This week I had the luck of travelling to Madrid on business. In case you didn't know, Madrid is home to Iguanasell, the improbably named pen/watch/lighter/accessories store from which I bought my Dialog 3 and various inks. I trekked my way down through the beautiful city in 25-degree heat to check out the showroom that … Continue reading Nothing beats hands-on time: visiting Iguanasell, Madrid
New arrivals: Sheaffer Legacy, Montblanc Red Fox, Galen Writing Box and more
It's been a truly wonderful week for new arrivals landing on my desk. Sheaffer Legacy Heritage I'll review this separately in due course, but I wanted to get some of my excitement out before I burst. I've always thought that Sheaffer's inlaid nibs were pretty, but never picked one up. I'm kicking myself now. The … Continue reading New arrivals: Sheaffer Legacy, Montblanc Red Fox, Galen Writing Box and more
Smoke and ice: Franklin-Christoph Model 02
Although I couldn't resist snapping up Birmingham Pens' 'Unicorn Barf' beta pen, I'm not a man for loud colours in my pens. Most of my collection is various shades of black and grey. Luckily, Franklin-Christoph caters to colour-minimal buyers like me, and I find their pens irresistible. The model under review here, the Model 02 … Continue reading Smoke and ice: Franklin-Christoph Model 02
Exclusive: GLP Author Tomoe River notebook review
They call me the Tomoe addict It's no secret that I'm a fan of Tomoe River paper, or that I'm pretty discerning about my notebooks. I go through at least one notebook a month just for work, and I know what I like. At the moment I'm powering through one of these, and wishing the … Continue reading Exclusive: GLP Author Tomoe River notebook review
European pen-makers you’ve probably never heard of (but should)
I often write about American or Japanese brands, or the big familiar European companies like Pelikan, Lamy and Montblanc. But in Europe we're blessed with many wonderful makers producing innovative and beautiful (and often expensive) pens in small numbers. They don't advertise; word spreads only at pen shows, on FPN, and on Instagram — so … Continue reading European pen-makers you’ve probably never heard of (but should)
The return of Mabie Todd: Blackbird Inks
Mabie Todd is one of those vintage pen manufacturers that everyone's heard of, but I confess I've never used one, or even held one. A Google suggests that it started as an American company in NYC pre-1900, but became established as a quintessentially British brand that persisted until the 1950s, long after the American operations … Continue reading The return of Mabie Todd: Blackbird Inks
Introducing the UKFP buyer’s guide
I've posted the first iteration of a new page on the blog: my take on a buyer's guide. I've mulled over the pens that passed through my hands over the past few years and made the tough choices about exactly what I'd buy again at each price point. No buyer's guide is perfect, but I'm … Continue reading Introducing the UKFP buyer’s guide
Ink-oming!
I've gone a bit mad with ink purchases (and review samples) in the past few weeks. You'll no doubt have seen the Pure Pens roundup. Well, I now have samples of six beautiful new Blackbird inks from British maker Mabie Todd. Here's a sneak peek: I can tell you now that a couple of these … Continue reading Ink-oming!
Let’s twist again: the Lamy Dialog 3
Apparently I now have a thing for twisty retractable fountain pens. You may remember my review of the Montblanc 1912. I have a Pilot Fermo on the way. And here is the Lamy Dialog 3. I'll say this first: this is a hell of an odd pen. No cap. No section. No finials or any … Continue reading Let’s twist again: the Lamy Dialog 3
Suited and booted: Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 6
Most "fancy" pen cases are leather. I get that. Leather is durable, attractive, and has a premium reputation. But for whatever reason, some of us want an alternative: something made of non-leather material that still protects our precious pens and that looks great, too. There are plenty of fabric cases out there, but few of … Continue reading Suited and booted: Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 6
