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Sf Pen Show Report


AltecGreen

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I only made it to the show Friday and Saturday, but had so much fun! First off, Pendleton Brown, nibmeister extraordinaire, reground a *bunch* of my nibs. I'm so happy I could sing (but I won't -- I promise). Switched out a Nakaya nib with Mottishaw whose Fineness I didn't love to one I now love, thanks to Lisa letting me play with her Nakayas. Got a few vintage pens, too, in addition to having Todd fix pens for me. Best of all was hanging out with all the pen people, Pen Posse folks being the best of the best. Ricky, you always enlighten me, and your photos of the event really captured the flavor of this year's show. I got to do an ink exchange with Carroll, and played with MaryAlice's gorgeous acquisitions since we last saw each other. Everyone was delightful. Another successful pen show. Can hardly wait for Lisa's video report!

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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Sorry for the delay. Lisa and I went to an after show dinner with John Mottishaw, Jonella, Susan Wirth, John Martinson, and Deborah Basel as well as John's daughter Petra. Fun times with Tapas and pitchers of Sangria.

 

 

Today was a little slow. It's amazing that the show landed on one of the busiest weekends in recent history. Let's see, we had two Divisional Baseball playoff games, the CAL-UCLA football game, the 49'ers game, the America's Cup, a bluegrass festival, Fleet week, and a little pen show in San Mateo.

 

 

I got to the show after a little late because I had to return home to bring Pendelton his lamp. I am the keeper of Pendelton's lamp. After some mods, we may see a new improved lamp in LA. Heh Heh Heh.

 

 

Pendelton was hard at work again!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/8065710353_b48e674024_c.jpg

 

 

 

I always love Pendleton's work area.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8065711065_a0e6b20865_c.jpg

 

 

 

Across the way, Mike was busy at work clearing his work queue.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/8065711239_25461e50a1_c.jpg

 

 

 

 

It was quite in the morning and a perfect time to snap some shots. People on the Japan forum wanted some shots of Nakaya pens so here was my opportunity.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/8065715197_6dab63654b_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8065716798_0f05283acd_c.jpg

 

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/8065719686_59e9795106_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8065719986_ab1df9380b_c.jpg

That should be enough.

 

 

 

 

It was a surprise that Max Davis showed up at the show. Max is one of the great Waterman experts who apparently relocated from London to California. He brought some incredible Waterman stuff.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8065728270_afea822a99_c.jpg

 

 

Waterman sections and nibs.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8065726386_7d2f4dab09_c.jpg

 

Bags of Waterman parts

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8065725583_f82642e640_c.jpg

 

Got Ripple?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8065727100_944cb05294_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/8065728001_81ef5306a0_c.jpg

 

 

Some cool Waterman Ephemera

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8065729432_ffa502168f_c.jpg

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Fred Krinke's Fountain Pen Shop is 90 years old. He had some really cool NOS pens by a company called Golden Rule. They were based out of New York but had a west coast office in Long Beach. These are nice pens that used to compete against Waterman. So give Fred a call.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/8065713403_7a6c64b01e_c.jpg

 

Fred's sign.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8065713689_a28bfb74c9_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/8065713957_644fb4ef66_c.jpg

 

 

 

People on FPN are always asking about parts and tools. My advice, go to a pen show. Or at least learn the names of the vendors that frequent pen shows. Most of these individuals are not on FPN or any online pen board. But.........

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8065720351_6c68f3c272_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/8065724910_83a9ebe6cf_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8065722436_65b312b4de_c.jpg

 

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8061683726_925232474f_c.jpg

 

 

 

A good way to get parts is to raid the parts boxes of guys like Dale Beebe, John Strother, and Alan Brookings (and many others) at a pen show and build a stock of parts.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8065714813_ea20a0ca01_c.jpg

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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At this point, I'll just throw up some pictures of pens that I found interesting and then pics of people at the show.

 

 

 

Here is a unusual Gold Bond

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/8061681168_237a065e86_c.jpg

 

 

Here are some nice Laban pens

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8061703722_54bcc33212_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8061704028_ca6f7148d6_c.jpg

 

 

Here are some primo Taccia pens.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/8061700637_f89604c266_z.jpg

 

 

 

Here is a Parker Duofold with a Charles de Gaulle Head.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8061705084_fa9ec905cb_z.jpg

 

 

Rather than take your chances with eBay, why not buy something restored?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8065713958_b479558ea7_c.jpg

 

 

A striking Joe Calli Pen

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8065729716_7fecb132d5_z.jpg

 

 

 

Here are some of Roger Cromwell's Steampunk pens. These are always pretty unique.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8065736596_e7aeb22b63_z.jpg

 

 

 

Here is a vintage Postal Pen bulb filler which Gate City pens based their pens on.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/8065744360_5e824dcfe6_z.jpg

 

 

Here is a green version with a 'Bonded' imprint.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8065742347_7f4d799226_z.jpg

 

 

There were plenty of modern Omas pens.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8065730532_bc7167f7cb_c.jpg

 

 

Here's the celluloid set that Omas sold. These are slightly different than the standard 90's Omas celluloid pens because they have a greek key band on the section.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8035/8065731096_1d1d1a2974_z.jpg

 

 

 

Some of Dayne Nix's pens

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8065721829_792be65001_c.jpg

 

 

Rick Propas's Pelikans

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8065732806_ce43eaa24b_c.jpg

 

 

Some of the Rosetta Pens that Pendelton was selling. I had to do an intervention on Friday when I told Kudzu to put the pens down and back away. A marriage saved. My job was done.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8065738136_29624926e8_c.jpg

 

There were a lot of desk pens. These are great if you always use the pen at your desk.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8065737339_e138e2bff4_z.jpg

 

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8065720737_72dc44cd79_z.jpg

 

 

 

Here's a little Stipula

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8065725564_9d9e7b6fe0_z.jpg

 

 

 

The new Eversharp Prototypes

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/8065737905_8fd9bc1356_z.jpg

 

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8065737748_a1b8fe73b9_c.jpg

 

 

Got cases?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/8065730161_aa4fc47faf_c.jpg

 

 

There was not a lot of ink and paper at the show because Refill Monster did not show. Sam and Frank had to fill in the gap. They had a lot nice vintage ink bargains.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8065741987_80ef74a567_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8065742679_5f8e099b90_c.jpg

 

 

This pen is one of the bargains of the show. It is a Long Island Chilton in the brilliant blue bronze celluloid. The pen was absolutely mint.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8065742932_da2e3d7c3c_c.jpg

 

Fountain Pens were not the only game in town.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8065742078_96a20717a2_z.jpg

Edited by AltecGreen

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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It's really the people that make the show. It felt like I knew almost everyone who came through the door. I can't count how many times I ran into someone whom I never met who knew me. As Lisa said above, it really felt like a giant Pen Posse. Everywhere we gathered, we did what we always do the Pen Posse. At times like these, the pen community feels more like family. I see many of these people several times a year at shows. The dinner tonight was a perfect example.

 

 

So here are the people that make the show. There are many stories we traded this weekend and we cannot nearly do justice to those stories in this forum posts.

 

 

Here are the people who make the show.

 

Rick Propas

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8065732605_96f3f6dfa2_c.jpg

 

 

Leeds Levy was guarding the pens for the next Swann Galleries Auction.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8065732983_518583c63c_c.jpg

 

 

Steve Curnow(sdcurnow) and his wife

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8065731776_049d3370db_c.jpg

 

 

Here's Stuart working on a Snorkel

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8065734413_4e936e92f7_c.jpg

 

 

Here's ParkerBeta celebrating after scoring the last bottle of blue Herbin 16230 ink.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/8065739489_4f5b02d99a_c.jpg

 

John Strother, Alan Brookings

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/8065733484_166a302564_c.jpg

 

 

Here's Frank who recently returned to the Northern California Area. Time for a Pen Posse to celebrate. Are you listening Doug?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/8065736900_5ebbfe255f_c.jpg

 

 

Detlef and Cindy

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8065735105_f8e474ae86_c.jpg

 

 

John at work

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8065732076_4a26e03d70_c.jpg

 

 

Teri and the Peyton Street gang

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8065731891_2001a08b11_c.jpg

 

 

Dayne Nix

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8065736035_e3299a678b_c.jpg

 

 

 

Pendelton just finished a nib for a customer and wanted someone to test the pen out. Rather than embarass myself, I got Gale, a Pen Posse member, to do the testing. At work we call this delegating.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8169/8065740160_40d9358154_c.jpg

 

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8065741718_7c0a2ccc3e_c.jpg

 

 

 

Here's Gale

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/8065739171_28cc1a59d5_c.jpg

 

 

She's pretty good with a pen.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8065739899_4d299141de_c.jpg

 

 

Bert and co.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8065738806_9dcbb2dbf9_c.jpg

 

 

Here's Loren thinking of new ways to taunt tenney. The watch.....the watch.....

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8065711995_5746ed4030_c.jpg

 

 

Here are my final thoughts about the show.

 

 

The show was a blast as usual. It was a non-stop party. I keep on harping this point for those who go to shows. You get much more out of a show if you do not just go for a few hours and then leave. A lot of the fun and learning happens at the end of each day, at dinner, etc. It's building the relationships.

 

The show itself seems successful. Sunday was pretty slow but there was a lot of competition for attention this weekend. Still, there is room for improvement. I think getting the word out sooner will draw out a large un-tapped market of casual users. If the show grows then we can attract more vendors from outside the northern California Area. I'm working on it. :thumbup:

 

It was fun hanging out with all of the pen community for the last three days. I need time to unwind and recover. Time for a Pen Posse. :roflmho:

 

A shout out to new friends. Thanks Kelly (aka Dix) for the pen wrap. I'll let the Pen Posse play with the one you gave me and I'll put up a review. It was great meeting Marta and seeing her Devil's Dictionary. Of course a shout out to all of the Pen Posse members and old friends.

Edited by AltecGreen

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Instead of asking Ricky to move the continuation of his excellent report back to this thread, here's where he's posting more photos and reporting: San Francisco Pen Show thread. (Shhh... Don't tell him!)

It's ok.

 

I moved everything to the correct thread.

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Hey Ricky! Soooooo glad you posted these! I've been to dc and la shows but was really curious about the SF show... so I'm glad I got to see it.

Do you happen to remember where you saw those little leather journals (I like the coment 'perfect for your pets!')... do you happen to remember

the seller?

skyppere

aka skip

 

 

I am pretty sure that the tiny journals were at Pendemonium - info@pendemonium.com or www.pendemonium.com

 

 

Mary Alice is correct. The little journals are from Pendemonium.

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Once again, Ricky, many thanks for allowing all of us 'out here' to get a feel for the weekend - looks like a lovely time was had by all!

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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This was my first pen show and I don't know what took me so long. I have been collecting and using fountain pens since the late 70's and the wealth of knowledge I gained from actually being there was a real treat. The damage to my bank account was also a "treat" :roflmho:

 

I went home with a used Nakaya Portable Writer in Ishimi Kanshitsu with a Ruthenium clip and nib that had been ground to a cursive italic by Mike Matsuyama. My wife picked out a silver pearl Vac Debutante with excellent translucency. I could have spent so much more as there were several pens that I have wanted for years that were hard to set down. I guess that maturity is setting in (about time) and besides it gives me reason to plan on another show (Hmm LA is not that much farther away).

 

I wish that I had more time and could have met more of you (Hi Lisa) but it is hard to know who is a FPN'er and who is not.

Amos

 

The only reason for time is so that everything does not happen at once.

Albert Einstein

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(Hmm LA is not that much farther away).

 

I wish that I had more time and could have met more of you (Hi Lisa) but it is hard to know who is a FPN'er and who is not.

 

 

Definitely go to LA.

 

 

It's a much bigger show (4-5 times bigger) with dealers from around the world not just the local area.

 

 

 

 

For FPN'ers, you can just ask many of the dealers or Lisa to point them out.

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Ricky, this is the best pen show report ever :notworthy1:

 

Next year I will stay in the Bay area for the night time activities.

 

Ready to host a Sacramento Posse anytime!!!

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Hi, Amos! LA is not much farther away, and it's a much bigger show! Hope you'll make it and Pen Posse with us!

 

Doug, meat chips? :-D

 

Hooray! Let's go to Doug's Pen Posse! Say when!

 

It's slow-going editing these video clips. Still working on 'em....

_________________

etherX in To Miasto

Fleekair <--French accent.

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At this point, I'll just throw up some pictures of pens that I found interesting and then pics of people at the show.

 

{Snip....}

 

 

Here are some of Roger Cromwell's Steampunk pens. These are always pretty unique.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8065736596_e7aeb22b63_z.jpg

 

Does anyone know who makes those translucent oversize tortoise pens that Roger had on his table?

 

You see a portion of two of them in the lower left corner of the photo above......

 

I looked on his website, but I didn't see them listed....

 

 

These vintage looking W-E pens by the Wahlnut were fun and loved those little cars too!.... :)

FP Addict & Pretty Nice Guy

 

 

 

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Does anyone know who makes those translucent oversize tortoise pens that Roger had on his table?

 

You see a portion of two of them in the lower left corner of the photo above......

 

I looked on his website, but I didn't see them listed....

 

 

 

 

I think Roger makes those pens. I will get a confirmation for you.

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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It's slow-going editing these video clips. Still working on 'em....

 

 

I'm not sure I want to see them now. I think I'm in most of them.

2020 San Francisco Pen Show
August 28-30th, 2020
Pullman Hotel San Francisco Bay
223 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City Ca, 94065

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Does anyone know who makes those translucent oversize tortoise pens that Roger had on his table?

 

You see a portion of two of them in the lower left corner of the photo above......

 

I looked on his website, but I didn't see them listed....

 

 

 

 

I think Roger makes those pens. I will get a confirmation for you.

 

Thank you, sir!.....

 

and if you can find out how much they go for and what filling system, and what nibs used, that would be wonderful!

 

:thumbup:

FP Addict & Pretty Nice Guy

 

 

 

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Good reporting; I can see the time that went in. I had not been to a pen show in some time; it’s nice to be back. The pictures of the vintage Mont Blanc and Waterman’s are a beautiful sight.

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Does anyone know who makes those translucent oversize tortoise pens that Roger had on his table?

 

You see a portion of two of them in the lower left corner of the photo above......

 

I looked on his website, but I didn't see them listed....

 

 

 

 

I think Roger makes those pens. I will get a confirmation for you.

Confirmed... The Mars Pens Magnum and Mini-Mag... Write up coming Wednesday night, I think.

MB JFK BB; 100th Anniversary M; Dumas M FP/BP/MP set; Fitzgerald M FP/BP/MP set; Jules Verne BB; Bernstein F; Shaw B; Schiller M; yellow gold/pearl Bohème Pirouette Lilas (custom MB-fitted EF); gold 744-N flexy OBB; 136 flexy OB; 236 flexy OBB; silver pinstripe Le Grand B; 149 F x2; 149 M; 147 F; 146 OB; 146 M; 146 F; 145P M; 162 RB
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Does anyone know who makes those translucent oversize tortoise pens that Roger had on his table?

 

You see a portion of two of them in the lower left corner of the photo above......

 

I looked on his website, but I didn't see them listed....

 

 

 

 

I think Roger makes those pens. I will get a confirmation for you.

Confirmed... The Mars Pens Magnum and Mini-Mag... Write up coming Wednesday night, I think.

 

Sounds good....thanks....

FP Addict & Pretty Nice Guy

 

 

 

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Thanks for the report and the wonderful photos.

 

I was there and had a great time. It was my first pen show. I had hoped to connect with other FPN members but didn't have the nerve to accost people at random and ask if they were on FPN. My suggestion for next year is: NAME TAGS! I may just make my own and let other's find me.

 

David

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