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 that interest. One could post a hundred pictures and not tell the entire story. This is a big show with not much time to do much other than show stuff. It reflects the time I had available to take pictures. At any show in America there are not many Japanese 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.

Looks like it was a great show, Stan!

I'm dying of jealousy as I type.

Just to *see* so many pens in the real world would be sensational!

Great pictures and commentary - thanks Stan.

Wow -- thanks for posting all those photos!

[Note to self: Go to a pen show finally.]

Thanks for the report and the great photos! Must have been an awesome show....sucks for us being so far away

I was there! Regretfully I did not get to meet you because there was so much to see and do and I only had two hours to spend at the show before I had to catch my bus back to Vegas, but thanks for sharing your pictures, Stan! I had a blast too (and I won a Monteverde pen! W00t!!!).

Looks like this will be an interesting year for Sailor pens. I love the pens in the photo. Did Sailor display any prototypes of their new piston-filling version of the 1911?

Sorry Charlie.

I was not asking many questions about the new Sailors except for one we saw in a Japanese magazine. It is named the KAN, or 60th anniversary pen. It comes in three shades of red. Unfortunately, it is not available here in the States.

One of the great benefits of attedning shows is meeting so many many people that you know only through messages and email. Putting a name with a face is an essential human experience. Joi, Rita, and green avenger are the names I immediately remember. Was incredibly surprised how many people new me.

Everyone should do their best to attend a show. drive, fly, bus, walk, hitch, or get there any way you can. Don't fret about the wife, kids, job, pets. They will be there when you return and your next chance to be at the show is one year away.

Shows are great opportunities to learn about pens. Spend time watching and talking with everyone there. Everyone I know is more than happy to share anything and everything about their pens and collecting specialties. This is different from flea markets where every seller is an expert on everything.

Even if you leave with only a cheap beater, you will find this to be a truly rewarding experience.

Great pictures of the show. Man I wish I could have attended!

Kan is for the 60th birthday of Mr. Kawaguchi, one of the "pen doctors" of Sailor's. It is based on Professional Gear, and the color is a gradation of red. Traditionally a person who becomes 60 years old (kan-reki) receive a red vest or hat for the birthday. Looks like a beautiful pen.

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/penshop/1188563/

Stan, Are you planning on being at the Chicago Pen Show?

Stan,

Great pictures and commentary! I'm looking forward to the pen show here in Atlanta in a couple of months. I'm told it won't be as "big" as the LA show, but I'm still eager to "see the show."

Thanks,

John

Hey Stan and Kevin;
I had so much fun at the Pen Show. When I left Sat. afternoon, i intended to return that evening and Sunday afternoon but church activities put an end to that. It was a joy to finally meet you and yes kevin, it was like being a kid in a candy store.

I took care of two big wants in my pen life: a Platinum Tang Pattern fountain pen with matching ball point pen and "Fountain Pens of the World" book (autographed to boot). In addition, you have to buy someting unexpected, I got a great broad Parker 45 from England.

And last but not least, Kevin provided my grail pen to me...Danitrio Tame-Aka Bokashi-nuri Urushi Pen with a broad nib, which I will have to do a review of.


That was so much fun, I can't wait for my next pen show.

Thanks for the great report, Stan. I had time to briefly introduce myself to Kevin; it was such a jam-packed event, wasn't it?

The one notable Sailor I saw missing from your photos were the new "Mosaic' pens, based on the Pro Gear. They retail for around $650, but one table was selling them for around $450. They are really stunning pens, especially the red one, but I couldn't bring myself to pay that for what is I think a resin pen.

Hey Stan,

Thanks for the images. I wished I could have gone to the LA show, but I am hoping to have a table at the Chicago show.

I am very curious about the Aluminum Overlay pen that you mentioned. Your image doesn't show any detail, so I am wondering if it looked like this one? Did the nib read "Suo"?





Stay Well

Dr. Ron Dutcher
http://www.kamakurapens.com

It looked reasonably similar. Condition appeared better.

Based on the Kanji characters it appears to be a pen commemorative or memorial pen for some one. The first 3 character appears to be a person's name, in fact a Chinese name with surname of "Hsu"... in mandarin it would read something like "Hsu Dai-Hsing Memorial (or commemorative)". At least based on what I can make out from the kanji. A more close up pictures of the Kanji would help confirm this. Interesting pen.

Kevin

Some more pics from LA Pen Show.

Thanks for sharing, Rita. Too bad I never got to meet you there. Maybe I'll see you at next year's show.

Wow!

Makes me wish the summer would get here so I can go to the Toronto show. LA is a bit far.


*SIGH*

I'll visit Pen Paradise next time I am in Las Vegas. You are working there, right?

No. Not anymore. I posted a reply on this on the Paradise thread in the Writing Instruments forum. I did enjoy working there, even if it was for a brief period of time. I am feeling sad about being let go, but I will be able to find something else soon.

Sorry... Jobs come and go, but pens stay.

I wish you to get a much better position soon.

Rita

Thank you, Rita. I appreciate your kind comments.

Had anyone got the opportunity to take pics of the new sailor piston filled fountain pen?