well written |1|
in ink |1| quink by parker
Quink – made up of the words quick and ink – was developed by Parker in the lates 1920s to eliminate the need for blotting. The ink was revolutionary at the time for using isopropyl alcohol as a solvent, which dried by absorption rather than by evaporation of water-based inks. The resulting formula meant the ink flowed without clogging, it resisted water and moulding, it was non-corrosive to the metal parts of nibs and feeds, it was quick-drying, and it did not leave deposits or fade.
First sold in 1931 and still available today this is a classic favourite of many fountain pen users. Tests and reviews report that Quink produces no feathering, is fast drying with moderate shading/ saturation, results in minimal show through, no bleed through and it rinses out of pens easily.
We have it in the shop – available in three colours – black, blueblack & blue. I think the blue is my favourite.
just my type |1|
This beauty gets admired in the shop all the time – in fact we could have sold it ten times over!
Anyone reading this blog will by now have concluded that I like to collect things and they would be correct. Whilst searching for more ink wells on our road trip around New Zealand a couple of years ago I came across this gorgeous Royal Portable typewriter in an antique store in Paeroa. I spotted it from afar and asked the shop keeper who was near it if it was still in working order. Yes was the reply, it just needed a new ribbon. I already knew that ribbons were easy to come by having coveted a red Royal typewriter on mytypewriter.com. I’ll have it I told him quickly, worried that someone else might recognise the bargain that was there for the taking. Noting my haste the shopkeeper joked that there was an extra 1 in front of the price. Thankfully there wasn’t and so I left a very happy customer indeed.
It was in amazing condition complete with carry case and original Certificate of Guarantee. The certificate showing that it was sold to a Mrs M F Harrop on February 28th 1939 by the Office Typewriter Co. Ltd of Auckland.
New ribbons were ordered online the day of purchase and they were waiting for me when we got home.
Royal Typewriter Company was founded in New York in 1906 and went on to become the best-selling portable typewriter maker of all time . I love the shiny black paint and am impressed at how stunning it still is after 74 years!
Needless to say, having been captivated by this typewriter others have been collected!
I was wishing we had found it at the end of our road trip at one point though. We met friends in Wellington and travelled in one car across on the Interislander to the top of the South Island. With 4 passengers and bags the typewriter had to travel at my feet in the front seat. Needless to say I was given some flack for carrying a typewriter around the country! But just look at it – it was all worth it!!
new to my pencil case / desk |1|
It will not be a surprise to anyone to learn that many a product arriving at the shop makes it way home with me for my pencil case or for my workroom desk. My newest stationery tools though did not come to me via the shop. Whilst in Sydney last weekend for a most fabulous calligraphy course I found time to do a spot of shopping! In fact my first port of call was the art supplies shop – not a shoe shop!! I am now the proud and very happy owner of a light box and I couldn’t resist a couple of pretty black & silver/black & gold nib holders.
well formed |1| A
I think it would be far to say that right now I am rather obsessed with calligraphy. I have always been envious of those with nice penmanship and am sad to admit that my everyday handwriting is not very good – at all. But I am hopeful that learning and practising calligraphy will see all aspects of my writing improve!
The first calligraphy course I took, a couple of years, ago focussed on the Italic hand. This proved a great starting place and taught me many of the fundamentals of calligraphy. This hand however did not inspire me greatly, (I don’t want to say it is boring but it is not particularly expressive), thus not a great amount of practise was done.
More recently, through the wonderful thing that is the internet I became aware of calligraphers using much more modern hands – that inspired me. That is how I would love to write. And so began a journey – a most enjoyable one! I find myself constantly wondering when I will have time to do some practise.
I have noticed that I am rather heavy handed. I will try other nibs to see if I can get finer upstrokes and keep practising!
hot off the press |1| blind impression initials
Hot off the press is an interesting expression. When I looked up the origin I found two suggestions – one that it refers to the hot molten lead that was used to print newspapers, the other that it also may have referred to the news of the newspaper itself that was striking / sensational.
Whilst we still use lead type for our letterpress printing it is years and years old so not in the least “hot”. The only thing that gets warm whilst we are printing is me – the press operator! Treadling an old cast iron beast can be hard work!
Our boxed initialed cards with a blind / inkless impression have been flying out the door recently so we produced a whole lot more last week. Printed on luxurious 100% cotton card they are beautiful to pen a quick thank you or note on. We will be listing on our web store soon.
well equipped |1| adana 8×5 printing press
My adventure into the world of letterpress printing began with this little tabletop machine.
Having been captivated by letterpressed invitations whilst reading magazines from the US and Europe I set about founding out more about how such beautiful textured, almost three dimensional pieces were created.
Research online indicated that the Adana 8×5 was an ideal entry level press.
To my delight I discovered that one could still purchase a new/refurbished Adana from the UK. Quick smart money was sent and great anticipation for it’s arrival mounted. More money was sent – (to NZ customs!) – but finally it arrived, along with type, brass rule, ink, quoins, reglet, furniture, lead spacing and all the things a beginner needed to get started in letterpress printing!
This little machine provided many a lesson, validated my love of letterpress and had me wanting more!!
new / noteworthy |1|
Lamy do limited edition “colour” releases of their Safari pens each year. This year (2013) we have the neon yellow – which I cannot say I am much of a fan of, but we had to get our hands on some of the bright pink which they re-released due to popular demand. I must confess to having gone through a very pink phase several years ago – I still have pink golf clubs, complete with pink golf balls! As a friend says look good, feel good, play good. I think the same could be true of a pen – look good, feel good, write well! I’ll find any excuse for a new pen though!!
well, well, well
This is the inkwell that saw me start a collection – a now rather extensive collection! This one was given to me as a birthday gift by my parents. So I blame them for what has now become a slight obsession – at times a rather expensive obsession!
A road trip around New Zealand directly after receiving this gift turned into a fun search for antique shops along the way and thus the collection grew and grew and grew…
And yes, continues to grow!
Square was the most prevalent design/shape for the inkwells of desk units and writing boxes. This (square) has become the loose “theme” of my collection.
on the desk in … |1| red
It will be no surprise to those of you who know me that the first of our “On the desk in … ” colour series features red. Red is my favourite colour and many a red product arriving at the shop makes it way home with me!
1 – inkwell & blotter from a Campo Marzio calligraphy set. 2 – set of ten tags and twine. 3 – gift bags. 4 – wooden nib holder in red. 5 – Arles refillable journal from Castelli. 6 – leather pencil case. 7 – Lamy ABC fountain pen. 8 – pen loop from Leuchtturm1917. 9 – Lamy bottled ink. 10 – journals from Quo Vadis. 11 – combination stylus & ballpoint pen from Online.