Edison Pen Company

[Doug C]

It will be interesting to see how the pens looks with different colors.

[pen2paper]

It will be interesting to see how the pens looks with different colors.

were it My Pen..and it's not

I'd be trying Caran d'ache Amazon Green

Lexington Grey, or another grey.. I think I have Grey Flannel, nice color.

and was it Shah's Rose that is near Persian Rose, which is a rose-grey?

Possibly the eclat saphire? slightly more true, bright blue?

Tanzanite?

[PaulK]

I try to avoid any postings of Edison pens. I am such a fan that I immediately start longing....Doug C, your pen is no exception. Very beautiful and a well-written review. I hope in the near future to have my own bulb-filler built for me.

 

My best,

 

Paul

[nvbrennan]

I've already come back to this twice, it's gorgeous. So tempting me to get an Edson, must resists as have other things higher on the list. Lovely!

[MidnightBlue]

Not Edson.......EDISON..........that's that kinda space age looking thing from Waterman

Thanks

[Rosa Mundi]

Yes, Doug! He answered and I am soon to be a happy owner of a lavender Huron as well. As I understood, I got the last piece of this uniquely coloured ebonite.

[Doug C]

Yes, Doug! He answered and I am soon to be a happy owner of a lavender Huron as well. As I understood, I got the last piece of this uniquely coloured ebonite.

 

 

 

Really? Congratulations!

 

I didn't know it was about to be extinct...

[Rosa Mundi]

"I have enough lavender ebonite for one more pen", he said. So ours will be rarities!

[reprieve]

I bought my lavender Huron last year--August, I think, because I picked it up at the D.C. show. When I ordered my pen, Brian told me that there was not a whole lot of the purple ebonite left and thus it would be a relatively rare color. Apparently he wasn't kidding! Now I'm very glad that I didn't wait!

[Rosa Mundi]

Reprieve, what filling mechanism does your Huron have? Does it have an ink window? What nib?

[reprieve]

Reprieve, what filling mechanism does your Huron have? Does it have an ink window? What nib?

 

Hi Rosa, my Huron is a cartridge/converter filler (it can also be used as an eyedropper, though I've mostly used it as a c/c filler since I travel a lot). There is no ink window. It has an Edison logo gold nib which started out as a round broad but eventually became a ~0.8-0.9mm cursive italic.

Edited April 10, 2010 by reprieve

[rogerb]

I'm sure that it's gorgeous Doug

 

(Even if it does look like the disgusting blancmange ....blackcurrant, maybe ?... they gave us when we were kids :roflmho: .....Did such a substance exist on your side of the pond? It was a sort of milky Jello )

[Chris Chalmers]

Wonderful pen - congratulations on that beauty!

Brian is working on a large (think KOP size) ED filler for me........but in translucent Tortoiseshell Celluloid - with a 1.1mm cursive italic nib. I think he may start on it next week!!!

[Doug C]

I'm sure that it's gorgeous Doug

 

(Even if it does look like the disgusting blancmange ....blackcurrant, maybe ?... they gave us when we were kids :roflmho: .....Did such a substance exist on your side of the pond? It was a sort of milky Jello )

 

 

 

Don't think so, but it does sound discusting. My Huron on the other hand, tastes wonderful.. I just licked it.

[ailleurs]

I'm sure that it's gorgeous Doug

 

(Even if it does look like the disgusting blancmange ....blackcurrant, maybe ?... they gave us when we were kids :roflmho: .....Did such a substance exist on your side of the pond? It was a sort of milky Jello )

 

 

 

Don't think so, but it does sound discusting. My Huron on the other hand, tastes wonderful.. I just licked it.

:blink: :ltcapd:

 

Ha! I'm going to the Chicago Pen Show in part to be able to order my Edison and I'll make sure to let Brian know what you said, Doug.

[Doug C]

I'm sure that it's gorgeous Doug

 

(Even if it does look like the disgusting blancmange ....blackcurrant, maybe ?... they gave us when we were kids :roflmho: .....Did such a substance exist on your side of the pond? It was a sort of milky Jello )

 

 

 

Don't think so, but it does sound discusting. My Huron on the other hand, tastes wonderful.. I just licked it.

:blink: :ltcapd:

 

Ha! I'm going to the Chicago Pen Show in part to be able to order my Edison and I'll make sure to let Brian know what you said, Doug.

 

 

 

Be sure and tell him that I'm going to have to send it in for repairs. I bit a little chunk out of it.

[mickthepope]

First Impressions

5/5

Yes, I did have Easter dinner with my kids, but now that I am home, I thought it would be appropriate to review a pen that was right at home in my pocket for this holiday.

 

This was my first Edison so be kind if you've heard all of this before. Buying (i.e. ordering) a pen from Brian Gray of Edison is unlike any other experience I have had. More on that later.

 

The first surprise I received when I opened the package was that it actually came in an Edison Pen box. I had always heard that they came in plastic tubes. Sorry, but I forgot to include a shot of the box.

 

I like all of Brian's designs, but when I first saw the Huron in the Lavender Ebonite, something just clicked. I am a big ebonite fan, but I had never seen a color like this. I was worried that it might be a little feminine, but then after seeing the way it looked on the Huron, I threw caution to the wind and decided to order it with the bulb filler, a clear window (Brian's suggestion since he said that most of the tinted plastics didn't quite work with it; I agreed), and an 18k nib customized to a .9 stub.

 

The first picture shows it as being pinker than it really is. In reality it actually has a little gray in it, and is much more subdued The subsequent photos do a better job. I especially love the little black specks in the ebonite. There is no pen I own with a transparent body that is as stunning when it is filled with ink.

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/DSCN0024.jpg

 

Filling System

4.5/5

It is a bulb filling system, and since this pen holds so much ink, I can't comment on how easy it is to clean (haven't use the first fill up yet), but I really enjoy the bulb system. In addition to being unique, it is fun to watch the ink incrementally fill the barrel.

Brian said that should this fail, it is very easy to replace.

Others might not like this system, but I happen to love it.

 

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/DSCN0026.jpg

 

Construction

5/5

One of the more unique aspects of Brian's pens is that he will let you watch your pen being built via two webcams. This turned out to be almost as much fun as getting the pen (but not quite).

He has a fan club of people that tune in just to watch pens being made. He will also instant message with you in between work sessions.

 

I was under the impression that he would use an fully automated CNC machine, stick some stock ebonite in it and come back later with a fully finished pen. Nothing of the sort; he will turn each piece little by little (and I had to admit that some times I didn't have a clue which part he was making). You can watch his face grimace as he finesses each little piece, fitting and refitting parts together.

 

He will periodically come over to the keyboard and tell you what he plans to do next ('the next piece I will be working on for your pen is the section').

 

After watching the transparent section being made it is easy to see where the cost comes in. It is fairly labor intensive, but great to watch.

 

My pen was finished over the course of two days (obviously he is working on other pens at the same time). At the end of the process, he will place the finished pen on his lathe (I'm assuming that is what it is), and let you see how the entire pen came together. A day or two later he engraves it (I have heard this is optional, but I love the way the white lettering looks on the barrel, contrasting with the ink color).

 

This is a long winded build up to get the actual construction of the pen which is fabulous. The finish of the ebonite is perfect, as good as any mass produced pen I own, all of the seams line up, and the joins are imperceptable, and I just have to say that this is one stunning pen. It could be my impeccable taste in choosing the options, or it might just have something to do with Brian's workmanship.

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/HURON1.jpg

Nib

5/5

This is an area where we talked quite a bit. I was a little aprehensive in having someone that builds the pen customise the nib. I have been moving into fine stubs more and more, and asked for a .9 stub. I was a little worried that it might be too thick (I normally use fines), and he suggested that we start with this, and if it was not right he would trim it down. As he said 'he can take away, but not add if it is not correct, which means the cost of a new nib'.

 

I filled the pen, and one of the first things I look for is if you have spend a lot of time priming the pen. This just flowed with the first touch to paper. So much so that I thought it might be a little too wide for me.

 

One of the things that he includes is a writing sample showing how it looks with your specifications. It was written with Sailor ink on Rhodia paper and just looked perfect (BTW I wish I had Brian's handwriting).

I am a cheap guy, so I just tend to use the paper I get at work which is a looser weave than the Rhodia. I took the pen and touched a little to his sample and saw the same line and flow. It was obvious that it was optimized for fine paper, which is okay with me. Had the flow been less, it would probably have been too dry for the different kinds of paper I write with.

Once again, he was right on target.

I guess you can build and tune a pen.. (but you can't tuna fish...sorry, old joke).

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/HURON2.jpg

 

Value

5/5

 

To get this level of customization, perfection in build quality and writing ability, and the enjoyment of watching it come to life is something you won't find anywhere else. These pens are great values, and if you are less than thrilled with your's you must have made the wrong choices.

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/HURON3.jpg

 

 

Conclusions:

5/5

I have said enough. In addition to building a wonderful product, Brian has cleverly found a niche in fountain pens that didn't exist before.

 

One final touch is that after the pen was finished, he sent me an email with three pictures of the finished product, using the same vignettes he uses on his website. The last three are what the pen really looks like.

 

A great pen, and it won't be my last. I have my eye on a Herald....

Edited April 20, 2010 by mickthepope

[mickthepope]

sorry i reposted the whole review or something. just wanted to say that your Edison "chick stick" is chickier than my pelican "chick stick". great pen Doug. and i thought i was a real trailblazer with the white/tortoise M400. as a newbie it's probably best to just read and learn from the senior members.

Edited April 20, 2010 by mickthepope

[Doug C]

sorry i reposted the whole review or something. just wanted to say that your Edison "chick stick" is chickier than my pelican "chick stick". great pen Doug. and i thought i was a real trailblazer with the white/tortoise M400. as a newbie it's probably best to just read and learn from the senior members.

 

 

I have a white tortoise M400 Pelikan and I love it. I really don't worry about what others think about a paticular pen. I like what I like. This from a grandfather of 8...

Edited April 21, 2010 by Doug C

[nvbrennan]

I keep coming back Doug. This pen works so well with that blue ink. Definitely think a Huron with the ink window is the way to go. Now just have to investigate whether Brian can change the section to something straighter.

Edited April 21, 2010 by nvbrennan