Tuesday Toolset, Retro Remembrance Edition

With all of the reminiscing about the Retro 51 news last week, I began to think about all the Retro’s I own, and maybe more importantly, the ones I missed out on. Even the standard releases - the ones directly from Retro 51 - passed me by over the past few years as I was making and using my own pens. Here are some of the ones I missed, that I wish I didn’t:

— Bouquet (2016): Talk about a pen that jumped off the screen the moment I saw it. How I didn’t pull the trigger on this one I’ll never know, but Bouquet continues to be one of the more sought after Tornado's with its stunning floral pattern and colors.

— Dinosauria (2016): I’ve tended to shy away from from the metal barrel Retro’s in the past, and that cost me the opportunity to pick up this archeological dig awesomeness. It’s a great design, capped off by a mosquito in amber finial.

— Tiki Kona (2017): I’m pretty sure I had this in my hand at a pen show and placed it back down for some unknown reason. Or maybe I bought it and gave it away. Who knows! I do know Tiki Kona would be the perfect match to Vintage Surf, which I do own, and is an all-time favorite of mine.

— Creepy Scrawlers (2019): I love fun patterns and unique designs, and Creepy Scrawlers certainly fits that bill. And it glows in the dark! This is the type of pen I’m going to miss the most when Retro 51 (R.I.P.) are no longer around. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

I use Retro 51 pens all the time, but this past week they have been in heavier rotation than usual. I think that is going to be the case around here for quite some time.

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Fountain Pen Giveaway

I knew I would leave the Philadelphia Pen Show with a new Schon DSGN Pocket Six Fountain Pen, but little did I know I’d leave with two! The second one is for this giveaway, courtesy of Ian Schon. His hospitality was unparalleled, and I was stoked to be able to spend some time with him.

For this giveaway, I picked out the beautiful Lisa Frank barrel design, with a brass section to fit the fine Jowo still nib. Basically, it’s perfect. Read the rules below and enter away!

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Fountain Pen Giveaway

Kaweco Sport Coral Guilloche Fountain Pen Exclusive Edition, Now at Fontoplumo (Sponsor)

If there is anyone I trust to deliver on a Kaweco Sport exclusive, it is Fontoplumo. They delivered a perfect edition with their previous Sunrise/Sunset release, and I must say that they outdid themselves in a big way with the launch of the Coral Guilloche edition.

From Fontoplumo, on the design of the pen:

Coral represents the brightness of life, and most remarkably the sea, and the coral reefs that it was named after. The colour is contemporary in all possible manners. It stands out, it is fresh, it is bright, it energises, and additionally, has a softness about it.

Guilloche is a pattern that originated in a decorative technique invented around the 17th century. The pattern is characteristically very precise, intricate and repetitive, and can be used in a large variety of contexts and applications. To the Kaweco Sport Coral Guilloche, the pattern adds a sense of depth, intricacy and craftsmanship, giving this principally modern pen a subtly traditional touch.

The Fontoplumo Kaweco Sport Coral Guilloche Fountain Pen comes in both Gold and Silver trim, and if history dictates, will not be around for long.

My thanks to Fontoplumo for sponsoring The Pen Addict this week.