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Tuesday, February 16 2010

Test Visconti Homo Sapiens

l'évolution - 3d

Several weeks ago, i heard a rumor on internet talking about a pen made of lava from Etna…first i thought that it was a joke.You know…sometimes limited editions are so special..but who would buy a pen made of lava…

Last week, the French distributor of Visconti asked me to test the pen for real and I said “ok” thinking that it would be a fancy pen but nothing more.

Because as many of us, I can not always test the pens and get the real pictures of them, this time I have decided to make this humble home made video to share another point of view of this pen.


Test Visconti Homo Sapiens Visconti

Here is my feedback.

When I saw it for the first time, I was surprised because this is not that kind of limited edition that you are afraid to use in a board meeting for exemple, the design and the colors are classical and elegant, black and bronze.So you can use it everywhere !

Same clip system as usual on Visconti pens, a little bit like the Faber Castell ones( I mean the concept). The system to clip the cap on the barrel is clever even I do not like the design of the system when you use the pen , cap off.

Bronze is a nice material

The pen is heavier rather than the Pelikan 1000 about 15/20g more. SO….how does it feel to have a barrel made of 50% of lava ?

Well, here are my first words:rubber, “neoprene” sorry I do not know the English word for this, it is the material used for swimming suit, peach skin…I would say that for me it is something pleasant.

I have used it during a whole day, without the cap on the back ( I have little hands and the pen is heavy for me with the cap posted ),you really feel the material, the pen does not move in your fingers and it was funny to often touch it just to “feel it” The filling system is something like my old Sheaffer Vac Fill pens easy and fun, it is funny to fill you pens with that kind of system because all the people around you do not know it and ask questions.

And what about that nib with palladium? Well my friends, for the moment my favourite nib was my Pelikan M1000 one without any doubt possible but this one…..i have tried the Homo Sapiens with a broad nib ( I prefer a stub or a fine one ) and when I found the right position…how to say…honestly..you feel for real the difference,the pen writes very well with a minimum of pressure.To be sure of my sensations, I have asked my wife to test it ( she found it too big for her ) but said the same about the nib. For me to write must be a pleasure before all, and that s the reason why I love to use a Waterman 52 with its flexible nib, a OS Sheaffer flat top for its design, its celluloid odor and its manifold nib..but the palladium nib is a discover for me and I really would like to have your point of view about it. Pricing in France will be around 350 euros…well..the ration pleasure/price if correct for me in comparaison of some other pens…

Tuesday, January 12 2010

Best wishes for 2010

2010 Penandco

To wish something for someone is not an easy thing ( except if it is an automatical mailing system to wish you to still have enough money to test new cars or buy new credits :-)).

It is nt an easy thing because you also express yourself to someone.

All the Penandco team wish you to find enough time to make a break, to write a letter to yourself or to someone else, to re-discover who you are as well as your relationships with others,....to be yourself in 2010!

Thank you very much for your kind comments and mails in 2009, very usefull for us stay alive.

All the best for 2010 :-) Jean Elie

Wednesday, August 26 2009

Montblanc and Unicef

Montblanc Meisterstück ‘Signature for Good’ Special Edition World Premiere – 2009, Montblanc unveils the first Montblanc writing instrument that has been especially developed and designed for Montblanc’s longtime support of the children’s aid organisation UNICEF to benefit their worldwide education and literacy programmes: a precious and lovingly enhanced version of the legendary Montblanc Meisterstück, that comes since 85 years as timeless design icon, the Montblanc Meisterstück ‘Signature for Good’ Special Edition.

We met Violante Avogadro Di Vigliano, RP and Media Montblanc France, to learn more about this great operation.

Montblanc

How did this partnership with Unicef start ?

Montblanc has supported Unicef and the fight for literacy for years, Deeply bound with the activity of writing, our establishment commited to contribute to the education of children around the world through literacy programmes.

What is your favourite aspect of this partnership ?

I believe that what really matters nowadays is the ability to express oneself. Reading and writing are fundamental needs for each individual. To be able to help children do this thanks to our action, this is what I prefer !

What were the difficulties or obstacles that you had to overcome ?

There was no real difficulty nor obstacle. All the people we met had a strong interest for the education of children. We worked together closely with Unicef representatives as well as various stars and well-known people who came to support this beautiful project.

What are the first outcome and fallouts of this operation ?

The product sells well and feedback is very positive : we hope to collect at least $ 1.5 Million, and whatever the results, we have commited to give this amount to Unicef by March 31st 2010 when the operation will come to an end !

Do you plan to have other similar projects in 2010 ?

This project will continue during the first three months of the year 2010 and then, who knows… we will surely find another wonderful idea to help children in need !

unicef Montblanc The Montblanc Meisterstück ‘Signature for Good’ Special Edition pays special homage to this icon of writing culture on its 85th anniversary: The Meisterstück Classique version is designed with 14-carat nib and golden inlay in the distinctive shape of the olive bush from the UNICEF logo and a precious blue sapphire in the top of the cap in order to link this special writing instrument to the hallmark of UNICEF. Every single nib is perfectly crafted in 35 individual stages, and is ground, polished and tested by hand, to ensure absolute writing perfection, in the Meisterstück tradition since 1924. The new version of the Montblanc Meisterstück comes as fountain pen, roller ball, ballpoint and mechanical pencil in the versions ‘Le Grand’ and ‘Classique’. The Montblanc Meisterstück ‘Signature for Good’ Special Edition will be available from June 2009 in Montblanc Boutiques worldwide. The purchase of each writing instrument will benefit children without proper access to education.

This first launch of the ‘Signature for Good’ collection is part of a one year charity initiative to the benefit of UNICEF’s education and literacy programs. Montblanc will be donating 10% of the retail price from each of this Meisterstück ‘Signature for Good’ Special Edition with the overall aim of raising at least US$ 1.5 million in the next 12 months through various global fundraising initiatives.

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Sunday, August 9 2009

Your pen tailor made by Penandco !

if you are a fountain pen writer, you know for a fact that your pen is a very personal and intimate object and that you would not lend it too anyone.
Our Penandco team has come up with the most daring idea ever...............
To create your own bespoke and therefore unique fountain pen
not only by resorting to exclusive quality craftsmanship but also and above all by taking your wishes into account.

Concept

Everything is possible, you have “carte blanche”: you can choose engraved initials, write text, have an engraved drawing, sign, pattern…no limit to your creativity! We would like to emphasize the fact that the pen will be created according to your wishes. It will be a unique pen, a genuine bespoke creation. You can therefore design the pen of your dreams or offer an exclusive and unique gift for any special occasion that should be remembered (18th or 21st birthday, wedding, any anniversary / celebration, bar-mitzvah , retirement, contest award, token of friendship…). Once you have the idea of the kind of pen you wish, all you have to do is to contact us and our calligraphers will come up with suggestions to make your project come true.

Here is an example, made for one of our customer about Noa and Jonas.


Le stylo plume sur-mesure

Fine quality work

You can choose between an entirely solid silver engraved pen and a partly solid silver engraved pen – in this case, only the cap will be engraved. Right after the work of the calligrapher, a second craftsman will now carry on the work by etching the pen in order to obtain the desired drawing. This engraving technique has existed for centuries and numerous painters used it. The pen and/or its cap in solid silver are entirely covered with a protective coating material that the artist will then engrave with patience, without touching or damaging the metal. He will then use nitric acid to bring out and engrave the patterns or the drawing in the silver. Several days of work are required in order to obtain such a result. We consequently recommend that you take the design, engraving and shipping delays into consideration when you wish to make an order and encourage you to contact us for further information.

The pen: A Parker 51

The pen:a Parker 51 fountain-pen, with new writing pieces from the 50ies (such as the nib for example) A few lines about this mythical Parker fountain pen, a MUST for pen collectors. At the beginning of the 30ies, due the economic crisis, the competition among pen manufacturers was getting tougher and tougher. Parker had the idea to focus on technological advantage, first launching to market a revolutionary ink that would dry instantaneously, the Quinck (for quick ink)…At that time PCs did not exist and the use of fountain pens was as compulsory as the use of blotting papers. To pursue innovation in writing instruments, the company invested nearly a million dollar to create the Parker 51 pen, a revolutionary pen, the shape and concept of which required almost 23 different pieces, 238 operations in the assembly line – that included 42 manual ones. Its design was very innovative for a 1940 pen. Parker was indeed greatly inspired by aviation: the Lucite, a highly shock resistant material used to manufacture the pen, was also used for some mechanical pieces of aircrafts. P51 Its half-protected/covered nib was especially designed for a longer moisturised use and for an immediate writing. Kenneth Parker, a great advertising man employed by the company, had the idea to name the pen by looking at a “U.S. 51” signpost/board through the window of his office.

  1. In 1939, when the concept is ready, the company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  2. Using a number for the name does not jeopardize the branding of the company.
  3. It can be used worldwide.

This model was first tested in Venezuela and in Colombia in extremely severe conditions of heat and moisture. The use of people and VIPs such as Harry Truman, Byron Nelson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Norman Rockwell, was instrumental/helped/played a key role in the rapid soaring of the sales. In 1940, when the pen was launched on the market, success was immediate; especially as Parker organised sales challenges where its top salesmen could even win Cadillac cars! Since its launch on the market, this fountain pen has gone through numerous changes (such as: different filling techniques, use of gold, steel, silver…)

Signature de la capitulation allemande

Signature traité de paix USA/Japon

To start your pen...just contact us

contactez-nous

Monday, March 2 2009

Interview Waterman CEO

Do not hesitate to click here to read this interview in english Thank you

Friday, February 20 2009

Montegrappa Extra 1930

EXTRA 1930 BLACK & WHITEExtra_1930_Black_White_image.jpg

Montegrappa’s Extra 1930, with its graceful lines and sensual proportions is testimony to Italy’s rich aesthetic heritage and tradition of craftsmanship. As for all models of the collection, the new Black & White colour is faithfully inspired by original pieces belonging to Montegrappa’s museum. The new Black & White celluloid pattern is added to the existing Turtle Brown and Bamboo Black colours, and is available in two versions: Solid Silver (fountain and rollerball pen) and an exclusive Red Gold and Diamonds fountain pen version.

Extra_1930_Black_White_detail.jpg

SOLID SILVER VERSION - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Barrel and cap in Black & White mother-of-pearl celluloid
Solid silver fittings
Cap ring decorated with Greek fret
Clip with typical Montegrappa rotating sphere
Silver disk with 1912 logo on top of cap
Extra_1930_Black_White_diamonds_technical_picture.jpg Fountain pen with piston filling system and 18K white gold nib (8mm nib; EF, F, M, B size
Special packaging: ash wood box with Montegrappa (Fountain pen version with inkpot)

Extra_1930_Black_White_technical_pictures.jpg

RED GOLD & DIAMONDS VERSION - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Barrel and cap in Black & White mother-of-pearl celluloid
18K red gold fittings
Cap ring decorated with Greek fret embellished with 210 brilliant cut diamonds
Clip with typical Montegrappa rotating sphere
18K red gold disc with 1912 logo on top of cap
Piston filling system and 18K red gold nib (8mm nib; F, M size)
Special packaging: ash wood box with Montegrappa inkpot
Authenticity Certificate
Delivered with black ink

In the near futur, one of our reader will test here this pen.