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Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?


GeorgeWP

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I was at the WES pen show in London yesterday and had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Henry Simpole. He is a really nice guy and amazingly unassuming.He actually met up with a number of other FPN members who were attending as well.

For those of you who have never seen or handled one of his pens, I can tell you that they are eye popping. I saw and handled all his pens including the CS Great Exhibition.

Now to the heading of this thread.

When I met him and shook hands, I told him that I knew of him, and he asked where and how I had come across his name. I said that I was a member of the FPN and that I had read about him there among other places. He then said to me When you are on the FPN next time, would you mind mentioning my name and I said Not at all, why he replied Well, it is nice to get my name around so that people will know who I am.

To which I replied What! You are a living legend there are people on the FPN all around the world that would happily sell their Grandmothers to get their hands on one of your pens. See what I mean about him being unassuming.

Worst of all, I found out that I live only about 2 miles from where he is located.

So, for those of you who have really never heard of Henry Simpole I am doing what he asked me to do, and mentioning his name. More power to you Henry.

Check him out here

 

http://www.henrysimpole.com/

 

George

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I am absolutely certain that a lot of the overlay fans here know about mr. Simpole.

 

Furthermore, there was an article on page 6 in no. 84 (spring 2009) of "Journal of the Writing Equipment Society" about him and his work, so at least all FPN members who are also WES members know about him.

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I met him at the Portobello Road market, and bought from him a vintage Parker Duofold (at a good price for the European standard). He is a gentleman.

 

Alfredo

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I am absolutely certain that a lot of the overlay fans here know about mr. Simpole.

 

Furthermore, there was an article on page 6 in no. 84 (spring 2009) of "Journal of the Writing Equipment Society" about him and his work, so at least all FPN members who are also WES members know about him.

 

Thanks for the reply zerobuttons, but the topic title is meant to be ironic.

 

George

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I was one of the woefully uninformed until this post. Now I'm drooling all over my keyboard. Thanks for following up on his request.

 

If you are drooling over the pictures penspouse, you would be lost if you saw the real thing.

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I met Mr. Simpole and saw his work at the 2008 DC Pen Show. I nearly fainted from the overwhelming beauty.

Looking for an Omas Arco Verde...the one that got away.

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I met him at the Portobello Road market, and bought from him a vintage Parker Duofold (at a good price for the European standard). He is a gentleman.

 

Alfredo

 

 

Couldn't agree more.

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I was blissfully ignorant until your post - now I will obsessed by these pens forevermore - WoW ! i am not sure about my grandmother but I sure wish that I had been either born to money or had a high enough paying job so that I could order a "Henry Simpole" model of his pens. Pure artistry - and I want the nob that's on the Home page of his website too! Looks like a fine stub! I'll dream of these tonight!

<!-- isHtml:1 --><!-- isHtml:1 --><a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.musingcrowdesigns.com'>Musing Crow Designs

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I was blissfully ignorant until your post - now I will obsessed by these pens forevermore - WoW ! i am not sure about my grandmother but I sure wish that I had been either born to money or had a high enough paying job so that I could order a "Henry Simpole" model of his pens. Pure artistry - and I want the nob that's on the Home page of his website too! Looks like a fine stub! I'll dream of these tonight!

 

I handled that pen with the stonking stub nib, and it made my knees go weak.

 

George

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It is truly delightful to hear of people who are at the utter pinnacle of their chosen profession yet are still sufficiently down-to-earth that they either aren't aware of the extent of their fame, or nevertheless have sufficient humility to be aware of how transitory such fame can be, or both. How pleasant to be able to associate Simpole's name not only with masterful overlaying techniques but also with good manners. He sounds like a gentleman, indeed.

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Henry seemed genuinely surprised when I asked to shake his hand, he is both a consummate master of his craft and gentleman (a tricky double act to manage, but he does so with an entirely guileless charm). Carrie and I spent a short while speaking with him and he was astonished that his reputation was widespread on this board and in the wider pen world.

 

Here are a few poorly rendered shots of his exquisite work, please trust me that to get the full effect, you really have to see them yourself.

 

Some that he brought to the show.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/Simpoles2.jpg

 

A gargantuan piece (the Lamy 2000 is mine and is just there to provide a measure of scale).

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/SimpolesBig.jpg

 

Henry Simpole (taken with his kind permission).

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/Henry.jpg

 

It is my aim to commission a very special piece from Henry in the not too distant future.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of nothing at all...

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Henry seemed genuinely surprised when I asked to shake his hand, he is both a consummate master of his craft and gentleman (a tricky double act to manage, but he does so with an entirely guileless charm). Carrie and I spent a short while speaking with him and he was astonished that his reputation was widespread on this board and in the wider pen world.

 

Here are a few poorly rendered shots of his exquisite work, please trust me that to get the full effect, you really have to see them yourself.

 

Some that he brought to the show.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/Simpoles2.jpg

 

A gargantuan piece (the Lamy 2000 is mine and is just there to provide a measure of scale).

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/SimpolesBig.jpg

 

Henry Simpole (taken with his kind permission).

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/Henry.jpg

 

It is my aim to commission a very special piece from Henry in the not too distant future.

 

Yes IANAN I think that I told you that I was surprised too at how much humility he had and how unaware he was of his fame and reputation. Well deserved in my opinion and couldn't be attached to a nicer man.

Let me know when you have commissioned your piece - I would love to see it. I am figuing out ways of buying a piece from him at the moment as I think you may have guessed from my postings on the Clubs forum. Just have to convince my wife that this is a really essential purchase.

 

George

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I'm sure anyone who visits the Conway Stewart forum will have seen photographs of Henry's work. I got to see the Great Exhibition pen on the CS stand at the Northern Show a few years ago and until yesterday that was the only example I'd ever seen. I could have just stood and stared at all the impossibly beautiful pens, but it would have been rude to just spend the whole show doing that. I was well and truly taken with both pens on the right of IANAN's photo as well as another casein one which he didn't photograph.

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His work and pens have been discussed quite a bit on the Conway Stewart forum.

 

 

It sure has - hence the "toungue in cheek" title of this topic. henry is completely unaware of his fame.

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Thanks for telling us about him, he deserves more recognition, is that a cross century ballpoint in his pocket?

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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is that a cross century ballpoint in his pocket?

 

Most definitely! I recall a conversation we had at the last WES AGM about ballpen refills (amongst other things). I'm no ballpen fan, as I have mentioned once or twice, but HS will only use Cross as he regards them as the best available.

 

BTW, I have bought a few vintage pens from him and his prices were very reasonable.

 

Martin

The Writing Desk

Fountain Pen Specialists since 2000

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Thanks for the reply zerobuttons, but the topic title is meant to be ironic.

That was unfair.... :blush:

Well, it seems that you actually did manage to make a few members, who were uninitiated in the world of overlay, aware of mr Simpole´s work with this thread.

Pilot Capless Black Carbonesque - Pelikan M800 Demonstrator - Pelikan M625 blue -
Montblanc 146 platinum - Rotring 600 series 1 - Lamy Persona black - Lamy 2000 -
Waterman Edson green - Chatterley Visconti Ripple silver/clear - Visconti Homo Sapiens -
Pilot Custom 823 black - Pilot Art Craft Koushi - Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Akatame
Nakaya Portable Writer matte black urushi - Nakaya Titanium Piccolo -

Namiki Emperor red urushi
Pen photos

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Thanks for the reply zerobuttons, but the topic title is meant to be ironic.

That was unfair.... :blush:

Well, it seems that you actually did manage to make a few members, who were uninitiated in the world of overlay, aware of mr Simpole´s work with this thread.

 

Sorry about that zerobuttons.

Perhaps I should have headed the thread "Henry Simpole thinks he is unknown".

Yes, his work is truly beautiful and I am pleased that I have managed to spread some word on the work of this truly modest craftsman.

 

Incidentally, if anyone reading this is in Central London tomorrow or Friday, Henry is taking part in an ehibition at the Goldsmith's Hall, where his work will be on display. It will be well worth a visit, if you have the time to spare.

 

George

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