I wanted to share some pictures of an Edison Pearl fountain pen made by Brian Gray. The clean simplicity of the Pearl model is emphasized by the absence of a clip. While that makes it necessary to keep it in a pen case with other favorites, it is not an inconvenience. I just have to be careful about it rolling off the desk.
Two things make this completely unique. One is that it was turned from the very last of the Lucite in this pattern from the Sheaffer Pen Company in Iowa. While the factory closing is yet another tragedy of a passing American icon (it is now owned by the French company Bic, and production and whatnot is in Asia and Slovakia), at least I have this hand-made relic of another era. I selected the material because of the subtle beauty revealed by rotating the pen. It has the visual qualities of pens from the 1930's and 1940's.
The other thing that is unique is the customization of the nib. Brian is known for his pens, certainly, but should also be equally recognized for his skills as a nibmeister. This was originally a 1.1mm steel stub, and Brian customized it to be a 15 degree oblique, accommodating the strange way that I hold pens. This makes it possible for me to write as fast as I always do, and yet have the results legible (to me at least). I detest tooth, and this came smooth, but in my obsessive fashion, I further smoothed it with materials from Goulet Pens. It is now glassy yet responsive. It lays a wet, perfect line and never grows tiring in the hand with extensive use.
It is a wonderful writing instrument, summa cum laude. Visit the Edison Pen website and look at the innumerable possibilities.
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