Andy’s Pens shop opens in Tonbridge

It is heart warming to see a new fountain pen shop open, especially one that will be stocking vintage pens. I’m looking forward to be able to visit.

Andy's Pens - 8, Tollgate Buildings Hadlow Road Tonbridge Kent TN9 1NX

Andy tells the story here on his website. It looks like a great product line up, and a promising experience to buy there. Somebody who is interested in the pens, not just the sale. I have a few fountain pens that have been restored by Andy. They’ve been fantastic. Great condition, good craftsmanship from Andy and very enjoyable – no disappointments.

As I said I’m really looking forward to visit and I’ll make sure I have some money in my pocket to support them (well, that can be my excuse to support my addition).

I wish them lots of success.

Stuart R Stevenson now stocks Lamy

Lamy A103 three pen case

The range of fountain pens and paraphernalia at London art and crafts shop Stuart R Stevenson is increasing. In fact, they now have quite an impressive display of brands available. I’ve noticed over the last week that they have now become a Lamy stockist too. I bought myself a Lamy A103 pen case from there just yesterday for £12 to replace the one I lost. It’s nice to be able to give my business to local, enthusiastic independent shops.

Covent Garden market

During my lunch hour I wandered over to the Jubilee Market at Covent Garden. I used to go there quite often in my lunch hour, but as I’ve changed jobs I’m no longer within short walking distance. So my trips there only average about once every six months. On a Monday they have an antiques market. More of a house clearance / flea market actually. There are no specialist pen sellers. There used to be one about five years back, but not any more. The collection she had were not the best quality anyway, and quite expensive. Still it did give you the opportunity to browse some fountain pens in the flesh, a rare joy in the days of the internet. There are however a few pens to be found on the general stalls. Don’t expect to find anything fantastic, I’m sure the specialists get a look at anything before it ends up here. But there are one or two more modern and slightly battered pens to pique your interest. I have bought a few pens from here, and passed on a couple that in hindsight I should have had. Ones that have made it home with me were an Eversharp demi-Skyline set in green moiré. Nice looking and boxed, but the nib was XXF and pretty scratchy. I also got a couple of Parker 51 Vacumactics, £15 for the pair. The body was blown on one, from a poorly replaced diaphragm I guess, but it did have a great gold-filled blue diamond cap which was well worth the £7.50. Today I found a teal Parker 51 special with a good broad nib and a great condition transitional Esterbrook in green for £5, my first Estie. The amusing chat with the stallholder was worth the trip alone.

Field Notes to go

After writing about them a little while back, I’ve finally managed to lay my hands on some Field Notes notebooks. I found them at a little store near to where I work in Clerkenwell.
View Larger Map The shop is called Magma, a design bookstore that also caters for the funky objects that funky graphic designers’ desire. They stock a small but random range of obscure and stylish notebooks: notebooks for the left-handed, lined at an angle; some covered in old wall paper; do it yourself versions; pre-doodled; 50s and Japanese styled exercise books; and so on. The Field Notes were £8.95 for three. I also picked up some ‘Idea pads’, but more on them later. The Field Notes themselves looked smaller at first than I imagined. But checking them against my pocket Moleskine, they are in fact the same height and width. It must be the lack of thickness and a soft cover that make them seem so. First impressions? A little less impressive than in real life than the images I have seen online, but still neat. Paper thinner than I thought too, in fact, I do wonder if it will hold fountain pen ink without bleeding through. I will have to test them later with a variety of inks and pens. Otherwise I might just have to treat myself to a new pencil to go with them :-) Review to follow…

Field notes notebooks

A little while ago whilst browsing The Fountain Pen Network website, I saw mention of ‘Field Notes’ branded notebooks. A small softback ‘memorandum book’, which I quite liked the look of. As with many things though, it is a case of only being able to admire such things at a distance. Being able to import products from America or Japan can often be so expensive in postage that it is just not worth it.

Apparently they are inspired by agricultural memo books in the US. A little promotional item given out by fertiliser companies and the like. They’re 48 pages of squared paper in a handy pocket size – 3 /12” x 5 ½” – and saddle stitched (stapled). Available in packs of three. Well, it now seems there is a UK stockist, the Design Museum, and better still available (I think) in their brick and mortar shop in London on Shad Thames (SE1 2YD). You can find them on the Design Museum shop website.

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At some point I will have to pop across and buy some, and then hopefully when I find some time review them here. Addendum: It appears The Paperie has them in stock too.

Great shop for pens in Clerkenwell

There's an arts and craft shop not far from where I work that's a little gem and well worth a visit: Stuart R Stevenson 68 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5QA Telephone: 020 7253 1693

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As you'd expect they have a vast range of artist's supplies, craft materials and other such eye-candy but they also have a great range of fountain pens, inks and notebooks. When I last popped in their range included:

• Caran d'Ache pens, 'Colours of the Earth' ink range and their standard inks
• Faber Castell pens
• Moleskine notebooks
• Parker pens and inks
• Pelikan Future and Pelikano fountain pens
• Pelikan inks (including some of the more obscure bottles)
• Pilot pens - including the Vanishing Point, Pluminix, Birdie
• Porsche Design pens
• Rotring pens
• Sheaffer Javelin fountain pens - I'd not see these before
• Sheaffer Skrip ink
• Waterman pens and inks

They don't stock the whole range from each manufacturer, but they do have an interesting and varied line up. A few things that you don't always see elsewhere - such as the Pelikan Future and the Pilot Pluminix.

I just hope I don't turn into the nutter who wanders in every lunch hour and simply stares at the displays.