Fine Writing - Stylus Magazine

New pen dealer Jimmy Dolive, of
Total Office Products, Smyrna,
Georgia
canada, england, Germany,
France, Italy, the netherlands,
croatia, South America and
Australia gathered as usual to
trade, buy, sell and socialize.
Likewise, contemporary
manufacturers sent executives
to exhibit, display and demonstrate
their latest releases.
Among the particiapting
manufacturers were Ancora,
Aurora, bexley, conklin,
conway­Stewart, David oscarson,
Delta and monteverde,
Loiminchay, michel Perchin,
newman, Platinum, Sailor
and Signum. Sailor Pen also
sent Yukio nagahara, its master
nib designer from Japan, to
greet attendees and customize
Sailor nibs precisely to the
hand … and all one had to do
was ask.
Inks of every color and flavor,
papers from hand­made
cotton to elegant pads and
journals, pen rests, racks, display
cases and, of course, inkwells
were available from a
multitude of dealers. ✍
A substAntiAl cross
section of “open”
seminArs were offered:
◆ david moak, author of the just-released mabie in America, a
history and analysis of mabie-todd writing instruments (1843-
1941), presented a history of both the company and the family.
david’s book is published in cd format and includes hundreds
of wonderfully photographed pens.
◆ professor John mottishaw offered both assistance
and knowledge in his talk on nib restoration along with an
ample Q & A session.
◆ dr. david isaacson offered digital photographic techniques
and advise in photographing pens and writing instruments.
◆ pen Haven’s own bert Heiserman presented yet another fine
discourse and Q & A session on pen restoration.
◆ barry Gabby offered a workshop and round-table discussion
on designing a pen.
◆ susan wirth hosted an old-fashioned,
show and tell on nibs and
nib favorites with global representation.
◆ deb Kinney presented her
four-hour course “fountain pens:
practical elegance,”
also available at duke university
(evening schedule).
with the gracious assistance of
his attentive and helpful sister
barbara, bob has once again produced
an outstanding show. next
Susan Wirth, of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, specializes in a
vast variety of nib styles to
assure “the right point for
every hand.” She has people
sit down and “test drive”
with vintage “slightly used”
and never used “old stock”
pens until they find the pen
point that’s the perfect fit.
year’s supershow is August 12 through 15, 2004, in the same
location.
s t y lu s october/november 2003 99