This
last month has been a bit of a challenge. It's always great, the way some
people like to say "It's not a problem, it's a challenge!" Well,
whatever, we'll call last month "challenging". Beginning with
the Atlanta show, which proved to be a great get together of folks from
all across the country. Not that I would know, since I had to leave early
Saturday to fly home for a family emergency. An emergency that resulted
in a week or so snipped from our schedule, right in the middle of work
on this month's issue.
Hence the extremely late issue this month. You have our profound apologies! We keep saying that sooner or later we'll get far enough ahead that we can actually publish issues ahead of time... Of course, we also all plan on being rich, young, and fabulously good looking. So far, we're at about 33%.
This
month was a pretty good one aside from the scheduling problems.
In terms of new pens, not much stirring, the Visconti Wall Street and
the Pelikan Originals of their Time 1931 Toledo are probably the high
points on the upper end. If you're feeling a need for something that doesn't
cost as much as a year's food bills, there's the Filcao Tukano, a neat
little pen in sterling silver, priced for the "rest of us".
Richard Jarvis takes a look at it in a review.
Sailor has a neat new Calligraphy pen to play with, Anna Lawson was kind enough to spend a few days... Well, let's be honest, weeks, and she still hasn't given the thing back yet, with the thing, and the news appears to be good. For those looking for an inexpensive way to play with a truly novel idea in nib design. She has also shared with us her pen-buying experiences at the LA show, as well as a look at some new colors in ink available now.
Also new for this month, the Namiki VP. Not that the VP is new... But in bright yellow? It's a bold new color for this handy pen, and it's good to see that Namiki is still coming out with something. Hopefully this is just the beginning...
Also in this month, Rob Astyk brings us part two of the Waterman's numbering saga. The story just keeps getting better and better. If detailed information is what you're after, it's safe to say this is the article you need to read first. Rob has taken a passion for research and applied it to a narrow field, a field that simply cried out for new information, and the results are amazing.
Given that I had to depart before the fun really began, the Atlanta show isn't anything I can really speak of, but Dean gives us an up close look at the fun and excitement. The way the show was set up and going on Friday was pretty impressive. Jimmy Dolive of Total Office Products has done a great job promoting and preparing for the show, and from what I was told, Saturday and Sunday proved to be pretty intense. The hospitality was first rate, as you would expect from a southern show, I'll just say that the Atlanta show is not one to attend if you're trying to lose weight!
Coming up in just a couple of weeks will be the Chicago Pen show, and looks to be as impressive as always, with another great auction, among other attractions. We should have the 2002 Stylophiles CD ready for sale by then, so if you feel the need to re-read last years articles, look us up. We'll be at the table under the big Penlovers banner!