New Desiderata Pen…For Real.

November 20, 2017

Hello Everyone,

I don't announce this kind of thing very much, but I wanted to share it with you kind people because this is one of my favorite places to go on the internet, and the FPN community is what makes it so for me.

I am coming out with my latest production pens since the Icarus. I am very pleased with how they both are coming out. Those of you who know me personally know that I am not very easily pleased. It's been a long time since I used a pen that felt as comfortable as these.

1: As some of you know, I love wood. I think it's beautiful, has an unsurpassed feel, and makes an excellent construction material for many things, but it poses unique challenges when used for a fountain pen. I've been struggling with that problem for years, but now, I've finally gotten good enough that I can work with tolerances tight enough to make the dream a reality.

For years I've wanted an all-wooden pen, and now I have one. Wooden cap, wooden barrel, wooden grip. Hands down, this is the most comfortable pen I've ever made. Wood can stain, and that's been accounted for in the design. When you get your hands on this, I think the pen will disappear into the experience of writing with it. I want to use it all the time, but for the work I do, I often need a clip for my pens. This pen will come with the option to install a functional, designed steel clip.

My first release of this pen is just about 8 units, but I'll be making more in the future.

They all fill with a simple, reliable aerometric sac. The beauty of an aerometric sac is how easy it is to fill and clean, but the ink capacity (around 2.5ml) isn't as voluminous as you might get with an eyedropper filled pen, so to prevent you from getting caught with an empty pen, some of these will have an ink window. Three, to be exact.

2. The first run you'll have available are made from highly patterned fancypantz german ebonite. The material has a black base color and has green, red or blue ripples in it. The big problem with this material (besides it being very expensive) is that it's so dark that it really doesn't photograph well, and even in person, it's hard to get a clear fix on what's going on with the color pattern. Well, I've solved that problem through faceting. The way the light glints off the sides attracts the eye in a way that's hard to describe. The pen has 12 gently tapered, faceted, painstakingly-finished-by-hand sides on the cap and on the barrel.

Ink windows are optional, as are clips with this model.

So, I've been talking about how these pens feel while writing. What nibs can you use?

Jowo F (more of a "Western fine"/medium; .4-.5mm)
Pilot XF (a true extra fine .2mm)
Zebra G flex nib units (with my usual, handmade, purpose-designed ebonite feeds)
Nemosine .6mm italic

All these pens come with interchangeable nib units, so you can switch nibs within one and the same pen. Just unscrew (or, if you want, just use a simple hex/Allen wrench you probably have at home).

These will come out this week. I think "Black Friday" is stupid, but if you want to be the first to know when these pens will be available for sale, please consider signing up for my mailing at the top of this FAQ page here.

Price? I can't speak to that right now, but I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on that subject. Please email me at DesiderataPens <<<AT>>> JEE-MALE <<<DOT>>> com., or leave a comment.

Edited November 20, 2017 by PrestoTenebroso

November 22, 2017

November 23, 2017

Oh, yes!

November 23, 2017

November 23, 2017

That ebonite one is really pretty. Thanks for posting the pix of it. How does the new model compare (size and weight-wise) to the Daedulus?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

November 23, 2017

That ebonite one is really pretty. Thanks for posting the pix of it. How does the new model compare (size and weight-wise) to the Daedulus?
Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

They're about the same length and width proportions, only a little wider, and the weight is nearly the same.