Which US pen show, for a Brit?

[amk]

I've enjoyed the reports of US pen shows on fpgeeks, particularly the photos of other geeks' loot from the shows. But some of the shows seem a little daunting - very, very big and very, very crowded.

So for a Brit, who has (if a current project comes off) a chance to visit the US for a while and might be able to add in one or two pen shows en route, which particular shows could people recommend that would be fairly relaxed but be worth the detour? I'm particularly interested in hand made US pens and their makers, so I'd prefer a show at which more makers are exhibiting to a purely vintage show.

(Of course, the answer may be that I *still* ought to go to the DC supershow... in which case I may just have to change my plans.)

[jar]

If you like the small maker pens then why not email the ones you like and ask where they plan to exhibit? Then you can see where you have the best chance to see as many makers as possible.

[Crazyorange]

I would say DC show or LA show. You'll get everyone under one roof.

Yes, DC is large but the vendors and people are very friendly. I found people were very willing to guide me to certain vendors. That dampened the overwhelmed feeling.

The DC show is held at a hotel that's a five minutes walk to the metro - which takes you into the center of DC within 30 minutes. Thus you can do some sight seeing as well.

[Silverbreeze]

Check Edison Pens and Franklin-Christoph schedules.

In my opinion even if you buy nothing everyone needs to physically try those two companies

[Farmboy]

You should attend the San Francisco Pen Event.

Farmboy

[Roger W.]

If you think Edison and Franklin-Christoph are all that you need I got 'em both coming to Chicago at the end of April. I have repairers, turners, calligraphers, inks galore, new and vintage pens. Try chicagopenshow.com and see us for our four day show, 154 tables with 100 vendors. We are also on twitter @chicagopenshow.

Roger E. Wooten
Business Manager
Chicago Pen Show

[Farmboy]

If you think Edison and Franklin-Christoph are all that you need I got 'em both coming to Chicago at the end of April. I have repairers, turners, calligraphers, inks galore, new and vintage pens. Try chicagopenshow.com and see us for our four day show, 154 tables with 100 vendors. We are also on twitter @chicagopenshow.

Roger E. Wooten
Business Manager
Chicago Pen Show

You also have ink testing stations but then so do we...

I say go to Chicago and SF.

[Roger W.]

Sarj is with us again this year. I'm also an Anglophile - does that help? As Farmboy says we have ink stations going which is new to us thanks to the help of our friends in San Francisco - that is a show I'd like to attend.

Roger W.

[Farmboy]

Sarj is with us again this year. I'm also an Anglophile - does that help? As Farmboy says we have ink stations going which is new to us thanks to the help of our friends in San Francisco - that is a show I'd like to attend.

Roger W.

For the uninitiated, Sarj is the 'One Man Pen Show' even though his day job gets in the way of pens.

FB

[Chrissy]

Sadly, I'm now missing the Chicago pen show, but it was one that I was trying to attend this year, that fell through.

[fqgouvea]

Sadly, I'm now missing the Chicago pen show, but it was one that I was trying to attend this year, that fell through.

Me too, alas. Just can't find the money to cover the flight and hotel and show...


Fernando Gouvêa -- fqgouvea@roadrunner.com

[amk]

Thanks for all the input. I already have quite a few Edison pens (including the limited edition Collier that came out last year) but Franklin-Christoph isn't at all well known this side of the pond, so I shall have to investigate. Now trying to juggle dates and see if everything will fit!

I think there are actually two Sarjs, 'cos I can't see how he gets around the way he does :-)