I am sharing in this video two vintage fountain pen acquisitions, one newly restored pen that I showed you prior to restoration, and I unbox my latest Birmingham Pens order. Here is the previous video I mentioned on the Waterman Safety Pen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_XfmCnvr90 This is the link to Grandmia Pens' YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/penkino1
The official blog of Troy LaPlante of Selma, NC. Find more of Troy's online presence at troylaplante.com
Friday, December 21, 2018
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
Thursday, November 29, 2018
S.T. DuPont Classique Fountain Pen
Today I share with you the S.T. DuPont Classique model fountain pen. I have been wanting a DuPont for a while. I found a decent price on one with Pen Gear Global. https://www.ebay.com/usr/prevoua
Monday, November 26, 2018
Vintage Montblanc 342, Pelikan GO!, & Pelikan M200 fountain pens
In today's pen mail, I received a vintage circa 1951 MontBlanc 342 with a flex nb, a "new old stock" Pelikan GO!, and a "new old stock" Pelikan M200 fountain pens.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Kreuzer German Cartridge/Converter Fountain Pen
Today I share a Kreuzer German made cartridge/converter fountain pen that I recently bought. If you like this pen, you can check out others from the same seller.
Pen Gear Global
https://www.ebay.com/str/PGG-PenGearGlobal
Pen Gear Global
https://www.ebay.com/str/PGG-PenGearGlobal
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Benjamin's Baptism Nov. 18, 2018
At The Bridge Church in Princeton, NC, water baptism is regularly practiced. I had the pleasure of baptizing my son, Benjamin today. Also, the first child in the video is Logan, who is in my Royal Rangers class for 1st and 2nd graders, so I included him in the video, as well.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Waterman Safety Pen & Waterman 0552 Vintage Fountain Pens
I share my latest two vintage pen acquisitions, a Waterman Safety Pen (circa 1905 - 1935) and a 1920's Waterman 0552.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Vintage Fountain Pen Advice & Pen Mail -- or Something Like It
I share a few experiences in cleaning vintage fountain pens and something I recently got in the mail.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Sailor Profit 1911 Fountain Pen - Pen Mail
My latest pen mail is a Sailor Profit 1911 fountain pen from Japan. I give my opinion on it and Japanese fountain pens in general.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Pelikan Celebry P580 Pen Mail
I got back from a brief vacation to find that my Pelikan Celebry P580 had been delivered. It is a cartridge converter pen from the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Monday, October 08, 2018
Some of My Favorite Vintage Fountain Pens
I was recently asked what some of my favorite vintage fountain pens were. I share some of them from my collection.
Labels:
commando,
crusader,
Esterbrook,
parker,
PFM,
sheaffer,
sheaffer balance,
skyline,
snorkel,
vacumatic,
vintage fountain pens,
wahl eversharp,
waterman,
watermans
Sunday, October 07, 2018
Monday, October 01, 2018
Vintage Pen Mail - Parker 51 and Waterman 54
Today I share the two latest pen acquisitions. In the mail just today I got my Parker 51 Vacumatic back from being restored. I had purchased it some time ago, but it was going to need more of a restoration than I can personally perform. I finally sent it out for repair and got it back just today. I will show you it being inked and writing for the first time. I also recently got a Waterman 54...or did I?
Here is the link to the video supplied by Antique Digger of the restored pen. https://youtu.be/3dR7l3m4WRQ
Here is the link to the video supplied by Antique Digger of the restored pen. https://youtu.be/3dR7l3m4WRQ
Sunday, September 23, 2018
New Pens - Pelikan M1000 & Karas Kustoms Fountain K
My two newest additions to my pen collection are a new Pelikan M1000 and a Karas Kustoms Fountain K. I show them to you here.
Labels:
karas kustoms,
pelikan,
pelikan hubs,
pelikan m1000
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Pen mail - Sheaffer PFM III and vintage Waterman lever filler
In today's pen mail video, I show the Sheaffer PFM III, which had been on my wish list for a long time. I also got an old 1940's or 1950's lever filler Waterman's fountain pen.
The Sheaffer pictures I harvested from the internet can be found at http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferPFM.htm Pen Hero is a great web site for history, pen profiles, and information, especially for Sheaffer pens.
The Sheaffer pictures I harvested from the internet can be found at http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferPFM.htm Pen Hero is a great web site for history, pen profiles, and information, especially for Sheaffer pens.
Labels:
Pen Hero,
pen mail,
penhero.com,
Sheaffer PFM,
vintage fountain pens,
Waterman's
Friday, September 14, 2018
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Thoughts on hurricanes, social media, and prayer
As I am sitting here at my desk, we are waiting for the landfall of Hurricane Florence. Like many others, I have prayed for God to lessen the storm, to steer it away from populated land, and push it back out to sea. Earlier forecasted tracks of the storm took the eye right over where I am sitting, making landfall as a category 4 storm. I have endured many hurricanes since moving to North Carolina over 30 years ago. I have seen the devastation that Hurricanes Fran and Floyd brought, especially. Another storm with a name starting with the letter F heading towards the North Carolina coast did not particularly enthuse me.
I have been reading on social media about people thanking God for answered prayer with the hurricane’s path being diverted away from the original path that looked like we were “in the crosshairs” and is now heading in a more southerly direction, lessening the impact to our local area. Sure, we will still get heavy rain and winds. We will see flooding and loss of property. But at this moment, it appears that we may not get whacked as hard as originally thought. Personally, I am thankful for that.
But I have an honest question for those who attribute the change in the storm’s path to answered prayer. Do you believe that God, in His love for you and your prayers of petition, care more for you than the other people that are now in the path of the storm? Are your prayers more special than the prayers of others? Does God love His saints in North Carolina more than those in South Carolina? Did God get more prayers from North Carolinians than He did from South Carolinians, so He decided to shift the storm track? What does that say about your discernment of The Body and mankind in general? Is your rejoicing at the price of others’ peril? Sure, “when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices” (Proverbs 11:10). The other half of that verse says that "when the wicked perish, there is shouting." Are those who are now going to be in the storm path all wicked? Of course not. He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).
Yes, we can be glad that our level of danger has lessened some. But let us not attribute that to some act of God in response to your prayers which is still contrary to the prayers of others. Let us still pray for those in greater danger than ourselves, for their preservation and salvation, and not blame God one way or the other.
Labels:
Bible,
hurricane florence,
prayer,
social media
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Vintage Pen Mail - Sheaffer Tuckaway & Waterman's Crusader Taperite
In today's pen mail, I follow up with a viewer request on a writing sample on a Scripto 1950's lever filler fountain pen. I also share some new acquisitions of a Sheaffer Tuckaway, a Waterman's Crusader Taperite, and a circa 1970 - 1980's Waterman cartridge/converter pen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Vintage Fountain Pens Can Be Affordable
Today's pen mail demonstrates that vintage fountain pens can be affordable and still be quality. Just today I got a Scripto and a Venus fountain pen, both from the 1950's.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Waterman 3v & Imperial Lever Filler - working on 2 vintage pens
I have been tinkering with a couple of vintage fountain pens, a Waterman 3v and an Imperial lever filler. Here is the latest on these.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Waterman 52 & Waterman Book - Pen Mail
I share two of the latest pen mail items - the book, "Waterman Past and Present - The First Six Decades" and a vintage Waterman 52 fountain pen in red ripple.
Monday, August 20, 2018
TWSBI GO First Impressions
Pen mail brought the newest TWSBI product to the market, the TWSBI GO. These are my first impressions of the pen as well as a demonstration of inking one up, some pen size comparisons, and a writing sample.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Waterman 12, Good Service, Platinum Plaisir Pen Mail
Today I show my new acquisitions of a century plus old Waterman 12, a 1920's Good Service fountain pen made for and sold by Sears & Roebuck, and a modern Platinum Plaisir.
Monday, August 13, 2018
Vintage Sheaffer Balance circa 1936 - 1942
Recently I got a vintage Sheaffer Balance that I knew would need a little work. I did not do a thorough restoration job on it, but more of a "sprucing up" of this venerable pen and got it both writing and looking great.
Wednesday, August 08, 2018
VINTAGE PEN MAIL - Waterman 55, Sheaffer Balance, Waterman C/F, and a Cu...
In today's episode of pen mail, I share recent acquisitions that include a vintage Sheaffer Balance, a Waterman 55 in red ripple, a Waterman C/F, and a vintage official Cub Scouts pen.
Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Adventures in Shaving Part 3
I share my most recent results in experimentation with "wet shaving" with double-edged, single blade razors, soaps, creams, brushes, etc.
Labels:
c o bigelow,
double edged razor,
feather blades,
Gillette,
pinaud,
rapira,
wet shaving
Monday, August 06, 2018
DC Pen Show 2018 Overview, Pen Haul, & Giveaway
An overview of our experience at the DC Pen Supershow 2018, our pen haul, some walk through video, and a giveaway.
Here is the Jim Hinze Beacon custom pen review I referenced in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RJaHDHEdho
Here is the Jim Hinze Beacon custom pen review I referenced in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RJaHDHEdho
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
An update and a little bit of pen mail
Just an update since I have not done many videos lately. Here is why and what is coming up. I also share my paltry pen mail as of late.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Give Me Liberty - 1936 Dramatization of Patrick Henry's Famous Speech
I found this movie short from 1936 one day. It is a Hollywood dramatization of Patrick Henry's speech of March 23, 1775 arguing for American independence from Britain. I had never seen it before, but wanted to share it with others. I eventually managed to find a listing for this video on https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027678
Labels:
American Revolution,
Give Me Liberty,
Patrick Henry
Sunday, July 08, 2018
Pen Mail & a Primer on Stylograph Type Fountain Pens
Today, not only will I share my four newest fountain pens that were added to the collection, I will share a primer on stylograph fountain pens. Pens that were added to the collection include vintage Waterman's Stalward, a vintage Inkograph, an Aurora Style, and a Lamy ABC Student Pen.
Labels:
aurora,
inkograph,
lamy,
speerbob,
student pens,
stylograph,
vintage fountain pens,
waterman
Thursday, July 05, 2018
More on Vintage Fountain Pen Collecting
I have gotten some feedback lately about my previous videos on vintage fountain pen collecting and gotten some private correspondence on the same topic. So I figured I would add to the subject a year or so after the last video on it.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Vintage Sheaffer Desk Set Fountain Pen - Pen Mail and review
I recently got a vintage Sheaffer Desk set fountain pen that was manufactured for sale in Sears and Roebuck stores. I will introduce you to it here.
Labels:
desk set,
sears and roebuck,
sheaffer,
vintage fountain pens
Monday, June 18, 2018
A YUGE Pen Mail Day
Today I will show you my latest additions...with a YUGE pen mail day. If you love vintage pens, keep watching. The vendor's website that I mentioned in the video is www.speerbob.com
Friday, June 15, 2018
Wancher Oshita Urushi Maki-e Fountain Pen Review
Today I share and review the Wancher Oshita Urushi Maki-e fountain pen. If you like Japanese artwork and pretty pens, you will want to watch this one.
Labels:
fountain pen collecting,
japanese fountain pens,
maki-e,
oshita,
urushi,
Wancher
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
FOLLOW UP: Birmingham Pens Model A1
I wanted to follow up on my previous video of my review of the Birmingham Pens Model A-1 fountain pen. I had a recent experience with it and with the company. Was it good or bad? Watch and find out.
Here is my previous review video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-hD1P1iPa8
Here is my previous review video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-hD1P1iPa8
Monday, June 04, 2018
Triangle Pen Show 2018
Matthew and I went to the Triangle Pen Show in Raleigh, NC June 1st and 2nd, 2018. We show you some of the sights and people, as well as the booty we accumulated.
www.trianglepenshow.com
www.trianglepenshow.com
Friday, June 01, 2018
Frustrations in shaving part 2
A follow up to a video that I did a year ago about frustrations in finding decent shaving materials and my most recent discovery/assessment.
Labels:
Barbasol,
dollar shave club,
Gillette,
harrys razors,
Rick Harrison,
Shave Secret
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Vintage Mont Blanc 220 fountain pen review
The vintage Mont Blanc 220 fountain pen get a review today.
Labels:
diamine,
montblanc,
montblanc 220,
Montblanc 32,
penhero,
vintage fountain pens
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Top picks for newbies - fountain pens under $25
Today I go back to the purpose of my channel, to give some fountain pen advice for the person new to the fountain pen hobby or just plain new to using them. I have my top ten picks plus another eight "honourable mentions" as suggestions. I wish I had known about many of these when I first started on this journey.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Episode 102 - Moonman M2 Fountain Pen Review
Today I review the Chinese made Moonman M2 eyedropper filled demonstrator fountain pen.
Labels:
Chinese fountain pens,
demonstrator,
eyedropper,
fountain pens,
lecai,
Moonman,
moonman m2
Thursday, May 17, 2018
VINTAGE ADDITIONS: Esterbrook Desk Set & Waterman 32v
Today I show you my two latest additions, a vintage Esterbrook desk set and a Waterman 32v. I also give a little backstory to the addition of these two great writing antique pens.
Monday, April 30, 2018
EPISODE 100! Pen Mail - Vintage Waterman 52v, Noodler's Konrad, Faber-Ca...
Since my last pen video, I have added to the collection a vintage Waterman 52v, a Noodler's Konrad, a Faber-Castell Basic, and a Chinese made Moonman M2 eyedropper filler.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Pen Mail - Vintage OMAS Rinascimento Modello and Waterman 32v
In today's pen mail, I share my "new" vintage OMAS Rinascimento Modello and a vintage Waterman 32v lever filler.
Labels:
modello,
OMAS,
rinascimento,
vintage fountain pens,
waterman
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Pen Mail - Cross Star Wars C3-PO, Vintage Waterman W2, and Pelikan M120
In a quick pen mail video today, I cover my new Cross Star Wars C3-PO, vintage Waterman W2, and Pelikan M120 fountain pens.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
The Jim Hinze Custom Beacon Fountain Pen
Today I review the Beacon fountain pen custom manufactured by Jim Hinze of Hinze Pens in Texas.
Labels:
beacon,
custom pen,
fountain pen,
Jim Hinze
Monday, April 09, 2018
Pen Mail - Pilot Tank 1970's Vintage Fountain Pen
In today's pen mail, I received a 1970's "new old stock" Pilot Tank fountain pen. I will show you the pen and how to make this eyedropper design pen to be able to use an ink cartridge or converter.
Labels:
fountain pens,
Peyton Street Pens,
Pilot,
pilot tank
Retro 1951 Tornado Fountain Pen Review
Today I will review the Retro 1951 Tornado fountain pen.
Labels:
anderson pens,
fountain pen,
Retro 1951,
Retro 51,
tornado
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Matthew's Recent Pen Acquisitions
Matthew shows off recent additions to his fountain pen collection. Stay tuned until the end for some special outtakes from the recording session.
Labels:
bookworm,
Chinese fountain pens,
fountain pens,
hemisphere,
hero,
invincia,
jinhao,
monteverde,
pelikan,
Pilot,
platinum,
preppy,
thornton,
ultra,
waterman,
Wearever,
wing sung
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Montegrappa Game of Thrones Westeros Edition Fountain Pen Review
The Montegrappa Game of Thrones Special Edition Westeros Fountain Pen.
Labels:
baratheon,
bolton,
fountain pen,
Game of Thrones,
kenro,
lannister,
martell,
Montegrappa,
stark,
targaryen,
tyrell,
Westeros
Monday, March 19, 2018
Visconti Homo Sapiens Jade Limited Edition Fountain Pen Review
Today I review the Visconti Homo Sapiens Jade Limited Edition fountain pen.
Thursday, March 08, 2018
Pen Mail - Montegrappa Game of Thrones Westeros and Vintage Sheaffer Cadet
In today's pen mail, I show you my Montegrappa Game of Thrones pen, Westeros edition, and my Vintage Sheaffer Cadet.
Monday, March 05, 2018
Pen Mail - Visconti Homo Sapiens Jade, Sheaffer Taranis, Jinhao Dragon Pen
Since the last pen mail day video, I have received a Sheaffer Taranis, which has been on my hit list for a while, another Jinhao Dragon Pen, and a Visconti Homo Sapiens Jade that is on loan.
Labels:
dragon pen,
jinhao,
pen mail,
sheaffer,
Taranis,
Visconti Homo Sapiens
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Vintage 1950's USSR Soyuz Leningrad Fountain Pen
One addition to my collection that has seen a lot of use lately is a 1950's vintage Soviet Union Soyuz fountain pen manufactured in the Leningrad factory. I share the pen and my thoughts on it.
Labels:
fountain pen,
Leningrad,
Parker 51,
Parker Vacuumatic,
Russia,
Russian surplus,
Soyuz,
USSR,
vintage pens
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Thornton's Novice Disposable Fountain Pens
I purchased some packs of Thornton's Novice disposable fountain pens hoping to find a nice, inexpensive pen for use, travel, and giveaway. Were they just that? Watch and find out.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Monday, February 19, 2018
Sheaffer Imperial II Deluxe Vintage Fountain Pen Review
Today I review my vintage Sheaffer Imperial II Deluxe fountain pen. I love both new and vintage fountain pens, and enjoy a good old Sheaffer.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Birmingham Pens Model A Fountain Pen Review
Today I am reviewing the new Birmingham Pens in-house turned Model A fountain pen. This is the first batch of handmade pens created by Birmingham Pens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was fortunate to get in on the first ten ever created for retail sale. As a repeat customer of Birmingham Pens, I wanted to check out the latest incarnation of their business. Here is the Birmingham Pens Web Site
Labels:
Birmingham Pens,
fountain pen,
fountain pen collecting,
Knox,
Model A
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Latest acquisitions - Playboy, Wancher, Waterman, Italix, Birmingham
Since my last pen mail video, I have acquired a Wancher urushi maki-e, a couple of Watermans, an Italix Deacon's Doodle, a collection of Playboy Magazine branded pens, and the very first Birmingham Pens' offering of their Model A hand-turned pen.
Labels:
Birmingham Pens,
Deacon's Doodle,
fountain pens,
Italix,
maki-e,
Playboy Magazine,
urushi,
Wancher,
waterman
Wednesday, February 07, 2018
Another pen mail day! Lamy Aion, Retro 51 Tornado, inks, etc.
Today was yet another pen mail day! From Anderson Pens, I got a new Lamy Aion, a Retro 51 Tornado, some ink samples, bottled ink, and a few other little goodies.
Labels:
anderson pens,
fountain pens,
Lamy Aion,
papier plume,
pen collecting,
Retro 51,
sheaffer,
tornado
Monday, February 05, 2018
Pen Mail Day - Vintage Style
In today's pen mail, I got a Vintage Sheaffer Imperial II Deluxe Touchdown model and a Parker 95 in Laque Thulya finish.
Saturday, February 03, 2018
Lamy Nexx Fountain Pen Review
A review of the Lamy Nexx fountain pen.
Labels:
faber-castell loom,
fountain pens,
Lamy Nexx
Friday, February 02, 2018
Pen Mail - Lamy Nexx, Conklin Duragraph Purple Nights, Osmiroid 65, and ...
Today was pen mail day! I show the newest arrivals, which include a Lamy Nexx, a Conklin Duragraph Purple Nights, two Jinhao demonstrator models, and Waterman C/F cartridges.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Wing Sung 3008 Fountain Pen Review
Today I review the Wing Sung 3008 fountain pen. This pen has gotten a lot of attention lately. Is the attention warranted? I will let you know what I think.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Finally back to doing a video. Recent acquisitions, recent experiences, ...
After a hiatus out of necessity because of work, vacation, and family, I finally was able to sit and record a video. I cover a few recent additions, upcoming additions, and where we are going next.
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
By Request: Jinhao 15 Fountain Pen Review
By request, I review the Jinhao model # 15 fountain pen. I used a different nib than came with the pen, however. I used a fude nib (that was given to me by chrisrap52 here on YouTube) instead of the erroneously sent fine nib that came with the pen. On a side note, I tried using a different microphone and was horrified to hear its results. I won't be trying that mic again.
Tuesday, January 02, 2018
Latest acquisitions and shopping advice
Today I cover some of my latest acquisitions, which include several Watermans, some Esterbrooks, Thornton's disposable fountain pens, a Baoer, a Jinhao, Montblanc 221, Monteverde Indicia; I also cover pen storage, ink sample vials, and the use of and lessons learned from wish lists.
Labels:
amazon,
boer,
ebay,
Esterbrook,
fountain pen collecting,
fountain pens,
ink samples,
jinhao,
montblanc,
monteverde,
pen storage,
thorntons,
waterman
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