fountain pen

Danitrio fountain pens are handmade from rods of Italian celluloid (cellulose acetate), hand-turned on a lathe, and polished by hand for days. It’s available in two sizes – large and small – and comes with either an 18k nib or a steel (iridium) nib. They are well-made and most collectors try to acquire at least one.

Danis are a bit pricey, and I thought I’d never own one until I learned about their Cumlaude model. It’s the basic, entry-level Dani, and since I got mine on a “group buy” with fellow members of Fountain Pen Network-Philippines, I was finally able to afford one.

The pens we got were from the “close-out” Cumlaude sale, the last few stock left of this type of pen. (Dani no longer makes celluloid pens, concentrating now on urushi and maki-e from ebonite).

This is a large brown Danitrio Cumlaude, Fine nib. It also comes in blue.

Earlier Cumlaudes had markings on the cap band – “Trio Cumlaude” – and a metal section, according to Peaceable Writer. The clips of both types are marked with the brand name.

The “close-out” Cumlaudes have no metal internal parts. It has a converter fill system. I’ve heard it can be turned into an eyedropper fill, but the ink would stain the celluloid material and reduce the translucence.

When filling it for the first time, I chose J. Herbin Vert Empire and removed the converter from the barrel, in case of spills. I don’t want to stain the pen’s lovely marble-y brown body.

The large Dani is fairly fat. Although I have small hands, I got used to its size right away, as it requires less of a grip to hold on to it and manipulate it, unlike with smaller pens. It won’t exacerbate the focal dystonia in my right hand.

This is a Fine steel nib. It is a nail with very little give. Here’s a writing sample.

While the nib is smooth and buttery once it gets started, I had problems with the initial flow and with doing curves – it skips on the upstroke of a cursive “J” or “N”, and the top of “S”.  I don’t have this issue with other pens, like my equally new TWSBI, for instance. This problem was resolved when I used a different ink – Waterman, which flows well and is a “default” and safe ink for many FP users.

I find it also messy and blotty sometimes – see what happened when I unscrewed the cap the other day. I have yet to observe whether the change in ink will eliminate this particular issue.

Overall, the Danitrio Cumlaude is a handsome pen and an interesting and welcome addition to my collection.

taste more:

Demonstrator fountain pens made of clear plastic material are the most exciting type of fountain pens to have because they allow you to see right into their guts, “demonstrating” how they work, and see how much ink you have left. They boost productivity because now you’ll never run out of ink – scritch, scritch – in the middle of a sentence.

I own several demonstrators, among them Pilot, Sailor, and Pelikan, but do not use them everyday. I don’t like ink getting into the section.

Then the TWSBI Diamond 540 came along. *cue choirs of angels*

TWSBI is a Taiwanese manufacturer of quality fountain pens. They won the prestigious red dot design award in 2010  and their products are red hot collectible among users.

Filipino FP enthusiasts used to buy them online, but they are now available in the Philippines, at  Scribe in Eastwood Mall. The store carries fine writing instruments, ink, and stationery, among other things.

So I finally got one at Scribe, and because the TWSBI Diamond 540 is reasonably priced (for something so awesome), I had no hesitations about filling it right away, damn the be-inked section and full speed ahead.

It is inked because I had it tested in the store before taking pictures. Here it is back in the box for a full-length shot.

The TWSBI also comes in blue, amber, and smoke-colored demonstrators. While I have colored demonstrators (yellow and blue Pelikans), I prefer the clear. That way the colors of the inks show through, gleaming translucently when you hold the pen up to the light.

A close look at the piston-fill end.

The pen comes with an o-ring, silicon grease, and a wee wrench to let you clean and service it yourself. The piston-fill is a convenient, easy-to-use, and nearly fool-proof system, and won’t give any trouble.

A view of the nib, capped. 

I got an EF nib. In terms of line width, it’s between the Japanese EF (very very fine indeed) and the Western EF (which writes like a Japanese F).

The TWSBI nib is steel and a veritable nail, with only a slight hint of spring. But it writes smoothly, without skips or blots right from the get-go. It’s reliable and sturdy and is on the top of my present pantheon of daily road warriors.

A writing sample with the TWSBI Diamond 540, extra-fine nib. Ink used is Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses.

Glamour shot of the freshly-filled TWSBI Diamond 540 with a Moleskine Le Petit Prince pocket notebook. 

It’s my current favorite. It’s always great when fantastic design, a clear body, and reliability come together in one lovely artifact.

Photos taken with an iPhone 4S and that wonderful 8mp camera it’s got.

taste more:

Thank you to my friend Thomas Overfield for sending me this lovely Lamy Safari Aquamarine fountain pen! I must have been a very good girl the past few months to deserve this coveted limited-edition writing instrument.

Lamy is a  German brand established in 1930 that pioneered in the use of molded synthetic plastic to make their products.

The Lamy Safari Aquamarine with box, wrapped in a note.

The popular Safari, made of ABS plastic, was designed by Fabian and Spiegel and has remained in production since 1980; new colors have been rolled out at intervals since then as limited editions. The standard colors are red, yellow, and blue.

The Lamy Safari Aquamarine parts – cap with stainless clip, barrel with ink view window, nib-and-section with ink converter. It’s ready to be inked with J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche, the color in my stash that comes closest to the color of this pen.

Safari is also available in clear plastic (called the Vista demonstrator) and aluminum (the AL-Star line).

The Safari comes with a stainless nib; a black extra-fine nib was substituted for my pen.

A writing sample on a page from a plain pocket Green Apple notebook (available at National Bookstore branches across Manila). The paper is a bit thicker than Moleskine’s, with minimal show-through on the reverse side – great for fountain pen use.

J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche ink with the Lamy Safari Aquamarine on a Green Apple notebook. The notebook cover is waterproof printed rubber; note the elastic band placed horizontally, minimizing the slippage usual to vertically-placed elastics like on the Moleskine. A notch on the sides of the cover holds the elastic in place.

The Lamy Safari Aquamarine (fountain pen and ballpoint) will be available at National Bookstore in July; they are now taking reservations.

taste more:

For Christmas I treated myself to a bottle. Not of wine, nor perfume, but of a headier and far more potent potion – fountain pen ink.

J. Herbin of France was founded in 1670 by a sailor, Monsieur Herbin, who brought back from his travels to India formulas for sealing wax that made him his fortune. Some years later the company also began manufacturing ink, and thus they are “the oldest name in ink production in the world.” They made ink for the Sun King, Louis XIV, and a black ink for the sole use of author Victor Hugo.

To commemorate the company’s 340th anniversary this year, they released a limited edition ink – the “1670″.

J. Herbin calls the color rouge hematite, described as a “dark red color and earthy tone”. The hue recalls the color of  the company’s logo, while the use of red wax to seal the cap is a reminder that the company also makes wax to seal the grand cru wines of Europe.

The bottle is a different shape from their usual, being a heavy glass cube. The cap is of aluminum, sealed with red wax; the neck is strung with gold cord sealed to the bottle with gold glue-gun wax.

The ink goes on blood red but dries in gradations and with flecks of gold here and there. The color is warm and saturated. It has depth and complex layers of shades that make it more suitable for use in pens with flex or calligraphy nibs.

Writing sample made with a Waterman 52-1/2v, circa 1915, with a superflex gold nib.

Read these excellent reviews of “1670″ at Inkophile, Rants of the Archer, Biffybeans, and Lady Dandelion.

“1670″ is available online and, in the Philippines, at Scribe Writing Essentials store, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City.

taste more:

A can of Pepsi Max sits in front of me and gives advice.

“I know what you want,” it whispers. Beads of cold sweat roll off  its rouge et noir exterior. “I know how you can get it. Just do what you’re thinking right now. Go for it.”

I take a sip. ” It’s not a very good plan, and I don’t have a backup.”

“You don’t need one.” Chuckles coldly.

I turn Plan A over in my mind. It is possible it could work, like any scheme using brute force.  ”Perhaps,” I say.

The Moleskine chimes in. “Wait,” it says in a rustle of paper. ” Have you thought about the consequences and possible scenarios?”

The Sheaffer Balance makes marks. Numbers, words. “Holes in the plan,” it agrees,  ”here and there, where the mission could fail.”

Another sip of Pepsi Max. “You’re right – Plan A lacks finesse. And Plan B does not exist.”

The drink rallies. “Unnecessary, I swear.”

Anxious looks from the Moleskine and the Sheaffer. “This is too important to trust to chance. Preparedness is key to achieving the desired outcome. Remember how it hurt when you smacked concrete after jumping from a plane without a parachute? You need an improved Plan A. And a Plan B. And C, and D.”

I think of what I want and how badly I want it. The prize is worth waiting for.

I drain the drink. “But…!” it squeaks. “Think instant gratifica…!” I crumple the can and toss it, open the Moley, take up the Sheaffer, and think.

taste more:

Vintage fountain pens are highly-prized by many collectors not just for their unusual materials and designs. For those connoisseurs who actually use these pens, not merely keep them tucked away in protective cases, the nibs are the biggest draw of these oldies but goodies.

Older nibs, those manufactured up to the 1930s with higher gold content, tend to be more flexible than steel nibs. They are also resistant to the corrosion that may be a side effect of some types of inks.

These pens hail from the 1920s. One is a gold-filled Wahl, the other a celluloid Moore vest pen.

The Wahl has a Greek-key design. It is slim and perfect for ladies’ smaller hands. The notebook is a Ruled Pocket Moleskine.

Its 14k gold nib looks like a stub with most of the iridium worn off. A heart-shaped breather hole in the nib helps with the exchange of air for ink the pen’s reservoir. It’s a lever-fill.

A beautiful monogram on the cap tassie.

Moore is a lesser-known brand, yet the quality of this particular pen is admirable.

Celluloid body, lever-fill, 14k gold nib.

The name engraved on the barrel may be that of the first owner.

The Moore also has a heart-shaped breather hole.

No matter how agile and lithe David Beckham is, he can’t bend it like the nibs of these vintage pens can.

Writing samples – top, the Wahl in Private Reserve Shell Pink; center, the Moore in a plum color, a mixture of Shell Pink and Tropical Blue. The Moore’s nib gives more line variation.

Flexibility was an important characteristic for early 20th century pens because they suited the handwriting styles of the period – Copperplate and Spencerian.

Having used flexible pens, modern pens feel stiff and rigid. “Like a nail”, is how some collectors describe them. Many FP users have both a vintage flexible and a stiff modern writer in their everyday pen case for different purposes.

Photos taken with a Nikon D60.

taste more:

The holiday spirit seems sadly depressed this year at Starbucks here in Manila.

Oh, I don’t mean the decor. The marketing staff have done lovely things with ornament balls wrapped with green and red twine as door wreaths and table centerpieces.

Yet the powers-that-be have committed several major blunders: opting not to bring back the Peppermint syrup (which I waited the entire year for!), and having no cute costumed Barista Bears, instead foisting upon a dismayed clientele their ragamuffin reindeer that lack personality and charm.

This year, they brought back past seasons’ Toffee Nut Latte and Praline Mocha, and introduced Dark Cherry Mocha. Those syrups are fine, but only Peppermint truly evokes a Yuletide flair.

But Starbucks Philippines has redeemed themselves – to an extent – by coming out with makabayan (patriotic) mugs and tumblers. Anything that has “Pilipinas” or “Maynila” written, engraved, or otherwise emblazoned on it inspires my patriotic sentiments and gets my stamp of approval.

Manila girl that I am, I couldn’t pass up the tumbler that proclaims my origin.

Starbucks “Manila” tumbler, wireless phone by Uniden, and a limited edition blue-and-red Lamy 1.1mm italic fountain pen inked with Private Reserve Naples Blue – the tools of this modern-day scribe.

Note to Starbucks: to enjoy my continued patronage next holiday season, please bring back the Peppermint syrup and the Christmas Bearistas!

taste more:

Busy people who also happen to be disorganized often look for methods on how to best manage their time and efforts to achieve optimum results within the specified timeframe. Over years, many techniques have been developed and the choices are varied and confusing. How to tell which way will work best for you?

I’ve found this to be effective: read as much as you can about time-management methods, list down the tips that appeal to you, and through trial-and-error, create your own system that will work with your personal habits and way of thinking.

After going through quite a few systems and planners, I’ve finally developed a system that increased my productivity, wasted less time, and left nothing undone. It’s loosely based on David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD) action-management method insofar that I free my mind to actually work on tasks “by moving tasks out of (my) mind and recording them externally.”

I’ve tried using large, book-type planners but found them too heavy to lug around in my bag and too unwieldy to use in the field. So I trawled the ‘Net for ideas and came up with this system:

1. “Hipster PDA” - (bottom left) A sheaf of 3x 5 index cards held customarily by a binder clip or metal ring. I use a pink carabiner to make it easy to flip the cards. This is my “to-do” list. Color-coded cards organize the action tasks by context: blue, “@Work”, pink, “@Home”, white, Projects, because these are the categories that make sense for me.
2. Dashed notation for action items: – : action item undone; + : done; <-: waiting for another action;   -> : delegated; (-) : moved to another list; * : cancelled/abandoned; and the division sign for ‘on hold’. It is easy to use because you always start with just a dash.
3. Pocket Red Moleskine 18-month Weekly Diary: (bottom right) For listing appointments, meetings, etc. Its the perfect size for me – small enough to carry in handbag or tuck in pocket, I’m never without it.
4. Desk planner – (top) With two pages allotted for each day, it’s where I list all the little bits of information that come my way - phone numbers, notes of telephone conversations, sudden inspirations – rather than write them on scraps of paper that can get lost or misplaced. In the GTD system, it’s my “bucket” where I capture the data for later processing.

I also have an 8-1/2 x 11 size three-ring binder with tabbed divisions. Each division corresponds to one project – ex. “Short Story Collection”, “Racing History Book”. It’s where I write down notes, proposals, plans, mind-maps, and the like. I review my binder weekly, and list down action tasks pertaining to current projects in my Hipster PDA.

People get frustrated when choosing one time-management system and forcing themselves to work with it rather than make it work for them. Customizing a system yields better results and will help you on your way to professional and personal productivity.

(Yes, the pen on the Moley and all the pens in the pen-case are fountain pens.)

taste more: