Loan It Forward 2013

[Cognaticrotty]

In the pay it forward thread, there was a new(ish) idea that has come about through the discussion between deltree, mhguda, zoniguana, and myself

The idea is to have 1 person start with a pen and notebook/journal. Those get sent to another member for X amount of time, then that person sends both the pen and journal to another member, so on and so forth....eventually making its way back to the original member who can then post pictures of the journal, or even have members post pictures of them with the pen around the world...


Edit: rules/guidelines to follow
There are just a few things we'd ask you to agree to in return, keeping in mind that this is a TRUST-BASED PROGRAM:

1) You must be an FPN member for at least 30 days with at least 30 posts, not counting posts in the Chatter area. This is the same minimum requirement to post an ad in the FPN Classifieds. (FYI - your post counter automatically excludes posts to Chatter)

2) Please carefully open your incoming Loaner pen package so that you can reuse the same packing materials for its return and be sure to email or PM the Loaner Member the day you receive your Loaner pen. Enjoy using the pen for NOT MORE THAN TWO WEEKS and have the pen boxed up and in the mail to the next Loaner Member at the end of that 14 day period. Remember, this is a short-term loan program, not a keep-it-as-long-as-you-like program. Please notify your Loaner Member when the pen has been forwarded on and to whom it went. If you are in the US loaner pens will be sent to you via First Class Mail WITH Delivery Confirmation. If the pen comes to you with Delivery Confirmation, please be sure you return it with that option selected. (The reasoning on the U.S. Delivery Confirmation is that it's the cheapest way to get a pen parcel electronically wanded *at least once* should it then turn up missing.) Pens may be returned from overseas via the least expensive non-tracked method. I do not recommend postal insurance for Esties. I think the chances of you actually ever seeing proper value reimbursement for a lost vintage pen is all but non-existent.

4) Lastly, please try and take as good of care of the pen while it's in your possession as you would your own pen, and please notify your Loaner Member if the pen has any shortcomings they may not be aware of.

Most importantly, ENJOY and have fun with this project

 

EDITED TO INCLUDE: Link to the google docs file that has the list of people, in order, who are receiving the journal and pen:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArKeeo1LpEDXdFp3RUVSbmNScVl0V0ZDY1lWVklBWkE#gid=0

Edited May 16, 2013 by Harlequin
Added link to google docs file

[DET]

That sounds like a fun idea. I want in.

[Cognaticrotty]

And depending in what all is decided I have no problems starting it up

[mmkoenecke]

This sounds like a great idea! I would love to participate if it pans out.

[tandaina]

That does sound fun. Keep me posted!

[Harlequin]

That's essentially the same idea as the Esterbrook Loaner thread/program, so I'd bet those guys could bestow some wisdom that has come from their experiences too.

[Joker4Eva]

I'll see how it goes, but no matter what, keep us posted on it's updates! If it's good, I'd love to join in!

A small suggestion though, I suggest that the notepad/notebook included be small, around 4" in height and the same in width, so we wouldn't have to spend too much on the postage. Furthermore, I also suggest that the notepad be used by each owner to write an entry in it. That way, the pen's original owner would be able to know how far the pen has traveled in it's round trip!

Edited January 4, 2013 by Joker4Eva

[Cognaticrotty]

I am more than willing to donate a pen and journal for this project to start.

 

The pens I have are a

Kaweco sporty classic

Twsbi 540 smoke fine nib

Twsbi 540 blue medium nib

Noodlers ahab flex fine

Noodlers Konrad fine flex

 

 

I will buy a rhoadia journal specifically for this project to get kicked off

 

 

Sound ok?

[Inkyfingerz]

Start the entry with the date, location, and ink being used. That way we can all see how far it traveled as well as how long it took to get there/how long it was kept. In theory, the pen could travel almost indefinitely so long as it had a notebook. When the notebook is full whoever has it could purchase a new one, copy the original owners information and then send the full notebook to the original owner and the new one on to the next participant. Copying the original owners information would allow the second notebook to be sent back and the cycle would repeat.

 

If the first pen is successful a second one could be started as well. Even many more if everyone here is honorable, which I don't think is a problem. Of all the various communities I've been a part of this one is the most helpful, respectful, and from what I have seen in my short tenure here, the most trustworthy.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Inkyfingerz

[Joker4Eva]

I am more than willing to donate a pen and journal for this project to start.

 

The pens I have are a

Kaweco sporty classic

Twsbi 540 smoke fine nib

Twsbi 540 blue medium nib

Noodlers ahab flex fine

Noodlers Konrad fine flex

 

 

I will buy a rhoadia journal specifically for this project to get kicked off

 

 

Sound ok?

 

Sounds lovely! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the TWSBI 540 with the fine nib, but I guess the pen chosen should be one everyone WANTS to have, but have, up till now, hesitated on pulling the trigger. Or, you could probably use the Ahab as a "themed" loan, where everyone has to try writing in flex!

 

Start the entry with the date, location, and ink being used. That way we can all see how far it traveled as well as how long it took to get there/how long it was kept. In theory, the pen could travel almost indefinitely so long as it had a notebook. When the notebook is full whoever has it could purchase a new one, copy the original owners information and then send the full notebook to the original owner and the new one on to the next participant. Copying the original owners information would allow the second notebook to be sent back and the cycle would repeat.

 

If the first pen is successful a second one could be started as well. Even many more if everyone here is honorable, which I don't think is a problem. Of all the various communities I've been a part of this one is the most helpful, respectful, and from what I have seen in my short tenure here, the most trustworthy.

 

on the part where this community is one of the friendliest that I've been a part of! I've never felt so in touch with one where everyone's so willing to drown one in each other's poison!

[OcalaFlGuy]

A small suggestion though, I suggest that the notepad/notebook included be small, around 4" in height and the same in width. That way, we wouldn't have to spend too much on the postage. Furthermore, I also suggest that the notepad be used by each owner to write an entry in it. That way, the pen's original owner would be able to know how far the pen has traveled in it's round trip!

 

+ Pi on the smaller size for postage. A Field Noteish size would work fine IMO.

 

There have been traveling journals before, this would not be the first in that respect.

 

I would suggest a modification to the idea to make it somewhat more unique AND have the dual purpose of providing some entertainment to not just the writers but everyone else too. As has been done with fun in both the Esterbrook Loaner Program and the "Show your writing and your pen" thread in WI, have the journal receivers/writers phone camera their written entries (+ pic of the pen?) and post those pics to the main idea thread so everyone else can follow along vicariously.

 

RE; Sending the pen along. Procure one of the clear pen mailing tubes and ask that it follow the pen. To start with prepare the package for it's first mailing, note the weight, and inform the prospective borrowers of that up front so they have an idea of what the postage $ They'll need to pay to forward the package would be BEFORE they borrow. (Postage varies Dramatically between some countries.) A clear pen mailer in a bubblewrap envelope is sufficient for all but worst case postal disasters and is cheap to send.

 

Make it a nice fill from bottle pen that is sturdy and dependable but not expensive. We have been luckily blessed with no damaged/"lost" pens in the Estie Loaner Program that I know of but a P-51 Loaner Program a few years years ago was not near so blessed nor lucky. :mad: : A Parker 45 comes to mind as maybe a perfect choice.

 

Just my .02

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[alc3261]

I am in the Estie Loaner program and agree that the packaging needs to be agreed as above.

I'd love to be involved, the postage to the US from the UK for a pen is £3.30 = $5 (for info).

[Joker4Eva]

Just wanted to ask those involved in the Estie Loaner's Programme:

Are your pens usually mailed with registered or normal post?

[mhguda]

Since as far as I know Bruce masterminded the Estie Loaner program (in which I participated) we'd better listen up, people. It worked beautifully. And I'd like to join this group, too...

[OcalaFlGuy]

Just wanted to ask those involved in the Estie Loaner's Programme:

Are your pens usually mailed with registered or normal post?

 

Normal post.

 

The Loaner Esties aren't super valuable ones but nice clean examples though and their worth with the exception of a couple are no more than around $40. Especially when you send International, I'm not sure registered is "worth it" for that amount. The tracking only works usually for the country in which it's mailed from. Each countries PO is going to say the other PO lost it. Even with a U.S. PO you'd have fun convincing the PO of the value of a sent but not very valuable pen.

 

In a clear pen tube and bubblewrap envelope a pen can go within the U.S. for around $2.75, add $1.00 for overseas. Add I guess probably $1 more for the Field Notes sized notebook.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Joker4Eva]

Thanks Bruce! Normal post would really keep costs down! But did you face any bad experiences with the postal companies from any countries?

 

On the other hand, I just wanted to show the thread starter what I meant:

In my home country, Malaysia, these notebooks used to be the de-facto notebooks people would use, seeing they were pocketable, cheap and handy. Even today, in some kampungs (villages), it's still common to see sundry shopkeepers using these notebooks to list down who owes them how much money, which is especially handy when someone forgets to bring his/her wallet/purse.

I'm using this as a gauge for the thread-starter to know how big the notebook should be. The notebook in the picture was taken on a piece of cutting mat, with distances in centimeters (yes, I'm a metric guy!).

However, they suffer from horrible paper, with ink bleeding as so badly, one might shudder at the thought of using a wet doodle on it. As much as I would like to donate one for this project, the fact that the paper is so horrible is making me think twice.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Joker4Eva

[Renfield]

I would like in....

 

Have you thought about Calepino Notebooks? They are very similar to FieldNotes, but supposedly fountain pen friendly?

[chad.trent]

My wife and I have both participated in just such "exchanges" and found them to be great fun. Hers was with her jewelry-making friends, where a box was sent around the country with materials, and people took out what they wanted and put in stuff they had extra of. They then made a piece of jewelry with what they took. I did a similar thing with my glass blowing friends.

 

So, yes, sign me up. I'd love to participate in something like this.

[chad.trent]

If it's a case of which notebook to use, let's get a consensus vote on which is the preferred one and I'll donate one. I also have some of the clear pen mailing tubes if you need one...

Edited January 4, 2013 by chad.trent

[Renfield]

Could each person take a double page. Travel to a local tourist attraction, take a pic. Get it printed and stuck into the book, then on the other page, the person could write up their visit.

 

History of the Location, etc?

 

Or would that be a better independent project?