Is it Mint?
A regular question, but what does the description "mint" imply? It obviously means unused, but what is unused? Can it have been dipped or even filled for shop demonstration purposes? Some manufacturers still actually dip nibs on their premium pens to test writing ability.
In the case of Limited Edition pens, mint should mean undipped, anything less removes value from the pen.
For non Limited Edition pens, the dipping may well have occurred at the factory, and there will be traces of ink, but certainly not in the filling system.
Quick Links...
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| Dear xxxxx
Another web site update has just been uploaded, and there are the usual additions in most categories.
As we are now in a state of semi-retirement, this will be our last newsletter. It has become hard to find the time to restore, photograph, and list pens, while at the same time producing the newsletter to any given schedule. Site additions in future will be made when we have sufficient new stock to add.
Our repair service will carry on as usual, with incoming repairs generally (subject to vacations) being completed within a week of receipt.
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| Pen Shows |
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The Melbourne Pen Show in October was attended by a crowd no bigger than previous years, but there were more enthusiastic buyers and many stayed longer.
The organisers did express that this may well have been the last Melbourne Show, but hopefully will reconsider.
Our next and only overseas show is the Los Angeles Show in mid February.
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| Conklin Nozac |
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The Conklin Pen Company produced many fine writing instruments, no doubt their finest being the Nozac (no sac) range. Introduced in 1931, it was the work of industrial designer Louis Varvrik. It has a twist-fill piston filling system offering a much larger ink capacity than other pens of this era.
In 1932 a transparent window with a "word gauge" was added to show how many words could be written before running dry. "A pen without a word gauge is like a car without a gas gauge" was a common Conklin line of the time.
Perhaps the ultimate in Nozac pens was the Oversize (7 500 word) Red, Black and Silver Herringbone Word Gauge from the mid 30s.
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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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| Where too from here |
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Sanford Australia has joined Sanford USA & UK in moving their repair department offshore, in the case of Australia, it's moved to Hong Kong. It used to be that service was considered a support to the sales department. You can guess what most major pen specialist retailers might think of this move.
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| Fakes |
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During a recent holiday, we spent time in Beijing, surely the capital of fakes in apparel, travel goods, watches and of course pens. Whereas we saw plenty of fake Mont Blanc pens, we didn't see any that were convincing.
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