Gary Lehrer


Fountain Pen Day

According to Fountainpenday.com, “Taking place on the first Friday in November each year, Fountain Pen Day is celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide as a time to embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens.”  The first Fountain Pen Day was celebrated in 2012, so 2021 marks its 10th anniversary.  I thought that everyone would enjoy this article which is reproduced from the November 4th edition of South Florida Reporter, with their very kind permission. Left …

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PARKER SNAKE #37 & #38

This blog is reprinted with permission by its author, Ramon Campos at parkersheaffer.com out of Spain.  Thank you Ramon. PARKER SNAKE #37 & #38 Preamble: The Mystique of the Snake. The snake has always held a mystique unlike any other. From ancient times snakes held people in awe, their sinuous movements, the colors, and the patterns of their skins dancing through the air, hypnotizing their beholders. The snake’s green eyes and stare at you, riveting …

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You Can Thank The Biro Brothers…

“Thank You” to Mark Young, Managing Editor for The South Florida Reporter, for his permission to reprint the following article.  Gary Lehrer www.gopens.com You Can Thank The Biro Brothers For Their June 1943 Patient #2390636 – The Ball Point Pen By SouthFloridaReporter.com – Jun 9, 2020 Grab your ballpoint pen and write this on your calendar. June 10th of each year, National Ballpoint Pen Day recognizes the useful writing utensil and commemorates the anniversary of …

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Pens, Pestilence and Penance…

The following is a reprint of a blog by Suvobrata Ganguly (Chawm) from Kolkata, India on www.inkedhappiness.com, kindly reproduced with his permission. Pens, Pestilence and Penance for the Pendulous and the Pensive in Painful Penitentiary! These are trying times. Just when we were beginning to think that mankind has triumphed over the two biggest adversaries that has challenged its existence since the dawn of civilization – war and pestilence, the world has been hit with …

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Jack Klasey: Beckman Park Monument Mystery Solved

The following article is reprinted from the September 21, 2019 issue of the Kankakee Illinois County Daily Journal, with permission from the author, Jack Klasey.  The links throughout the article were added by me.  I hope you enjoy it.  Gary Jack Klasey: Beckman Park monument mystery solved For more than 50 years, people visiting Kankakee’s Beckman Park have been puzzled by a dome-shaped construction on a grassy area along the north side of Cobb Boulevard. …

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Sheaffer Pen Co. 1908 – 1939

Introducing: An Entrepreneur and a Pioneer The ability of a person to beat the odds, emerging triumphant, constitutes their character. Some would call it a “trait.” But not all people have in them the wherewithal to overcome adversity and chart their way to success. When this happens, success and admiration are justly earned.  And what’s more,  seldom do we come across a person who can pass on this trait to his or her heirs. Continue …

Posted in Antique Pens, Collectible Pens, Gold Nibs, Ink, Rare Pens, Sheaffer Pen Company, Vintage Pens, Walter A. Sheaffer | Leave a comment

NIBS: Which is the Best; Solid Gold, Stainless Steel or Alloy?

Is a Solid Gold Pen Nib Worth the Extra Cost or are or Modern Alloy Nibs Just as Good? For most people, including myself, the goal is an amazing writing experience rather than simply having a beautiful pen. I’m always excited about writing a new article for our blog because it gives me the opportunity to clarify misconceptions and address common issues that fountain pen users often confront when choosing the right pen. This article …

Posted in Alloy Nibs, Antique Pens, Collectible Pens, Gold Nibs, Modern Pens, Vintage Pen, Vintage Pen Products, Vintage Pens | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Matchbook – The Carter’s Ink Company

Carter’s History  – A Timeline  (Thanks mainly to Wikipedia) 1858: William Carter Company founded. Sold paper and repackaged other companies’ ink as his own. 1860: His brother, Edward Carter, joins the company, now called William Carter and Bro. ca. 1862: Ink manufacture began. Another brother, John H. Carter joins the company, now called William Carter and Bros. 1865: Cousin John W. Carter, joins the company, now called Carter Bros. & Company. 1868: Ink sales now …

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Paper Mate Pens – Matchbook

How did the Paper Mate Ballpen come to be? Read on… In 1943 the Biro brothers set up a ball pen manufacturing plant in Argentina. Their first design failed because it relied on gravity to feed the ball. Their second design was much more successful, using capillary attraction for the ink flow. While better, this design also failed in the marketplace, mainly due to problems with the ink. Eventually they closed up shop. The rights …

Posted in Biro, Biro Ball Pens, Matchbooks, Paper Mate Pens, Vintage Pen, Vintage Pens | 2 Comments

Huge Waterman Poster in Paris

A monster poster, 48 feet wide and 32 feet high, was erected by M. Jules Fagard in the late 1920’s on the Grande Boulevard in Paris.  Fagard was the head of Waterman’s French subsidery. Even though other pen companies such as Parker, Sheaffer and Wahl Eversharp  modernized by switching to celluloid pens, Waterman stuck to hard rubber (having just invested a small fortune developing colored hard rubber — think Rose Ripple, Olive Ripple and Blue-Green Ripple). Even though Waterman eventually …

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