Category Archives: News

Whatchamacallit, Repeat Customer Discounts, and Pricing Changes

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For sale is a Whatchamacallit! Here’s a new model with simpler lines, created at the request of a customer. It has a straight body, flush cap and barrel style, with flat ends. Prices will start at $185 for this model, which is significantly lower than my other offerings, because flat-tops require less work, and I want to give back that time-saving as a price reduction to my customers.

I’m calling it the Whatchamacallit for now.  If you have any nifty ideas for the model name, let me know!  renee@scriptoriumpens.com 

All Whatchamacallits will be on sale for $185 for the following two weeks (Friday, February 24 – Friday, March 10). After that, prices will start at $185 for regular acrylics and Nikko Ebonite. Alumilites and fancy acrylics will start at $195. 

Pricing Changes

In addition to this new model, some overall pricing changes have been made on pens and options.  The Idyll and Zephyr are now $250. All other fountain pen models remain $235.For more details, see the Pricing page: https://scriptoriumpens.com/ordering-a-pen/custom-order-price-list/

Repeat Customer Discounts

I have a huge customer list going back to 2012.  As of today, any repeat customer who places a new order will receive $5 off each pen in their order.  As they say, repeat customers are the best!  Thank you all for helping me build this pen business. 

Introducing the Kelmscott with Two Special Editions

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EDIT: The in stock Kelmscott Dragonfly Special Editions have all sold, but you can still order one in any size, to be placed in the regular work queue, which is currently around 8 to 9 months long.  

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I’m excited to announce a new pen model, the Kelmscott, along with two very different Special Edition versions. These are the very first Scriptorium Pens Special Editions! The Kelmscott has clean lines featuring a straight cap and barrel with a taper to allow for posting, and has slightly curved finials. The name comes from The Kelmscott Press, created in 1891 by craftsman and designer William Morris, and devoted to bringing back the beautiful illuminated manuscript styles of the medieval period.

Kelmscott Dragonfly Special Edition
Kelmscott Dragonfly Special Edition
Click here to see the full gallery of images.

The first Special Edition is the Kelmscott Dragonfly, which features a fabulous custom dragonfly material meticulously designed & created by Bob Dupras, and a magnificent Silver Dragonfly wraparound clip crafted by Mike Redburn. Over 8 months were spent in the planning of both the material and clip. A special Rickshaw Bagworks pen sleeve, with a colorful scattering of dragonflies on the outside, comes with the pen.

All 11 Kelmscott Dragonflies have now been sold. Eleven of these Special Edition Dragonfly Kelmscotts are available now, in Small size, for $335 + shipping. This includes a Mark Bacas tuned steel nib. Gold nibs are available on request. Email me if you’d like to claim one now:  renee@scriptoriumpens.com  Once these are gone, you can still order one in any size, to be placed in the regular work queue, which is currently around 8 to 9 months long.  



Red Ripple Ebonite and Hammered Silver

The next Special Edition Kelmscott, available in early August, features Classic Red Ripple Ebonite in SEM Ponceau and a beautiful Hammered Silver Texture for both Clip and Barrel Banding. The clip resembles vintage accommodation clip styles, but is attached by a hidden clip ring. The hammered silver clip band winds all the way around the cap finial, and a wide, hammered silver band encircles the lower barrel.  Accompanying this Special Edition is a custom Rickshaw pen sleeve with a vintage pattern of willow tree leaves and branches designed by Wm. Morris, mentioned earlier.

12 of these Special Edition Kelmscotts in Red Ripple & Hammered Silver furnishings are available for pre-order, in Small size, for $385 + shipping.   Email me if you’d like to claim one of the 12 now:  renee@scriptoriumpens.com

Kelmscott Red Ripple Ebonite & Hammered Silver Special Edition
Click here to see the full gallery of images.

As with the Dragonfly version, once these 12 are spoken for, you can still order one in any size, to be placed in the regular work queue. Wider pen sizes will have wider barrel bands to look proportionate.

Other Special Edition designs are already in the works, and I plan to keep this as a regular feature going forward. 😊

Scriptorium Pen Sleeves

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Following numerous customer requests, Scriptorium Pen Sleeves are now available! Custom made by Rickshaw Bags of San Francisco, these sleeves feature the Scriptorium Pens logo in white on a black cover, and have a super soft, plush lining inside to protect your pens. These can be ordered separately or with a pen order, and are $15 each.

 

 

 

 

 

Nibs and Clips and Woods, oh my!

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Scriptorium Pens has had a busy, busy summer, not only making pens but also designing new clips and pen prototypes. As we head into the Fall season, I wanted to give you some news and updates on our expanded offerings.

Bock #8 Nibs are now available for Large and Oversized pens!

Bock #8 18k nib on a Large custom Sonneteer in Nikko Deep Green Ebonite

Bock #8 18k nib on a Large custom Sonneteer in Nikko Deep Green Ebonite

Those of you who have mourned the end of production of the large JoWo #8 nibs now have another option — Scriptorium Pens is offering Bock #8 Nibs in Titanium and 18k Gold for large and oversized pens. Previously, I had not offered these nibs because I was not satisfied with the fit of my hand-tapped sections for this popular brand. With no more JoWo #8s for my customers, I reached out to a friend with a wonderful CNC machine to make the sections to fit precisely.  Many customers have already asked for these nibs in their current orders. If you already have an order in my queue, you can change it to a Bock #8 nib if you wish. Just send me an email: renee@scriptoriumpens.com  As with all Scriptorium Pens nibs, these will be smoothed and tuned for a medium wet ink flow and a wonderful writing experience by nibmeister Mark Bacas, Nib Grinder.

In addition, after many customer requests, I am once again offering to make grip sections for customer provided Pelikan nibs. I make the section, you provide the nib. I am not a Pelikan distributor and can not purchase a nib for you.

Details on nib options and pricing can be found on the Nibs & Sections page and the Price List page.

New Clips and Roll Stop

Scriptorium Pens has added two new cast clips and a new roll stop. The new Curvy Nouveau is based on the very popular Nouveau clip, but with some nice curves to it, and without the logo. The Minimalist clip is a totally new design, with a clean, smooth surface and profile. Both clips feature a slight upturn at the end to make them slide into a pocket more smoothly. The Open Bible roll stop is based on the Open Book roll stop, but with a wooden cross and crown of thorns on the pages. See the Clips page and the Roll Stops page for more details.

Curvy Nouveau

Curvy Nouveau

Curvy Nouveau

Curvy Nouveau

Open Bible Roll Stop with Wooden Cross & crown of Thorns

Open Bible Roll Stop with Wooden Cross & crown of Thorns

Minimalist Clip

Minimalist Clip

Slim Size Pens added to Lineup

After many requests for smaller pens, a Slim Size option has been added. These Slim pens are the smallest size possible to make and still hold a #6 nib and international converter. The base barrel size at the threads for these will be 11.8mm or .46” Also, a new model that will take full advantage of this Slim size is in the prototype stage. Here’s one of the prototypes:

Prototype Slim pen in NYH 8-Swirl Cumberland

Prototype Slim pen in NYH 8-Swirl Cumberland

Wood Pens

Amboyna Burl with sapwood, with Red Mallee Burl below.

Amboyna Burl with sapwood, with Red Mallee Burl below.

Did you know that Scriptorium Pens makes wood pens? We do! With an increasing number of orders for custom wood pens, a new Wood Pens category has been added to the Models menu. Current pen models can be made with wood, or you can create your own design.

Consider the natural beauty of wood for your next custom pen! See the Wood Pens page for details.

Custom in Heirloom Grade Amboyna Burl - Oversized

Custom in Heirloom Grade Amboyna Burl – Oversized

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Introducing the Illuminaire

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Gemstones! Who can resist them?! Ever since I was little, I’ve loved rocks and gems. The colors, shapes, and textures fascinate me. I have many fond memories of my mother piling a bunch of kids into the car and taking us to the annual MS Gem & Mineral Show, or for an outing to the Petrified Forest in Flora, MS, where we would pour over the myriad selections of polished and raw stones and select a precious few to purchase and take home as our prize for the day. I’ve spent many hours wading through creeks and picking up stones that intrigued me. To this day, I still collect them, using them as accents on bookshelves and window counters, and even in flower beds around the yard. So, it is only natural that I decided to find a way to fuse my love of rocks and stones with that of fountain pen design. The Illuminaire is the result.

Illuminaire in Ivory Lucite & American Mined™ Gold Canyon Turquoise™ Cabochons

Illuminaire in Ivory Lucite & American Mined™ Gold Canyon Turquoise™ Cabochons

Illuminaire in Wisteria Alumilite with Amethyst Cabochons

Illuminaire in Wisteria Alumilite with Amethyst Cabochons

The Illuminaire features a flush barrel pen design with slight tapers on each end. The cap and barrel finials are decorated with a round gemstone cabochon of 10mm for the cap and 8mm for the barrel. These gems “light up” the design in a way, or illuminate them, hence the name of Illuminaire.

Illuminaire in Solid Black Ebonite with Tiger's Eye Cabochons

Illuminaire in Solid Black Ebonite with Tiger’s Eye Cabochons

With literally hundreds of gemstones to choose from, the possibilities for a customer to mix and match stones with pen materials are endless. Birthstones, favorite colors, bright and attention getting or subdued and elegant. Another interesting aspect is that you can, by choice of material, increase or decrease the ‘presence’ of the stone cabochon. I anticipate customers having lots of fun with the myriad options here!   Check out the Illuminare page for details.

Six of these new models are available and ready for shipping on the Pens for Sale page.

 

Introducing the Novelist, in a New Intermediate Size

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Novelist

Novelist

For those that like a larger #8 nib, but in a more manageable-sized fountain pen, I present — the Intermediate size, first used here in the new pen model called the Novelist. This pen was created at a customer’s request for a pen inspired by the MB Oscar Wilde, in a size that would suit the gorgeous vintage Brown Crush Parker celluloid, yet still be large enough to accommodate a #8 nib.

The Novelist has a sleek, streamlined profile with a straight barrel that tapers at the end and a cap with a slightly rounded, dome-shaped finial.  The grip section has a gentle curve.

 

 

Novelist

Novelist in Vintage Parker Brown Crush Celluloid & Black Ebonite, with #8 18k nib

Dimensions for the Novelist are as follows:

Capped: 146mm

Uncapped: 136mm

Barrel Diameter: 14.5mm

Section: 24mm long, ~13mm diameter

Cap Diameter: 17.9mm

*Note: Dimensions are approximate, as all pens are handmade and no two will be exactly alike.

 

 

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Fountain Pen Day Sale!

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A worldwide celebration, Fountain Pen Day occurs on the first Friday in November each year, and is a time for fans to share their enthusiasm for these unique writing instruments.

Celebrate Fountain Pen Day with Scriptorium Pens and save $15 off every fountain pen and $5 off every dip pen ordered. Sale time will last from 12:00am to 11:59pm Central Standard Time this Friday, November 3, 2017.

This is a great opportunity to create that custom pen you’ve always wanted, and to save some money while doing so! Email renee@scriptoriumpens.com or fill out an order form here.

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Behold, Excalibur!

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Excalibur ClipAnother few weeks have passed in the Scriptorium workshop.  Pens have been posted to their new homes and many customers should now be enjoying writing with their new Scriptorium fountain or dip pen. Of course, I just love to hear how you are getting on with your new pen.  Do please keep in touch and check the web pages from time to time, to read my blog and see what’s new in the Scriptorium workshop.  I have a lot of new things planned for release in the future!

I truly enjoy my pens-crafting work.  It is a passion that provides tremendous pleasure through making something that could be around for many years to come.  Engaging with my customers and trying to fulfil their requests is another aspect that is really quite rewarding.  The material combinations, the colors chosen, and the design requests I receive never cease to amaze me. It gives me the inspiration to go the extra mile to bring those chosen designs to reality.

Some time ago, I received a request to make a pen having a sword shaped clip. This provided a welcome design opportunity, as I have long wished for a sword clip myself. I chose to incorporate my love of British literature and history into this project. What would the design be? Should it look like some fabulous fantasy sword, or should it reflect an actual sword model? After much reflection, I decided to combine my love of the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table with that of an actual sword design typical of the Anglo-Saxon period in English history.

Specifically, I chose the look from the sword found among the treasure in the Anglo-Saxon royal ship burial site at Sutton Hoo in 1939.  I particularly like the design of this sword, with its narrow crossguard, as it really complements the shape of a pen cap. The pommel and hilt echo the contours of the Sutton Hoo sword, and the blade even features a fuller’s groove down the middle. The tip of the blade has been gently rounded.  With no awkward protrusions for the pen, it is ideal.  There are no sharp edges, points, or elements that can easily snag in shirt pockets or pen wraps.

Below are some design drawings of the final sword. As with any clip design, I go through a series of versions with my silversmith, Mike Redburn, to get just the right look. Below are a couple of Mike’s detailed 3D computer drawings.

sword_clip_verticalsword_side_view_dimensions

Mike utilizes the “lost wax” casting method, and the process from design idea to completed clip is fascinating. Following approval of a final design, a 3D printed model is made. Next, a silicone mold is created in one of two ways – either by making a mold of the 3D printed model, or the model can be cast and a mold can be made of the cast metal piece. After the mold is made, wax is injected into the mold to reproduce the part. It is then put in a flask, invested, and then burned out in a kiln. The remaing hole is filled with molten metal.

 

 Here is the final resulting clip!

Excalibur Clip

Every notable sword has a name…. And what name should I choose for this sword?  Why, Excalibur, of course! This echoes my passion for the tales of King Arthur, The Round Table, & Merlin.  The clip is available in silver, bronze, or brass to add a unique touch to your custom pen. Do have a look at my Clips page for more information about these and other clip designs available, and… be on the lookout for a new pen model featuring the Excalibur clip, forged in the workshop at Scriptorium Pens, soon.