2016 LA Pen Show Report

[AltecGreen]

Late afternoon on Saturday












In memory of Saul Kitchener








So normally, I would be posting pictures of the PCA reception and the Kenro event right after but………I had to meet a friend in Hollywood. So no pictures. I heard things went well. It was good for me to get away from the show anyways. So instead you get this coverage.


I went to meet my friend Matt Rotunda, the proprietor of Pitch Perfect Music to pick-up my new Shindo SPU cartridge that arrived from Japan the week before. I told Matt there was no point in shipping since I’ll be in LA. Besides, I’m buying dinner. Pen people think their hobby is expensive. High End audio laughs at you.



A23 Cinema Hommage Speakers



LM555 midrange driver



SPEC8000 turntable.




Shindo Latour Speakers. I own the twin to this pair.


LM Audio 219 amp and 218 integrated amp


Matt and I went to a LA institution, Canter’s









[

[AltecGreen]

Bonus coverage

[Marsilius]

Ok, you jumped the shark at audiophile, too. Maybe you could pay my kids' college tuitions instead? Only three of them. Less than some speakers!

[Jon Szanto]

Ricky, words are inadequate to express the thanks for all your time, effort, and good spirit - at the show, and sharing it all here, as well. You really deserve a standing ovation.

I had promised to do a show report for a few people, but I feel seriously challenged after all this! Well, I'll get *something* together. Thanks, mang. And since he doesn't usually post pics of himself, here's a nice happy shot of Ricky with the irrepressible Lisa Baker Vanness...

[AltecGreen]

LA Pen Show Sunday


What can I say about Sunday at the LA Pen Show that I haven’t said in the past. However, it is always fun to see the reactions of dealers new to Sundays at the LA Pen Show.


This year with all of the activity I was tired by Sunday. It does’t help that I’m also RPS, Ricky Parcel Service, and transporting things for others. So I was running around Sunday making sure I got everyone’s stuff, close down the PCA table, do an interview,…. So I’ll finish Sunday with some random pictures.



Set-up around 7:30 am






Bryant’s empty pen trays. A much cleaner look




What is it with citrus this year?










Sunny had these for sale




Don’t we all buy pens?

[AltecGreen]

Pen World was ready




Chris is ready


These guys are ready













The pens are ready
[





The tools are ready.



Greg’s cookies were ready and delicious

[AltecGreen]

The first people to pay. Before 8:00am I think.



The line grows. It took a while for the line to start because it was cold outside.



More line







Out the door



Down the street




The duck is ready



And we’re off. Someone was desperate to be first for something.


















Bryant photobombs me

[AltecGreen]

After an hour, there was still a long line to get in








Some random Sunday shots


The PCA



Michael Sull



Wave back







The Karas Custom guys








Bright



Ma and Pa




Love the old ink bottles




A modern Kamakura Bori pen by Danitrio. Very nice!



The new acrylic nib blocks.



Someone was bored

[AltecGreen]

Beautiful desk set



Creative use of table space. Control the water coolers.
[


Chinese brush set. Very nice.





It was an interesting show. The issues with the ballroom on Thursday and Friday set a tone for the show. It did affect how I viewed the show and how I took pictures. In the end, it was a great show for me and I bought way too much stuff. We’ll have to wait and see if there any lingering effects. The events on Thursday and Friday did overshadow some other emerging issues. There is concern about where the next generation of pen enthusiasts will come from. The older and more senior members of the community are asking these questions openly. The pen manufacturers are recognizing this. You are seeing less of the over the top LE pens and the makers of such pens have seen soft sales this past year. Celebrity seems to have a powerful affect among the new users. Vendors with social media savvy and bloggers are commanding attention. You look at the tables and those with a following (fans) are doing well while other languish. Of course, all of this is completely disconnected with the hardcore vintage crowd which does its own thing (for now).

[AltecGreen]

The line



The rush




The ballroom in the afternoon on Sunday

[AltecGreen]

Ok, you jumped the shark at audiophile, too. Maybe you could pay my kids' college tuitions instead? Only three of them. Less than some speakers!

I came to the fountain pen community from the audiophile community, the extreme end of the audiophile community. Pens are a much cheaper hobby.

[Marsilius]

Pens are a much cheaper hobby.

This I know!

[penwash]

There is concern about where the next generation of pen enthusiasts will come from. The older and more senior members of the community are asking these questions openly. The pen manufacturers are recognizing this. You are seeing less of the over the top LE pens and the makers of such pens have seen soft sales this past year. Celebrity seems to have a powerful affect among the new users. Vendors with social media savvy and bloggers are commanding attention. You look at the tables and those with a following (fans) are doing well while other languish. Of course, all of this is completely disconnected with the hardcore vintage crowd which does its own thing (for now).

Rick, first of all, I don't know if you're a journalist by trade, but this thread is nothing but stunning as a reportage. Thank you!

The concern you mentioned above rings loudly in my mind. I sit probably in the middle of the age-spectrum, I can relate and be amazed with the mountain of knowledge and passion that the senior members (which takes years if not decades to cultivate) at the same time I'm comfortable talking about first fountain pens, the angst of first nib-springing or ink splattering with younger end of the spectrum.

There is clearly a big gap that is not just about age, but also perspective and knowledge. Maybe as a little step to bridge this gap, is to give the junior members of the community exposure to this thread.

Please consider linking this thread to the fountainpens subreddit (one community inside of Reddit.com) which I think is where one of -- if not THE -- largest pool of fountain pen adopters (mostly young) hang out.
NOTE: If you have no idea what I'm talking about (I had never paid attention to Reddit.com until now), I'll link it for you if you give me the permission.

[Farmboy]

How about sending those Reddit people here to join up and start talking pens.

[penwash]

How about sending those Reddit people here to join up and start talking pens.

I have done that, and will continue to do so. I have seen Jon Szanto invite them here and maybe others from here (sorry if I don't recognize your username) who are active there also.

This is one of the issue. To me, it's useless to divide ourselves as "Reddit people" or "FPGeek" people. We are the fountain pen community, which is already microscopic in comparison to the larger population. We don't have to unite under the same forum of course, but building a bridge could be done more effectively from both sides.

[Jon Szanto]

Yep, I'll be spreading the word over there as well. Frankly, my main reason to join reddit earlier last year was to get a feel for the younger audience and their needs. The more we open it up, the better. I'll do a smaller report, too, just to give additional coverage.

[AltecGreen]

There is concern about where the next generation of pen enthusiasts will come from. The older and more senior members of the community are asking these questions openly. The pen manufacturers are recognizing this. You are seeing less of the over the top LE pens and the makers of such pens have seen soft sales this past year. Celebrity seems to have a powerful affect among the new users. Vendors with social media savvy and bloggers are commanding attention. You look at the tables and those with a following (fans) are doing well while other languish. Of course, all of this is completely disconnected with the hardcore vintage crowd which does its own thing (for now).

Rick, first of all, I don't know if you're a journalist by trade, but this thread is nothing but stunning as a reportage. Thank you!

The concern you mentioned above rings loudly in my mind. I sit probably in the middle of the age-spectrum, I can relate and be amazed with the mountain of knowledge and passion that the senior members (which takes years if not decades to cultivate) at the same time I'm comfortable talking about first fountain pens, the angst of first nib-springing or ink splattering with younger end of the spectrum.

There is clearly a big gap that is not just about age, but also perspective and knowledge. Maybe as a little step to bridge this gap, is to give the junior members of the community exposure to this thread.

Please consider linking this thread to the fountainpens subreddit (one community inside of Reddit.com) which I think is where one of -- if not THE -- largest pool of fountain pen adopters (mostly young) hang out.
NOTE: If you have no idea what I'm talking about (I had never paid attention to Reddit.com until now), I'll link it for you if you give me the permission.

Go ahead and link it. I do understand what you are talking about but I have deliberately avoided Reddit. But you are correct and we need to connect to that community.


PS. I'm a scientist.

[Jon Szanto]

Go ahead and link it.

Done. Not to steal it from Penwash, just because I was at the desk, and to get some eyeballs on it.

[penwash]

Go ahead and link it. I do understand what you are talking about but I have deliberately avoided Reddit. But you are correct and we need to connect to that community.


PS. I'm a scientist.

Very cool, Rick. I was on my way out to a meeting when I saw Jon already took the initiative.

Scientist in what field?

[Jon Szanto]

Scientist in what field?

Sorta like this...