So, Philip and I were sitting in the official Scriptus offices in downtown Toronto, also known as Balzac’s Café at the Toronto Reference Library. We try to meet there every month or so, to compare notes, work out Scriptus strategies, show off nice pens, and enjoy, respectively, double espresso and chai-tea-steeped-in-plain-steamed-milk.
The Scriptus offices, in downtown Toronto.
Now, usually these meetings are pretty predictable. They get longer as we approach the show date, but after four years of Scriptus we know what to expect.
But this time was a bit different. The conversation went a bit like this:
Philip “So, I think we should do a pen…”
David “Huh.” (That’s my usual response to being whacked alongside the head by a giant new idea.) “You mean, do a show pen?”
For the uninitiated, some pen shows (often the American ones) will produce a limited edition fountain pen, to be sold only at the show. Tapping into the enthusiasm of collectors attending, these usually sell quite well, and can be an excellent way of generating revenue for future shows. They are also a good indicator that the show commissioning such a pen is healthy and robust. Having a show pen is for grown-up shows.
Philip “I was talking to Heinz at the pen breakfast, and he said he thinks that we should think about doing a pen, and that got me thinking. After all, it is Canada’s 150th birthday.”
David “Huh. That’s a lot of thinking. You know it’s only three months until the show?” (That’s my usual second response to a big new idea: think of reasons why it might not work.)
Philip “Well, yes. But why not look into it? If we can’t do it this year, we can always shoot for the Scriptus 5 year anniversary. Although that’s not nearly as exciting as Canada 150.”
David “Huh. Sure, why not?”
So, we are thinking about doing a pen, for Scriptus 2017.
Frightening? Yes. There is a reason that only grown-up shows do pens: they are expensive. Amateurs design pens at their own risk, and much like organizing a wedding, it is all too easy to get carried away and end up with something remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Exciting? Yes! We love pens, obviously. Philip has excellent taste in pens. I have done some industrial design work over the years, and have handled thousands of pens for repair, both good and bad.
It also occurred to us that you all might enjoy being in on the fun. So we will be publishing regular blog entries, walking through the process of “doing a pen” with us. So check back here soon, and enjoy our trip.