Pen Connoisseurs,

Where can I find a good fountain pen shop in the Bay Area? Doesn't really matter if it's in San Francisco, San Jose, or in between.

I'm looking specifically to buy some Herbin or Private Reserve ink.

Any leads appreciated!

Thanks in advance, James Manou (Menlo Park, Calif.)

The pen store finder needs a lot of work, but:

http://penstores.splicer.com/?q=node/3

Flax has a good array of Private Reserve and if I'm remembering correctly they have Herbin as well.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=65197

Castle in the Air in Berkeley has both private reserve and herbin. There is also a little stationer in Oakland on Piedmont Ave that has some pens and has private reserve bottled and cartridges.

In San Francisco, Flax and University Art Center.
Also Kinokuniya in Japantown.
In Berkeley, Castles in the Air.

Hey, thanks for all the responses - and fast ones at that, too!

I'll have to carefully check these out and find new ways of spending money.

Again, thanks. James Manou (Menlo Park, Calif.)

It's a bit far afield, but if you're ever up in wine country, check out Pennyweight, 1337 Main St., Saint Helena, an elegant little store. I was surprised to find this place on the main drag in town. They had Private Reserve and Noodlers, and lots of nice pens, stationery, etc.

Also, haven't found Herbin in a bottle in SF area. They have Harbin cartridges in Flax and Arch (Potrero Hill).

Yeah, that's the name of that place. I saw it once when I was up there, forgot the name, and couldn't figure it out later. I knew the pens were too nice to afford, but it was interesting to try the buttons on the Caran d'Ache ballpoints.

Does Pearl Art on Market still have Herbin? I think I saw some there before. Too bad Flax doesn't have the bottles.

I LOVE Arch! I used to wander in during my lunch hour when the store was in that cool building on Jackson Street. They always carry an eclectic mix of stuff, in addition to a wide range of drafting, art, and paper supplies.

There is this place downtown...

Stylo Fine Pens
176 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94104

Pens and inks only, pretty much.

they have MB, Delta, Visconti, Cross, and a few more pen brands, as well as inks by PR, Noodlers, Visconti, MB, and a few more.

Kinda fancy shmancy, but have a pretty wide selection.

Anyone know of places in the South Bay / San Jose?

Status Report:

OK, so I went to "Castle in the Air" in Berkeley and I was pleasantly surprised. There is an assortment of pens and inks, nibs, paper, and even writing slopes!

Evidently, someone (the owner ?) from the shop picks up antiques to sell at their store. The gentleman behind the pen counter told me this. Don't ask me his name but he was VERY helpful and knowledgeable. Matter of fact, he was so nice that I wouldn't mind making the drive from my place to the shop just for this service!

So, did I find my inks? Yes, a bottle of Herbin Perle Noir - for now.

Pens that I saw include a couple of Bexleys, several Auroras and Viscontis. There were other fine pens but I couldn't recognize the brands.

Ciao!

For Japanese pens there is a shop in Santana Row, Mai Do, it's a Japanese stationary store but they have many fine pens. So far all my pens have been from there. Not alot of info to be had from the staff, one guy seems to know alot about the pens, thats about it. If you know what your after it's not a bad place. I havent seen many more shops in the San Jose area yet... but I'm still looking...

Ya my trip there last friday was great. Sherrly and John where on hand to help us with what ever we could get ourselves in trouble with I bought a few Noodlers Inks and a glass dip pen. While the prices where higher than what you can find on-line I would still go there and buy just because of the service I got there. Well worth the time and expense of getting there... I love small shops like this, it all about service, And they have it

No I don't work for or am I attached to the shop in any way, but I will go there and spend more $$$.

I used to drop in also when it was on Jackson and I worked nearby. I stopped working thereabouts, but was lucky: it moved to my neighborhood. It's a cool store, and though it's not big on fountain pens, there are a few inks and lots of papers to fool around with, some cool journal books as well. And lots and lots of other stuff.

I went looking for fountain pen ink at Pearl and didn't see much at all. Didn't have time to ask.

I went to Castle in the Air and found their pen collection to be beautiful, plentiful and somewhat expensive. The really interesting thing for me was to discover the true sizes of different pens. I suddenly realized that pens as photographed for internet or catalog don't reflect reality. It was really nice to be able to heft each pen and get a feel for it.