The pleasure of fine things

[Tanks]

Hmmm, I’ve been needing better chairs for both my office and home office. I may try one of these. Just about the only thing in this thread that I can currently write off as a business expense.

All pens can also be written off as a business expense in the category of "office supplies".

 

[Tanks]

Sorry @Rare Breed but something came up. Because of all this talk about pens, my feed (thank you Google analytics) got a few links. The following store had a 30% off sale plus a 10% off code (USPEN) which helped alleviate the 15% tariff as it is coming from the UK.

Cult Pens - the widest range of pens and pencils on the planet!

The finest UK online pen shop: 24,000+ products at great prices. Secure ordering. Expert knowledge. Best customer service. Free UK delivery and worldwide shipping.

cultpens.com

So, I bought a pen I had my eye on. Saved ~$200 from buying it elsewhere.

 

[Alistair]

Sorry @Rare Breed but something came up. Because of all this talk about pens, my feed (thank you Google analytics) got a few links. The following store had a 30% off sale plus a 10% off code (USPEN) which helped alleviate the 15% tariff as it is coming from the UK.

Cult Pens - the widest range of pens and pencils on the planet!

The finest UK online pen shop: 24,000+ products at great prices. Secure ordering. Expert knowledge. Best customer service. Free UK delivery and worldwide shipping.

cultpens.com

So, I bought a pen I had my eye on. Saved ~$200 from buying it elsewhere.
View attachment 728496

I have one of those, a great pen. Lovely bouncy nibs. Enjoy!

One note, Pelikans can exhibit a bit of over polishing on their nibs, especially on the M1000 size.

As a result, I'd dip the pen and write a few lines before you fill it completely. If it skips, rinse off the ink, return.

 

[Tanks]

Hmmm, I’ve been needing better chairs for both my office and home office. I may try one of these. Just about the only thing in this thread that I can currently write off as a business expense.

One other thing I forgot to mention on my previous reply. Herman Miller is having a sale right now that can save you hundreds on these chairs.

 

[Beck]

Well, in order to write one needs to sit on a desk. I love the Herman Miller Embody chair, I used to have back issues from sitting down for a bit. Not since I invested in their chair. I have it in two of my homes and my actual office that I spend time at a desk. One of the best investments I have ever made.

View attachment 728221

Embody Chair – Herman Miller

Shop the Embody Chair and see our wide selection of Ergonomic Office Chairs at Herman Miller. In stock, exclusive, and ready to ship – authentic modern furniture from iconic designers.

store.hermanmiller.com

I have the same chair in a different color

 

[Beck]

Despite that most of my work happens on my laptop, I still enjoy writing a lot, taking notes during meetings. So I picked up the below MontBlanc Starwalker Platinum Rollerball. I’m really enjoying the smooth writing on my Moleskin notebooks, just need to find a good way to carry both attached to each other:

View attachment 727912

I love montblanc's - broke mine, but they are great pens

 

[steve white]

Sorry @Rare Breed but something came up. Because of all this talk about pens, my feed (thank you Google analytics) got a few links. The following store had a 30% off sale plus a 10% off code (USPEN) which helped alleviate the 15% tariff as it is coming from the UK.

Cult Pens - the widest range of pens and pencils on the planet!

The finest UK online pen shop: 24,000+ products at great prices. Secure ordering. Expert knowledge. Best customer service. Free UK delivery and worldwide shipping.

cultpens.com

So, I bought a pen I had my eye on. Saved ~$200 from buying it elsewhere.
View attachment 728496

Souveran... now you've reminded me of an Abu spinning reel model I would like to get my hands on...

 

[VertigoBE]

This was a Christmas gift from my wife, Patrick Mavros sterling silver cufflinks:

 

[Tanks]

One other thing of course is knives. Over the years I have accumulated a number of fine Japanese knives most of which I use on a regular basis.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I think I saw the one on the left in the movie “Kill Bill”

 

[DaddyFlip]

This site allows you to search by price and brand. They also have excellent customer service and good ink and paper options. I recommend them highly, and they've had far too much of my money over the years:

https://www.gouletpens.com/collecti...ng&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=100

Specific models to explore:
Pilot Metropolitan - about $25, will last forever if cared for. Cartridge pens
Pilot Prera - about $60. Cartridge pens.
Lamy Safari or AL-star - maybe $30-60 based on materials. Cartridge pens.
TWSBI 580 / Vac700R / ECO / Precision - $20-100. Usually piston or vac fill, so bottled ink required.

For a first fountain pen, I'd maybe lean towards cartridge converters. A bit less maintenance, although less ink. Up to you though.

I've not thought about pens (nor penmanship, much less fountain pens) until this thread. But based on the conversation and, in no small part, on your recommendation, I purchased a Pilot Vanishing Point in black and gold trim with 18k nib for my mom's Christmas gift this year (from Goulet Pens). Also got a bottle of black ink to use with the included converter and a pack of blue/black cartridges for convenience. I'm taking a chance, but she is a prolific letter writer and card sender, so we'll see if she takes to it. I'll have a chance to play with it ahead of time to show her how to use it.

 

[Alistair]

I've not thought about pens (nor penmanship, much less fountain pens) until this thread. But based on the conversation and, in no small part, on your recommendation, I purchased a Pilot Vanishing Point in black and gold trim with 18k nib for my mom's Christmas gift this year (from Goulet Pens). Also got a bottle of black ink to use with the included converter and a pack of blue/black cartridges for convenience. I'm taking a chance, but she is a prolific letter writer and card sender, so we'll see if she takes to it. I'll have a chance to play with it ahead of time to show her how to use it.

Good stuff, and a very fine choice.

I'm using my VP at the moment, as it happens. They're great writers! The grip takes a bit of getting used to what with the clip being at the writing end, but persevere, it's worth it!

If you need any advice on filling, cleaning, maintenance, use, etc, then feel free to PM me!

Also, if your mother hasn't used fountain pens before, make sure to tell her not to press down when she writes. Unlike a ball point, the pen will write under it's own weight and if you drive it into the paper like you would a BIC, you might spring the tines and break it. Relax the hand, no downward pressure, let it glide.

 

[Alistair]

Here's mine for interest, next to a Pelikan that @Tanks will recognise!

 

[steve white]

One other thing of course is knives. Over the years I have accumulated a number of fine Japanese knives most of which I use on a regular basis.

View attachment 728700

Really like the third from the left.

 

[mdwest]

One other thing of course is knives. Over the years I have accumulated a number of fine Japanese knives most of which I use on a regular basis.

View attachment 728700

Good Lord don’t get me started on cutlery…

I make knives… and still find it impossible to pass up fine customs of almost any sort any time I see one… I’m a sucker for high end production knives as well…

I truly have no clue how many hand made customs I own… but it’s several dozen… then there’s probably 2-3 dozen high end production knives… and I’ve probably got another 30-40 of my own creations laying around as well…

Doesn’t matter if we’re talking a chefs knife, a cleaver, an ulu, a skinner, a hunter, a tactical knife, or a gentleman’s folder… if it’s well crafted and I see it, I’ve got to have it…

 

[Tanks]

Really like the third from the left.

Least expensive of them all, it is a petty utility knife. I use it to cut fruit, tomatoes etc..

 

[Tanks]

I make knives… and still find it impossible to pass up fine customs of almost any sort any time I see one… I’m a sucker for high end production knives as well…

Two companies I have bought or ordered knives to be made custom from.

Japanese Chef Knives, Tableware, Kitchenware and Restaurant Supplies | Korin

Korin, Inc is your source for professional quality Japanese knives, tableware, kitchen appliances, kitchen tools, and barware. Choose from a wide selection of imported Japanese knives, sharpening stones, glassware, grilling items and more. We ship worldwide.

www.korin.com

Japanese Knives | Japanese Chef Knives & Kitchen Knives Store

Huge selections of over 1500 kinds of Japanese Knives! We ship Japan's top brand Japanese kitchen knives worldwide (over 100 countries) at special prices. If you need Japanese Chef Knives, you've come to the right place.

japanesechefsknife.com

 

[DaddyFlip]

I'm going to submit handmade watch straps. I have a collection of Bulova watches from 1924 to the present including several from my great grandparents. I'm 6-3 250lb, so many of these are difficult for a 21st century big fella to wear. I found a one man shop in Napa Valley, Vintager Watch Straps by Micah Dirksen, that builds to order. He made his chops making custom straps for Panerai watches. Here is part of my collection that has his straps:

From left to right is Plenty Purple, V-Dark, Reef Shark, Mauser, American Canvas, Deep Forest Green, Fleener, Blueberry Horween. The Mauser was a one-time deal where he had a collection of WWI Mauser ammo pouches you could select and he makes the strap from it. It's my all time favorite. Now if you're big like me and you want to wear a man's watch from the early 1940's, what are you going to do? That's just a 13mm lug width on a 1942 Attorney with small seconds. Looks no different than a slim Fitbit.

My favorite watch is this WWII issue on the Rolled American Canvas. The numbers and the hands were lumed with radium which was obviously radioactive. You can see where the hands stopped more than once and the radium burned into the dial.

Think you're not man enough to wear a small watch? Among others, Ernest Hemingway wore a 31mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual.

I have a same size black dial 1956 Senator FW with a similar mesh bracelet I lovingly refer to as the "black death" watch because it is infamous for its coffin shaped markers.

These watches are not expensive and they aren't special to anyone but me. I am saying if you have a special or favorite watch, or a collection of watches you aren't wearing, a custom strap can revive it and make it wearable again. Vintagerstraps.com is Micah's website.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

One other thing of course is knives. Over the years I have accumulated a number of fine Japanese knives most of which I use on a regular basis.

View attachment 728700

I love the Damascus. Who are the makers?

 

[mdwest]

Two companies I have bought or ordered knives to be made custom from.

Japanese Chef Knives, Tableware, Kitchenware and Restaurant Supplies | Korin

Korin, Inc is your source for professional quality Japanese knives, tableware, kitchen appliances, kitchen tools, and barware. Choose from a wide selection of imported Japanese knives, sharpening stones, glassware, grilling items and more. We ship worldwide.

www.korin.com

Japanese Knives | Japanese Chef Knives & Kitchen Knives Store

Huge selections of over 1500 kinds of Japanese Knives! We ship Japan's top brand Japanese kitchen knives worldwide (over 100 countries) at special prices. If you need Japanese Chef Knives, you've come to the right place.

japanesechefsknife.com

Curse you and curse Black Friday sales! My wallet hates you both!