The Superior Labor Pen Clip

[bemon]

Thought I'd share a few pictures of a pen clip I picked up this week.

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/148910733@N07/4ayb72

 

I wish I could have uploaded the pictures directly to FPN, but I'm not able to anymore. At any rate this is The Superior Labor leather pen clip. I picked mine up from Wonderpens but if you're not Canadian then you may find a more cost effective solution elsewhere.

 

Check out the pictures! It's a great solution if your notebook doesn't come with a pen loop.

 

 

[dennis_f]

Nice photos Bemon... that's a great looking clip. I was just looking at it yesterday in fact.

 

One question: is the actual brass clip removable? I was wondering if I could slide the loops into a pen case, if the need arose.

 

Congrats on a slick purchase!

D.

[bemon]

Nice photos Bemon... that's a great looking clip. I was just looking at it yesterday in fact.

 

One question: is the actual brass clip removable? I was wondering if I could slide the loops into a pen case, if the need arose.

 

Congrats on a slick purchase!

D.

Thanks! Do you mean does the metal portion of the clip slide out of the leather? I don't think so. At least not with gentle force. I wonder if it's glued in there. Good idea actually though. I've got some pen cases that have room for two pens but don't have any built in separation.

[dennis_f]

Thanks! Do you mean does the metal portion of the clip slide out of the leather? I don't think so. At least not with gentle force. I wonder if it's glued in there. Good idea actually though. I've got some pen cases that have room for two pens but don't have any built in separation.

 

Yes, that's exactly the piece I was referring to (sorry if my use of "clip" was confusing).

 

After posting that question I had this vague memory that a pen loop like yours -- without the clip -- is available somewhere... not sure if it's Superior Labour or another one of the custom leather companies that makes it (someone like Galen Leather...). I haven't seen the pen loop live yet, but it seems really handy (and your pictures are selling me), so I think I'll pick one up on my next visit to Wonderpens.

 

Thanks,

D

[bemon]

Yes, that's exactly the piece I was referring to (sorry if my use of "clip" was confusing).

 

After posting that question I had this vague memory that a pen loop like yours -- without the clip -- is available somewhere... not sure if it's Superior Labour or another one of the custom leather companies that makes it (someone like Galen Leather...). I haven't seen the pen loop live yet, but it seems really handy (and your pictures are selling me), so I think I'll pick one up on my next visit to Wonderpens.

 

Thanks,

D

It’s super handy! I still carry my EDC pens in a VanDerSpek case that has built in dividers, but I always found myself without a place to clip my pen when I run into a meeting. And I’m usually carrying my notebook in the picture, my massive company laptop, a pen and my wireless mouse. So it’s an armful and I appreciate the loop.

 

The only issue with this clip is that I can’t lay my notebook flat when I have it clipped on, but chances are I’ll be resting my book on my lap in a meeting anyway.

[dennis_f]

Your situation sounds like mine: running around with both a laptop and a notebook (and pens... and stuff). Which is exactly why I started looking for a clip over the holidays.

 

It's funny: I'm always looking for notebooks that lie flat, but I never actually use them on a desk. If I'm sitting down, they're usually balanced on one of my legs, so the lie-flat criteria shouldn't actually matter.

 

I just took another look at your photos. One other question for you: the Lamy looks a bit big for the loop; is that just an optical illusion, or a result of the leather being new? I ask because I'm wondering if a Pelikan would fit (that's the widest pen I own).

[bemon]

Your situation sounds like mine: running around with both a laptop and a notebook (and pens... and stuff). Which is exactly why I started looking for a clip over the holidays.

 

It's funny: I'm always looking for notebooks that lie flat, but I never actually use them on a desk. If I'm sitting down, they're usually balanced on one of my legs, so the lie-flat criteria shouldn't actually matter.

 

I just took another look at your photos. One other question for you: the Lamy looks a bit big for the loop; is that just an optical illusion, or a result of the leather being new? I ask because I'm wondering if a Pelikan would fit (that's the widest pen I own).

Everywhere I go I’m running around with more than I can handle!

 

The L2K actually fits into the right hand loop right down to the clip better than the left hand. For some reason the loops seem to be differently sized. But I don’t think that’s a feature. I bet The team at Wonderpens would let you test fit.

 

My M1000 fits in the right loop all the way down to the clip as well.

[dennis_f]

Ok... wow. If your 1000 fits I'm sure I'll have no problem with any of my pens.

 

I think the staff at Wonderpens are, hands down, one of the best retail teams I've ever come across, and not just in relation to other stationery shops but across the board. They're the best. But I'd feel reticent asking to slide a pen into a new leather product, for fear of distorting it even slightly if the pen didn't fit after all (and I didn't end up buying it).

[bemon]

Ok... wow. If your 1000 fits I'm sure I'll have no problem with any of my pens.

 

I think the staff at Wonderpens are, hands down, one of the best retail teams I've ever come across, and not just in relation to other stationery shops but across the board. They're the best. But I'd feel reticent asking to slide a pen into a new leather product, for fear of distorting it even slightly if the pen didn't fit after all (and I didn't end up buying it).

Definitely! I wish I could get into the store more, but I work in Newmarket. By the time I get back into the city after work they're closed. On Saturdays my daughter has dance in the mornings, gymnastics at noon and then we usually do errands after that. So by the time we're all done there isn't much time left in a day.

 

I only suggest asking because the loops on mine aren't visibly different and the clip isn't marketed as having different sized loops. So it's probably just a production fault. It's worked out for me, but it would be a shame to drop $50 on something you can't use.

 

I tried to grab the fattest pens in my collection and they fit snuggly in one loop but not the other. So if you're using thinner pens than an M1000 you should be alright.

 

<img src='https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1578493328__img_4504.jpg' alt='IMG_4504.jpg' />

[dennis_f]

Ok.... good to know. I will ask them, then, if I can try one (or both) before buying.

 

I actually don't get into the store very often. I'm based in TO, but spend most of my time out of the city for work. That, my travel schedule, and their hours, make it difficult for me to get in there often... but I do try to get in every month or two. With luck I'll be in a) before the end of the month, and b ) before the things I'm interested in sell out.

Edited January 8, 2020 by dennis_f

[bemon]

Ok.... good to know. I will ask them, then, if I can try one (or both) before buying.

 

I actually don't get into the store very often. I'm based in TO, but spend most of my time out of the city for work. That, my travel schedule, and their hours, make it difficult for me to get in there often... but I do try to get in every month or two. With luck I'll be in a) before the end of the month, and before the things I'm interested in sell out.

I don't even get in there monthly. Too bad. And yeah they sell out of the good stuff fast. I'd had my eye on another Edison Collier in Blue since I bought my orange one 4 or 5 years ago. Every last time I checked their site they'd been out of the Blue Steel version and (can't remember who I talked to) said he didn't know when they'd get more.

 

So I ended up ordering from Goulet. Great customer service there too, but so long as there isn't a mammoth price delta I'd rather send the dollars to my local store.