JetPens Blog

JetPens Giveaway Winners

2012-05-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of our readers for participating in our recent posts and for all of your comments. We appreciate our community and are excited to give away some of our wonderful pens.

Please follow these instructions to claim your prize:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Email jetpromos(at)jetpens.com with your mailing address.

Please note that you have one week from today, May 26th, to reply!

Without further ado, here are our winners:

Pen & Ink: Nibs Both Fine and Broad- Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen set

The Legend of the Blackwing- Palomino Blackwing Wooden Pencil - 602 Model set

Brush Pen Use for Celebrations and Condolences in Japan- $50 Gift Certificate

Pen & Ink: The Four Gentlemen- Akashiya Natural Bamboo Brush Pen

Congratulations again to our following winners and thank you once more to all of our readers! Keep an eye out for more giveaways!

JetPics - May 2012 Favorites

2012-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here are our favorite customer images selected from our Facebook Page or the web for the month of May.

Picture 1 from Christina: Christina's wonderfully organized inventory of her favorite pens include the Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 Eraser, the Ohto Tasche Ceramic Roller Ball Pen, the Kuretake Zig Letter Pen CocoIro Pen, and more!

Picture 2 from Ava: Ava's complete collection of Sakura Pigma Micron Marker Pens. She is set to go with her full spectrum of colors!

Picture 3 from Bonnie: Bonnie’s intricate doodle used J Herbin Bouton D'or ink. Stylish stationery art!

Picture 4 from Alan: Alan's diverse assortment of Staedtler 925 Drafting Pencils, Rotring 600 Drafting Pencils, and Zebra Disposable Brush Pen from JetPens. Rug not included.

Picture 5 from Christine: With JetPens' Jet-Do and Jet-Da visiting Mt. Fuji in the background, Christine sets before them a sample of her Uni-ball Signo RT UM-138 Gel Pens, Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pens, Pentel Slicci Gel Pens, and other gel ink pens!

Thanks for sharing these pictures with us!

You too can be a JetPics Favorite and win prizes! Just join our Facebook and/or Flickr groups and upload a photo of your work. Make sure to let us know which JetPens products you used, and bonus points for featuring our mascots, logo or name!

Pen and Ink: Nibs Both Fine and Broad

2012-05-24T10:58:00.002-07:00

John Skoyles writes the column "Pen and Ink" and is a professor, a poet, and author of the memoir, Secret Frequencies: A New York Education.

When I was a kid, we learned to write cursive from teachers who had us trace letters that slanted to the right. Mine tilted left. Why? Because I was left-handed, but my mother made me use my right. (My mother is Italian, and the word for left is "sinistro"— perhaps she didn’t want a sinister son…) Whenever I reached for a fork, a ball, or a pen with my left hand, she tapped my wrist and made me switch. She succeeded, kind of. I learned to throw and bat righty, to open doors with my right hand, and now I do everything right-handed, including writing with the world’s worst penmanship.

I was so ashamed of my horrid handwriting that I made it tiny and unreadable because I wanted it to be invisible.

This was the beginning of my attraction to fine point pens, the finer the better. I thought the smaller my writing, the less noticeable it would be. As a kid, I was delighted in math class when we used graph paper. I bought a pack of it and wrote school assignments on it because it allowed me to imprison each letter in a miniature cell. And it was just a few years ago I learned that I could buy notebooks and pads of excellent graph paper, which were perfect for small writing.

When I re-discovered fountain pens, I went on a quest for fine and extra fine nibs. Sailor pens are my favorite in this regard— they manage to be fine and smooth at once. I also like Pilot and Platinum. I bought an EEEEF nib from a nibmeister, but sold it because it was like writing with a pin; very scratchy. I spent a lot of money on the finest nib that Sailor makes: a sai-bi togi nib, which was excellent, but I found that cheaper pens could be found that had almost as fine a point. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C pens, though not fountain pens, have extremely fine points and write beautifully. They are perfect for sketching as well as taking notes. When you can buy one of these for a few dollars, it is hard to justify hundreds.

A teacher once criticized my writing for being too “miniscule.” He said to make it “majuscule.” I thought he was joking, until I learned that miniscule is the name for lower case letters. And majuscule is a large or capital letter.

I have made some progress—I now have several fountain pens with broad nibs: a Pelikan, a Vanishing Point, an Omas, and a Waterman. Different color inks are more vivid with a wider line. Some inks, like Pilot’s Iroshizuku, shade beautifully, and this shading can be best seen with a broad nib.

So my desk has great pens, a range of beautiful inks, and quality paper, everything required for writing a letter, everything. And yet the recipient probably won’t be able to read it.

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

This contest has ended. The comment from Jackie was randomly picked as the winner. Jackie please refer to our latest post to confirm your identity and email us at jetpromos(at)jetpens.com to claim your prize!

Like JetPens on Facebook to find more giveaways every month!

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

Get your own set of fine point pens. Win a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Basic Colors - 5 Pen Gift Set.

Rules:
1. This contest is limited to US residents only.
2. Entries will be accepted from now until Friday, May 25th at Midnight Pacific.
3. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and announced on the blog on Saturday, May 26th.
4. Winner has one week to respond to the winning announcement and claim prize before a replacement winner is selected, so please check back!

How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post. (Counts as one entry)
2. CLICK HERE to tweet this contest. Leave a second comment on this post containing a link to your tweet. (Counts as a second entry)

If you would like to copy/paste the Twitter text instead, here it is:

Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen Giveaway in the latest Pen and Ink column! http://bit.ly/JAcNEE

3. You can have up to two entries in this contest provided you follow the steps above, including leaving separate comments for each step.

You can also Like JetPens on Facebook to find more giveaways every month!

Thanks for joining!

The Legend of the Blackwing

2012-05-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Fig 1. Palomino Blackwing 602 Wooden Pencils.

You may be familiar with the basics of the Blackwing story: introduced by Eberhard Faber during the 1930s, it was lauded by famous creatives like John Steinbeck and Chuck Jones. It claimed to write with “Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed,” and featured an iconic eraser and ferrule design. After it was discontinued in 1998, its desirability grew to a fever pitch until single pencils were selling for as much as thirty dollars.

Only twelve years later, sixth-generation pencil manufacturer Charles Berolzheimer II revived the brand as the newly minted Palomino Blackwing. The cacophonous fan reaction was equal parts criticism and acclaim, but one thing soon became clear: it was a commercial success.

That’s the short version of the Blackwing tale. But as any historian knows, history is more than just a sequence of events. To truly understand the reputation and hype that grew around the Blackwing, read on.

Rise: “Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed”

Fig 2. Blackwing Pencils have distinctive adjustable erasers.

THE ORIGINAL BLACKWING

The Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 began production during the 1930s, the first decade of the Great Depression. It had the slim and modest shape of a broomstick, and was carved from cedar. The wood was chosen specifically for its special properties: it was soft, and easy to sharpen without splintering. The Blackwing’s hexagonal body shone with a graphite-gray lacquer finish, and its detachable eraser was fastened to the body with a special metal ferrule.

Fig 3. Blackwing Pencils were carved from soft cedar wood.

You could purchase a single Blackwing for 50 cents, which wasn’t exactly cheap... $0.50 in 1930 would be the equivalent of about $6 today. You can imagine that very few were willing to shell out $6 for a pencil, no matter how smooth or soft, during the depths of the Great Depression. With little advertising, the Blackwing was in danger of falling into obscurity.

BLACKWING IN POPULAR CULTURE

Fortunately, John Steinbeck and Chuck Jones became fond of the pencil, championing it often and adding to its mystique. Truman Capote, Vladimir Nabokov, Stephen Sondheim, Igor Stravinsky, Quincy Jones, and Aaron Copland all used the Blackwing as well.

Fig 4. Influential composer, pianist, and conductor Igor Stravinsky at work with a Blackwing. | via Arnold Newman

Like most of the writers of his time, John Steinbeck wrote in pencil. It is rumored that he burned through 300 pencils for East of Eden, and required 60 pencils per day for Grapes of Wrath. He was always searching for the perfect writing instrument. In the Paris Review, an acclaimed literary magazine, Steinbeck writes about the Blackwing:

“I have found a new kind of pencil—the best I have ever had. Of course it costs three times as much too but it is black and soft but doesn't break off. I think I will always use these. They are called Blackwings and they really glide over the paper.”

Fig 5. Chuck Jones uses a Blackwing to sketch Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. | via Chuck Redux

Chuck Jones, renowned animator and creator of Looney Tunes, had a love affair with the Blackwing that lasted six decades. He was rarely seen without one, and famously stated that “A pen is full of ink. This [pencil] is full of ideas.” He influenced many Disney animators, including Don Bluth, who later went on to direct An American Tail, The Land Before Time, and Anastasia. The animators created a rich culture and tradition around the Blackwing.

In a strange intersection of past and present, the Blackwing is featured in Mad Men, AMC’s depiction of the advertising industry in 1950s New York. Certainly, the Blackwing slogan seems like something the real Mad Men could have thought up. Seeing the Blackwing in its element imbues it with a sense of timelessness and glamour that is hard to capture properly today.

Fall: A Gradual Decline

By the 1990s, the Blackwing was seventy cents per pencil. Compared to other models sold by Sanford and Berol, the Blackwing was considered quite expensive, and competition from Germany and Japan was growing. Sales dropped, and so did production. Eventually, only 1,100 boxes of Blackwing pencils were being manufactured per year.

In 1994, a custom-made Eberhard Faber machine failed. This machine was responsible for making the distinctive long Blackwing ferrules, and without it, Eberhard Faber only had enough stock to last until 1998. With sales so low, Eberhard Faber felt they could not justify the cost for repairing such a specialized machine. Instead, they opted to discontinue the Blackwing.

In the years following, a strange thing happened. Rather than fading away, the Blackwing legend grew. Writers, artists, and musicians alike all hoarded their Blackwing collections. Others sold their remaining stock for exorbitant prices. Blackwings had become rare and valuable commodities, and for twelve long years they would stay that way.

Revival: The Palomino Blackwing

PALOMINO BLACKWING

Fig 6. Palomino Blackwing Wooden Pencils - Pack of 12.

In 2010, Charles Berolzheimer II, owner of California Cedar Products and the Palomino brand, announced his intentions to revive the Blackwing. Berolzheimer presented himself as a modern day Renaissance man, with seven languages under his belt and a love for Jazz. He originally intended to name the new Blackwing the “Palomino Pegasus.” The name was based on the legend of Pegasus landing on Mt. Helicon and dislodging a rock, which brought forth a spring where the Muses gathered and sought inspiration. This all changed when Berolzheimer learned that the Blackwing trademark had expired, and acquired it post-haste. He reasoned that "It was a great brand name; it was well-loved.”

With the help of an extensive marketing campaign, as well as his audience on pencils.com, Berolzheimer drummed up plenty of interest for the new Blackwings. He decided to tweak the design with what he perceived to be improvements: a different graphite formula, glossy black finish, and a white eraser (instead of the customary pink). He also removed the slogan entirely.

PALOMINO BLACKWING 602

Fig 7. Palomino Blackwing 602 Wooden Pencils - Pack of 12.

Many pencil lovers were excited by the revival, but there was an outpouring of criticism from prominent Blackwing fans. One wrote, "I am really disappointed in Palomino, after all the hype, leading up to this huge letdown." Many saw his changes as arbitrary, unnecessary, and disappointing.

In response to the criticism, Berolzheimer released the Blackwing 602, which was more faithful to the original design. It had a firmer graphite core, but its body color matched the original, and the slogan “Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed” was back in its proper place. However, Berolzheimer couldn’t help but tinker with the formula yet again, by offering a black eraser instead of a pink one. Although Palomino offers optional pink and white erasers, the black one is standard. Other differences are minor in comparison: the eraser is slightly bigger, the barrel is thicker, and the font is slightly smaller (though better in quality). Perhaps the most prominent sign of the changing times is the fact that the pencils are all produced in Japan.

Berolzheimer explained the concept behind the Palomino Blackwing, stating:

“We have never claimed we are producing an exact replica of the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602. It’s impossible to do so in my opinion. We are trying to do the best we can to produce a modern successor and build a new following for our Blackwing pencils, as a premier writing instrument, one that honors the creative tradition of the original pencil and its users."

Berolzheimer has a lofty vision for Blackwing’s future: he’s expanding the product line to a choice selection of folios, notebooks, and sketchbooks.

Writing with the Palomino Blackwing 602

Fig 8. The two Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils that I tested.

AESTHETIC

The lacquer is described by most as graphite or gray, but actually it has a slightly iridescent quality. Most of the time it’s gray, but under different light it’s slightly blue or purple. The lettering for the name and slogan is smooth and bright, but scratches easily. It probably wouldn’t fare well in a hard pencil case. Lastly, the California cedar is a fine rich color, with only a mild smell.

GRAPHITE

Fig 9. A scale of pencil strokes from light to dark.

The Palomino Blackwing 602 sharpens well, tapering down to a fine hard point without any breakage or splinters. The lead is dark and firm -- the equivalent to a HB or B grade.

Point retention is pretty good. I’m a heavy writer, so after about fifty words I reached for the pencil sharpener. Fortunately the Blackwing 602 doesn’t make me fear for my life every time I’m sharpening it.... the prep work is relatively smooth and painless. The normal movement of my hand doesn’t smudge the writing at all, although applying moderate pressure causes the graphite to spread a bit.

COMFORT

In the Paris Review, Steinbeck criticized the hexagonal shape of the Blackwings, thinking it awkward. I find it perfectly comfortable, and like how the hexagonal shape prevents it from rolling away.

ERASER

Fig 10. Black eraser performance on light, medium, and dark pencil strokes.

The black eraser that comes with the pencil might have been the cause of some grief among Blackwing fans, but in terms of functionality, it’s decent. It doesn’t erase very well, leaving residual graphite in its wake even when I write lightly. But since I rarely have a separate eraser on hand, the replaceable eraser is still useful for correcting minor mistakes. Sliding the fresh eraser back it into the ferrule’s firm grasp is simple and satisfying -- it doesn’t feel loose or floppy at all. Once the eraser starts wearing down, you can adjust it so that more of the eraser pokes out of the ferrule.

Fig 11. The Blackwing eraser can be adjusted or replaced.

Sources:
Paris Review
Blackwing Pages
The New Yorker
Blackwing Experience
Timberlines Blog

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

This contest has ended. The comment from jlynnhoang was randomly picked as the winner. Jlynnhoang please refer to our latest post to confirm your identity and email us at jetpromos(at)jetpens.com to claim your prize!

Like JetPens on Facebook to find more giveaways every month!

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

Win your own five pencil set of the Palomino Blackwing Wooden Pencil - 602 Model.

Rules:
1. This contest is limited to US residents only.
2. Entries will be accepted from now until Friday, May 25th at Midnight Pacific.
3. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and announced on the blog on Saturday, May 26th.
4. Winner has one week to respond to the winning announcement and claim prize before a replacement winner is selected, so please check back!

How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post. (Counts as one entry)
2. CLICK HERE to tweet this contest. Leave a second comment on this post containing a link to your tweet. (Counts as a second entry)

If you would like to copy/paste the Twitter text instead, here it is:

Read about the famous Palomino Blackwing Pencil for a chance to win your own! http://bit.ly/KkiFyV

Artist Highlight - Alex Leon

2012-05-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Alex Leon is a 22 year old illustrator and graphic designer living in Atlanta, Georgia. Being a meticulous person, her love for drawing and design is matched by a need to be organized. Her studio is almost like a library; the walls are lined with shelves filled with personal art dating back to her preschool years. New sketchbooks and sheet protected drawings are continuously added to those shelves. Her choice of daily art and office supplies have to be of good quality to keep up with her. And it shows since the best have stayed within her pencil pouch for over 7 years. You can find more about her art at alexleondesign.blogspot.com.

Give us a little insight as to how you use our JetPens products in your illustrations.

I love Uni-ball Kuru Togas...

What got me hooked is the fact that I'm heavy handed. I've loved drawing ever since I was a kid but I've always hated drawing with pencils since I had to continuously sharpen them.

The Kuru Toga has an engine that slowly rotates the lead while you use it, always giving you the perfect point and preventing breakage. It was simply amazing to find a pencil that can adapt to me rather than me having to adapt to my stationery.

Another wonderful thing about the Kuru Toga is that it gives you the ability to use softer leads. Colored lead in particular was a hassle to work with but as soon as I stuck it into one of these bad boys I could draw with amazing detail. Now I specifically have an exclusive pencil for my blue lead. They're my favorite pencils for quick and detailed sketching since it doesn't weigh me down and can keep up with the pressure of my heavy hand.

Ever wonder how artists use JetPens products? JetPens showcases artists every month and interviews them to see what their favorite JetPens tools are. Please send any suggestions for Artist Features to jetpromos(at)jetpens.com!

New Products: E+M Aluminum & Steel Clutch Lead Holders, Plus Deco Rush Decoration Pens, P+G Nuu Silicone Pen Cases and More!

2012-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Brand new products have arrived!

E+M is back with a vengeance with E+M X-change Lead Holders. These 2 mm lead holders are solidly constructed, with a natural finish that would look perfect on your drafting table. If you're looking for something a bit more industrial, we've added aluminum and steel lead holder bodies to the line-up too! Try all of the new E+M lead holders to find your perfect match.

Plus Deco Rush Decoration Pens are notorious amongst craft lovers for their cute and convenient patterns. Outline photos with lovely daisies, or add a spring meadow to your notes! The heart pattern, of course, is absolutely perfect for personalizing cards and crafts.

P+G presents a fresh and modern take on pen cases, creating silicone cases that resemble phone covers. Make a statement with minimalist Nuu and Pochi Silicone Pen Cases, in 5 bold colors!

Brush Pen Use for Celebrations and Condolences in Japan

2012-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Despite the popularity of pencils and pens in Japan, brush pens still remain a treasured writing instrument. Brush pens embody a sense of formality and are used when writing for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, New Year’s greetings and new births.

Enter any convenience store in Japan and you’d be sure to find an array of brush pens placed next to paper money envelopes for celebrations (shûgi) and condolences (kôden).

For such notable life events, it’s traditional to exchange money instead of goods. Crisp and clean bills should be beautifully packaged in decorative envelopes, never given "naked". In addition to the preprinted greetings on the envelopes such as the following:

"Goshussan Omedeto Gozaimasu" ("Congratulations on giving birth")
"Omedeto Gozaimasu" ("Congratulations" phrase)
Kanji characters "Oiwai" ("Congratulations" noun form)

It is the custom to use a traditional brush or a modern brush pen to write your name on the face of these envelopes. Unlike Western custom where one also writes a personal note, the Japanese only write their name on the front of the envelope, on the blank section below the ribbon knot. One may also write special numerals to indicate the amount enclosed in a more discreet place, such as on the inner white envelope placed inside the decorative wrapping. The color of the ink used for writing is important and related to the occasion. For celebratory occasions it’s standard to use dark black ink, while sad occasions typically require a lighter shade of ink. Since writing for celebratory as well as sad occasions are a common use of brush pens, many brush pens are double-sided. One side will have a brush for celebrations (black) and the other side will have a brush for condolences (gray). JetPens has the following black and gray double-sided brush pens for such use:

Sailor Double Sided Pocket Brush Pen - Medium - Black & Gray Ink

Pilot Double Sided Brush Pen - Hard Tip - Black & Gray Ink
Pentel Keityo Double Sided Sign Marker Pen - Black & Gray Ink

The Sailor brush pen even says on the pen: "keichôyô" -- literally "kei” for celebration and "chô” for condolence. Though these pens were originally intended for use to write congratulations/condolences, they are now also popular as drawing and shading pens.

Why is a lighter shade of ink used for sad occasions? A popular anecdotal reason is that the lighter color suggests that the calligrapher's tears have "diluted" the ink. How much money are you expected to give at a wedding or funeral? It depends on how close you are to the recipient, but expect to pay around $100-200 US equivalent for such occasions for close friends. Controlling a brush pen takes skill and practice, so if your Japanese friends have any significant life events coming up you better start practicing your penmanship!

Whether for drawing or writing, find all of the brush pens at JetPens here.

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

This contest has ended. The comment from Robyn was randomly picked as the winner. Robyn please refer to our latest post to confirm your identity and email us at jetpromos(at)jetpens.com to claim your prize!

Like JetPens on Facebook to find more giveaways every month!

Pen and Ink: The Four Gentlemen

2012-05-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

I grew up in New York City in the 1950s, a time when educational television (now called public television) was just beginning. Since my parents didn’t have money for private art or music lessons, they bought an inexpensive guitar and put me in a kitchen chair in front of our TV where I strummed while watching “Laura Weber: Folk Guitar.” I can still hear her singing “Streets of Laredo” while police sirens, the bells from the Good Humor truck, the voice of Charlie the vegetable man (he parked a truck of fruit and vegetables at our row of railroad flats and yelled, ’Tato!), and the voices of my friends playing stickball drifted into the living room. I liked the show and learned a few chords.

Next came Sumi-e painting lessons. I can’t recall the instructor’s name, but I have on the desk in front of me the ink stick and the ink stone...

The stick is still in its thin wooden box, with two delicate labels, one of Japanese characters and the other a circle that says “Made in Japan.” In purple ink, stamped on the box, is the price: 85 Cents.

Some rice paper, a brush, and I could paint birds and bamboo. Not well, but passably. I enjoyed it. My parents framed the best of them.

A few years ago, browsing in a used bookstore, I bought Japanese Ink-Painting: Lessons in Suiboku Technique. I ground the ink as I had done as a boy and, with a brush from my son’s paint box, I practiced “The Four Gentlemen”—Orchid, Bamboo, Plum and Chrysanthemum.

Friends got a kick out of these drawings and I was happy to give them away. I also found that I was enjoying it perhaps because I was so bad at it. Still, I was having fun. I was not afraid to fail. Maybe because I was wise enough to know I could not succeed! Any modicum of success was a happy moment.

I tired of grinding my own ink and discovered brush pens. They are easy to use, but there are many varieties; you have to do some research. An artist friend of mine wrote, “I prefer the natural sable to artificial, but the difference is not that great. In fact, even though I generally prefer the natural, the brush I keep in my studio is artificial sable.” Another told me that there was an enormous difference between the two. These are professionals, so gradations of quality mean more to them than to me. I have both, and I think the natural seems to make a finer line, but in my hands, that is probably negligible.

I soon tired of the Four Gentlemen and found my greatest pleasure was having a martini in the evening and drawing anything in the living room with black ink. If my sense of perspective was poor from the start, it decreases by the minute. Take a look at the armchair. It won’t bother me when you laugh.

John Skoyles writes the column "Pen and Ink" featured twice monthly on the JetPens blog and is the author of four books of poems, and the memoir, Secret Frequencies: A New York Education.

------------------JetPens Giveaway!!------------------

This contest has ended. The comment from Rachel was randomly picked as the winner. Rachel please refer to our latest post to confirm your identity and email us at jetpromos(at)jetpens.com to claim your prize!

Like JetPens on Facebook to find more giveaways every month!

Mother's Day Retro 51 Queen of Hearts Roller Ball Pen Giveaway

2012-05-07T08:13:00.002-07:00

This contest has ended. Congratulations to Dulcinea! You were the winner of the Retro 51 gift for Mom. Please follow instructions below your comment to claim your prize. Thanks everyone for participating! Have a Happy Mother's Day!

Treat the Mom in your family like royalty by presenting her with the Queen of Hearts playing card pattern edition of Retro 51's bestselling roller ball pen.

Win one from JetPens for Mother's Day!

Rules:
Entries will be accepted from now until tomorrow, May 8th at Midnight Pacific. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and announced on this blog on Wednesday, May 9. Winner must claim prize by end of day Wednesday for prize to be shipped by Thursday, May 10.

How to Enter:
1. Comment below with the answer to the following question: "Mom would like this pen because…?" (Counts as one entry)
2. CLICK HERE to tweet this contest. Leave a second comment on this post containing a link to your tweet. (Counts as a second entry.) If you would like to copy/paste the Twitter text instead, here it is:

Win a Retro 51 Tornado pen for Mom from @JetPens! Find out how: http://blog.jetpens.com

3. You can have up to two entries in this contest provided you follow the steps above, including leaving separate comments for each step.

Today is also the LAST day to participate in our Mother's Day Giveaway on Facebook. Win a $70 prize for Mom, win an even bigger prize for yourself, and JetPens donates to a non-profit just for you entering the contest!

Have fun! ;)

Scented Pens

2012-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Despite an evolutionary decline in sensitivity to smells, humans can still distinguish approximately 10,000 scents -- some of which are applied by scientists, designers, and even chefs to elicit emotion and build atmosphere. Technicians at a New York hospital disperse vanilla oil into the air to make MRI testing more pleasant for anxious patients. Consumer products, such as alarm clocks that release the aroma of coffee, also utilize the primal properties of smell.

Fig 1. Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pens - 0.8 mm - 8 Color Set.

The same principle applies to Zebra’s Pticolon Gel Ink Pens, which take you back to the days of after-school candies and field trips to the roller rink. To get a proper sense of how these pens really smell and write, I tested them all -- and even roped in my fellow pen aficionado Liz for a blind test! In the blind test, Liz smelled each pen and described it without any prior knowledge of what the scent was supposed to be. Lastly, we gave each scent a “strength” rating.

For a thorough evaluation of Zebra’s Pticolon Pens, as well as a trip down memory lane, read on!

Reviews of Scented Pens

Blueberry Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 2. The blueberry scented pen has creamy pale blue ink.

Scent: Too sweet to be blueberries. It’s more floral than fruity to me, the kind of floral that you find in between the pages of asian stationeries. It could probably be passed off as a cluster of lilacs, though there is definitely a distinct ink smell in there too. It smells exactly like a journal I acquired in China to chronicle my thirteen-year-old adventures.

Blind test: Without knowing the scent, Liz remarked: “It smells like the blueberry Mr. Sketch markers that I coveted as a kid.” So it smells like a marker that smells like blueberry... close enough!

Strength: 7

Orange Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 3. The orange scented pen has bright, nearly fluorescent orange ink.

Scent: You have to scribble a lot of ink on paper to get the smell going, but once you do, it smells vaguely zesty -- like orange scented spray cleaner. Similar to aerosol cleaners, you get a whiff of the product, and then it settles and fades away soon afterwards. It brings to mind dry orange peels left, long forgotten, under the backseat of a car.

Blind test: Liz helpfully offered, “Well, it smells like the color orange.”

Strength: 3

Soap Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 4. The soap scented pen has sky blue ink.

Scent: Strong. It hits you as soon as you uncap the pen, no writing needed. The scent encapsulates all the nice smells of a bubble bath... not just soap, but scented candles and shampoo, too. If I had to name a brand of soap to associate it with, I would say Dove. It reminds me of stepping into somebody else’s bathroom at a sleepover, after everyone else has already taken a hot shower. Unfortunately, my bathroom does not smell like this.

Blind test: “It’s definitely soap scented... but an old fashioned kind of soap. Like Ivory soap, or grandma’s soap in the bathroom.”

Strength: 9

Peach Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 5. The peach scented pen has ink that is more pink than peach.

Scent: A little like peach flavored Hi-Chew, or another peach gummy candy at the asian supermarket. The scent is weak unless you scribble a good amount of it down.

Blind test: “Doesn’t really smell like anything.”

Strength: 2

Peppermint Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 6. The peppermint scented pen has medium green ink, with a slight blue tinge.

Scent: I’m not sure how or why, but it smells like a beach house. It reminds me of the ocean -- not the saltiness or sandiness of it, but the combination of sunscreen and clean linen. I expect mint-type smells to be a bit stronger than this, though. I didn’t smell the peppermint at all.

Blind test: “Smells kind of like Simple Green house cleaner. It’s one of those organic cleaners that I use to clean my bike, or for the cat litter box.”

Strength: 4

Lavender Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 7. The lavender scented pen has purplish-pink ink.

Scent: It's like stepping into a make-up store (like Sephora or MAC) at the mall. There’s a glossy, perfume-like element to it that the other scents lack. It’s subtly fragrant rather than overpowering, so if you’re looking to get in the shopping mood, this might be a good pen to bring along.

Blind test: “Maybe berry? I can’t really identify the smell.”

Strength: 4

Green Apple Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 8. The green apple scented pen has bright, almost neon green ink.

Scent: Refreshingly fruity, and even a bit sour! This scent is unique compared to the others, and brings back the days of fizzy warhead candies. This is the kind of scent that smells like it tastes good, which means that you should keep it away from kids.

Blind test: “Mmm it smells like green apple. Mmmmm. Specifically it smells like candy -- like those sour punch straws.” Seems like Liz enjoys this one.

Strength: 6

Vanilla Scent - Zebra Pticolon Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm

Fig 9. The vanilla scented pen has warm, tan brown ink.

Scent: Like a 10-pack of those vanilla tea light candles that are everywhere in Ikea. The scent is actually a lot stronger from the pen than it is written down. The little icon on the pen cap suggests vanilla ice cream, but seeing as how ice cream doesn’t really smell, it’s not very accurate. Since vanilla is a calming scent, I’d use this pen to study for finals. It might even help with triggering useful memories!

Blind test: “It smells like the coconut suntan lotion people apply at the beach... that, or brown vanilla sugar.”

Strength: 7

Although a few of the scents didn’t quite match their descriptions, we had a lot of fun discovering the various scents and reminiscing about childhood memories. If you’d like to try some scented pens but aren’t sure what to use them for, I’d recommend using them for old fashioned letters (the envelope will preserve the scents), or for doodling (which will yield interesting scent combinations).

What do these scents remind you of? Let us know in the comments!

Related Topics:
Scented Pens Selection Guide

New Products: Monteverde Artista Crystal Fountain Pens, Tombow Olno Body Knock Pencils, Pentel Multi 8 Lead Holders and More!

2012-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

New products have arrived!

You can watch the ink flow directly from pen to paper, with transparent Monteverde Artista Crystal Fountain Pens. These exquisite pens are crafted from high quality acrylic resin, and decorated with shiny chrome accents. If you're in the mood for something more casual, try the roller ball version.

Tombow has developed frosty, transparent versions of their Olno Body Knock Pencils as well. Stay refreshed this summer with colors like Lime Sorbet Green, Berry Grape Pink, Mint Blue, and Clear White!

The notorious Pentel Multi 8 Lead Holder is making a splash here at JetPens, with refills in 14 vibrant colors.

Get them while they're still hot!

JetPens Happy Mother's Day Giveaway on Facebook

2012-05-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

Now's your chance to become mom's favorite child. Enter the latest JetPens Happy Mother's Day Giveaway for a chance to win two awesome prizes, one for you and one for mom! Click the banner above for more details and to be redirected to our JetPens page on Facebook.

JetPics - April 2012 Facebook and Flickr Favorites

2012-04-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Here are our favorite customer images selected from our Facebook Page or the web for the month of April.

Picture 1 from Paolo: Paolo's 2012 JetPens stationery supply. Reminds us of fireworks, pretty hot display too!

Picture 2 from Briceno: A ferocious black dog and a white tiger are sketched with a Pentel Graphgear 500 Drafting Pencil and inked with a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen.

Picture 3 from Tannie: Tannie's new Snow White concept character used the Platinum Pocket Brush Pen, the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen - Extra Fine Nib and a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Pen in red.

Picture 4 from Estivalia: Estivalia's use of the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen for Calligraphy and the Sakura Koi Waterbrush makes for a very sweet postcard drawing.

Pen and Ink - New Column

2012-04-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today I’m starting a new blog for JetPens, and I’m calling it Pen & Ink, a phrase that always confounded me when I was in grammar school in the fifties in Queens, New York. I went to catholic schools, and the nuns and brothers always made us write our homework “in pen and ink.” I can still see Brother Stanislaus standing in a corner of the classroom, giving us our assignment, and bellowing that it had to be written, and here he raised his voice, IN PEN AND INK. I still can’t fathom that phrase: if we wrote with a pen, it had to use ink. If we wrote in ink, it had to be with a pen.

Still, it fits what my subjects will involve in this space.

Until a few years ago, I hadn’t picked up a fountain pen since those days in grammar school...

We used a Parker, the only brand available in the bookstore. I still have my Parker Vector and it still writes well—more than fifty years later! But the arrow on the clip reminds me of those days, and despite their high quality, is one reason why I favor other brands today.

I got back into fountain pens thanks to my friend, Bert, who gave me a drawing he did with a Lamy Safari. He had several, each with a different nib, something new to me, that you could switch nibs.

I bought one, then went for the Al-Star and then the Studio.

Soon I was buying Sailor, Pilot and Platinum pens, which led to my discovery of ink.

As Bert said, people only think they can write in blue or black. I must have thirty bottles now, including Ku-Jaku by Iroshizuku, which one of female friends said is packaged better than an expensive perfume.

I expect this blog will address the joys and follies that I’ve had and continue to experience in the world of pen and ink. Including my foray into sumi art, trying brush pens, taking a drawing class, sharing pens with friends, trading pens, joining the Fountain Pen Network, dealings with nibmeisters, experimenting with various papers and journals, and trying to fathom this obsession which I know can verge into territory braved only by those possessing expertise or maybe just pure nuttiness.

John Skoyles writes the column "Pen and Ink" featured twice monthly on the JetPens blog and is the author of four books of poems, and the memoir, Secret Frequencies: A New York Education.

Introducing John Skoyles's New JetPens Column "Pen and Ink"

2012-04-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

John Skoyles is an author and poet as well as a fan of fine writing instruments. His wit and humor charmed the JetPens team and we have invited John to become a regular feature on the JetPens blog. His new column "Pen and Ink" will be featured twice monthly. The first post will debut tomorrow!

More about John...
John has published four books of poems, A Little Faith; Permanent Change; Definition of the Soul and The Situation. His work has appeared in Poetry, The American Poetry Review, The Atlantic, Harvard Review, Slate, Yale Review and The Poetry Anthology, 1912 – 2002, among others. He is also the author of two books of nonfiction, Generous Strangers, a collection of personal essays, several of which were broadcast on public radio; and a memoir, Secret Frequencies: A New York Education. His awards include two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as fellowships from the New York and North Carolina Arts Councils. In 2003, he became a member of the Order of the Occult Hand while reviewing books for the Associated Press. He has taught at Southern Methodist University, Sarah Lawrence College, and Warren Wilson College, where he directed the MFA program. He is currently Professor in the Writing, Literature and Publishing Department of Emerson College, and the poetry editor of Ploughshares. In addition to reading John's work on the JetPens blog, you can find out more about his personal site http://johnskoyles.net/home.html.

Stay tuned for "Pen and Ink"!

Ergonomic Pens

2012-04-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Pens are often advertised as being ergonomic, but the meaning of the word tends to get lost in a haze of marketing-speak. What makes a pen ergonomic? Are pens advertised as ergonomic genuinely qualified for the job?

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, since ergonomics vary from person to person depending on the size and shape of their hands, as well as any pre-existing medical conditions (such as carpal tunnel or arthritis). And if you have the wrong posture and technique, no pen -- no matter how ergonomic -- will help. Remember to check out our Selection Guide for quality ergonomic pens, or share your favorite comfy pens in the comments. Otherwise, click below for tips that will make writing fun again!

Review of Posture & Form

One good rule of thumb is to avoid pens that force you to over-grip or to press down heavily. If you develop a pen indentation on your middle finger while writing, it’s a sign that you’re writing with excessive force.

Fig 1. This is an example of bad writing posture. The hand has a "death grip" on the pen, and the arm is curled inwards in a way that limits mobility.

Fig 2. This is an example of good writing posture. The pen rests between the index and middle fingers, and is held in place by the thumb. Notice how the hand is a comfortable distance from the body. The writer can use her arm, rather than her hand, to write.

If your position still feels awkward or uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to modify your environment! Objects can be moved and tweaked to accommodate you. For an example, as you fill a page with notes, you might be inclined to slowly bring your hand down and closer to your body, to follow the paper. Instead, try moving the paper up. A lot of tips like this may seem obvious now, but are difficult to apply against a lifetime of bad habits.

Qualities of Ergonomic Pens

Once good posture has been established, the right pen can go a long way towards relieving any remaining hand fatigue. Here is an overview of some qualities that are conducive to comfortable writing.

SHAPE

Generally, pens that are long, thick, light, and balanced are considered more ergonomic. The pen needs to be long enough for the hand to comfortably grasp, and thick -- especially at the grip section.

The same idea applies to the weight of a pen. Lighter pens are easier to write with because they require less strength to control. Some lightweight materials indicative of ergonomic construction are ebonite and celluloid. However, a pen that’s too light can also be a problem, because your hand has to work harder to press the pen tip down onto the paper. With a heavier pen, the weight of the pen itself naturally pushes the tip down. It’s best to experiment and see what you prefer.

Balanced pens are easier to control, and they tend to do what you expect. Top-heavy pens are problematic because they sway with the writing gestures, and require the hand to over-grip to compensate. If your pen is top-heavy, try it without the cap posted.

GRIP

A larger grip, or contact point for your fingers, means that you can exert less force on the pen to write. Remember high school physics? Pressure = force / area? Well, you can finally apply the formula here!

Fig 3. The grip section should be large enough that people with big hands don’t have to squeeze their fingers onto it, and can instead grip it naturally.

If you’ve taken a test that involves writing, you also know the importance of having a cushioned grip. Not only is it easier for your fingers to “stick” to, as opposed to slippery metal surfaces, but it’s also gentler on the fingers. Usually, thicker and larger grips are better. Large grips allow writers to subtly change finger position, making small adjustments to relieve fatigue that may build up over time.

There are cylindrical, triangular, and tapered cylindrical grips, all of which have their merits. There is no clearly superior shape.

INK FLOW

The end goal of writing is to produce legible, smooth, and attractive letters or characters. Inconsistent ink flow leads to a lot of awkward re-positioning that causes stress. For an example, have you ever written with a fountain pen that had a damaged tip? In trying a variety of different angles, your hand has to exert more downward pressure and your arm is often raised, instead of supported by the writing surface. This causes fatigue over time.

You want to be able to move the tip across paper as smoothly and easily as possible, so smooth and skip-free ink is important. To this end, liquid ink pens, fountain pens, and felt tip markers might be better for the job than your 0.3 mm Hi-Tec-C.

Reviews of Ergonomic Pens

First, we need to establish a set of criteria for evaluation. The qualities that we will test are shape, weight, grip, and ink flow. There should be enough commonality for comparison, since the pens are all 0.7 mm ballpoints. The “test” is filling a notebook page with the famous introductory passage from A Tale of Two Cities without any breaks.

Fig 4. We will be testing these three pens for shape, weight, grip, and ink flow.

UNI-BALL JETSTREAM BALLPOINT PENS - 0.7 MM - ALPHA GEL GRIP

Fig 5. Uni-ball advertises that its Alpha Gel grip is able to cushion an egg from a 5 ft fall, and that it makes other grips seem like “hard rubber.” The Jetstream ink inside is notoriously smooth.

Shape: The pen body is shaped like a two tier cylinder, with the grip tier having a thicker circumference than the other. If you disregard the thick grip section, the pen body is relatively slim. This keeps it from becoming unwieldy, although writers that prefer a chunkier pen might want to surf down the page, towards the Dr. Grip.

Weight: The Jetstream Alpha Gel is made of brushed metal and weighs in at 1.30 ounces -- the heaviest of the three pens. It feels substantial, yet not at all heavy. At first glance, it seems like the pen has an uneven distribution of weight, but it’s actually quite balanced and graceful. The slimness of the pen body makes the pen feel sleek, offsetting the weight, and the brushed metal construction makes it feel wonderfully solid, offsetting the slimness. It’s a combination that could have easily gone wrong, but instead creates a perfect balance.

Grip: The grip is pretty much as promised -- deliciously soft and addictive, squishy yet firm. It feels amazing. It’s like a stress ball that you want to constantly squeeze. The gel grip "dampens" the reaction time of your pen, but the effect is insignificant. Pro tip: Your gel grip will attract lint particles, as silicone rubber tends to do. Use tape to clean it off.

Ink flow: The ink emerges easily and without any coaxing, and didn’t skip at all during the writing test. It’s dark and smooth enough that it almost feels like a liquid ink pen, yet retains the bleed and smudge-free qualities of a ballpoint pen. It’s like a geneticist pulled the best qualities from both lines to create a clearly superior mutant. The word “glide” comes to mind.

PILOT DR. GRIP CL SKYTIME DECO BALLPOINT PENS - 0.7 MM

Fig 5. This Dr. Grip pen has a unique ribbed grip design.

Shape: The Skytime’s body is a little wider than that of the Jetstream Alpha Gel, and is made of plastic rather than brushed metal. It’s a cylinder with a consistent curve, so it looks more conventional than the Jetstream Alpha Gel as well. The wide shape is great for bigger hands, and affords the writer more control. While it doesn’t feel clunky, it isn’t as nimble as the Jetstream Alpha Gel.

Weight: At 0.80 ounces, this pen is lighter and feels like it, too. The body is made of plastic and feels very homogenous throughout, without any unusual features. The balance is perfect.

Grip: Grooves in the grip allow air in, keeping the rubber cool and soft with a cushion of air. The ribbed grip might be useful for extended writing sessions, but I didn’t keep at it long enough to reap the benefits. The grip feels good, but is definitely firmer than the Alpha Gel. It doesn’t have that addictive “squishy” quality, where you want to squeeze the grip and then watch the indent fill back in. However, the firmness is more conducive to control while writing, since the movement is completely predictable, and none of the motion is “lost” in the grip. The Skytime also has a longer grip, length-wise, than the other two pens, so people with larger hands might prefer it. It goes without saying that the Dr. Grip line is known for having especially soft and comfortable grips. No matter how hard you death grip this pen, your fingers will feel just fine.

Ink flow: I had to press a bit harder with the Skytime, since the ink wasn’t as forthcoming. It skipped a couple of times in the beginning, but once I got going, all was well. The ink also isn’t quite as dark, and the tip seems to have a “sweet spot” for writing. It doesn’t dispense ink equally from all angles, like the Jetstream does. Otherwise, ink performance was satisfactory, if not particularly impressive.

ZEBRA NUSPIRAL CC BALLPOINT PENS - 0.7 MM

Fig 5. The Zebra nuSpiral was developed by Professor Kageyu Noro, an ergonomist from Waseda University in Japan. The contoured barrel is reminiscent of a sculpture, with its unusual curves, and is supposed to maximize the area of contact for your hand so that you have more control.

Shape: Unlike the other two pens, which are completely cylinder-shaped, the nuSpiral has a triangular base structure with a cylindrical grip. It's supposed to maximize hand contact for more control. I actually did feel like I had a bit more control with the pen, and that my hand movement was more regular. However, the difference isn’t as noticeable as you might hope.

Weight: The pen weighs 1.00 ounces, but it feels clumsier than the Dr. Grip, possibly because it's thicker throughout. I also noticed that the push button for extending the pen tip tends to rattle a bit when you shake the pen, which might bother some people.

Grip: The nuSpiral’s grip is firmer than both the Alpha Gel and the Dr. Grip. It’s serviceable and you won’t get that death grip indent on your middle finger, but there’s nothing too special about it, either.

Ink flow: The nuSpiral writes a bit more like a conventional ballpoint pen. The ink is smooth enough, but isn’t as dark or flowing as the Jetstream’s. As you can probably tell, I’ve fallen in love with the Jetstream.

IN CONCLUSION

If you write with a Vulcan death grip, go with the Jetstream Alpha Gel and its ridiculously soft grip. The Dr. Grip Skytime is wide, with a large grip, so it’s suitable for people with large hands. And if you value precision above all, you’ll want the Zebra nuSpiral. Since these expert diagnoses probably won’t encompass everyone, my blanket recommendation is the Jetstream Alpha Gel. It feels great in the hand and writes with a fluid grace that belies its unusual shape.

New Products: Pilot Dr. Grip G-Spec Frost Pencils, Ohto Graphic Liner Drawing Pens and More!

2012-04-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

New products are in!

Special new items include Ohto Graphic Liner Needle Point Drawing Pens that feature a reinforced metal needle point tip. This means that you'll never have to worry about
smashing the pen tip in over time, so you can use every last drop of the waterproof, archival-safe pigment ink.

Also check out the cool Pilot Dr. Grip G-Spec Frost Color Shaker Mechanical Pencils available in a minty fresh array of colors.

Get them while they last!

Artist Highlight - Kiriska

2012-04-19T13:56:00.004-07:00

JetPens is proud to showcase talented artists who use JetPens products. Today we are happy to feature Kiriska.

Kiriska is an illustrator and comic artist living on the Internet and happily grounded in Seattle, WA. With many diverse interests, she creates in a wide variety of styles and subject matters, and her work ranges from surreal paintings of animal skeletons to heartwarming comics about rainbows, unicorns, and strange children. Kiriska spends equal amounts of time in traditional and digital medias, adores office supplies of all sorts, consumes too much caffeine, and has been known to wake up in the middle of the night to compulsively fold paper cranes. You can find more about her at kiriska.com and @Kiriska on Twitter.

Give us a little insight as to how you use our JetPens products in your illustrations.

I love ink work, but I've always been frustrated by traditional brushes and nibs. In college, one of my professors introduced me to the magic of brush pens, and it's become a quiet obsession ever since. The Pentel pocket brush is probably my favorite (shh, don't tell the others!) and has seen constant use in the last few years -- it's the great replacement for a traditional round brush, has great versatility, is refillable, and the ink is both waterproof and Copic-proof! Perfect, as watercolor and Copic markers are my two favorite coloring methods. I'm also a huge fan of the Tombow Fudenosuke pens, which have finer tips and are a good for inking more controlled subjects while still allowing for variations in line width. More recently, I've been giving various Kuretake products a try, along with the Copic Drawing Pen, which is the best budget fountain pen I've found thus far.

"Tweet Peek" Twitter Giveaway

2012-04-16T13:32:00.011-07:00

*The game has ended and the winner is @albinowolf! @albinowolf please tweet to JetPens and email jetpromos@jetpens.com.

The mystery product was the popular Lihit Lab Teffa Bag in Bag - Size A4 (13.8" 9.4") - Black.

We had a lot of loyal JetPens product experts. Now that everyone knows how to play, it's going to get harder! Stay tuned for the next Tweet Peek in a couple of weeks*

How well do you know our products? One loyal JetPens follower will be awarded for time well spent browsing the JetPens site. Who can now blame you for those late night pen perusals?

Guess the product behind the JetPens shaped keyhole. Tweet your answer to @JetPens by Wednesday 4/18/2012.

Rules:
1. This contest is limited to US residents only.
2. Entries will be accepted from now until Wednesday 4/18/2012 at Midnight Pacific.
3. One winner will be selected at random from all correct tweets and announced on the blog on Thursday with an update to this post.

Go and Tweet your Peek guess!

Sticker Season: Spring 2012

2012-04-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's Sticker Season at JetPens!

Beginning on April 3rd, JetPens will be adding a bonus to each customer order -- a limited edition JetPens sticker! We've printed a short run of 30,000 stickers for you to enjoy this Spring, and we'll keep it up for Spring 2013 and Spring 2014, too. Each Spring season will bring a fresh wave of exclusive stickers, designed around the theme of Jet-Do and Jet-Da traveling to distant pen-loving lands like Japan, Germany, and Korea.

Our first collection features Jet-Do and Jet-Da stopping off in Japan to hike around Mt. Fuji and watch the cherry blossoms bloom. The Japanese characters spell our motto, "Love at First Write."

You might have noticed that the sticker is shaped like a large postage stamp, which is perfect for accompanying packages as they travel across the globe. In designing the stamp, we thought it was important to highlight the international nature of our products, and to acknowledge the influence of other cultures on our writing habits. Hence, the postage stamp shape and the geographical themes.

There is a limited quantity available, so there is no guarantee that you will receive one with your order. However, we will continue shipping them out as long as we are able to. Enjoy, and look for another release to happen next year!

A Special Pen from a Special Company

2012-03-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

What makes the Kaweco Special AL Fountain Pen so ... special? 125 years of history combined with beautiful design and materials for starters.

The Special AL barrel is fabricated from anodized solid aluminum with a black matte finish. An octagonal body gives this fountain pen a unique look, as does the cap, which can screw on to the end of the barrel to post.

Since the Special AL is a full-sized pen, it will take both short and long international ink cartridges as well as a converter. The iconic silver Kaweco logo is a nice added touch on the cap.

These pens were so well received we sold out of them almost immediately. Now is the time to add them to your wish list and sign up for the restock notification. They will go fast once they come back in so be prepared!

For more on the history and future of Kaweco, be sure to read our recent interview with CEO Michael Gutberlet.

Exclusive Interview: Michael Gutberlet of Kaweco

2012-03-19T11:44:00.001-07:00

Did you know that Kaweco, which stood for Koch, Weber, Compagnie, closed down in 1980? Thanks to a company called H&M Gutberlet Gmbh, the brand Kaweco was revived in mid 1990s. I had the privilege and joy of interviewing the CEO and the son of the original founder of H&M Gutberlet, Mr. Michael Gutberlet, on the past, present, and future of Kaweco.

Why did your company decide to bring back the Kaweco brand of pens in 1996/1997?
We (my father Horst, my brother, and I) had collected old writing instruments since 1982. Later on, I took over all of the collections. The most striking thing about our collections was the disproportionate amount of Kaweco products, especially Kaweco Sport pens. Since the original Kaweco company disappeared in 1980, we decided to revive the Kaweco Sport brand.

How do you design products for the modern consumer while ensuring that over 125 years of Kaweco history is preserved?
It is vital for Kaweco to develop products that are infused with the DNA of its predecessor. This was the repeated wish and request of our retailers. For every new product, I examine our historical collection and derive the idea for the design from it. In regards to technology and choice of material, we are always trying to achieve the highest quality with the help of internationally renowned manufacturers. Through this process, we guarantee the modern consumer a comfortable instrument with flawless function and outstanding, appealing design.

Which Kaweco pen do you use for everyday writing?
My personal favorite is the DIA 2 fountain pen. I use this fountain pen daily, because I hand-write all of my correspondence in sepia-brown ink. For quick notes, I use my DIA 2 pencil (0.7 mm) and ballpoint pen. In my pant pockets, I switch between a Kaweco Sport pen set and a Kaweco Liliput pen set.

Among the Kaweco Sport models produced over the last 100 years, which is the all-time bestseller?
It is very hard to estimate which Kaweco Sport is the all-time bestseller, partly because of the change in manufacturing techniques. In the old days, each pen part was manufactured with solid material. Later, the technology for injection moulding was developed, and manufacturers could make bigger quantities in a shorter time at more favorable prices. This technique is still popular today. Since 1994, the Classic Sport model has been number one in terms of number of pieces sold, and the AL Sport model has been number one in terms of net profit.

Do you ever plan to make / source gold nibs for the Kaweco Sport line of pens?
Soon, we'll be offering solid gold medium nibs for customers to upgrade their Kaweco fountain pens with. However, these solid gold nibs are not meant for the Classic and Ice Sport models, because we believe that they're neither aesthetically nor functionally appropriate for either line.

When can we expect Kaweco to produce converters for the Kaweco Sport line of fountain pens?
It has always been my wish to offer a converter for Kaweco Sport fountain pens. However, as of today, I haven't found a workable technical solution. Let me explain some details: One ink cartridge contains 1 gram of ink, but a converter for the Sport would contain 0.6 grams of ink. Additionally, the tooling costs would be very high. I feel that the best solution would be to eventually develop and produce a Sport pen with piston mechanism.

JetPens St. Patrick's Day Giveaway Winners!

2012-03-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our St. Patrick's Day giveaway! It was a roaring success and I know you are all eager to know the winners. So, here we go:

The winner of the JetPens Prize Pack which included an IL Slim Bag-in-Bag - Apple Green, JetPens ScoutBook Notebook, and Pilot Dr. Grip Play Border Shaker Mechanical Pencil is Daniel L.

The winner of the Secret Prize Pack which included a Nomadic CB-01 Wise-Walker Multi Compartment Day Backpack in Gray plus other JetPens goodies is Patricia F.

Congratulations to both of you! I will be sending you each an email with further details. Thank you to everyone who entered, and keep your eyes peeled for more great giveaways soon!

New Products: Kaweco Special AL Mechanical Pencils, J. Herbin Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges, Uni Posca Paint Markers and More!

2012-03-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

New products are in at JetPens!

Kaweco Special AL Mechanical Pencils are a beautiful new addition to our lineup. The hexagonal aluminum barrel has a black matte finish along with a top knock featuring the iconic silver Kaweco logo. The Standard barrel length is 5.6 inches and also comes in a Mini version which is 4.1 inches long. Both are available in 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 0.9 mm lead sizes.

J. Herbin Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges have been a hit since we began stocking them and now our lineup has expanded further with 14 new colors. How can you pass up such colors as Bleu Myosotis, Rouge Caroubier, and Terre de Feu?

Artists around the world swear by their Uni Posca Paint Markers and we are happy to now carry the PC-1M marker sets in Extra Fine, Fine, and Medium. The water-based pigment ink is non-toxic, lightfast, waterproof and writes on a wide variety of surfaces including plastic, metal, and wood.

JetPens St. Patrick's Day Giveaway!

2012-03-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

We love all things green here at JetPens and what better time for a green giveaway than around St. Patrick's Day!

To enter the contest, you need to go to our Facebook page to sign up. Once you do, you will see a link to share with your friends. If at least five of them sign up you will be entered into a second drawing to win over $100 worth of secret JetPens goodies!

You only have until Saturday, March 17th to get you and your friends signed up, so get going!