This is one and a half days into the Los angeles International Pen Show. Already met a good number of FPNers as well as those from other sites. Kevin Cheng of Internet Pens and his brother arrived this afternoon. They will be setting up the Danitrio display tomorrow. Meeting lots of old and new customers and making many new friends. Great show so far and looks to be even better tomorrow and Sunday. If you live within any reasonable distance, be here Sunday.

My sale of Japanese pens was brisk and made a few choice buys and trades. Saw a number of really nice makie pens change hands. With each year more Japanese pens come out of the woodwork (amazingly, with no wasp or moth holes) and show up at the show. Average types to the exotic are out there and ready to be found. I've taken several pictures of some and will show pictures after the show on unday. Want to take some more!

Shows are great places to see the latest Japanese pens. There are several dealers of new pens in attendance and think Sailor will be displaying their latest models. I've seen and handled a few already and they are nice.

Sounds like a good start so far! Anyone else have exciting things to report?

Stan, was one of the new Sailor pens that you handled the long-awaited piston-filler version of the Sailor 1911?

Is my friend Bert Heiserman in attendance? He usually goes, but I forgot to ask him when I saw him last month at his shop in Maryland.

Thanks for the update, Stan. I am looking forward to pics.

Stan,

I will be at the LA Show tomorrow, and will definitely try to find you and your pens. I was there today, just stopped for 10 minutes, picked up some free mags and those cute mini Pilot pens in the lobby. It was just an appetizer.

See you tomorrow, for the main course,

Rita

Hey Rita: For those of us who have no chance to get to LA, what are the Pilot mini pens?

WOW!!!
Totally wasted. Am on my third beer chillin.

The show was fantastic and on Sunday there were the most people ever. I heard from an organizer they expected a record crowd. Already, one full half hour before the opening bell there was a line of over fifty people waiting to get in. And it went on continuously, without a break, until we left at 5.00pm. There were still a good number of people buying pens. Another WOW!!! This was the best show ever.

My focus is Japanese pens and the pictures below reflect htat interest. It also reflects the time I had available to take pictures. At any show in America there are not many Jsapanerse pens to be found. I'm the exception as I have an entire table and could use another. I try to visit with every seller to see what they have. Usually, I find about ten pens of interest and I will post pictures of what I discovered soon. Knowing many collectors, some shared what they brought to trade or sell.





They are not the same pens nor were they trading.





The pen in the right of the picture is an extremly interesting aluminum overlay from the late 1920s. I made my best offer. Not enough.



There's Kevin and his brother Tom. I was extremely fortunate to purchase a fantastic pen from them. Pictures later.



Sailor seems to be at every show and here are a few of their latest.







Pictures below are from Friday and Sunday. Big room. with outside area they have over 170 tables. At how many pens a table that equals ....





On Sunday I was met with great surprise by some friends from Japan. They knew I was planning to attend the show and never said they were planning to be in America. Sushi is on me tomorrow.