Nothing beats finding a much sought after “object” in the midst of a flea market’s “madness”. This is especially true when the encounter is absolutely by chance. Imagine walking into a flea market with the idea of finding a pair of cufflinks and as you browse the various displays and stands, you notice a older gentlemen with watchmaker-glasses polishing what looks like a set of vintage Meisterstück pens. Like a moth to a flame, you recklessly stumble across the room to observe the procedure and low and behold a glint of gold peaks through the glass-top counter he is working on. There, amongst a batch of "normal" pens, is a Parker “51”! Nonchalantly you ask to see the pens and you twitch with anticipation as you work your way to the Parker “51”. It is 1/10 12K gold filled and as you open it you see it is an Aerometric. The cap needs a good scrub and the barrel has a couple of nicks and scratches, but the sac is supple and the nib looks like it is in good shape. You ask the price of the various pens trying not to show too much interest in the Parker “51” and the old gentlemen says that the ones with the nib that says 14K gold on them are more expensive because they are made of gold. Fair enough, according to conventional logic, but if you only want the Parker “51” the price apparently is half that of the other pens. You haggle because it’s a flea market and it would not be proper etiquette to do otherwise and after a quick cash exchange you walk out of the doors with beads of sweat trickling down your cheeks as you examine your prize in the light of day. The sunshine and fresh air make it look even more beautiful. Bliss!
The true test comes, of course, when you stand over the sink back at home and plunge the tip into the water-filled basin and pump the lever (firmly and six times as instructed). The sound of suction and the release of residual ink tells you that you are in business. Once it is clean you let it dry, then dip it in your favorite ink, pump the lever and enjoy!
If you got goose bumps reading that you are probably a proud owner and if not you may want to find out more about the Parker “51”. In that case, checkout Richard Binder’s website http://www.richardspens.com/ and blog http://blog.richardspens.com/pens/.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tic Toc...
A vintage timepiece wrapped around one’s wrist, especially an automatic, is one of those sublime luxuries that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Often you hear people say: “They don’t make ‘em like they used to…” and that is true. Of course technology has brought the wristwatch to split second accuracy, but frankly unless you are a train conductor or airline pilot who really needs that kid of accuracy. The mechanisms on many watches have gotten so sophisticated that they spend most of the time in an envelope going back and forth from the client to customer care for repair.
Another reason vintage watches are so beautiful is their understated aesthetic. A watch should tell time not blind people with ostentatious material nor impede you from actually telling time.
There are, of course, various levels in the pantheon of watches and much of it depends on where it is made and with what mechanism. Switzerland is the country when one mentions watches. No other country comes close to the tradition of watch making: the elite Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet and the more “common” but certainly more widely known Rolex, Omega and Breitling to name a few. The Japanese have certainly given the Swiss a run for their money when it comes to mechanisms, but ask any watch collector and they will take Swiss movement over Japanese hands down. Then of course there is the Quartz vs. Automatic vs. Coil. It truly is a matter of preference, but why depend on a battery or your memory to keep your watch going? True, quartz is more accurate, but how late are you every going to be to an appointment?!
Whatever your choice, make sure it is simple and accurate enough and most of all that it is a watch and not a piece of jewelry.
Another reason vintage watches are so beautiful is their understated aesthetic. A watch should tell time not blind people with ostentatious material nor impede you from actually telling time.
There are, of course, various levels in the pantheon of watches and much of it depends on where it is made and with what mechanism. Switzerland is the country when one mentions watches. No other country comes close to the tradition of watch making: the elite Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet and the more “common” but certainly more widely known Rolex, Omega and Breitling to name a few. The Japanese have certainly given the Swiss a run for their money when it comes to mechanisms, but ask any watch collector and they will take Swiss movement over Japanese hands down. Then of course there is the Quartz vs. Automatic vs. Coil. It truly is a matter of preference, but why depend on a battery or your memory to keep your watch going? True, quartz is more accurate, but how late are you every going to be to an appointment?!
Whatever your choice, make sure it is simple and accurate enough and most of all that it is a watch and not a piece of jewelry.
Monday, August 27, 2007
A discourse on fountain pens...
What is the best pen to use? A difficult question to answer and one that would find a vast array of opinions if one were to ask to each of us. Is there really one pen that is better than another? There are certainly “better” pens, but it depends so much on usage and taste that it is hard to draw a line. For many a fountain pen is the only true instrument that should ever be considered for use on paper.
To follow are a few pens that are fairly well known and that for different reasons are considered worthy of use: some on a daily basis and others for special occasions. Such is the sturdier built Mont Blanc Noblesse (NOT the Oblige remake, but the Aurora Hastil copy from the 70's) in simple brushed metal, alas they are no longer produced (well constructed affordable instruments rarely are) and are the equivalent of today’s LAMY (for design) and Sheaffer and Parker pens (durable workhorses that are an incredible value for their price). Another great value are the elegantly minimalist Namiki/Pilot fountains (the Namiki LE’s are handcrafted beauties).
Honorable mention, of course, goes to Waterman (although they have lost their touch in the last decade) for having invented the fountain pen that sits at the top of the genealogical tree of today’s fountain pens.
If you want to go for a more elegant look then certainly a modern Mont Blanc like the Agatha Christie LE fountain works well as do vintage Pelikans and Watermans that have that simple and elegant style that seems to be lost with a lot of pen makers today.
Visconti pens, although certainly contemporary, along with the much older Conklin brands and the exquisitely eccentric Conway Stewart pens are amongst the few pen makers that continue to use an incredible array of celluloid and multi-colored plastics for pen barrel production which gives each pen a custom look, as opposed to simple resins and metals (although the Visconti Titanium Skeleton is quite a pen). Tibaldi for example has some great vintage multicolored celluloid, although today they seem to be experimenting more with precious metals.
Then there are the “artwork” pens that are made by the likes of Krone and Michel Perchin (of Faberge heritage) that are so heavy or bulky that you cannot write with them, but they are truly works of art.
If one were to give a hierarchy to pens then it would certainly see the top tier occupied by fountain pens. There are few unique experiences like using a fountain pen to ink your thoughts on paper.
To follow are a few pens that are fairly well known and that for different reasons are considered worthy of use: some on a daily basis and others for special occasions. Such is the sturdier built Mont Blanc Noblesse (NOT the Oblige remake, but the Aurora Hastil copy from the 70's) in simple brushed metal, alas they are no longer produced (well constructed affordable instruments rarely are) and are the equivalent of today’s LAMY (for design) and Sheaffer and Parker pens (durable workhorses that are an incredible value for their price). Another great value are the elegantly minimalist Namiki/Pilot fountains (the Namiki LE’s are handcrafted beauties).
Honorable mention, of course, goes to Waterman (although they have lost their touch in the last decade) for having invented the fountain pen that sits at the top of the genealogical tree of today’s fountain pens.
If you want to go for a more elegant look then certainly a modern Mont Blanc like the Agatha Christie LE fountain works well as do vintage Pelikans and Watermans that have that simple and elegant style that seems to be lost with a lot of pen makers today.
Visconti pens, although certainly contemporary, along with the much older Conklin brands and the exquisitely eccentric Conway Stewart pens are amongst the few pen makers that continue to use an incredible array of celluloid and multi-colored plastics for pen barrel production which gives each pen a custom look, as opposed to simple resins and metals (although the Visconti Titanium Skeleton is quite a pen). Tibaldi for example has some great vintage multicolored celluloid, although today they seem to be experimenting more with precious metals.
Then there are the “artwork” pens that are made by the likes of Krone and Michel Perchin (of Faberge heritage) that are so heavy or bulky that you cannot write with them, but they are truly works of art.
If one were to give a hierarchy to pens then it would certainly see the top tier occupied by fountain pens. There are few unique experiences like using a fountain pen to ink your thoughts on paper.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Rewarding the senses...
There is really nothing like the smell of leather. Much like waking up to the smell of freshly ground coffee beans or the first whiff of gasoline when you pull into a service station, the smell of leather from a brand new padfolio (commonly referred to as a notepad holder) is inebriating. If it isn’t then it probably does not make sense to read further because this will be an ode to the simple yet elegant leather padfolio.
Glazed Cognac old leather, Black napa or whichever variation you choose, the senses are aroused by the tactile, visual and olfactory sensations unleashed by handling a padfolio made of leather.
Not to mention the practical aspects of concealing that common looking notepad or yellow legal pad that, when left naked on your desk, looks so unappealing. Some people prefer the zippered kind in which they stuff absolutely everything as they walk off to a meeting, but there is nothing quite as elegant as a simple leather padfolio: notepad on the right, pen holder dead center, and, at most, a place to tuck a couple of loose leaf papers to the left.
A pen and paper is all you need for that meeting or to record your notes, the rest of the clutter can stay in the desk drawers or briefcase. And what a statement it makes when you walk into a meeting with a leather padfolio tucked under your arm!
Certainly a leather padfolio is not for everyone, but if you decide on getting one, invest in a simple slim genuine leather padfolio and you will be amply rewarded for your choice.
Glazed Cognac old leather, Black napa or whichever variation you choose, the senses are aroused by the tactile, visual and olfactory sensations unleashed by handling a padfolio made of leather.
Not to mention the practical aspects of concealing that common looking notepad or yellow legal pad that, when left naked on your desk, looks so unappealing. Some people prefer the zippered kind in which they stuff absolutely everything as they walk off to a meeting, but there is nothing quite as elegant as a simple leather padfolio: notepad on the right, pen holder dead center, and, at most, a place to tuck a couple of loose leaf papers to the left.
A pen and paper is all you need for that meeting or to record your notes, the rest of the clutter can stay in the desk drawers or briefcase. And what a statement it makes when you walk into a meeting with a leather padfolio tucked under your arm!
Certainly a leather padfolio is not for everyone, but if you decide on getting one, invest in a simple slim genuine leather padfolio and you will be amply rewarded for your choice.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The fountain pen
What is it about a fountain pen that attracts us to writing with it? The ritual of preparation. Much like packing a pipe or preparing the perfect cup of tea or coffee it is an art form and a ritual. The final use or consumption is almost anti-climactic. You hold the pen and admire its beauty and weight, you fill it with ink (pneumatic, vacuum sac, cartridge…), you hold the nib against a crisp new piece of parchment and after the first few strokes the ink starts to form letters and words in a fluid motion across the page and your thoughts take shape in blues and blacks and reds.
So many fountain pens to choose from and these days with vintage collection more popular than ever you can experience what it felt like to write thirty, fifty and even a hundred years ago with a fountain pen.
Lewis Waterman patented the first practical fountain pen in 1884 (seemingly the first that was not plagued with leeks and other problems that self-containing fountain pens had experience since the late 1700's when they first came about) and ever since the production of the fountain pen has gone through many evolutions and improvements as new generations of pen makers have tinkered with the design to create that perfect balance and even ink flow.
The debates on the web amongst aficionados range from the perfect ink to the perfect material (for the nib, the body etc.) to the perfect brand. There really is no perfect brand or pen, but many fantastic creations to enjoy writing with, some from well-established (derogatively called “mainstream”) manufacturers others from artisan shops that create only a few handmade versions.
Not matter what your preference, there is nothing like opening the box of a new fountain pen and feeling the childish excitement as you prepare to write with it.
So many fountain pens to choose from and these days with vintage collection more popular than ever you can experience what it felt like to write thirty, fifty and even a hundred years ago with a fountain pen.
Lewis Waterman patented the first practical fountain pen in 1884 (seemingly the first that was not plagued with leeks and other problems that self-containing fountain pens had experience since the late 1700's when they first came about) and ever since the production of the fountain pen has gone through many evolutions and improvements as new generations of pen makers have tinkered with the design to create that perfect balance and even ink flow.
The debates on the web amongst aficionados range from the perfect ink to the perfect material (for the nib, the body etc.) to the perfect brand. There really is no perfect brand or pen, but many fantastic creations to enjoy writing with, some from well-established (derogatively called “mainstream”) manufacturers others from artisan shops that create only a few handmade versions.
Not matter what your preference, there is nothing like opening the box of a new fountain pen and feeling the childish excitement as you prepare to write with it.
The (revolutionary?) iPhone
This will anger many who may read this post, but it is the best place to start.
The “Jesus Phone”, as many describe it, is over-hyped, over-exposed, over-priced and many many other “over-”s, but one cannot deny that it is revolutionary (if not technologically, certainly culturally and socially). The design is sleek and simple and offers the user a simple Mac OS interface. Most importantly it does what it says it does: nothing more and nothing less. This must be the reason it is loathed and loved at the same time. Even when Steve Jobs announced that it was coming, he never overstated what you could do with the product. People like the hype and got carried away in it without looking at the obvious pros and cons of the product, but that seems to happen often with Apple and is probably one of the secrets to its current success. The interesting question is: Can we consider the iPhone as revolutionary as the fountain pen?
The “Jesus Phone”, as many describe it, is over-hyped, over-exposed, over-priced and many many other “over-”s, but one cannot deny that it is revolutionary (if not technologically, certainly culturally and socially). The design is sleek and simple and offers the user a simple Mac OS interface. Most importantly it does what it says it does: nothing more and nothing less. This must be the reason it is loathed and loved at the same time. Even when Steve Jobs announced that it was coming, he never overstated what you could do with the product. People like the hype and got carried away in it without looking at the obvious pros and cons of the product, but that seems to happen often with Apple and is probably one of the secrets to its current success. The interesting question is: Can we consider the iPhone as revolutionary as the fountain pen?
A much needed explanation...
The title is a twist on the Latin adage verba volant scripta manent (spoken words fly away, written words remain). What if indeed the opposite were true? Many historians, in fact, argue that in ancient Rome the expression was used in a period when widespread analphabetism meant that stories passed-on by word of mouth were more likely to stay the test of time as opposed to written text which tended to collect dust in libraries (indeed oratory skills were considered a virtue).
Whichever version you might prefer, it seems that the expression is relevant today more than ever. We communicate both on paper and by word of mouth, but the “paper” is often virtual. So is the pen the “manent” and the qwerty board the “volant” or vice-versa? Does verbal communication have more staying power today than written communications?
These pages are not meant to be nearly as philosophical as the last paragraphs imply; rather, they are intended to discuss some of the preferred tools used in communicating over time as well as tools meant to keep time itself: fountain pens, phones, stationery and watches. Admittedly it is a stretch to combine these objects, but why not? Without too many details there will be basic reviews and musings on these and other objects related to communicating.
Let’s hope that these posts can be useful to those who happen upon them.
Whichever version you might prefer, it seems that the expression is relevant today more than ever. We communicate both on paper and by word of mouth, but the “paper” is often virtual. So is the pen the “manent” and the qwerty board the “volant” or vice-versa? Does verbal communication have more staying power today than written communications?
These pages are not meant to be nearly as philosophical as the last paragraphs imply; rather, they are intended to discuss some of the preferred tools used in communicating over time as well as tools meant to keep time itself: fountain pens, phones, stationery and watches. Admittedly it is a stretch to combine these objects, but why not? Without too many details there will be basic reviews and musings on these and other objects related to communicating.
Let’s hope that these posts can be useful to those who happen upon them.
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