Categories
Broadcasts and Videos

Proud to Be a Geek!

Hi Pen Fans!

I am very proud to have been interviewed by Eric with Fountain Pen Geeks this week!  This officially makes me the Geek of the Week!

Fountain Pen Geeks has really become an amazing resource for all fountain pen fans.  Be sure to check out their site.  Podcasts, Reviews, a Forum that is growing very fast…and of course, they have their Geek of the Week!

So pop some corn, and watch the interview below.  We spent an hour and forty minutes together, so we covered a lot.  Topics covered the entire gambit.  We realize that this can be a lot to digest, so the entire interview is broken down into a timeline below the video if you’d like to skip around.

 

Interview Timeline:

0:00:27 You say tomato, I say Milan.
0:01:18 We’re shooting video.
0:02:14 How’s the weather?
0:02:28 Who is Brian Gray?
0:04:10 How many stop lights in Milan?
0:05:47 Family
0:07:11 Brian’s Focus on Photography
0:19:00 Pen Show Talk (LA and Philly)
0:20:40 Life prior to Edison Pen Co
0:24:00 Marquetry Furniture
0:26:17 The seeds of Edison Pen Co
0:31:48 What is an acrylic?
0:33:20 Wood Lathe vs Metal Lathe
0:36:00 Acrylic vs Wood
0:37:55 Woodworking Skills vs Machining Skills
0:38:05 Threads 101
0:39:11 Manual Lathe vs Computer Numerical Controlled Lathe
0:40:42 Spreading the Virtual Word
0:45:50 How many pens have you made?
0:47:00 Edison Owners Reunion in Milan =)
0:47:25 Let’s theorize about mass production techniques…
0:50:00 Edison Pen Co Shop Size
0:50:45 How do you design a pen?
0:54:58 The Mina and Ernest Shin of Hakumin Urushi Kobo
0:58:34 Edison Pen Co and Ernest Shin of Hakumin Urushi Kobo
1:03:00 Pen Models and Materials Paletter
1:09:37 Does Brian collect pens?
1:11:47 Brian’s ink preferences.
1:14:14 Steel Nibs vs Gold Nibs
1:16:45 vs Silver Nibs
1:18:13 Meisternibs
1:20:23 The Pearlette
1:21:18 Size comparison to The Mina
1:21:40 Size comparison to The Huron Grande
1:22:20 The Del Coronado
1:25:48 What’s coming in 2012?
1:28:28 Did he say piston filler?!?
1:30:55 A Huge Number 8 Nib?
1:32:22 And beyond 2012?
1:34:10 What improves Brian’s penmaking skills?
1:37:42 Which pens shows do you attend each year?
1:38:45 Which pen show is the largest?
1:41:10 Thank you! Thank you!
1:42:54 Let’s do dinner!

Make sure to check out FPGeeks if you haven’t already….

Fountain Pen Geeks
FP Geek’s Geek of the Week via iTunes
Subscribe to FP Geeks via RSS

Thanks!

Brian at Edison

Categories
Current Inventory

Current Inventory Updated with LOTS of Pens Ready To Ship….

Hi Pen Fans….

Current Inventory has been updated with our pens from the Philly Pen Show.

There’s somewhere around 230 pens in the gallery ready to ship.

My currently backlog is 6 weeks due to the Philly and LA Pen Shows.  So if you are looking for a pen with no waiting, there’s lots to choose from.

These current inventory pens also have some new materials that we haven’t used before, and also plenty of the new Pearlettes!

Thanks.

Brian at Edison

 

 

Categories
New Pens

Introducing the Del Coronado!

Hi Pen Fans!

There is a new pen to introduce!

The Del Coronado is the second overlay pen from the Edison Pen Company.  It is a collaboration with Dan Furlano, a very talented penmaker.  Dan is also a longtime close friend of mine.  Click here to see his website and work.

Highlights….

1.  It’s very difficult to photograph all the features of an overlay pen, so be sure to watch the HD portion of the video, if nothing else.  Especially the threaded posting of the cap!

2.  You can see all specifications and pricing information here.

3.  We have the pen in black for now, but other colors are coming and, of course, custom colors are possible.

4.  In order to keep the pricing reasonable, we used plated precious metal (gold and rhodium), rather than solid precious metal.  If you would like to inquire about a version made in solid gold or solid sterling, just email me.

 

Thanks!

Brian at Edison

 

Categories
Pen Shows

Philly Pen Show Inventory!

Hi Pen Fans!

HIghlights from the video….

1.  The Philly Pen Show is this weekend.  We’ll arrive on Friday, but won’t set up until Saturday and Sunday.

2.  See the video for all our inventory.  There are a LOT of pens that are coming to the show that we haven’t photographed yet to put in the Current Inventory Gallery.  After the Philly Show, we’ll have this gallery updated with all the pens that we didn’t sell in Philly, so be sure to check out these pens next week if you can’t make the show.

3.  I forgot to mention this in the video, but the new unannounced pen will be with us at Philly Show.  Come out to see a sneak peek.  We’ll officially announce this pen next week!

Hope to see lots of you at the show!

Brian at Edison

Categories
Production Line

The Herald is Going to the Production Line, and Other Items….

Hi Pen Fans!

Highlights from the video….

1.  The Pearlette with clip is here.
2.  I am very happy to write a check to Susan G. Komen as a result of participation in the December Holiday Special.  THANKS!
3.  We are getting ready for the Philly Pen Show!  We’ll have Current Inventory updated soon with our offerings for the show.  Hope to see lots of you there!
4.  The Herald is now going to be within the Production Line.  We’ve made some modifications to the section and barrel.  See the video for details.
5.  The new Production Herald will be at the Philly Pen Show, or you buy direct from the retailers who carry it, as listed below.

Anderson Pens
Goldspot Luxury Gifts
Goulet Pen Company
ISellPens
Richard Binder

Thanks!

Brian at Edison

 

Categories
Urushi

Urushi Mina Update!

Hi Pen Fans!

It’s time for an update to the Urushi Mina Project.

I gotta say, this stage is one of the absolute coolest techniques that I’ve ever seen!  I’ve watched Ernest’s video about 5 times already!

At this stage, a urushi mixture is floated on water.  The mixture then jets across the surface of the water and coalesces into a fine reticulated network as the alcohol separates out of the mixture and dissolves into the water.  This looks like a very interesting spider-web.  

The pen parts are then carefully dipped into the mixture, and this "spider web" clings to the pen.  Amazing!

Go to the Mina Urushi Project Page for a full description, or watch the video below….

Thanks!

Brian at Edison and Ernest at Hakumin Urushi

Categories
New Pens

Introducing the Pearlette!

Hi Pen Fans!

There is a new pen model within the Edison Signature Line!

 

Highlights from from the video….

The Pearlette is a smaller version of the Pearl.  Click here for the Main Page, or here for the gallery.

Clipless….

or with a clip…(please note that this clip is a little crooked….see the video as to why….)

 

Since this is pretty small, the pen is engineered to post well, so bigger hands will have no length problems….

A comparison photo between the Pearlette and the Pearl….

 

Let me know if there are any questions!

Brian at Edison

Categories
Production Line

Anderson Pens Now Carrying Edison!

Hi Pen Fans!

Just a quick update regarding the Production Line.

We are proud to announce that AndersonPens.net is now carrying the Production Line!  So the Collier and Hudson can now be purchased through the Andersons in addition to all of our other retailers.  The Collier can be seen here, and the Hudson here.

Make sure to check out their website linked above, or you can see their blog here.

Many of you have probably figured out that we at Edison choose our retailers carefully.  We like to sell our Production Line through "mom-and pop" retailers that embody the same values that we do towards customer service, and the Andersons are certainly no exception.

We’ve known Brian and Lisa for a long time now from the pen show circuit.  Click here to learn more about them.

The Andersons have been well known for their vintage pens, especially Esterbrooks, so if you are an Estie fan, make sure to give them a visit.  And if you want to hear a real amazing tale, ask them how the Esterbook line of pens actually led to their marriage!  Very cool story!

But of course, they do carry plenty of very nice modern pens, yours truly now included!  So be sure to visit their website and/or blog.

So the Edison Production Line is now carried by Goldspot Luxury Gifts, The Goulet Pen Company, ISellPens.com, Richard Binder, and we are proud to now add Anderson Pens to this list.  Click Here for links to each of their websites and purchasing information.

Side note – I realize that I mentioned that a new pen model would be coming this week!  Bear with me!  I should have this announcement ready tomorrow or Thursday!

Thanks,

Brian at Edison

Categories
Tips and Hints

Tips on Navigating the Smugmug Galleries…

Hi Pen Fans!

Highlights from the video….

1.  The Holidays are going great.  The December sale is still in effect until January 1st.

2.  I realize that my Smugmug Galleries are large and daunting.  I have some tips on how to effectively navigate these galleries to find custom pens and materials.

3.  There is a new Material Samples gallery for easier navigation.

4.  Stay tuned for some new announcements next week!

Brian at Edison

Categories
Time Away

Happy Holidays from Edison!

Hi Pen Fans!

My apologies, as I had plans to get a nice video blog put up prior to the Holidays, but literally, things have been that busy here!

I thought that I could make today a little more relaxing, and render a nice video for this blog, but I literally just finished up everything for the week, and I’m exhausted!  So a non-video blog wil have to do!

So Happy Holidays to everyone on behalf of The Edison Pen Co!  The December special has been a big hit, and at the beginning of January, I’ll have a sizeable check to send off to Susan G. Komen!  Thanks!

I’m going to spend next week doing mostly catch-up work with accounting, taxes, etc, so that I can end the year with all my books in order.  I will try to stay away emails, so if I’m slow in responding, you’ll know why.

And what to expect from Edison in 2012?  Well actually, you can expect to see somewhere around 3-4 new pen models coming in the first couple months, with one happening pretty much as soon as we return in January….so stay tuned!  A lot will happen early in 2012!

Have a great Holiday and a Happy New Year!

Brian, Andrea, and Andrew at Edison