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Post by although on Apr 2, 2022 21:08:29 GMT
I just got back from this year's pen show in Atlanta! The last one was in 2019, so it's been a long time coming I picked up three pens while I was there: An Aurora Duo Cart, a Franklin Christoph Model 55 (with a medium SIG nib), and a Kaweco Brass Sport. Deb and I got to spend Friday evening in the bar with the pen enthusiast crowd too. It was really fun! I must have had $20k worth of pens pass through my hands whilst enjoying a rather good IPA and pizza If you haven't been to one, and there's a show within a reasonable driving distance, I would recommend the trip! cheers! mike
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Post by Catida on Apr 9, 2022 7:35:52 GMT
I wonder where the nearest pen show could be for me. Maybe in Germany. Not within a reasonable driving distance anyway But I'm curious to hear your opinion about the SIG nib! Have you had one before?
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Post by Lupine on Apr 12, 2022 12:36:43 GMT
Thank you so much for writing about the pen show. I am listening to a Podscast called, "The Pen Addict" lately: www.relay.fm/penaddict/508and their latest post #508 called "What year is it? Where am I" describes the show. I only knew about the show a few days before just by accident. I would think that with all the social media bombarding me daily, I would know about all the shows in the U.S. years out, but I don't. I have never heard anyone say they didn't love going to a pen show. Congratulations on your new purchases. I looked up the Aurora Duo Cart. It looks something like a Parker 21/51? I own an Aurora but did not know this even existed. I see they come in "bordeaux." So cool. And I'm very curious about Franklin Christoph too. The 55 is a very handsome model. I wonder what color you chose? I see one in turquoise, and of course, I know the Kaweco. Still don't own one, but there is a Tiger eye discontinued that I may be able to find some day. You and the Podcast make it sound like everyone is so friendly. I have a nib or two I would want tuned, and I hear that can be done at a show. I wonder if you had that done on any of your pens? Here's a site I just found: www.indy-pen-dance.com/Show-Schedule.htmlL.A. was the closest to me (in Phoenix) but that's long gone. The "Triangle" is apparently North Carolina. I had to look that up. So the next nearest to me is Denver, Colorado October 14th but is so far out, the website hasn't been filled with any information. There's a 47 minute video about pen show etiquette attached to the Chicago site and a PDF too. That's intimitading. The PDF talks about trading. So, apparently people bring pens they want to trade with other people? Did you do that? Sounds like 20% of the people are old friends. Is that a good guess? What would a show be like for a person who didn't know anyone there? There's always a "in-crowd" and meeting people at a bar. Such is human nature. If a person is not good at that, is it just a simple shopping experience? In that case, a day pass would make sense, right? I'm only half way through the podcast and the etiquette video, so this might be answered in those sources, but was there ink and paper at the show? Is that kind of stuff only at a stationary shows?
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Post by although on Apr 12, 2022 22:02:47 GMT
I don't think you should feel intimidated about going to a show... There aren't any secret handshakes, no special etiquette. Just be courteous and careful. Ask before you pick up a pen, don't break them I find that it pays to ask whether it's a twist-off or a snap cap when I'm not sure. If the cap doesn't come off easy, don't yank on it XD. I'm a long time listener to the pen addict podcast. I was able to chat with Brad Dowdy several times at the show. You should check out the penaddict slack channel. Lots going on there too. You have to email Brad to get in, but it's not a big deal (hello@penaddict.com) It's been a few years since I did it. The FC model 55 I got is pretty understated. the cap and bottom half of the barrel are black, but there's a deep purple swirly-sparkly bit in the middle third that gives it some more interest. I love the pen, but wasn't happy with the SIG nib. I took it back to the FC table twice and asked them to tune it for more flow. After two trips, I didn't want to keep bugging them. I'm sure I could mail it to them and ask them to work on it some more. When I really started writing with it, I found that it couldn't maintain enough flow for a full paragraph. At that point, I just ordered a M nib. In my experience, 50% of Jowo nibs will never work right. With the new M nib it's working like it ought to. Mike Matteson does a live youtube walk through at each show. I actually appeared for just a moment in his video of this year's Atlanta show. You should check out some of those. I think his youtube channel is inkdependence.com or somesuch. He walks through the entire show and chats with the guys at each table. You are correct about the DuoCart. It looks a lot like a P51. Aurora has brought them back, much like Parker did recently with the P51. I got mine at a deep discount, it was a sort of an open box deal at the Kenro table.
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Post by allanorn on Apr 12, 2022 22:41:34 GMT
Lupine, I can recommend the San Francisco pen show. Not terribly far from Phoenix, usually in a good location that isn’t crazy expensive.
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Post by eefa on Apr 16, 2022 12:20:32 GMT
I'd love to go to a pen show... spent years listening to Myke and Brad talking about them on The Pen Addict! I got an Aurora Duocart a few years back... it's a great little pen! I love writing with it (but I love writing with ALOT of my pens ) Congrats on your purchases!
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