Search the Community

I will be in Portland, Oregon for a conference in August. What are the best stores in Portland at which I can find nice pens and nice papers? If there are no pen stores in Portland, what are the closest pen stores to Portland? Are there any stores in Portland that sell vintage pens? Thanks! : )

Hi today I had the opportunity to visit a nice pen store in Bangkok: THE PIPS CAFE on Silom Road. The owner is very friendly and has a deep knowledge of pen, inks and writing papers.The prices are very competitive and you can try and learn about flexible nibs and calligraphy writing. AlsoIs a meeting point for pen aficionados. If you live in Thailand or you are visiting the country this is a place that you should not miss.

Hi today I had the opportunity to visit a nice pen store in Bangkok: THE PIPS CAFE on Silom Road. The owner is very friendly and has a deep knowledge of pen, inks and writing papers.The prices are very competitive and you can try and learn about flexible nibs and calligraphy writing. AlsoIs a meeting point for pen aficionados. If you live in Thailand or you are visiting the country this is a place that you should not miss.

Hi everyone, I'm newbie, how i can find some fountain pen stores in Nagoya ? My favourite pen-Pilot Namiki Falcon Black/ Rhodium. Thank you !

PW Akkerman Pen shop in The Hague, Netherlands is located in The Passage. The Passage is a street made into a mall and covered with a high glass roof. The Passage was created in 1885 and PW Akkerman opened his pen shop in 1910. Another PW Akkerman shop located in Amsterdam was sold off and is not connected with the original shop. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20The%20Passage_zpscfvl3eek.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20Storefront_zpswd3p71qf.jpg The front windows at PW Akkerman would fascinate anyone with an interest in fountain pens. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20display%202_zpsbmynyfah.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20display%201_zpstibnej8s.jpg Inside, the shop offers fountain pens, a variety of inks, and a small collection of notepads, note books and quality paper. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Shop%20scene%202_zpsos1tcdnf.jpg There is a display of old fountain pen inks and bottles. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Ink%20Shelves_zpszskg5v5c.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Vintage%20Ink%20Display_zpsc2fh32mg.jpg Of special interest are the proprietary PW Akkerman inks. The inks come in a special bottle with two chambers and a glass ball stopper. One can invert the bottle to pour ink into the upper chamber then return the bottle to an upright position. The glass marble drops into place and retains ink in the small upper chamber of the bottle to facilitate drawing the ink into a fountain pen. The inks come in a variety of colors. Purchasers are cautioned that the house brand ink is well saturated and inclined to dry if stored in a fountain pen for long. So, use of the ink in an easily rinsed pen, such as a fountain pen with a removable converter, is recommended. The Akkerman ink costs 15 Euros (currently $16.71 USD). Purchased from the store in quantities of 5 bottles, the per bottle cost with shipping is a bit over $21. The same ink is available from US Internet pen shops for $30. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Ink%20Display_zpstysde4cd.jpg The shop deals exclusively in new pens and offers a wide variety of Monte Blanc, Pelikan, Waterman, Cross, and Visconte pens including specimens from current and some past special editions. There are smaller collections of other fountain pen brands. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20sales%20counter_zpsmdch9wdy.jpg Photos of the store owners 1910 to 2010 hang over the Monte Blanc Display. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Shop%20scene%201_zpssabl9ddx.jpg There are also some beautiful lacquered pens on display. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKW%20Painted%20Pens_zps8ptgw0an.jpg My favorite among the lacquered pens were these Romanov pens. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Rominoffs%201_zpsx5rowgcd.jpg The most interesting pen I saw was this Dupont “Shoot the Moon” fountain pen that looks like a cannon. With the available pen stand it would be impressive on one’s desk. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Cannon%20Pen_zpsez5m4c7r.jpg One needs souvenirs from a vacation. Mine from this trip are a special edition Vibrant Blue Pelikan M805 with silver trim and bottles of PW Akkerman ink in Shocking Blue and Bekakt Haags, a dark brown. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20What%20I%20Bought_zpszcggaccz.jpg

I am moving to Israel soon. I am wondering if I can get some information on the pen shops there.

Hello from the San Francisco Bay Area! Does anyone know of any B&M pen stores in the south bay, preferably around the Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara area? I'd like to look at some pens in person if I can, but I have the feeling my only option is to order online. I am a FP neophyte even though I have been writing with FPs for decades. My interest in FPs has been revived recently when my 9 yr old daughter expressed an interest in FPs. I recently showed her how to fill the ink converter on my MB Noblesse and explained how to write gently with it. I thought it was cute when she was reading Geronimo Stilton's "Paws Off, Cheddarface!" book, pointed out an illustration on one of the pages (pg 100) and asked, "Is that a fountain pen?" Yep, it looked like a fountain pen. Anyhow, now I'm looking around for a possible first fountain pen for my daughter. I've read numerous reviews/comments here and elsewhere and have narrowed it down to Lamy Safari and Pelikan Pelikano ... leaning toward the Pelikano because I don't think she'll like the Safari grip. And I'm pretty sure I can get a converter for the Pelikano. While I'm window shopping here, I thought I'd also look for an everyday pen for myself and am considering the Pilot Metropolitan MR (that blue leopard print looks really pretty!), a Parker Vector and a Hero 448. I'm also eyeing the Pelikan M200 which everyone here seems to rave about, but I'm concerned about some people's complaint about it being too lightweight, which is why I'd like to try holding it in my hands at a store.