There’s this famous story in my family. Of how my grandfather took my grandmother, my father and my uncle to Europe in the 1950s. While there, he stopped in several different stores to try out Mont Blanc pens. And he dithered and hemmed and hawed and decided he needed a Meisterstück 149 and purchased it…
Showing all posts tagged vintage
Retro Review: Tru-Tone Crayons
Last weekend, Bob and I hit up our neighborhood yard sale day and came across an estate sale that included some vintage art supplies including this box set of Tru-Tone Broad Line Crayons from Milton Bradley. So these were probably made especially for kids or schools. The box even says “Certified School Crayons”. Overall the…
Vintage Find: Telescoping Dip Pen
I don’t often share vintage purchases on the blog. Partly, this is because a vintage pen I purchase might be a dud (or a gem) but you, my fine reader, might have the exact opposite experience depending on the quality of the item, where you purchased it and how reputable the seller was. I make…
Eye Candy: Parker 45 Classic GT
When I was home for the holidays a few years ago, my dad and I sat down and he shared his fountain pen collection with me. One of the pens he had actually belonged to my grandmother and he gave it to me at the time. This was the grandmother that taught me to knit,…
Intro to Vintage Esterbrooks
Editor’s Note: I asked Jesi to write this post. “How to get started with Esterbrooks” is something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time but with someone as knowledgeable about Esterbrooks as Jesi on hand to do a far better job than I would, it made sense for her to do it. She…
Vintage Review: Esterbrook Ballpoint Pen Brought Back to Life
Review by Jessica Coles It’s no secret that I (Jesi) love Esterbrooks. I believe for the price and quality, there is no single pen better as an introduction into vintage pens. Of the Esterbrook models, the one that is most prolific on the market today is the J series due to its popularity at the…
Ask The Desk: Teal Pens, Dip Pens and Stationery
Zack asks: I have been looking for a full-sized green/teal body fountain pen for the longest time. I haven’t seen many that are within my budget of <$200 that are to my liking. I was wondering if you have any in mind that could fit my specifications. Nib material is not important, but of course…