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  1. http://i.imgur.com/wOBHQP8.jpg Edison Pens is one of the most well-known of modern American companies. The company, initially the work of penmaker Brian Gray solely, now has several employees. Together, they turn out custom pens and production pens in wild-colored acrylics and ebonite, and even celluloid, when it was available from American Art Plastics. Now, celluloid pens from Edison are made only when the rod stock is customer-supplied. I got into fountains just about two years ago, and was quite immediately taken with them. Six months or so into my fountain pen journey, I bought a cappuccino Nouveau Premiere. The pen was well-made and beautiful, but was just too thin for me to use comfortably. I ended up gifting the pen to one of my penpals upon learning her birthday was coming up. http://i.imgur.com/gbdmufZ.jpg After coming across photos of the collaboration between Edison and lacquer artist Ernest Shin, I was taken aback by how gorgeous the pens were. Eventually, I caved and made the initial inquiry to Ernest and my order was placed. I went for the the Edison Pearl, in the Black-Gold-Clear Kara-nuri finish. The finish requires many layers and results in a stunning mottled pattern of black urushi, gold powder, and transparent light brown urushi. http://i.imgur.com/GHMW5YE.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Lamy Safari. This is a simplification of the lacquering process, but this is basically how the process works: 1. A few layers of raw urushi are applied and cured, then black urushi mixed with albumin (as a stiffener) it applied in a random pattern of dots and swirls on the pen. The stiffener in the urushi results in the pen having slightly raised dots of black urushi. 2. A layer of raw urushi is applied and 23.5kt gold powder is brushed over the entire pen. 3. Several layers of transparent, light brown urushi is applied, curing and sanding between each layer. 4. Then finally, the pen is sanded smooth and polished. The result is that that parts where the stiffened black urushi was applied is black and the gold powder shines through the urushi in the other parts. It’s really something to see and it’s impossible to capture it in photographs. This finish was used for a limited edition Pearl between Edison and Hakumin Urushi in 2010 or so, and has long been sold out. Ernest agreed to make me a pen just like the LE, though my pen is only signed without the numbering. Edit: Ernest emailed to say that while the pen is Karanuri, it is applied differently than the LE. http://i.imgur.com/FyE8kI7.jpg From top, Romillo Eo #9, Edison/Hakumin Pearl, Newton custom Gibby, Eboya Kyouka (medium-size) After I ordered I was given an estimate of 6 months for the pen to be finished. Ended up taking around 11 months. While Ernest did update me on the progress of the pen when I asked, he was not very proactive about it, even when he was behind schedule. However, aside from the lack of proactive updates, I’d say the ordering/waiting process was pretty smooth and pleasant. http://i.imgur.com/JoglrkC.jpg Pearl slightly out of a Taccia pen kimono. The packaging is the same as any other Edison, which is fine with me. I do wish, however that a pen kimono was included. I bought a Taccia pen kimono from nibs.com and the Pearl stays in that. http://i.imgur.com/DlAOgmA.jpg Nakaya Piccolo and Edison/Hakumin Pearl. Now to the pen: The Pearl, I’ve read, was inspired by the Nakaya Piccolo. Having the pens side by side, it’s very obvious. The peaked ends aren’t as severe and the Pearl is slightly longer, but major design points are present in both pens. http://i.imgur.com/eDUO0Ru.jpg From top, Nakaya Piccolo, Romillo Eo #9, Newton Orville (medium-size), Eboya Kyouka (medium-size), Edison/Hakumin Pearl, Danitrio Flat-Top Mikado http://i.imgur.com/5SzjJ2l.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Romillo Sil #9 The urushi models are built on black ebonite pens and everything seems as you would expect from Edison: smooth threads, tight tolerances, no play in any of the threaded parts. The lacquerwork is also first-rate and I love seeing Ernest’s kanji signature on the end of the barrel. http://i.imgur.com/ocalrJa.jpg Edison/Hakumin Pearl and Romillo Sil #9, both uncapped. The nib is a standard 18kt two-tone Edison nib made by JoWo. In my case, a fine nib. This is where we first get to a disappointment. The nib was very smooth — which was the problem. It was so smooth, it had the worst baby’s bottom I’ve ever seen. A little scribbling would get the nib to write and it would continue to write as long as I held the nib to the paper. Lift the pen for more than a second or two and it was back to skipping. I'm sure Brian Gray would have made it right had I asked but I was more disappointed in the fact that nibs being tested is used as a selling point and I can't see this pen as having been filled and tested. You literally could not more than a word or two before you'd get skipping and have to tap the nib onto the paper and get the ink flowing again. http://i.imgur.com/5cKqJT7.jpg Writing sample with Sailor Souten ink on Clairefontaine Triomphe paper. Normally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable enough to work on a pen in this price range myself but I figured I could buy a new gold JoWo nib unit from Mottishaw or someone else fairly easily should I mess up the nib. After an hour or so of very slow and very careful work, being sure to roll the pen as I worked to avoid flat spots, I managed to get rid of the baby’s bottom. Since that time, it’s been smooth sailing with the Edison/Hakumin Pearl. http://i.imgur.com/48EsBTF.jpg The nib was a bit of a disappointment, especially since the fact the nibs are tested is used so often as a selling point of Edison Pens, but I’m pleased with the pen and I would buy it again. Ernest’s lacquerwork truly is amazing and I look forward to seeing what kinds of designs and finishes he comes up with in the future.
  2. On the 30th of October, I received an email from Brian Gray saying my pen was dispatched. I was waiting desperately for it since then. However things took a wrong turn when I saw that my pen went to Brazil instead of meeting me here in India. I waited for a couple of days and called Brian and requested him to take a look at it. He immediately contacted USPS and found that they filed their paper work to Brazil instead and asked me to wait for a couple of days more. He asked me not to worry about it and if required he said he will make another pen for me from the same material or will offer me the Artist Proof of the Glenmont 2014 LE. I waited for a week and there was no change on the USPS website. I called up Brian again, and he asked me which option I preferred. I said I am fine with the Artist Proof (LE AP). He dispatched the pen on the 26th of November and it arrived today, on the 17th of December. Wow...what a pen!!! Words can't do justice to the beauty. One has to look at the pen in person to appreciate it. Craftsmanship is amazing with great attention to detail. In short, the pen was oozing quality. Usually pens that look great end up not writing that great and that shatters the experience, but this one wasn't like that. It wrote perfectly out of the box, I had asked Brian for a 1.1 mm stub and it writes exactly the way it should. Nib has just the right amount of tooth that I like. My apologies for the horrible photography. I miserably failed to capture the beauty of the pen (this is from the mobile phone). Writing sample: Engraving: The Point: Pen chilling out: I love the pen so much for the following reasons (it deserves anywhere between 9.5 and 10 out of 10 points)- Pen looks and feels rock solid, yet surprisingly light for its proportions. The stress points like the cap lip etc. are made very thick and won't break easily. The stub nib tuned by Brian is a dream to write with. Brian's customer service is top notch, probably the best I've seen till now. I already see some people staring at the pen in envy! Whatever the reason is, I got the Artist Proof of the Limited Edition which is a special thing, sounds more unique to me. I take the opportunity to thank Brian for the very very special pen and the best customer service for which he is well-known across the world. Will post better pictures once I have them.





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