eJr4DVyFFUY8Fgl9Di9ww0lntYcZNezr56E6e1CzcEx4P8TYT9t33VUEgqqu6iJJws/s320/Summer_225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cap button with dragonfly logo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The cap posts by screwing onto the end of the pen. So, there's no bother with the cap falling off while writing. However, with mine posted, the clip does not line up with the nib - it is about 90 degrees off which annoys me. The Siena is amazingly long at nearly 6 1/2" with the cap posted, which I like. It is a bit top-heavy but not uncomfortable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJpeC7clDmxMzXYLDk25IfZsfEACOzWYl9o3xnKNUFlqUPj1Tf8-VUyKt9dBNJq5RgseylTNG5ZqvKMrIeKRsl7cMaQ-_9ERcjSRRrq-EI3cL_YOnivhsLnkU2HMMSlMHuzN8-gBoMoU/s1600/Summer_226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJpeC7clDmxMzXYLDk25IfZsfEACOzWYl9o3xnKNUFlqUPj1Tf8-VUyKt9dBNJq5RgseylTNG5ZqvKMrIeKRsl7cMaQ-_9ERcjSRRrq-EI3cL_YOnivhsLnkU2HMMSlMHuzN8-gBoMoU/s320/Summer_226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pen with cap posted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Siena comes with a long Libelle converter, with an agitator. I have seen these little balls in converters before but didn't know why they were there. And recently ran across a comment elsewhere about how agitators in converters help to break up surface tension and so aid the ink flow. Of course there are many factors that effect ink flow, but I can say that my Siena does not have ink flow problems after my second ink fill. (The first time I filled the pen it would skip on the first stroke.) It is filled with Waterman black and writes very well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OiM-yA9F6HLVNZCnhmdLK5Sq-zj2OenSv7ISw1FfrVVxSf2Q9f-Ol9z6q-FqD8eCEirMN9G_ChuC9s8OSu_SZJC6PEVIp3SLW97RfSWaD5GVOpxf3higz-fRLEnXEp74922t5EGkdc4/s1600/Summer_224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OiM-yA9F6HLVNZCnhmdLK5Sq-zj2OenSv7ISw1FfrVVxSf2Q9f-Ol9z6q-FqD8eCEirMN9G_ChuC9s8OSu_SZJC6PEVIp3SLW97RfSWaD5GVOpxf3higz-fRLEnXEp74922t5EGkdc4/s320/Summer_224.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large steel medium point nib</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The nib is a large steel iridium point (Schmidt?) medium nib that writes with an easy wet line. I'd describe this nib as medium-plus. It gives a fuller line than say a Japanese medium nib. The large nib provides a nice balance to the large pen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-80370356708221889562011-07-06T23:12:00.000-07:002011-07-06T23:19:30.281-07:00Blue-Black Inks for the Color-blind.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsbkmleB5o7TnYPIafcdeDT9vRfOGLoQ_Rx0NrCq44BBCEPshRUcVWnGz4S5dJFUrToiYRjEqMiAJqDV49vlRpUAGLxcxC8aCEmFCeNNVDdLnX0KsozZvcq_VnBiTd0Hfo19Yv8xxe0I/s1600/Ink+Test+Blue001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsbkmleB5o7TnYPIafcdeDT9vRfOGLoQ_Rx0NrCq44BBCEPshRUcVWnGz4S5dJFUrToiYRjEqMiAJqDV49vlRpUAGLxcxC8aCEmFCeNNVDdLnX0KsozZvcq_VnBiTd0Hfo19Yv8xxe0I/s320/Ink+Test+Blue001.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The scan above shows three of my favorite blue-black inks: Diamine's Twilight, Private Reserve's Midnight Blues (Fast Dry) and Blue Suede. The scan accentuates the colors as it would if we were to look at the paper in the sunlight. In average indoor light the difference in the colors is not so distinct, especially between Twilight and Midnight Blues. Blue Suede is obviously more muted in any light. It comes across more grey-green. Or, so suggests the color-blind guy. Yes, sad but true. You cannot trust my evaluation of colors, because I have some red-green colorblindness. There are two types of partial color-blindness: red-green, or blue-yellow. Red-green colorblindness makes it difficult to see the difference between white and pink, or tan and pink, or olive green and brown, or blue and purple. But I have no difficulty recognizing primary colors. This type of colorblindness is a genetic disability that is passed from father through daughter to grandson. My mother's father had the same type of colorblindness. It wasn't a big deal for him because he was a farmer. However, for me it was a constant obstacle. At age nine - before I even knew that I was partially color blind - I decided to be an artist. That decision at age nine framed every other decision that I made for the next 20 plus years. As if that wan't difficult enough, I wanted to be a portrait painter. Being a successful portrait painter with normal color vision is difficult enough, but to be one with impaired color vision is nearly impossible. So, I finally settled on drawing highly detailed pencil portraits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi_slx51DlzEfZUa01Xd95lLFoQg2hocCRDRxxuef-QaNVTyvcsnTWtVpo1eNYHKFso34zV6z-0rOHSXFQpGRO7OQVnSn6udrBCvpjOsJGChW2DvE4cN1-9XM1hvCVP5QGdifgPhCmIw/s1600/Baby+Haley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi_slx51DlzEfZUa01Xd95lLFoQg2hocCRDRxxuef-QaNVTyvcsnTWtVpo1eNYHKFso34zV6z-0rOHSXFQpGRO7OQVnSn6udrBCvpjOsJGChW2DvE4cN1-9XM1hvCVP5QGdifgPhCmIw/s320/Baby+Haley.JPG" width="258" /></a>So, why do I keep buying so many different colors of ink? Maybe it is just wishful thinking. However, I do in fact see colors. Obviously, I don't see them with the same variety of color range that most people do, but I do see them. And, I love bright colors. I also enjoy seeing the different nuances in colors, even if it is a strain. That means that I have to look at large samples in bright sunlight to be able to see them better. Fortunately, I have studied color theory and have a solid understanding of what colors must be mixed together to produce a complex color, even if I can't see it. And, I know from reading other ink reviews that some blues may tend toward a green tint or red tint, so that even colors that we call "blue" are tending toward an aqua or violet, both of which are too subtle for me to see.</div><br />
I first discovered - or I should say my mother first discovered - that I was color-blind one Sunday morning in church when I was about eight or nine years old. We were just entering the church building when she and my father stopped to talk with someone; my mother motioned me on to go sit behind Mrs Whosits in the pink sweater. I saw two women in white sweaters and replied that I didn't see anyone wearing a pink sweater. Because of my grandfather's colorblindness, my mother instantly recognized what this signified. Maybe I should have recognized what it signified as well, because I failed miserably as an artist and am now an Anglican priest, where colorblindness is a great gift!</div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-50402087364279180142011-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:002013-05-01T12:22:18.411-07:00Visconti Rembrandt Fountain Pen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq61ZfbSRmElrEf05V-znfa9Jb8u-aUjnW5RJptN9q30Q9A7e81cFklnKQ3nKEp95I6bTozXXCmvXaAxcYR-FJXyVG5AQyPWBorfwIEETT1tPW2xTvi7CEySSjZCzX5PlSAuKA1mC6J0/s1600/Rembrandt+Visconti.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq61ZfbSRmElrEf05V-znfa9Jb8u-aUjnW5RJptN9q30Q9A7e81cFklnKQ3nKEp95I6bTozXXCmvXaAxcYR-FJXyVG5AQyPWBorfwIEETT1tPW2xTvi7CEySSjZCzX5PlSAuKA1mC6J0/s320/Rembrandt+Visconti.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> </b> <b>First Impressions.</b> [10/10] The very first impression was “This is a high quality pen and altogether different than any other pen I've owned.” This Visconti Rembrandt is made out of black resin with a slight hint of very dark silver veins. On this pen the veins are nothing as distinct as the photograph that I saw online. At first I was disappointed by that but over time have grown to love the subtlety. It doesn't jump out at you the way some bright and bold resin mixes do. Instead it conveys the serious chiaroscuro that the Visconti's designers envisioned. While the pen is very ingenious and modern in the way the pen is designed to function, it communicates a centuries old impression – as it was clearly intended to do. As an amateur student of art who has studied Rembrandt's paintings in person, I am amazed at how well this pen captures the atmosphere of Rembrandt. I know it sounds trite, but it looks like the kind of pen he would have used, had there been such a thing. However, I have also seen the blue Visconti Rembrandt in person and did not find that to be true with that pen. The blue version did not communicate the bold chiaroscuro that Rembrandt is known for, nor did it have that old-but-new appearance. </div>
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<b> </b> <b>Dimensions</b>. [9/10] Classic cigar-shaped pen with many interesting nuances.</div>
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Capped: 5 1/2” or 14.1mm</div>
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Posted: 6 7/16” or 16mm</div>
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Uncapped: 4 15/16” or 12.5mm</div>
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Diameter: 1/2” or 13cm</div>
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<b> </b> <b>Quality.</b> [10/10] The quality of this pen is impressive in every detail. The resin is lustrous and not easily scratched. The threads between the body and nib section are metal to metal. (Leaving you without the concern that metal on resin may eventually wear out or cross-thread.) The button and end caps are metal and well fitted. The band on the cap is beautifully detailed and deep. (It is nothing like the shallow laser engraving that one occasionally sees.) It is very comfortable to use and pleasing to the eye.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxlCXLqVtZjo6H3F217YEqWA90IOUDg5r_tlv1I1hyphenhyphenldLgit-HfKHFPzuWMtkQ3PK4cqfMawJaxeG4m-Xf4jVZFH7KfJZ1s-9pbhYmrsDZnP0wB_shbnEJMNQaRfA5u9QT5WN9MaCD3I/s1600/Rembrandt+ring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxlCXLqVtZjo6H3F217YEqWA90IOUDg5r_tlv1I1hyphenhyphenldLgit-HfKHFPzuWMtkQ3PK4cqfMawJaxeG4m-Xf4jVZFH7KfJZ1s-9pbhYmrsDZnP0wB_shbnEJMNQaRfA5u9QT5WN9MaCD3I/s320/Rembrandt+ring.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Cap.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> [10/10] Usually, the cap of a pen is the part I am the least interested in. So long as it looks good and does what it is supposed to do, I am pleased. However, the Rembrandt's cap is simply amazing at a number of levels. The engraved band is strikingly handsome, with an antiqued look to the silver. The magnetic closure is fun and functional. I'd remembered that being the only feature of the blue Rembrandt that I had seen in a local store that I liked, but it wasn't enough to get me to buy it. But now that I've had the black Rembrandt for a couple of months, I think it is tremendous. I use my fountain pens at work throughout the day, but get weary of constantly unscrewing the cap. The magnetic cap seats firmly over the nib, so there's no concern about it coming loose in your pocket, and pulling the cap on and off throughout the day is a joy rather than a chore. Putting the cap back on the pen is actually distractingly fun (I'm easily amused) because you just get the cap close to being closed and the magnet pulls the cap on the rest of the way by itself. Also, the cap seats well enough that the nib doesn't dry out quickly: another plus. As if that weren't enough, the cap has a magnet built into its top button also. When I purchased this, I didn't care the least bit about the Visconti "My Pen System” - I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>knew</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> I'd never use it. However, the dealer threw in my initials for free – I guess because I'm a regular customer, or because he is such a nice guy, or both! The Visconti My Pen System allows you to customize the top button of your pen. Using a magnet you can pull out the standard Visconti logo and replace it with your initials, symbol, or stone. As much as I liked having my initials in the pen, they left the top of the pen very flat, which opposes the symmetry of the pen – in my mind. The end cap at the bottom of the pen is a simple chrome nipple, which looks great on a classic cigar-shaped pen. The fact that the top of the cap didn't match the bottom of the barrel got on my nerves – I needed symmetry! So, I ordered a hematite stone to fit into the top of the cap. It came today. The pen is finally symmetrical. It looks great. I couldn't be more pleased.</span></div>
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<b> </b> <b>Clip</b>. [9/10] The clip is great, too! I'd seen photos of Visconti clips and didn't really care for them: they appeared to stick out too far. In reality, they do not. The bow of the clip is not as dramatic in person as at first appearance. And, the fact that it is spring-hinged is another classy and functional touch. Even the printing of “Visconti” on the side is accomplished artfully.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Fill.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> [5/10] This is the one and only feature where the pen does not excel. It uses a cartridge or converter. The converter is of sufficient quality and fits snugly into the feed. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to get excited about either. That being said, having a converter that fits securely is valuable.</span></div>
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<b> </b> <b>Nib</b>. [8/10] I have read critiques about Visconti steel nibs being too firm. And this nib (a fine) is fairly rigid, but not as rigid as a Cross or Waterman nib. It is extremely smooth and medium wet (6/10), and writes well with very little feed back. I am using Diamine Twilight ink and getting a very consistent medium-fine line without skipping.</div>
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<b> </b> <b>Conclusions. </b>I enjoy this pen the more that I use it. And now I'm thinking that I will order more stones for the pen system in different colors to indicate the color of ink in the pen. Well, maybe I'm getting carried away.<br />
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<b>Addendum</b> [May 1, 2013] - I recently purchased the Rembrandt calligraphy set with two italics nibs (0.5 and 1.5). It also comes with two converters, so that you can switch back and forth between the two nib sizes. I enjoy the 0.5 nib so much, that I am using it for my daily writing pen. This set is currently on sale and is well worth the $150 price tag. The calligraphy pen is lighter than the regular Rembrandt because the nib section is plastic rather than steel. Other than that they are identical.</div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-25582685333163132252011-06-18T22:59:00.000-07:002013-01-21T22:21:27.533-08:00Anatomy of a Fountain Pen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Once you find a pen you are happy with, it is easy to collect more of the same. For me, that has meant that I have collected several Levenger Truewriters – they are good writers, well designed at a reasonable price. Similarly, I have come to enjoy the variety, quality and style of Laban pens. </div>
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I appreciate those high quality pens in the $200.00 plus range, but frankly I can't afford many of those. Most of my collection comes out of the $40 - $100 range pens. And, I especially enjoy finding pens on sale. So, about a year ago I snagged a couple of Laban Celebration pens from Ebay. One was an Oyster Pearl Yellow Celebration with a custom ground needlepoint nib, and the other was a black Celebration with a standard medium point nib. </div>
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Fountain pens are like people, you have to spend some quality time with them before you know their true character. In the case of these two Celebrations, I discovered that I hated the needlepoint nib and loved the medium nib. However, I preferred the oyster pearl resin over the black resin. I wanted to swap the two nibs, but didn't know how to do it. So, I posted a query on the Fountain Pen Network and one officianado who was much more experienced than me told me how to do it. I gently wrestled the nibs out of the sections of the two pens, cleaned them, and then swapped the nibs and re-assembled them. Now one of the pens that I rarely used is one of my favorite pens.</div>
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It is funny how something can seem such a mystery until you dive in, and then once you have done so, you enjoy a confidence in that discovery. Hence, the "Anatomy of a Fountain Pen".</div>
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Once I pulled the pen apart, I examined all of the components, so that I might understand better how it works. I thoroughly enjoy writing with fountain pens, but I also like to know how they function. The feed was the part that I realized I knew the least about. It is the conduit between the cartridge/converter and the nib. This is rather obvious once you see the feed outside of its housing. The feed includes the nipple at the top that receives the ink, which flows betwixt the feed and the nib to provide ink to the nib tip. This strikes me as that which is so typical in life: that here is an unseen or forgotten element in our lives that acts as the conduit for that which we most value. One rarely sees mention of the feed in reviews on fountain pens, and yet the pen would be useless without one. The great surprise for me once I disassembled my fountain pens was the complexity and utility of the feed. It supplies both ink and vent: blood and oxygen. The feed is the conduit between the ink supply and the practical action of the nib. Not something that I give much thought to, but essential to the function of the pen.</div>
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Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-47253193155506286042011-06-12T17:17:00.000-07:002011-08-29T06:25:12.286-07:00Smart Phone Fidgets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1pUsqCNKCcOF275qrb1YY0B3E8uXGzhNctxOZ9g7UIAxmStab_JgfYcCxtEUi6s2VNoldtJm-THdtXH5sTsgqtqITpUews6T2QDdd1xJRc8Spg5WxU_ufvfb9wYt0xZ8eSCbMrp76RHI/s1600/IMAG0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617479230605977618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1pUsqCNKCcOF275qrb1YY0B3E8uXGzhNctxOZ9g7UIAxmStab_JgfYcCxtEUi6s2VNoldtJm-THdtXH5sTsgqtqITpUews6T2QDdd1xJRc8Spg5WxU_ufvfb9wYt0xZ8eSCbMrp76RHI/s320/IMAG0636.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a>My smart phone has increased my fidget factor when I am out. I'm not a big talker and love to have something to do with my hands when everyone is talking. I don't play games, text, or check e-mail - I'm not that rude. But I love to play with the camera. I used to bring a sketchbook and sketch when I was out with people. In my teens and twenties, that was cool and not only did it not offend anyone, my friends actually liked it. But now at age 51, it is no longer cool and definitely viewed as rude. So, now I bring my smart phone and take pictures at the table. Since everyone brings their phones everywhere now, I can get away with this. Ironically, I am one of the few people who refuses to answer his phone at meals, because that seems rude to me. Now if everyone would just bring sketchbooks and plop them on the table, I'd still prefer that, but I don't live in an art compound, so that's not going to happen.<br />
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When everyone is busily engaged in conversation, I snap a few photos of people, which always come out blurry because it is dark. But then I can sneak out a few still life shots, like this one of the wine glass and silverware. It is not a great shot but I like the stark contrast of the black and white image. The photo was not processed in any way. This is it straight out of the camera (HTC Eris). I changed the settings on the camera to BW and was able to steady it well enough to get a decent low light picture. <br />
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</div></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_wu4ds3="212" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlOalj-HbR51Oq2eb2zdB_TNt0HRnFpcWSmLy6xSTnueEWBWlY5oMEZOJj1_qxhRhexrQ1dFNyi5rynEoH1TEwp1B_obBjMRL0nQvU_nm-o3mE1icuoX5WzuIkImPTmZ9JJk0F2fYSHaU/s1600/IMAG0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlOalj-HbR51Oq2eb2zdB_TNt0HRnFpcWSmLy6xSTnueEWBWlY5oMEZOJj1_qxhRhexrQ1dFNyi5rynEoH1TEwp1B_obBjMRL0nQvU_nm-o3mE1icuoX5WzuIkImPTmZ9JJk0F2fYSHaU/s320/IMAG0668.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div closure_uid_wu4ds3="195">Here's another way to get a clear low-light picture with a smart phone: The color photo of the parking garage was taken by pressing the phone against the window of the hotel room, which steadied it enough to make it a clear photo. Not a great photo but I was bored. How can cable have so many programs and still have nothing to watch?</div></div><br />
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</div><div>Favorite writing nib: Bentley fine steel nib tuned by R. Binder</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite NOS pen: Sheaffer Legacy with 18 ct gold inlaid nib</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite nib style: Waterman's Carene inlaid nib</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite pen body: Laban Mento Tortoise Shell</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite pen cap: Visconti Rembrandt</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite resin: Libelle Epic Ivory Swirl</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite work pen: Pilot Vanishing Point - carbonesque - with Pilot black ink</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite reliable pen: Levenger TW black onyx with Noodler's Polar Black</div><div><br />
</div><div>Favorite Demonstrator: Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator<br />
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Favorite sketching pen: Namiki Falcon with sf nib</div><div><br />
</div><div>What is your favorite?</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN803emQoLMfiV8mC8Bmq6HEd4IMwtcUhIKCaI2JK_PGLd7Y1wxTDkyBqK-KSpk3zoj03Xptubqw8EKJ2SyShw-w06ngOQ8TWnMFlDjz0n1p3nZOsnTdQGTOJMu2O3gyFgzm8l0V9dCXo/s1600/TW+Group+reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN803emQoLMfiV8mC8Bmq6HEd4IMwtcUhIKCaI2JK_PGLd7Y1wxTDkyBqK-KSpk3zoj03Xptubqw8EKJ2SyShw-w06ngOQ8TWnMFlDjz0n1p3nZOsnTdQGTOJMu2O3gyFgzm8l0V9dCXo/s320/TW+Group+reduced.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div></div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-7595453609354731912011-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:002011-07-06T23:24:42.807-07:00Pilot Custom 823 Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is an amazing pen - in a number of ways. It is such a fine instrument that I rarely take it out with me as the pen in my pocket. Don't get the wrong impression, it isn't fragile. I just admire it so much that I hate the thought of it getting lost or damaged. It is very well made.<br />
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</div><div><b>STYLE.</b> I'd rather not begin with a negative but the color of the pen is not my preference. And my commentary on style preference is not much help unless we have the same taste. But here it is: I like the classic cigar shape. I just don't care much for gold and brown (amber) anything - that's one of my least favorite color combos. Yes, I know that there's a smoke and chrome version but I couldn't find that one at a price I could afford. Now that I know how much I love this pen, I should've waited until I could get the smoke grey version. However, the brown translucent body looks better with ink in it. Especially blue ink, which cools down the warm color. </div><div><br />
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<div>The size of the nib in comparison to the rest of the pen is right by my standards. A large pen with a small nib looks awkward; like a 6' 4" man with size 7 shoes. The large nib looks great on this pen. A secondary style issue is the way the pen is presented to you: It comes in this huge satin lined box with a large 70ml bottle of Pilot Blue ink. Now that's style! And, the ink is a rich color of intense blue that flows smoothly without bleeding.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>CONSTRUCTION.</b> Construction quality is excellent. It is made in Japan. The 823 is more complex than most fountain pens - more so than even a piston filler. The gold banding has nice detail. There are no rough spots, burrs; nothing is out of place or misaligned. It is perfect. Capped: 5 7/8". Posted: 6 3/8". Without cap: 5 1/8". Diameter: 1/2" (body), 5/8" (cap).</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>CAP - CLIP.</b> I like the classic ball clip. It holds tightly to my shirt pocket without feeling like it is going to rip the cloth when I pull it out. Threading is nice and smooth, and the cap mounts deeply and securely to the end when posted. Nice details on the cap band tell you that it is a "CUSTOM 823 * * * Pilot Made in Japan"</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>FILL.</b> The 823 holds an enormous amount of ink, and since I have a fine nib I have not filled it in quite awhile. So, it is difficult to describe well how this filling system works. It is not a piston filler; it is a vacuum filler. Additionally, you can close off the feed so that it wont leak when you are flying. The end cap operates the plunger and also opens and closes the reservoir. This is odd until you get used to it. If you forget, you'll find yourself running out of ink and wondering why. The end cap must be turned a couple of times to open the reservoir. When you're done just dial the end cap back down and you're safe from accidents. I have only used Pilot ink in it and have never had any skipping, drying, or even priming starts - it always writes.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>NIB.</b> As if the filling mechanism wasn't enough to commend this great pen, the nib is just as phenomenal. It is a large 14ct gold nib and was perfectly tuned out of the box. Mine is a fine nib and is smooth and friction free. I like a little bit of tooth to help me stay on track but this pen has no feedback at all. That's no complaint though, I respect the fact that Pilot can create such smooth free-flowing fine point nib. It writes effortlessly and is my first choice for long periods of continued writing. Besides, I have plenty of other pens that can give me feedback when I want it.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515178984245281778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFd7IoGoNG2WVPBdDxFVxJVcZhQ-9zESLvKM3YHwd0QVHHWm0ULRqjJfzRBMdvBhNn1Ps4NEbPgxTpApRMEQoZMEtMXy4DA7W3ZzUQU6KXknM_-O3xFyb0YaV04YgldazxN5DNEZBYedc/s320/images.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 195px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 259px;" /><br />
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</div><div><b>SUMMARY.</b> Outstanding. If you are looking for an excellent pen and want something different than the standard cartridge-converter style pen, this is it. I highly recommend it.<br />
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</div></div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367939742256831280.post-53219483227832179942011-06-10T18:55:00.000-07:002011-06-11T13:52:14.452-07:00St Austin's goes mobile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcmdE2UgeDQ0TTsfFEzWnfFY6TaQ8FiUzvNWCATqCW_FjSi9UMNLrBeq4xGkX6seaYVtonIzcgV8a_lAzl6wGQ2WeI5TJsJrHkQ_RiYVU0OKENYas8IXYWA62133jdc1RLhUEw9e7UR4/s1600/Phone+2011+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcmdE2UgeDQ0TTsfFEzWnfFY6TaQ8FiUzvNWCATqCW_FjSi9UMNLrBeq4xGkX6seaYVtonIzcgV8a_lAzl6wGQ2WeI5TJsJrHkQ_RiYVU0OKENYas8IXYWA62133jdc1RLhUEw9e7UR4/s1600/Phone+2011+012.jpg" /></a></div>Blogger has added a setting which makes it easier to read our posts on smart phones. So, now you can go into any pub with phone and fountain pen in hand and read the posts at St Austin's Pub. Enjoy!</div>Vanrensalierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05832800330041807392noreply@blogger.com0