The New Postal Pen - Who Is The Gate City Pen And Ink Company?

[Richard]

For the curious amongus, the Gate City Pen and Ink Company has its shiny new Web site up and running for your delectation. If you can't see it yet, wait a few hours, possibly up to a day from the time of this posting, for the DNS servers to propagate the address.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/shared/gc_site_shot.jpg

Edited June 22, 2010 by Richard

[stevlight]

LOOKS GREAT!! Nice clean design. Can't wait to see the what you guys come out with.

 

Tell me you will have Postal pens in stock for the Wash DC Pen Show!--Please Please!! I am dying to see one in person.

Edited June 22, 2010 by stevlight

[xuan87]

The name is " The Gate City Pen and INK Company" does that means you plan to introduce some inks in the near future too?

[framebaer]

The name is " The Gate City Pen and INK Company" does that means you plan to introduce some inks in the near future too?

 

Caught that did'ya!! Well interesting things are afoot in the Gate City Skunkworks as might be seen in this unauthorized spy photo

 

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/pens/postal/postals_spy_film.jpg

[xuan87]

hahaha a new pen design and a bottle of ink! will definitely be keeping an eye out for that!

[WendyNC]

I was privileged to write with Richard's personal pen at the Raleigh pen show and it really is a great pen, especially for those of us whose preference runs to slightly larger pens.

[irish_monk]

Methinks the pens look like Bexley and the ink bottle like Noodlers (though Noodlers uses an industry standard type jar). Is Gate City outsourcing production? At least the out sourcing is going to my home state..

[Richard]

Methinks the pens look like Bexley...

We make no secret of the fact that Bexley manufactures our pens for us. We decided at the outset that we would offer only American-made pens, and there is only one pen manufacturer that actually makes its pens in the United States: Bexley. It's a happy coincidence that Bexley's quality is top notch and that Howard Levy is an absolute dream to work with.

 

FWIW, we actually manufacture the most crucial component of the pen ourselves. I refer to the nib sleeve/breather tube assembly.

 

... and the ink bottle like Noodlers...

We have been exploring options with several ink makers. Things are still far enough from solidifying that we aren't prepared to say anything beyond this.

[irish_monk]

Interesting stuff. I'm looking forward to the junior sized New Postal and the designs that follow. Good luck with the new venture.

[tonybelding]

Does the pen body open up for flushing and cleaning? I mean for example. . . Can you unscrew the section and reach in with a swab to wipe the inside of the ink window?

[majorworks]

We have been exploring options with several ink makers. Things are still far enough from solidifying that we aren't prepared to say anything beyond this.

 

Looking forward with anticipation to the ink offerings... although I'd suggest that you refrain from using the word "solidifying" in any discussion about ink.

[dreg]

Methinks the pens look like Bexley...

We make no secret of the fact that Bexley manufactures our pens for us. We decided at the outset that we would offer only American-made pens, and there is only one pen manufacturer that actually makes its pens in the United States: Bexley. It's a happy coincidence that Bexley's quality is top notch and that Howard Levy is an absolute dream to work with.

 

FWIW, we actually manufacture the most crucial component of the pen ourselves. I refer to the nib sleeve/breather tube assembly.

 

... and the ink bottle like Noodlers...

We have been exploring options with several ink makers. Things are still far enough from solidifying that we aren't prepared to say anything beyond this.

 

Bold added...

 

On your site you mention that the nibs are from German maker, JoWo... has that changed? Or are you referring to the 18K nibs you have listed for them?

 

That would be pretty exciting if you guys are making your own nibs!

[Richard]

On your site you mention that the nibs are from German maker, JoWo... has that changed? Or are you referring to the 18K nibs you have listed for them?

The nibs, both gold and steel, are from JoWo, and they are among the best modern nibs I've seen. I have a JoWo 18K medium in my New Postal Junior (the prototype, which I glommed onto immediately upon seeing it), and I am ridiculously well pleased with the pen and the nib.

 

We make the sleeve/tube assembly; my apologies if I confused you. We purchase a standard sleeve and feed (the sleeve coming to us, the feed going to Bexley), and both receive modification to work in the pens. We modify the sleeves, manufacture and install the breather tubes, and send the finished parts to Bexley, where they're fitted with nibs and modified feeds, and installed into the pens.

[JRodriguez]

These look great Richard! I haven't bought a new pen in more than 2 years and it looks like this will be the one to break the spell.

[framebaer]

Does the pen body open up for flushing and cleaning? I mean for example. . . Can you unscrew the section and reach in with a swab to wipe the inside of the ink window?

 

You can screw out the entire NIb/Feed/ breather tube assembly to access the barrel from the front end.

 

As with all bulb fillers, the sac on the rear is shellaced on and not meant to be removed, unless for replacement.

 

We love bulb fillers. They have such great qualities:

easy to repair, huge ink capacity, great flow ( if the breather tube assembly is properly designed as ours was), easy to flush, in short ,basic functional goodness.

 

We also sell replacement nib/feed/tube assemblies in the unlikely event yours ever gets damaged.

Edited July 23, 2010 by framebaer

[dreg]

The nibs, both gold and steel, are from JoWo, and they are among the best modern nibs I've seen. I have a JoWo 18K medium in my New Postal Junior (the prototype, which I glommed onto immediately upon seeing it), and I am ridiculously well pleased with the pen and the nib.

 

We make the sleeve/tube assembly; my apologies if I confused you. We purchase a standard sleeve and feed (the sleeve coming to us, the feed going to Bexley), and both receive modification to work in the pens. We modify the sleeves, manufacture and install the breather tubes, and send the finished parts to Bexley, where they're fitted with nibs and modified feeds, and installed into the pens.

 

Got it... I had just misread a bit and thought that you guys might be making your own nibs. Just got my hopes up that someone else was making their own. Regardless, it's great to see you guys bringing back some classic mechanisms in modern materials.

 

Thanks for the clarification!

[fpc]

I just received a New Postal and have an older one Richard used to sell. Both equal quality

write like a dream.

 

Don

[takkun]

Glad this thread got bumped--not long ago, I got intrigued by the style and filling system of the Dunns (I'm a sucker for any unusual self-filler) not long ago.