Pen magazines are a great source of reference and always enjoyable to browse through for information and splendid photograph gazing.

We occasionally have back issues of magazines devoted to pen collectors, we hope you'll check back often!

Pen Fanciers Magazine

The PFC magazines are a great source of reference for collectors and are increasingly hard to find. Cliff and Judy Lawrence published the first Pen Fanciers newsletter in February 1978. Issues include articles on pen manufacturers, pen repair information and how to diagrams, photos of vintage pens, advertisements and ephemera, and the Pen Trading Post, a list of pens the Lawrences would offer up for sale. Starting in the early 1990s, the magazine became more of a an illustrated listing of pens for sale with fewer articles. PFC magazines are black and white publications, later ones sometimes had a sprinkling of color.

PFC Magazines were a stapled 8.5x11 inch two sided newsletter type format through October 1980. Then the format changed to 8.5x11 stapled magazine format through June 1983. The April, May and June 1983 issues had a yellow cover with black and red printing. The July 1983 - December 1984 issues were also stapled magazine format, but the size was reduced to 7x8.25 inches. There was a return to the 8.5x11 stapled magazine format in January 1985. The May 1985 - July 1986 issues were a stapled 6.25x8.25 size. October 1986 issue, available below, was the start of issues with red ink added to the black and white magazine. The November 1987 issue was the first with a full color cover.

PFC-VOL 9, No. 10

Pen Fancier's Magazine, October 1986, Sheaffer Pens of the Fifties - Part 2 The Bold New PFM, Pen Trading Post 16 pages of fountain pens for sale with B&W photos and more.

$20

Waterman Past and Present
(The First Six Decades)
Written by Max Davis and Gary Lehrer

Available directly from Gary Lehrer at Go Pens. Please click here to order!

Pendemonium will have copies of the Waterman Book available at the pen shows we attend and we are happy to sell you the book at our next pen show. Advance orders welcomed, note that while we take a good stock of books to shows, they may sell out unless reserved in advance. Email Pendemonium for show delivery reservation of the Waterman book.

Fountain Pens for the Millions
The History of Conway Stewart 1905-2005
By Stephen Hull

U.S. Customers - Please click here to place your order directly with the author, Stephen Hull. Your book will be shipped to you from Pendemonium to save on overseas shipping.

Pendemonium will have copies of the Conway Stewart Book available at the pen shows we attend and we are happy to sell you the book at our next pen show. Advance orders welcomed, note that while we take a good stock of books to shows, they may sell out unless reserved in advance. Email Pendemonium for show delivery reservation of the Conway Stewart book.

The Parker Vacumatic Book
Complimentary Vacumatic Blotter with each book while supplies last!

Written by Geoffrey Parker (great-grandson of George S. Parker the founder of Parker Pen), Dan Zazove (long time Parker collector and a co-organizer of the Chicago Pen Show) and David Shepherd (Parker collector and author of the Parker 51 and Parker Duofold books).

First Edition, copyright 2008, published by Surrenden Pens Limited in UK. Hardcover. 343 pages. Wonderful full color photographs throughout the book.

The Parker Vacumatic Book details the history of Parker's Vacumatic fountain pen from beginning to end! There are excerpts from Kenneth Parker's personal journal as well as Parker family history. Dave Ruderman, Parker's UK Director of History once again allowed the authors full access to the Parker Archives in Newhaven meaning there are many rare examples of Parker Vacumatics and variants shown. As with the previous Parker 51 and Parker Duofold books, the layout and design by Terry Shepherd is outstanding and is the perfect mix of text and photographs.

The book is divided into six sections as noted below:

History - the early Parker years through 1931, Great Depression, the Vacumatic filling system and more.

First Generation 1932-1936 - Vacuum Filler, Vacumatic, Parker in UK, Canada & Denmark, Golden Web and more.

Second Generation 1937-1941 - Speedline filler, Maximas, Star clips, Blue Diamond, Shadow Wave, 51 development and more.

Third Generation 1942-1948 - Vacufold, Jewelers Bands, Push Cap Vacumatics, Red Bands, VS and more.

Design - patents, anatomy of a Vacumatic, filling instructions, colors, imprints, clips, Quink Ink and more.

Marketing - Advertising and Marketing, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Parker codes, Store displays, Club 51 and more.

The Fountain Pens of Esterbrook

Paul Hoban, copyright 1992, published BDH Productions, USA. Soft cover, 67 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches. Well researched information by Esterbrook collector Paul Hoban, includes many black and white diagrams and photos, color photos of Esterbrook pens in center section, complete copy of ca. 1938-1939 Esterbrook catalogue.

The Catalogue of American Mechanical Pencils
Available directly from the author Jonathan Veley

Released in 2011, this hardbound book with over 600 full color photographs is a mechanical pencil lovers dream reference book! Click the book photo to the left to view complete details and purchase directly from Jonathan Veley's website.

Write Now - A complete self teaching program for better handwriting, Getty and Dubay, copyright 1991, 3rd edition, published by Continuing Education Press - Portland State University, softbound, 96 pages.

Your poor handwriting isn't your fault! The handwriting most of us were taught was simply not designed to accomplish the necessary combination of legibility, speed, and ease.

Italic handwriting is easy and natural. Rhythmical patterns of sloping lines and ellipses follow the natural movement of the wrist. These handsome letterforms are as easy to write as they are to read.

Write faster and more legibly. These simple, narrow, slightly sloping letters were designed for both legibility and speed. Italic is a fast, and efficient and practical writing style that eliminates the loops and flourishes of conventional writing.

Send handwritten notes you can be proud of. Friends and business associates will appreciate receiving legible and distinctive handwritten messages.

Make a positive impression. Your handwriting style says a lot about you. Italic writing commands respect and makes a lasting statement about your style and competence.

We have many custom ground cursive italic fountain pens available that are perfect for learning cursive italic with the Write Now book.

Tamblyn's Home Instructor in Penmanship

Frederick William Tamblyn (1870-1947) was a master penman and founder of the Tamblyn Studio in Kansas City, later to become Ziller of Kansas City and still in operation today.

Ziller of KC took on the task of having Tamblyn's original book "Home Instructor in Penmanship" reprinted. This book was last published (7th edition) in 1938. The new 8th Edition is now in it's second printing in 2008. Aside from the original book contents, also included is a biography of Tamblyn and 25 pages of Tamblyn's original works that were housed in the archives at Ziller.

In addition to Practical Business Writing (which is what most of us do!), there are also instructions and lessons on Artistic Writing, Engravers Script and over 10 other forms of ornamental writing. Nice section of how to make those beautiful bird flourishes, too.

The book is professionally printed, large spiral binding so the book is practical to use - it lays flat. New cover format with the 8th Edition 2008 covers the spiral on outside binding edge so you know immediately this is the book you're looking for on the bookshelf! Most importantly 174 pages of instruction and illustrations of how to achieve good penmanship. Of course, you'll have to devote some practice time.

Business Writing
Book One - At Home with Artistic Penwork

Stephen A. Ziller, published by Ziller of Kansas City, Ninth Printing 1983, softbound, 64 pages. A complete legible writing course designed for home or classroom use. Includes info on desk posture, proper method to hold your pen, rhythm and more. A complete book with extensive exercises and lessons to improve basic business penmanship. Basic business writing is the cursive writing most of us learned in grade school and the most practical for everyday writing today.

Artistic Writing
Book Two - At Home with Artistic Penwork

Stephen A. Ziller, published by Ziller of Kansas City, Third Printing 1994, softbound, 32 pages. A complete course on ornamental penmanship for classroom or home. Information on appropriate materials, hand motion and form is included. This book focuses on lessons and drills to learn the Ziller Artistic Alphabet. This style of writing is often referred to as ornamental penmanship, similar styles are Spencerian and Zanerian writing which include many flourishes.

Card Writing
Book Three - At Home with Artistic Penwork

Stephen A. Ziller, published by Stephen A. Ziller, Tamblyn School of Penmanship, Second Printing 1953, softbound, 32 pages. Book Three of the Ziller Penmanship series is devoted to learning Card Writing. Card Writing was not just popular, but a means of earning a living for many penmen during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Everyone had a calling card! I recall a friend telling me that his grandfather, an accomplished penman, would stand on downtown street corners in the early 1900s and pen calling cards for a penny.

Engrossing Alphabets
Book Four - At Home with Artistic Penwork

Stephen A. Ziller, published by Ziller of Kansas City, Second Printing 1955, softbound, 32 pages. Engrossing alphabets were used primarily, although not exclusively, for penning names in certificates and official documents. Book Four includes instructions for learning: Modified Old English, Medieval, Old English, Engrossers' Text, Italian Style, Modified French Roundhand, Broad Pen Roman, Engravers Script, Hand Made Old Style Classic Roman and Gothic.

Bird and Design Flourishing
Book Five - At Home with Artistic Penwork

Stephen A. Ziller, published by Ziller of Kansas City, Third Printing 2001, softbound, 32 pages. Bird designs and flourishes have been used by penmen for decades to add grace and beauty to a lettering masterpiece and bird designs are a work of art in themselves. There are 48 different bird designs and flourishes reproduced in this book along with instructions on how to execute them.

Pump Inkwells

Written by Giovanni Cattaneo and exclusively devoted to Pump Inkwells. Many color photos, detailed information on mechanics of pump inkwells, patent information, design details. Softbound, 63 pages, full color photos, 6.8.25 inches, softbound. Published in England.

Sampson Mordan 1898 Catalogue

Reprint of the 1898 Sampson Mordan Catalogue with additional notes by Jim Marshall on Mordan. Great illustrations of pencil cases, penholders, toothpicks, cedar pencils, lead points and more. Soft bound, 26 pages, published in England.

Collecting Inkwells, Marshall

Jim Marshall. Copyright 2007, softbound, 44 pages, published by The Pen & Pencil Gallery. The main emphasis in this book is on unusual inkwells, indeed many rare inkwells are described and photographed. The book is neatly organized by inkwell material (bronze, pewter, stone, wood, etc etc), by filling system (adjustable level, pivoting, etc) with a third section devoted to miscellaneous and unusual inkwells.

Guide to Fountain Pen Repairs

Frank Dubiel, spiral bound. Everything you wanted to know about repairing vintage fountain pens & probably a few things you didn't want to know, too! Whether you're just starting out with pen repairs or have been at it for awhile, this book has lots of helpful hints.

Eversharp Service Manual
1937 Repair Manual

This is one of the more detailed pen service manuals ever published!

From 1937, an Eversharp Service Manual covering in incredible detail Dorics, Coronets, and other pens and also repeater pencils, with additional notes by Frank Dubiel. 8 1/2" x 11" in an unusual spiral bound "landscape" format the 38 pages, plus covers, are packed with information! About 100 illustrations and repair detail not seen elsewhere about piston fillers, adjustable nibs and the safety ink shut offs. (You will love the 500 year life claim on the packing units--although repairs to them are covered.)

You'll read many little known facts such as how and why Eversharp used perforated washers in their piston pens. Highly specific information on inner caps, disassembly of the adjustable nib, clip repair, feeds, and pencil repair. Full illustrated repair, assembly and troubleshooting of Eversharp Repeater pencils. Extensive information on the complex section designs of the Coronet series. Intricate parts diagrams and charts. Repair tools and their use. Many pages devoted to "Repair Analysis" of every conceivable pen problem. The troubleshooting charts and information applies to most any pen regardless of make, model or manufacture and comprise about one quarter of this manuals contents.

It will take you hours to study the detailed photos and drawings. Reproduced on a state of the art $22,000 digital duplicator, the reprint looks far better and is easier to read than the finely printed original. While other manuals have been reprinted, this detailed a manual has not been offered before.

Whether you collect Eversharp or not, this is an excellent book to include in your repair reference library.

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