Last weekend I went to the Triangle Pen Show in Cary, N.C. Generally known as the “Raleigh Pen Show” it’s physically the closest one to me here in Southwest Virginia. I decided to spend the Saturday at the show and arrived a little over two hours of driving later.
It’s not a huge show but that works in its favor since I could cover all the vendors in my single day there. One couldn’t say there were not a lot of pens to see and try. Yes, the candy store metaphor can be used here. Like most shows it runs the whole weekend and has seminars, an auction, and other events scattered throughout. I also got to meet names I’ve only read about like Dr. David Isaacson and Howard Levy which was a pen geek thrill.
My temptations were many but in the end there were a few things on my short list. Dr. Isaacson had several peacock blue Snorkels for sale. That’s the only Snork color I don’t have yet. Steve Braun showed his very reasonably priced Indian made hard rubber eyedropper pens there. I loved the matte and textured finishes in the ripple patterns. I had a nice conversation with Rob Morrison and looked closely at a Sheaffer vacuum filler with a stub nib and a clear barrel at his table. Which one did I get? I’ll blog about it some day.
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, I got to meet someone in person who I had only been a friend with on Facebook. She was as nice and interesting in person as online. No “B” movie plot played out and she wasn’t a homicidal maniac who killed fountain pen collectors met on the internet. Her husband was a great sport and followed her around the show actually taking an interest in the event.
Next show I plan to go to is the one in the Washington, D.C. Supershow. That one will surely tire me out.
Apologies to those who already saw these photos. This post is for the 2 people who might not have.
[flickr-gallery mode=”photoset” photoset=”72157619708255430″]