Spurred on by my discovery of Onoto and my joyful first experiences with a friend's Conway Stewart Churchill, I set off on a mission to get my own Conway Stewart. I didn't want one of the current versions from Bespoke British Pens, with their conventional 'flag' nibs... no, I wanted one from a few years … Continue reading Close, but no cigar? Getting to grips with the Conway Stewart Winston
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An undeniable classic: the Onoto Magna
First impressions count Onoto sure know how to create a sense of occasion. I purchased this Onoto Magna Classic prototype from the London Pen Show, but I wanted it with a gold nib and the optional brass weight added to the barrel — so it went away to the workshop instead of home with me. … Continue reading An undeniable classic: the Onoto Magna
Bored of the mainstream? Four ways to reboot your love of pens
It's easy to get fatigued by all the new pen models that hit the market every month. Most new releases by Lamy, Sailor, Aurora, Conklin and co, let's face it, are just the same pens in different colours, and they often run to the same basic designs, the same foundational principles, the same stock nibs. … Continue reading Bored of the mainstream? Four ways to reboot your love of pens
The London Pen Show makes a fresh start for Spring
I call today's first-ever London Spring Pen Show, hosted by the London Writing Equipment Society (LWES), a great success. Or at least, I had a great time. Partly it's because I think I'm getting the hang of this pen-show lark. I followed my own advice: Go for the early bird entry at 9.30. The place … Continue reading The London Pen Show makes a fresh start for Spring
