The design is a multicolor screenprint in lush greens on a black background with animals hidden in the greenery including showy parrots, sloths, monkeys and wild cats (my animal identification might be incorrect so if you know more accurate descriptions, please leave them in the comments).

My favorite part is the frog end cap. He’s such a cute little guy who peers at you every time you open your pen case or sticks out of your pen cup.

The classic Retro51 Tornado design with its Schmidt rollerball refill is always a go-to at the Desk for on-the-go writing and especially for gateway gifts for loved ones. If you have a friend or family member who loves the tropics and rainforest conservation, grab one of these before they are gone.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Luxury Brands of America for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Mini-Review: Retro51 Rainforest Trust appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Mike Dudek from ClickyPost created one of the most favorite Retro51 pens, The System, and did a special edition in all-alloy. It sold out in a nanosecond but he has ONE and because Mike is a generous soul, he decided to let you wonderful folks have a shot (to the moon) at winning it.

The solar system is acid-etched into the pen, in a tumbled, pewter finish, the debossed lines of the planets and their orbit trajectories darkened to be seen and felt. This is a rare opportunity to hold the universe (or at least the solar system) in your hands.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below and tell me your favorite space-related bit of trivia, quote, movie, book, etc. Can be fact or fiction but let’s reach for the stars! Play along and type in something. It makes reading through entries more interesting for me, okay? One entry per person.

If you have never entered a giveaway or commented on the site before, your comment must be manually approved by our highly-trained staff of monkeys before it will appear on the site. Our monkeys are underpaid and under-caffeinated so don’t stress if your comment does not appear right away. Give the monkeys some time.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Friday, June 19, 2020. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Monday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your actual email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. Winner must respond within 5 days or I will draw a new giveaway winner (Check your spam!). Shipping will be handled by Mike Dudek/Clicky Post. If you want faster, fancier shipping or added insurance, the winner will be responsible for covering those costs. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO/AFO only, sorry.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by The Clicky Post for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post BONUS GIVEAWAY: Retro51 The System Alloy from ClickyPost appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

So, let’s get started.

Non-Refillable Pens

I went a little heavy on brush pens and drawing-specific tools on my non-refillable list. These pens are harder to replicate is a refillable version, or no one has made a concerted effort to try.

1. Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen: The model I have is a combination of black ink on one end and grey ink on the other. Both tips are a stiff medium felt-tip brush. It’s a great option for getting a lot in one package. The ink dries a bit more slowly than some others but the black is a dark black and the ink is water-resistant so it can be combined with watercolor, water-based markers or fountain pen ink without bleeding. ($3.30 from JetPens)
2. Uni- Mitsubishi Dual Tip Pocket Brush: For shame! When I selected this pen, I didn’t realize it was impossible to find in the US. It’s a brush pen I found at my local Artist & Craftsman Art Supply store. It’s a soft felt tip-style brush pen with a broad tip on one end and a fine tip on the other. The felt material does lose its point over time but it has good spring and the combination points make it a good pen for lettering, sketching, and linework. It’s waterproof too. The closest comparable pen is the Uni Mistubishi Double-Sided Fine Broad Bush Pen which appears to have a similar combination of points and is listed as water-resistant too. ($4.95 from JetPens)
3. Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pen: Shown above is the extra fine version of the pen but I’m a fan of the regular width as well. I haven’t tried the grey but it’s on my list. Even if you’re not into lettering or drawing, the extra fine Fudegokochi Brush Pens are firm enough to give a taste of brush pens without making you feel like the nib is bouncing all over the place. ($4.25 each at JetPens)
4. Sharpie Water-Based Poster Paint Pen (White, Extra Fine Point): This is the BEST opaque white paint marker. In this case, the water-based version from Sharpie far outperforms the oil-based version for most purposes. If you are trying to add those last little highlights, sparkles or other embellishments to lettering or artwork (two words: eye lights) than this is the marker you want. Because its water-based, if you don’t get your eye light of highlight just right, you can use a water brush to lift it out. Look at your local art supply or craft shop to find this particular model. Other colors can be fun too like the fluorescent colors but the only one you really need in the white.
5. Uni-Ball Signo Broad in White: The Uni-Ball Signo Broad in white is the OTHER white pen you might want to add to your pen collection. What it offers that the Sharpie does not is a considerably finer point for even more detail work and it is waterproof when dry. ($2.55 from Jet Pens)
6. Sharpie Pen: If you check below for the Honorable Mention, you’ll see that my husband favors the original Sharpie Marker but I like the Sharpie Pen. It is about the equivalent of an 0.7mm technical pen, the tip is relatively durable and the ink is pretty water resistant. If I’m not using a refillable technical pen or fountain pen with permanent ink, then I am probably using a Sharpie Pen. The cap-off time is pretty good too. It’s inexpensive and widely available making it a great gateway pen. (available in most office supply stores, big box retailers, pharmacies, etc)
7. Copic Multiliner SP: Okay, technically, the Copic Multiliner is a refillable technical pen but I don’t actually have any non-refillable technical pens in the house anymore. I have given all mine away. So… it’s a stand-in for the Sakura Pigma Micron, the gold standard by which all other “felt-tipped” technical pens are measured. Is the Sakura Pigma Micron really the gold standard? It’s debatable. I have burned through more of those pens than I want to admit which is why I don’t own any anymore. The amount of waste I created was shameful. The thin pipes and tips warp and bend with pressure over time, often before all the ink in the pen barrel has been used with no way to repair the pen so the plastic barrel gets thrown away. So, why is it on this list? Because, if you have never used a technical pen before, investing in a refillable Copic Multiliner SP probably seems excessive. So, I recommend investing in one Micron, maybe two. Get a 0.25-0.35 and a 0.5. Sakura doesn’t align their numbering with the nib width exactly so if you prefer to try on of the other brands instead be sure to double check the tip sizing.
8. Caran d’Ache Fibralo Brush Pen: This pen in my top ten surprises me as much as you. I pick this brush pen more often than so many others. I only have this one and I’ve had it for a couple years. I got it in one of the Art Snacks subscription boxes. The felt tip has held its shape, the ink is still flowing smoothly and the hex shape keeps it from rolling off me desk. Not rolling away is a big thing with me. My floors must not be level because anything perfectly round rolls right off my desk and on to the floor and then under something else never to be seen again. For Caran d’Ache, this is a pretty reasonably priced pen too. ($2.25 each from JetPens)
9. Uni-ball Signo RT1 UMN-155 Gel Pen: If you’ve made it this far in the non-refillable list, you finally made it to the gel pens! This is my favorite gel pen. The Uni Signo black ink is waterproof and this retractable 0.38mm model is sleek, comfortable and my all-around gel pen of choice. ($2.85 from JetPens)
10. Pentel Energel (Clena Gel Pen – 0.4 mm): My second choice in the gel pen category is the Energel line. I prefer the Energel needlepoint models for a lifted-above-the-paper writing experience. Both the Energel and Signo are retractable pens which are great for the pocket, bag or backpack for quick notes, lists and other “oh, here, jot this down” moments. They are both good writing experiences and pens that you could easily pass along to a friend or colleague who says “oh, this writes really nice” and you can could then welcome them to the pen fold. (Energel Pens start at $1.80 on JetPens)

Honorable Mentions:

• Sharpie Marker: The Sharpie Marker (the classic alcohol-based permanent marker) is my husband’s absolute most-used tool. He spends his days labelling cardboard boxes and other large industrial tasks and Sharpies get the job done. There are not a lot of other options that fill this niche as handily. Everyone needs at least one black Sharpie in their pen cup.
• Pilot Juice Up: First there was the Pilot Hi-Tec C then the Pilot Juice and now the smoother Juice Up pens. These are the premium gel pens. If you want some fun, smooth, retractable gel pens for your bullet journal, then these may be what you want to consider. They are a close second to the Uni Signo line for me. ($3.60 from JetPens)

Refillable Pens

Much of my ballpoint, rollerball and gel pen love has moved from non-refillable pens to more durable, refillable pens. In this category, I’ve included a couple multi-pens as well.

1. Pokka Pens: The Pokka Pen is a recent discovery for me and a very happy discovery. In the era of “please don’t make me use your pen!” the Pokka Pen is the perfect solution for having in your car, in your bag and everywhere you might be required to sign a document or receipt in our new era of social distancing. It is refillable and takes a fairly standard ballpoint refill that writes surprisingly well. So, if you’re having to fill out paperwork at the DMV, your kids’ school or anywhere else, make sure you have one of these in your pocket so you don’t have to use the one on the counter with the daisy attached. There’s no telling how many people have touched it before you. (3-pack for $8.45  from Gentleman Stationer Shop)
2. Fisher Space Pen Bullet: Whether the Fisher Space is the original pocket pen or not is debatable, but it is probably one of the smallest pocket pens. It will easily slide into the pocket of your jeans or spacesuit. It is steely-eyed missile man sleek. It takes the Fisher Space Pen refill, a modified version of the Parker refill, with a pressurized cartridge designed to write in the harshest of conditions. My biggest problem with the Fisher Space Pen is that it tends to go into a pocket like it’s dropped into a black hole and its months before I find it again. It has always resurfaced but be warned, these little guys have a tendency to wander. (starting from $26.35 at Goldspot Pens)
3. Baron Fig Squire Click: There are lots of fans of the Baron Fig Squire and I do like it but I prefer the Squire Click. I like the quiet click mechanism and the slightly more slender barrel of the Click model. It takes the same Schmidt style refills beloved by so many that Retro51 uses which means it will also accept standard Parker style refills like the Retro51 Tornado does. I’m nothing if not a shameless pen hack. ($45 from Baron Fig)
4. Retro 51 Tornado: While many of us are aware that the end of an era is upon us, there are still many places to acquire a classic Retro51 Tornado, even one in a classic lacquer. This pen is an icon of an era, accepting both the Schmidt P8126 capless refill (branded as the Retro51 refill REF5P) and the regular Parker-style ballpoint refills (see the refill guide for the whole list) and becoming the template for hundreds of different designs in their Popper and Limited Edition series for various retailers. Some people love the wide stubby shape of the Tornado pen but there’s no denying that it’s become a classic and an icon. (available at your favorite online pen shops)
5. Uni Style Fit Multi Pen (pictured is a very old Pilot Hi-Tec C Coleto. I think my Uni Style Fit multipen is still in the boxes from my packing my office): The Uni Style multipens are available with 3-component or 5-component bodies and 215 possible refill options to choose from. You are not even limited to using just Uni brand refills either Pilot Acra, Zebra Sarasa and the Uni Style Fit (which is basically Uni Signo gel ink) all fit into the Uni Style Fit multipens. You can also add a mechanical pencil (I always add my mechanical pencil on the clip knock) so one pen can really rule them all. The slender gel refills will run out pretty quickly but somehow it feels a little less wasteful to only throw away the refill rather than a whole pen and these multipens have such a huge variety of color options and tip sizes. It’s possible to outfit a multipen with a range of tip sizes all in one color of ink and another multipen in a range of colors. Maybe one multipen in cool colors (blue, green and purple) and another in warm colors (red, orange and pink). This is getting expensive, isn’t it? I’ll stop now. (pen bodies start at $4.20, components start at $1.65 from JetPens)
6. Zebra Sharbo X LT3 Multipen: The Sharbo X is a step up in materials from the Uni Style Fit in regards to multipens. Its a more rugged, metal body which holds 3-components. The most notable feature of the pen is that it takes standard D1 sized refills making finding refills easier. Zebra also makes some of the most coveted D1 refills with its 0.4mm gel and 0.5mm emulsion ballpoint refills. Add to those the 0.3mm mechanical pencil refill and the Sharbo X becomes the tiny writer’s favored multipen. ($28 for the body, components start at $2.65 from JetPens
7. Big i Design Ti Arto EDC: Since the release of the Ti Arto EDC pen, Big i Design has created several other iterations of their refill locking pen but I still like the original best. The pen barrel uses a chuck-locking design (like the way your drill locks onto you bit) to grip onto any refill you want to use. It’s the pen that puts an end to the question “Which pen will take my favorite refill?” This one. There. Done.($90 from Big i Design)
8. Parker Jotter Ballpoint Pen: What needs to be said about this classic click pen which take the most common refill? It’s available in tons of materials — plastic, metal, combination of the two. You can get it new or used because they’ve been making them forever. Chances are your parents probably have one tucked in a drawer somewhere that they got as a gift, maybe from their parents. (starting at $8.95 on Goldspot Pens)
9. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint Pen: The Caran d’Ache 849 is a classic design. It’s more slender than the Retro51 or even the Baron Fig Squire Click. The pen takes its dimensions from the Caran d’Ache pencils which are slightly more robust than the average hex pencil. There is minimal branding on the pen, only the brand name, hidden under the clip. Caran d’Ache uses a refill similar to a Parker style refill but flat on the end so, with some slight modifications, it’s possible to get a standard Parker refill to fit but it can be touch-and-go. A similar mechanical pencil is available, the 844 for 0.5mm or 0.7mm or the Fixpencil for the lead holder model but these seem to be harder to find and not available in as many colors as the pen. Overall, the 849 is an icon and once you find one that strike your fancy, either for its brillance or its simplicity you too will be under its spell. (starting at $19.20 on Pen Chalet)
10. Lamy 2000 Multisystem: Reams of (digital) paper have been written about the Lamy 2000 fountain pen but not much gets said about the other iterations of the Lamy 2000 line. The Makrolon material alone used to create the original pens (and mechanical pencil) are noteworthy since very few other manufacturers have been able to maintain production with this type of fiberglass material for long. I like the weight-controlled multipen since it baffles my brain how it actually works. Tip the pen so the color bar you want is facing up and then click the knock on the top and voila! the refill you want is selected. To retract the refill, press the knock again. Repeat the process for the next color you want. Amazing. Then you add in the warming feeling of the Makralon, the smooth taper of the shape of the pen barrel design and the overal aesthetic of the pen and honestly, what’s not to love? Not a fan of Lamy’s refills? Remember those really good Zebra D1 refills I mentioned earlier? They fit in the Lamy 2000 Multisystem… just sayin’. (€€56.20 from Appelboom)

The post Top Ten Pens (Non-Fountain Pens) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

For Bob, the Retro 51 Tornado was really his gateway drug into fine pens. I think one of his first Retro51s was the Pinball, Kona or Vintage Surf.

For me, I bought a lacquer lime green Tornado very early on in my collecting since it was relatively inexpensive  and a chance to experience a refillable pen with a refill known to be as good as the Japanese gel pens. While I am one of the few people who doesn’t love the Schmidt refill, I love that I can use other refills like Parker-style or hacked refills.

One of the aspects of the Retro 51 designs that I haven’t seen mentioned is the design on the packaging tubes. Early on, Retro 51 had appropriately retro-styled graphics. The yellow box on the far right of the photo is very old package that contains an aluminum tube. Later package design carried the graphics from the pen on to the paperboard tube.

Retro 51 always knew how to do packaging well.

Some of my favorite pens from Retro 51 are the Pen Addict special editions. I have all four of the special editions together in my display box. Next to them are the bright pink prototype that Lisa from Vanness Pens got for me. Then, my original kiwi lacquer Tornado. I bought a sterling silver prototype mini pen at the Dallas Pen Show a few years ago and then finally the first and most tiny Crossword pencil that Bob bought for me years ago. These are my extra special pens.

My all-time favorite is the Twinkle. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it for the photo shoot, even after tearing my house apart looking for it. I fear that I may have lost it since it was the pen I always carried in my bag. If anyone happens to come across it, it was #1000.

I’m tickled at the numbers I’ve accumulated. The 003s are all the Pen Addict models which Brad kindly saved the first few for himself, Myke and I. The very first Pen Addict model, I didn’t get the 003 originally. A lovely fan of the show brought the 003 to me at the DC Show and I was speechless.

Somewhere, Bob has his pen tubes. Bob’s Zodiac is numbered 007 which amuses us to no end.

The pens in this bamboo tray are Bob’s (plus my System pen because they look good together. I couldn’t find my System pencil for this photo either which hangs out with the pen twins.)

The focus of Bob’s collection is, of course, the space- and plane-themed. When Retro 51 unveiled the Launchpad pen stand, we couldn’t order one fast enough. He didn’t order the Gemini because he felt like it was “too much” but now he’s a bit bummed he missed his chance. If there’s another space or plane Retro 51 before they close up shop, we’ll order it in a New York minute.

Bob ordered the full set of spirit-related Retro 51s to give as gifts to friends and clients. We still have the beer Speakeasy. Bob thinks he may keep it for sentimental reasons.

There were a few pens we realized we could not share so we have two. I guess a family who Retros together, stays together?

I wonder what pen company will fill the gap that Retro 51 will leave? Maybe Caran d’Ache would consider stepping up and using the 849 form factor as a canvas for new designs and graphics. Caran d’Ache has already experimented with printed designs and various finishes, even the Nespresso recycled cup pens… so they are a strong candidate. Baron Fig and their Squire is another contender. They’ve already done several collaborations and experimented with etching on the aluminum barrels. Could they print on the barrels or add texture? The Squire is definitely a good option and uses the same Schmidt refill as the Tornado does.

I guess we must wait and see what the future of custom pens might bring. What are your thoughts? What were your favorite Retro 51 designs?

The post Retrospective: Retro 51 Pens appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Retro 51 news hit me hard.  If you haven’t heard yet, Retro 51 announced that they would be retiring and closing the business at the end of the year. I’ve loved Retro 51 pens since I first became enamored with pens and the first two pens I purchased in a brick-and-mortar pen store were both Retro 51 pens. Over the years I have purchased more of these collectible treasures and sold many, but the two original ones have stuck with me.

When working on this article, I broke up my collection into four groups. The first group consists of pens that have special meaning only to me. Below are my first Retros (the teal and pink) and my Amazing Find Retro. I found three Retro 51s together, still in their presentation boxes, and tucked away behind a massive amount of knick-knacks at a flea market one day. This is one of the bunch I kept for myself.

The next group consists of my Space Retros. Retro 51 has designed many AMAZING space-themed pens over the years and I have purchased those that have caught my eye or those containing a design that is meaningful.

The black pen shows our solar system and the orbits of the eight planets. But if you look closely, Pluto is shown – all alone and with no orbital path.

On the far right is a Retro showing the astrological signs in both stars and drawings. Plus the stars glow in the dark! Of course, so does the solar system pen, although I didn’t know that until after my purchase.

The two pens on the left are the Apollo 11 and the first steps on the moon, both produced last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that historic event. What an amazing time!

I believe in you, Pluto! You’ll always be a planet to me!

Group three are Retro 51 pens that don’t really fit into another category but are still treasured. The 2018 Christmas special edition Retro was a retro theme – Retro retro! I love how it was paired with antiqued brass furniture to push that retro feel even farther. Then there’s the Bomb Pop pen. This was designed by a good friend, Michael (a former co-host of the BYOB Pen Club podcast). Plus, I love Bomb Pops. Brad Dowdy (Pen Addict) sold these and was even nice enough to send #23 to me.

Group 4. Ok. I know that it contains one pen that was already part of the Space group but ROSE GOLD. This deserves its own category no matter how many groups these pens are in.

Again, the Apollo 11 pen is here, showing its eye-catching rose gold furniture. Cioppino is the name of the second pen – paneled with abalone shell and black lacquer. This is from the reissued Cioppino release (unlike Laura’s amazing vintage find) and is my most expensive Retro 51. The weight of the pen differs from other Retro 51 fountain pens and I love it.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of my Retro 51 pens. I will miss the thrill of waiting to see their newest releases and the hope of finding a certain pen that has special meaning. I wish the best of luck to the owners! Thank you for all of the pens over the years. Not that I am giving up hope, though! I may or may not have a few more coming to me as I type and I will continue to support you until the closing is final.

DISCLAIMER: All of the items included in this review were purchased by me. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Retrospective: Retro 51 Fountain Pens & Rollerballs appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Almost two weeks ago Retro 51 announced that they would be retiring and closing the business at the end of the year. This has caused quite a bit of discussion in the fountain pen world. When I heard the news, I immediately thought about how Retro 51 was really my introduction to the pen world. 

(L to R: Black Cherry Tornado Fountain, Tornado Rollerball Pink, Tornado Rollerball Silver, Fahrney’s Cherry Blossom Fountain Pen LE 2018, Limited Edition Twinkle Popper, Cioppino Fountain, Fountain Aquamarine)

In 2016 or 2017, after listening to Ana talk about Retro 51 Tornados, and using a few of hers, I bought my first Rollerball, the Tornado in Pink. I loved the feel of the metal pen in my hands and it wrote so smoothly. Soon another came to live with me, the Limited Edition Twinkle Popper.

From there, I branched out into fountain pens. I had a brief dalliance with a Lamy Safari, but I found the grip uncomfortable. My first fountain pen was the Black Cherry Tornado. Again, it felt weighty in my hand and wrote smoothly. The grip was comfortable to me (though I know others had complaints) and I happily still use that one today.

More followed: the Fahrney’s special Cherry Blossom in 2018, came to live with me as a 40th birthday gift from a friend. While I was confused why the US Treasury building was featured so prominently, I also got tickets to see Hamilton for my 40th, so it seemed oddly appropriate!

Perhaps my most treasured Retro 51 is my Cioppino Fountain Pen. Although Retro 51 re-released the Cioppino last year, mine is one of the original versions from the 1980’s. I bought it from a vintage dealer, and that part I love the most is the two toned nib, imprinted with the Tornado logo, so different looking from the JoWo nibs they use today!

It has also been fun to share my love of Retro 51s with my dad, who is also a fountain pen enthusiast. For Father’s Day a few years ago, I got him a Black Cherry Tornado Fountain Pen just like mine. When he received it, he called to let me know that he had another one in blue! And when we went through his pen collection, he pulled out the Tornado Rollerball in Silver and told me I should take it. I love that there’s a pen company that we enjoy together.

There have been so many versions of the Retro 51 that I have talked myself out of bringing home. They’re an amazingly creative company who makes so many amazing special editions. I regret missing the Vintage Surf Edition, I ogle Ana’s collection regularly, and I’m still dithering over this gorgeous special edition from Vanness Pen Shop. I’m looking forward to seeing Retro 51’s final releases and I’ll miss seeing them in the future. Luckily I have my own little collection to enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Eye Candy: Retro 51 Retrospective appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

You may or may not remember that in my first post on The Desk I talked about how my Retro 51 Tornado in Black Cherry (and truly Retro 51) was my gateway drug into the fountain pen world. My love for Retro 51s hasn’t abated, so I was intrigued to hear that they were making product improvements and that there would be a redesigned version releasing this year. Ana ordered one in Aquamarine from Vanness Pen Shop ($65) for me and I was off to the races. (For the purposes of this review I’ll compare the Aquamarine to my Black Cherry).

On it’s face, the new Tornado looks similar to the old Tornado. The new colors (Aquamarine, Ultraviolet and Orchid) are designed in a “frosted metallic” style meaning they have a matte finish both on the pen body and the silver trim. (Former editions of the Tornado were a shiny finish.)

I started by comparing the exteriors of the pens – the length appears to differ only slightly, by less than 1/8th of an inch, and the weights are roughly the same as well (new: 33g and old: 32g, but that may be the result of uneven ink fills).

So now let’s look at the real differences: the nib and the grip section. The previous versions of the Retro 51 Tornado used Schmidt nibs and came with the Medium as the standard nib (though I believe Fine was available on request). The new versions have upgraded to the Jowo #6 nib, and are now available in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium and 1.1 stub italic.

They’ve also re-worked the grip section. It appears to be approximately the same length, but the new grip is somewhat contoured, whereas the older grip narrowed in a straight line.

My final test was filling the pens and letting them sit for a while. Although I love my Retro 51s (and I have SEVERAL more not pictured here), historically they have dried out pretty quickly and often require water to get them started again. I let both pens sit untouched for a week, and sure enough my Black Cherry needed a bit of assistance to get the juices (inks) flowing, but the Aquamarine started right up. This test isn’t exhaustive – I really should let the new Retro sit for more than a week and see what happens, but so far I’m impressed.

Overall, I think the changes Retro has made to the Tornado Fountain Pen are great. The section was never a deal breaker for me, but I think many people will really like the new contoured grip. And I’m always a fan of more nib choice; making it a Jowo #6 nib opens up a lot of possibilities. I still think that Retro 51 is a fun brand and makes a great fountain pen for those newer to the hobby looking to upgrade their pen experience!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Retro 51 Tornado Fountain appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Pen Addict RelayCon 2018 Kickstarter has just nine days left and has surpassed its funding goals. So much so that there is money in the budget to take me along on the trip to Toronto and New York as well as Atlanta so I am looking forward to meeting the Canadian contingency this fall!

Literally the day I posted the Kickstarter Round Up, Ensso launched their XS Pocket Fountain Pen Project. This is a tiny pocketable fountain pen that is the size of a Fisher Space Pen and reminiscent of the Kaweco Liliput. It’s faceted like the Kaweco Sport but smaller and priced right. The early backer prices start at $39. There’s still two weeks left to back this project.

Even with Matt from the Pen Habit’s video, the DeNobil Kickstarter is still struggling along at only 10% of their funding goal and less than two weeks left. The pens on offer are ebonite with a custom Bock nib. Is it the pen itself or the plethora of pen-related Kickstarter options currently available that are hurting DeNobil’s efforts to reach its goal right now?

Retro51:

Fahrney’s released their annual Retro51 Cherry Blossom edition designs in rollerball ($53), fountain pen ($89) and pencil ($59). The flowers are pretty but the Treasury Building in the center looks sort of slapped on and, in the description, it says there’s an eagle somewhere in the design which always makes me think of the eagle squaw in the intro to The Stephen Colbert show — just a little over the top.

Lamy Safari:

The Lamy Safari All Black (2018 Special Edition) has finally been revealed. How does it differ from the standard edition Safari umbra fountain pen (matt black)? It’s DEEP black matte plastic. Oh. Okay. All I’m going to say here AL-Star always and I’m sorry Team Safari got hosed this year.

Can I cheer you up by letting you know that it looks like the white Lamy Joy is back in circulation?

In Other News:

Finally, in the I-live-on-the-border-of-Kansas news, on Sunday, local police spent a good portion of their day chasing a naked man on an ATV down the interstate. As my husband said when he relayed this entertaining bit of Midwestern jackassery to me “Sun’s out, buns out.”

The post News: Kickstarter Follow-Up, Retro51 and Lamy appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The plexiglass cover is magnetic so its easy to lift off to remove your pens and pens are held in place with black elastics on a black velvet  background.

The box is wide enough that it can be set on its end so it can be a “picture” so to speak rather than to occupy a flat space on your desk too.

The collection in our box is about half mine, half Bob. Can you guess which pens belong to each of us?

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Generally speaking, I tend to avoid ballpoint refills because I don’t often have very good luck with ballpoint ink. Being left-handed, it tends to smear more often and hard start more often for me than most people. But when Bert at Bertram’s Inkwell insisted I try the Monteverde Soft Roll refills in my Retro 51s as an alternative to the Schmidt P8126 refills, I decided to give it a shot, if only as scientific research. Bert insisted that the superbroad version was one of his best sellers but I was skeptical, being a proponent of the extrafine refills myself. So we settled on trying both. The Parker-style refills fit perfectly in the Retro 51s, something I had not actually tried before so that was an added bonus and opened up a whole new world of refills to me.

It turns out, that on Rhodia paper, both of the Soft Roll refills actually worked really well. The superbroad refill forced me to write a little bit larger than I normally do so that the letters didn’t close up. The ink was actually quite smooth and didn’t have that oily look a lot of ballpoint ink gets. It also didn’t skip or break up like a lot of ballpoint ink does when I write either. The extrafine wrote so smoothly and precisely I forgot it was ballpoint ink at all and kept thinking it was a gel ink.

I used the extrafine refill all week in my Retro51 Bouquet so it was tested on copier paper, Moleskine paper and various and sundry office papers with satisfactory results. I did a few additional tests with the superbroad on a legal pad and there was a bit more evidence of bloops but that’s probably a result of cheap paper combined with the refill putting down a good deal more ink.

If I’m going to use a ballpoint, I’m going to choose one of these refills because the quality is far superior to the average drugstore stick pen. Go, Monteverde!

Both the superbroad and extrafine refills come in a two-pack for $8.95.

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Bert at Bertram’s Inkwell for these samples. This item was given to me free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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