I fell in love with this pen the minute I inked it up and started writing with it. I don’t know why, but I wasn’t expecting it to write so flawlessly. I thought I would possibly end up tweaking and adjusting it a bit before it would write well. No, the pen filled with ink and wrote buttery smooth and consistent from the beginning.
Speaking of Mr. Dowdy, here is a wonderful review and history he wrote up about one of my favorite pens. In fact, the pen I chose to use to celebrate Fountain Pen Day today is a Copper colored Esterbrook J, 9556 nib (Firm, Fine), filled with Private Reserve Copper Burst ink. It’s a lovely pen and my experience is the same as Brad’s. It has never failed to write well from the moment it came into my possession. Considering it is an 80+ year old pen, that’s pretty amazing in and of itself. That said, the Esterbrook J is one of the most common and accessible vintage pens you can find. If you’ve ever wanted to get into a vintage pen, there really is no better and more affordable place to start.
Today being Fountain Pen Day, expect a few links to some great Fountain Pen resources. Starting with this excellent guide written by the Pen Addict himself, Brad Dowdy.
These days, I rarely carry a laptop with me. I generally only carry one when I have a client visit that requires it. Mostly, I carry notebooks, pens, my iPad mini, and sometimes a book. Therefore, I need a full sized bag with a laptop compartment far less these days. What I find I need is a smaller bag just large enough for the items mentioned above that also looks good for any occasion.
The Levenger Bomber Jacket Briefolio has become one of the bags that has been filling this need for me. It’s designed primarily for just this use — gathering up some files, a notebook, a couple of pens, and possibly a tablet computer or eReader if one wishes. It’s a great grab-and-go bag.
The first thing one will notice after purchasing the bag is the smell. Not in a bad way, mind you. Its just a bit overpowering at first unless you really like the smell of fine leather. It’s made from the same soft, luxurious, and richly pebbled dark brown leather typical of World War II flight jackets. The lining is a soft plaid flannel that cradles your belongings in style. The hardware is nickel and very solid. Overall, it’s rustic without being cliché. It strikes just the right balance. It looks equally good being carried by someone in jeans and a t-shirt as it would with someone in a business suit.
Inside, it’s minimal and functional. There is an inside pocket where I keep some 3×5 cards, business cards, and a pocket notebook. There’s a couple of pen loops. That’s it. But , that’s all I need really. This is a bag that is really about being able to stuff a few items in, keep everything contained, and allow for easy access thanks to its wrap-around zipper. There is no handle as it is meant to be clutched in one hand portfolio style (as the name suggests). But, this is perfectly fine for me as beforehand I was clutching the loose contents I now carry in this bag in a similar way.
In all, the Levenger Briefolio has been a favored companion in the few weeks I’ve had it. Levenger makes other models of Briefolios as well including a plain black leather one that is only $99.00. Very reasonably priced for the quality.
As I mentioned in my Levenger Circa article at Tools & Toys, Levenger is a fantastic company with some of the best service I’ve ever encountered. I’m a long time customer and fan for very good reason. I have never been disappointed with anything from them. They were started and continue to offer serious analog tools for writers and readers and deserve our support. So, even if the Briefolio is not your thing you should check them out. I’m sure they have something that would make your writing life nicer.
Undoubtedly, one of the best covers out there is the Hellbrand Leatherworks Field Notes cover. It has a simple design and a utilitarian purpose. Best of all, the Hellbrand Leatherworks cover looks better the older it gets — just like your trusted Field Notes books themselves.
I’ve owned one of these myself for the past couple of years. I can vouch for everything Josh says here.
Taking place on the first Friday in November each year, Fountain Pen Day is celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide as a time to embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens.
I might have to celebrate by breaking out a very special pen or two.
The best time to place your orders for the products would be during the month of November (or now) to provide ample time for them to be made, finished, and shipped in time for your holiday gift exchange. Orders placed in December will be made and shipped as quickly as possible, but may not make it in time. I will do my best!
If you’ve never checked out Mr. Dudek’s fine and wonderful goods, you are doing yourself a disservice. They would make an excellent gift. Also, the man has lovely handwriting.
From the 9th to the 19th centuries, scholars and scribes used Arabic as a lingua franca to debate scientific ideas. Arabic-speaking scholars translated classical Greek, Persian and even Sanskrit texts on topics such as medicine, mathematics and astronomy. These scholars went far beyond translation and preservation and fostered a unique and vibrant scientific culture within the Arabic-speaking world. The British Library and Qatar Foundation have joined forces to launch a new bilingual online portal, the Qatar Digital Library, providing free access to 25,000 pages of fascinating medieval Arabic manuscript.
In this age of electronic, immediate, and abbreviated communication – the thoughtfulness and personality of a handwritten ‘Thank you’ note is ever powerful. Like I said, all the ones I receive – I keep. I keep them as a reminder that just doing my job can provide a significant improvement in those around me.
Garrick van Buren, in his most recent and always excellent Expand newsletter.
I linked previously to some tips to help you remember to send handwritten notes. This quote beautifully explains the reason why it matters.
