AP NEWS: Analog and then some: the allure of the fountain pen

 

 The allure of the fountain pen

In an age of screens and keyboarding, when kids hardly learn cursive anymore, fountain pens — along with their old-timey accoutrements like blotters, bottled ink and fancy nibs — are making a comeback. There are jazzy new colors and styles, and an array of affordable options…

Read the full article on AP NEWS HERE


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Phone: 516-741-0011

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Montegrappa Mini Mule price reduction

 

Montegrappa Mini Mule price reduction

The new lower prices are below:

Fountain Pen

Mini Copper Mule Fountain Pen – Model ISFSH_CU – $295

Available in F, M or B nib sizes


Rollerball

Mini Copper Mule Rollerball Pen – Model ISFSHRCU – $275


Ballpoint

Mini Copper Mule Ballpoint Pen – Model ISFSHBCU – $250

 

See full details HERE


Call or email us for more information:

Phone: 516-741-0011

Email: contactus@kenroindustries.com


 

iW Magazine features the Montegrappa Moonlanding Pen

 

Montegrappa Moonlanding Pen gets a write up in iW Magazine

Shaped like the Saturn V rocket that propelled Apollo 11’s crew to the moon, the new writing instrument uses visual references to show lineage with one of modern history’s most momentous achievements.

The new pen is an executive toy par excellence. It allows the user to simulate the separation of flight modules to reveal ink flux controls, observed through a special internal window…

Read the full article HERE


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Phone: 516-741-0011

Email: contactus@kenroindustries.com


 

Loclen Electa

 

Loclen Electa

This may be the first time you are viewing  the Loclen Electa, with its unique  industrial design and metal finishing. Well, it is something new and exciting for Kenro as well. We were fortunate to meet their designer and owner, Carlo Vazzoler at the Paperworld Show in Frankfurt this past January. Carlo had his Loclen pens advertised in vitrines throughout the show and they caught the eyes of our team. We knew we had to visit his exhibt.  The pens were so unique that they couldn’t resist meeting  with him and learning more about these metal writing tools.

Loclen is a relatively young brand with limited marketing or advertising. They don’t even have an Instagram or Facebook page, but that hasn’t halted their growth. Business has been good and the pens have been selling. Most sales have come from specialty pen retailers outside the US and Canada, so the idea of a partnership for our companies seemed like a good fit.  Carlo was encouraged by the possibilities with Loclen but also shared the challenges with manufacturing hand turned pens in a small family business. Patience was a term he shared on several occasions and how turning brass, plating, brushing and assembly takes time. Thankfully we are patient people and his pens are certainly worth the wait!

3 beautiful finishes to choose from.

Loclen, derived from the names of Carlo’s children, is an Italian company based in Venice. The first model introduced from Kenro is the Electa. Electa is available in three finishes, including ruthenium, fine brushed chrome and raw brass. They are all brass based pens and currently available in fountain pen only. The nibs are size 5 from Jowo and each is engraved with the Loclen “duck” symbol and can be purchased in EF, F, M, B and 1.1. The ruthenium and chrome are sold with a chrome plated nib, while the raw brass has a two-tone gold and silver.

Product page HERE


 

Pictures from the workshop



Call or email us for more information:

Phone: 516-741-0011

Email: contactus@kenroindustries.com


 

Esterbrook Blueberry picked from the shelves!

 

The Blueberry Estie arrived!

Are you aware that its Blueberry season? That’s right! The Blueberry Estie arrived this week and they were quickly plucked from the shelves. The unique blue and white blended fountain pens are limited to a total of 600 pieces and are now sold out.

What was an initial concern for Esterbrook is now a great success. If you’re not aware, the Blueberries were supposed to be Lilacs, but when the acrylic supplier delivered the swatches the color was not correct. The material was blue, a beautiful blue, but clearly not purple lilac.

In this case, Esterbrook turned lemons to lemonade and made some very happy fountain pen enthusiasts. Also noteworthy is that the many Blueberries were shipped with 1.1 Stub nibs.

As mentioned, Esterbrook is sold out, but limited stock is available at your authorized Esterbrook retailer.

 


Call or email us for more information:

Phone: 516-741-0011

Email: contactus@kenroindustries.com


 

Gentleman Stationer reviews the 2019 BWI Pen Show

The Baltimore/Washington International Pen Show 2019

You often hear people saying: “It was good, but it could have been great” when discussing a recent pen show (or any other large public event, for that matter). What’s less common is attending a pen show that should have been “good,” or maybe even “meh,” but turned out to be fabulous. This year’s Baltimore Pen Show was one such event.

Read the full article HERE

 

A Well-Appointed Phaeton Review

A Well-Appointed Review of the Phaeton

In writing, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the Phaeton because I don’t usually write with medium nib pens but the Phaeton has a crisp, almost italic-like grind on the nib making it a pleasant writing experience. I find most medium nib pens to be rather flat and round creating a rather uninspired writing experience — like writing with a ballpoint pen. So, the more crisp, flat medium angle on this nib (and it could just be the nib I received) is a pleasant surprise.

Read the full article HERE

 

Esterbrook and the Civil Rights Act

Esterbrook – The Civil Rights Act

“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” – Martin Luther

A pen, a simple pen, can be the most powerful tool known to humanity. A pen can be used to decide the fate of many. It can influence the history of entire nations. It is a device that can be used to enslave and destroy. Most importantly, it can also be used to set people free and to create wonderful works. This is the story of when a pen was used for freedom; a pen used to change the world. All that was required to change the course of history for the betterment of all men was for one man to pick up an Esterbrook pen…

Read the full article HERE

 

Brett Harmon Reacquainted with Uboat

An in depth look at the new Uboat Capsoil

Having owned a U-Boat piece, it was nice to have the opportunity to go hands-on with one of their newest designs, the U-Boat Capsoil SS.

First off, lets get a little background on the brand. When I first came across U-Boat, it was on Instagram roughly ~5 years ago. Having a deep love for the sea (pun intended), and being around the ocean my entire life, it was neat to see something that took inspiration from the lines and aesthetics of a submarine. I was immediately drawn to the bulkiness/ruggedness industrial design of the U-Boat. The brand itself has less than 20 years of business under their belt; the brand was founded and created when Ilvo Fontana joined the tender to produce precision time instruments for the Italian Navy in 1942. Although Ilvo Fontana didn’t end up creating any pieces for the Italian Navy, the designs were never destroyed, just merely filed away. In the year 2000, Ilvo Fontana’s grandson, Italo Fontana found the designs and decided it would be great to finish what his grandfather once started.

Now that we have some background, lets get down to the fun part, the details. The case is machined out of stainless steel, housing a new electromechanical movement, which is completely submerged in oil. Yes, you heard that right, it wasn’t a typo, the entire dial and movement is submerged in an oil bath. The case measures 45mm and has a beautiful, almost matte-like sheen to the finish. Speaking of finishing, this case is “rounded”, every angle you look at it. There are minimal sharp edges with tapered lugs, which make the watch appear a little smaller than the normal U-Boat size watches. I typically prefer watches in the 40-44 mm range; this watch wears extremely nice for its size. Since we are on the topic of the case, lets not forget the crown. Yes, the watch is a destro, but with the proper tools, you can swap it to the other side of the case. Whether you wear the watch on your left hand or right, you are thought of in this design.

After strapping the watch on my wrist I was immediately mesmerized by the color of the dial. I have never seen such a “pure” black dial as this; the oil makes it seem three-dimensional. It’s quite hard to take your eyes off of it. Once you are able to peel your eyes away from the three-dimensional dial, you start noticing other qualities close by. The dial has a patina –like color on the numerals and minute markers. There is a vibrant and striking contrast between the dark black dial and the patina numerals. Dive watches have always been know for their legibility, lets just put it this way, whether you are scuba diving in a deep cave or looking for the time in a dark room in your home, legibility will never be an issue.

After having the privilege of wearing the watch for a week or two, it’s easy to come to terms with the fact that I genuinely like this piece. I am still in awe of how well the dial pops in the submerged oil bath. All in all, this piece checks the boxes for someone who is looking for a larger, industrial designed watch. Purely, the history makes owning a U-Boat much cooler knowing that a lot of these designs were thought of ~70 years ago. This piece falls in the sub $2,000.00 price point which makes the purchasing urge much greater due the quality of components you get for the price. Whether you are an existing owner of a U-Boat watch, or have never owned one of their pieces, I highly encourage you to give this piece a try. 

Written by Brett Harmon follow him on Instagram

 


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Phone: 516-741-0011

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