The blog since 2013
262 posts since September 2013 by Nathaniel Cerf: how to start collecting, what happens at the repair bench, inks under the sun, fake Montblancs, and the pens of presidents and writers. "It is a space dedicated to pen lovers old and new."
December 3, 2013 · Original Stories
Among the many great holiday traditions in the Cerf family is a contest to see who can come up with the most ingenius gift for another family member at Christmas. This is not a greedfest. The most expensive gift rarely wins. Hard-to-find and/or extremely clever often carry the day. The competition is fierce but loving,…
November 27, 2013 · Notes from the Work Bench
See how the needle nose pliers have started making a box in the end of the brass flashing as I restored this Sheaffer 5-30. When I first learned the art of fountain pen restoration, there weren’t as many readily available modern replacement “J” pressure bars to fix most standard lever-filling vintage pens. You could try…
November 25, 2013 · Famous People & Pens
Last week we had a request from loyal reader Karen P. to identify the pen used by Meryl Streep in her Oscar-winning movie “Out of Africa.” Finding a picture of the pen was relatively easy. Identifying the pen is a different story. For those of you who are not familiar with the film, it is based on…
November 22, 2013 · Notes from the Work Bench
A Waterman’s #15 eyedropper soaks in water to help loosen the old ink sealing its threads. Old hard rubber pens, especially eyedroppers, can be a difficult repair because the pens are so old and frail. It is very easy to overtorque them and crack or crush them. The problem, especially in eyedroppers, is that old…
November 18, 2013 · Famous People & Pens
American author Samuel Clemens, who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain, was the spokesman for the Conklin Pen Company in 1903. Samuel Clemens, better known to lovers of classic American literature as Mark Twain, was possibly the first famous person used to sell a specific make and model of pen. Twain was the writer…
November 14, 2013 · Pen News
With its striking greens and golden browns, this beautiful Parker Duofold fountain pen from 1941 would make an ideal pen for writing your Christmas cards. Not only does it look good, it is fully restored and has a very smooth fine-medium nib. I love writing Christmas cards. I don’t do group letters or holiday e-cards.…
November 11, 2013 · Pen Ads of Yesteryear
Despite the beautiful watercolor painting and classic 1930s fashion, this vintage pen ad is loaded with sexism that seems sure to guarantee the Lady Duofold never sold. Seriously, how effective was this catty Parker Duofold ad from 1931?! The ad headline reads like a movie synopsis for a cheap melodrama about a bunch of bitchy…
November 7, 2013 · Ink Reviews
This is just an “inkling” of ThePenMarket.com’s private collection of vintage and modern fountain pen ink. It includes Sanford ink, Sheaffer towers of ink, Carter’s ink and Parker V-mail ink from WWII! Many people ask me about ink and what they should use in their pens, and it is a great question. The best rule…
November 5, 2013 · Famous People & Pens
This collection of pens signed 50 iconic American laws into effect by President John F Kennedy and President Lyndon Baines Johnson from 1961 to 1967. It appears Esterbrooks and Parker 45 were the go-to pens of choice. How’s this for the ultimate pen auction? 50 pens used by presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B.…
November 3, 2013 · Pen News
Sleek black elegance is breath-taking in this seemingly new old stock Parker 17. In the past month or so, ThePenMarket.com has added many museum quality and/or new old stock pens to its vintage pens pages. These pens are not necessarily the go-to pens all collector’s feel as if they must have, but they are great…
October 31, 2013 · Original Stories
When I lived at 715 S. Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls, S.D., there were all kinds of things that went bump in the night…and day. I’m not saying I believe in ghosts, but I’m at a loss for what to call what I experienced…and I wasn’t the only one. The desire to preface this story…
October 29, 2013 · Notes from the Work Bench
Two Snorkel filling units mock me from my work bench, as I try to sort out the final mysterious reasons they won’t draw ink. For roughly 10 years, I have struggled to find a way to fix the beautiful and brilliant Sheaffer Snorkel. Years ago I saw a poll that asked pen collectors what they…
