Where have they gone?
Where are the engineers, inventors and innovators who gave us filling systems like the Vacumatic, the Snorkel and the Capillary (Parker 61)? Will we ever see another new method of filling a fountain pen? My own impression is that those household name pen manufacturers don't employ engineers, inventors and innovators, just marketing people, with little or no knowledge of pens, their use, or users.
Design is mainly for cheapness of manufacture (rarely reflected in the actual retail price), with little or no thought given to repair or part replacement in the long term (more than two years)!
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| Dear *******,
Another quarter year has passed and another site upgrade has just been posted. It includes a number of Conway Stewarts which we seem to have been short of for some time, and a general top up of most stock pages.
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| Pen Shows |
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The Melbourne Pen Show drew a much larger audience this year, but is still a long way from being an International event. The venue is less than ideal; it's neither central, nor large enough should the show grow. We booked to stay at the hotel for two nights, but stayed only one as our balcony room was on the floor immediately above the courtyard where wedding receptions were held on both nights!
Sailor pens were represented for the first time at the show, and were well received.
Our next show is Los Angeles in February, our tenth consecutive LA Show. This will probably be our only International show this year.
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| Ebay |
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We've just started another season of Ebay auctions. We're happy to accumulate and combine lots to reduce shipping costs.
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| Parker Ball Points |
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Parker were late on the scene producing ball point pens, but while others went broke servicing returns, they developed a reliable refill that hasn't ostensibly changed its shape since then. The current refill fits all Parker ball point pens ever made, and the same profile is also used on brands like Montegrappa and Delta.
The first Parker 51 ball point pens seem to have been released in 1955, and were not particularly cheap. Today, Parker 51 ball point pens are quite scarce in comparison to the fountain pens, and are quickly appreciating in value. Parker 61, VP & 65 ball pens are not quite as scarce, but are also appreciating. Parker 75 ball point pens are increasing in popularity, and other than the Sterling Silver Cisele version, are relatively easy to find.
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| Quotations |
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Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his ideas closer together.
GC Lichtenberg 1742-1799
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