It's based on a structure reminiscent of the middle age guilds.
You have to make a "masterpiece pen" and then send it into the elders to be juried.
There are only 70-some members that have been accepted.
It wasn't an easy process for me...the pen that was accepted wasn't my first application.
So my pen that earned the stamp of approval was my 'groovy pen' found here.....
Grooved Herald
If you have some back-issues of Stylus and PenWorld, there have been some nice write-ups of the guild.
So at the risk of tooting my own horn, let me say that I'm pretty proud.
I have put forth a lot of efforts into creating some nice designs not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but also what is perhaps more important - nib performance, and acceptance into the guild is a nice little accomplishment.
(humbly patting my own back for a minute....)
OH...and one last thing....
I would like to thank all the members here who have given me advise regarding my pens. If I listed everyone, it would go on too long.
Bottom line, is that my designs are largely based on the advise from you folks, and the information that you provide is invaluable to me. Actually, it was the advise of a couple of members here that pointed me in the direction of the tapered cap on the Herald, as well as the grooved concept. And I know for a fact that these two modifications to my design led to my acceptance. So thanks everyone.
And thanks for reading.
Brian
I did see the writeup in Stylus and have to say you have made it into an impressive group. Although there were one or two I scratched my head on why they would be considered a masterpiece but just chalked it up to not knowing the difficulty of turning that particular matrerial.