As those who've seen my posts know I recently acquired my first 3 Italians....a Stipula Erturia, Omas Paragon (old style) and Aurora Optima. How exciting to have them in hand after waiting and saving. Yet, as has been true before I soon find something that isn't quite "right" and off they go. The Stipula had two small cracks in the celluloid...just above the imprint...that didn't bother me until I discovered them. Then they appeared like the grand canyon each time I picked the pen up. And, the cap didn't thread nicely onto the body...kinda binded after less than a full turn...far less than the threads present....and stuck when trying to uncap. Stipula quickly replied to my email and the pen went off today to their Colorado service facility....4 - 6 weeks of waiting.....waiting....

The Paragon was beautiful but the medium nib was my only choice (I've grown to like obliques more on the fine side of medium for general writing) and the tines were spread too far so the pen was hard to start. So the pen went off today to Greg Minuskin to be reground to a fine oblique....2-3 weeks of waiting...waiting...

The Aurora was perfect but I knew the bold nib would be reground to a mediumish stub even before I got it. Then I was able to buy a second matching nib unit on d'bay so maybe another oblique fine for general writing. So off it went today with the Paragon to Greg Minuskin to be reground.

So you wait weeks or months to find that special pen...then wait to save...wait for it to arrive...play a bit....then off it goes for weeks or months while I wait till it arrives back really ready to USE. So each pen might take 2-3 months or longer to find its way into a regular rotation.

The good news is that after waiting 4 months or so I'm finally waiting for a delivery from Richard Binder's wonderworks...that MB 149 I've owned for nearly a year but only used for a month or two...and several Pelikan m800 nibs ready to find their way into Pel's I've owned for several years, finally making them all work in many different formats based on the nib attached.

And, hopefully a couple of custom m800's off for custom bindes....they've been out since early in the year.

Then, hopefully the pen box will be full...all will write to my hand and needs...and I can wait to figure out what to buy next...

Randy in Florida