I love Retro 51 Tornado capless rollerball pens.  Retro 51 Tornados feel so comfortable to hold. With their tapered barrel, it’s easy to find the “sweet spot” to hold.  In addition, their look is classic.  I’d recognize a Retro 51 pen(cil) anywhere due to the knurled twist-action retraction mechanism on top.  One of the newer Retro 51 pens is the Retro 51 Tornado Sea Turtle Rescue Ballpoint.  As part of the Rescue series, this pen trails after the recent release of the Cat & Dog Rescue 5 series.  Each design of the Rescue series pens is unique, and brings thes ..read more

In 1959, NASA publicly announced the first seven American astronauts who flew operations for Project Mercury.  They were from a pool of military test pilots for their exceptional skills, courage, and physical endurance. Among them were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. Their striking silver space suits and white helmets became iconic symbols of America’s early space exploration endeavors. They captivated the imagination of the nation and the world as they embarked on historic missions to push the boundaries of human exp ..read more

Though he is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia was much more than a musician. His house at 710 Ashbury Street marked the heart of the enlightenment and expression that pulsed through San Francisco in the 1960s. It also fueled Jerry’s profound exploration into painting and visual arts.  Through the new Blackwing Volume 710 Jerry Garcia Pencils, you can see an interpretation of his interest in painting.  You might also be familiar with the famous Jerry Garcia ties.  They’re easy to recognize with their wild color swirls.  I’m a ..read more

So many new pens have been released since my last blog, and I’m going to catch you all up asap.  I’ve been truly busy working hard at getting our new website in working order before releasing it, but I’m sorry I haven’t shared new writing instruments with you all in a while.  This first pen in the series of updates is the new Kaweco Sport Piston Filler Fountain Pen.  We’ve all been waiting for this one for a while now, and I’m so excited that it’s here! https://blog.bertramsinkwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/KAWECO_AlltagV3_loop.webm First of all, the Kaweco Sport Piston Fil ..read more

Okay, so TWSBI has done it again with the new TWSBI ECO Dark Sapphire Fountain Pen.  What makes this extra gorgeous is the striking blue resin.  This is a beautiful, deep, vibrant blue on the cap and piston knob.  I also like the matching modern-looking chrome trim.  In addition, be sure to read all the way to the end of this blog for some major news and updates.  First of all, the TWSBI ECO Dark Sapphire Fountain Pen has great value with its piston filling system and affordable price. Like many other TWSBI fountain pens, it features a crystal clear acrylic barrel so ..read more

Stipula pens are known for being substantial.  When I say they’re substantial, I’m referring to not only their size and heft, but similarly substantial in terms of detail.  Even though I love writing with pens of all sizes, the Stipula Etruria Wild Honey Fountain Pen is enjoyable as a thicker, longer, massive pen.  Yet this pen is still so comfortable to hold because its weight is proportionate to the size.  The Wild Honey is so beautiful, and is appropriately named as the deep resin swirls reflect an amber, honey color. First of all, the Etruria model is named after a reg ..read more

Check out the new Retro 51 Tornado Dog & Cat Rescue 5 Pens!  This series has been a success from the start. In addition, your collection can be completed while contributing to such a great cause.   BOW WOW MEOW! Yes, you heard that right, Retro51 is introducing the latest designs in the popular Retro 51 Tornado Dog & Cat Rescue 5 Pens. Similarly, adorable felines and canines are printed around each Tornado barrel in the cutest poses. Therefore, rollerballs, pencils and for the first time, fountain pens are available!  Dog Rescue First of all, we’re introducing ..read more

Keeping in theme with last week’s blog review, here’s an intricately detailed beauty of a pen celebrating the Lunar New Year.  Newly introduced is the ST Dupont Dragon Scales Pen Collection.  I can’t begin to do justice in explaining how ornate these pens are.  However, the pictures below definitely do the collection justice.   While S.T. Dupont doesn’t explicitly say these are a limited edition, I can’t imagine it’s an open ended series.  We’ve got the multifunction fountain pens/rollerballs coming, and the lighters, and ashtray are available via special order.&n ..read more

Most commonly associated with Retro 51 pens is their Tornado.  As soon as I hear there’s a new Retro 51 Tornado pen out, I’m excited to see what the design will be celebrating this time.  With three new Retro 51 Tornados on the horizon, here’s the Retro 51 Tornado USPS Lunar Zodiac Capless Rollerball.  Ring in the Lunar New Year with the latest licensed United States Postal Service (USPS) rollerball pen from Retro 51. The USPS issued the new Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon stamp this year, the fifth in this series associated with the Chinese Zodiac. First o ..read more

An icon of the writing world, the Lamy Safari continues its status as a beloved pen since its introduction in the 1980s. Although it’s considered a “beginner-friendly” pen, it enjoys a cult-like status from long-time pen enthusiasts worldwide. One of the reasons why the Safari continues to capture the attention of writers and thinkers is their yearly release of special edition colors.  Lamy pens are among the first that I ever collected, and always hold a special place in my heart.  This new Lamy Safari Special Edition 2024 is unique.  It’s one of the few Safaris that have two c ..read more