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TonyB

These artists don’t use pencils as tools to create art. They just turn the pencils themselves into art.

Hopefully, you will be as impressed as we are by the level of detail and craftsmanship that went into these pieces.

(We’re only using one example from each artist so as to not infringe on their work. If you want to see the complete collections, please visit their web pages.)

Alien bursting out of a pencil tip, by cerkahegyzo from Hungary.

 

Chained pencil by Mizuta Tasogare and Kato Jado.

 

Heart in a pencil, by Dalton Ghetti.

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Looking for a unique and intriguing way to store your pen collection? Why not try a vintage vending machine.

There’s a TV show in the US called ‘Auction Kings’ on which people bring in rare, historic or collectible items to be appraised and sold at auction in a gallery in Atlanta.

On one recent episode, a man brought in one of the coolest pieces of pen memorabilia that I’ve ever seen: A Vendorama Ballpoint Pen Dispenser.

The Vendorama is a machine built in the 50s and 60s by Victor Vending Company in Chicago. They were built from oak, trimmed in chrome and baked enamel, and held up to 168 pens. The buyer dropped in a dime, turned the handle like a gumball machine and got one ballpoint pen.

As you can see in the photos above, the pens lay horizontally in slots on a center drum, perfect for preventing leakage or drying. The face of the machine opens outward on a hinge (with a key), providing easy access to the pens.

How awesome would that look sitting on a cabinet, stocked with all your favorite pens?

The good news is that there are still more Vendoramas out there for sale on eBay and other auction sites. The bad news is that they’re cool collectibles and that means pricey. One recently sold on eBay for US$610. Another, with the side refill dispenser, is offered by an antique dealer for $US585.

But there’s hope. The one sold on Auction Kings went for just $325.

Besides, if you’ve already spent hundreds or thousands on a pen collection, what’s a little more for the perfect storage cabinet.

What do you think?

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Counterfeit Pens: Even The Most Inexpensive Get Faked

April 17, 2013

Have you ever heard of a Skerple marker? Neither had I until the other day when I ran across an article by a college professor about a Chinese knock-off of the Sharpie marker. Turns out, the Skerple looks like the Sharpie in almost every regard, even using similar font for the name, and can be [...]

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Reporter’s Notebooks Are Perfect For Everyday Carry

April 16, 2013

So, I read this excellent piece over at Medium about keeping a notebook for memory and inspiration, and I couldn’t agree more with the notion of carrying a notebook with you everywhere you go. Last year, I touched on why taking notes by hand still beats doing it digitally. It’s just a better process for most [...]

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Are You The Winner Of The Tiger Pens April Giveaway?

April 15, 2013

Thanks to everybody who entered! You made this one of our best giveaways ever! Now, for the winner… Karen Howe, No. 32, you have been randomly selected to receive a set of 18 Stabilo Be Wild ballpoints, rollerballs and highlighters. Congratulations! To claim your prize, please leave a comment below and use the ‘Contact’ link [...]

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Penthusiasm!

April 12, 2013

Ana at The Well-Appointed Desk tries out the Pilot Juice 0.5 mm. Nifty at Notebook Stories points the way toward an online gallery of artists’ sketchbooks. Stephanie at Spiritual Evolution of the Bean revisits the Pentalic A La Modeskin Traveler’s Pocket Sketch Book. Brian at OfficeSupplyGeek dips into the Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline fountain pen ink. Mary [...]

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Saving Lives With Just A Knife And Pen

April 11, 2013

File this one under ‘awesome.’ We’ve all seen the TV shows/movies where the intrepid hero saves the life of a choking character by nicking open the throat and making a breathing tube out of a pen or whatever else is handy. While it makes for great drama, it isn’t the sort of thing you expect [...]

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Fountain Pen Jewelry: Yes or No?

April 10, 2013

If you were of a mind to, you could find yourself quite a collection of fountain pen-related jewelry online. Etsy has fountain pen nib necklaces and earrings, Cafe Press has necklaces with photos of fountain pens and even vintage fountain pen ads, and Amazon has flashy fountain pen nib cufflinks. It’s a plethora of bling [...]

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Perfume That Smells Like A Book

April 9, 2013

Here’s a little oddity from the web: A perfume called ‘Paper Passion‘ that is designed to smell like the pages of a book. It comes from Germany as a collaboration between publisher Steidl, perfumer Geza Schoen and Wallpaper* magazine, apparently with a little Karl Lagerfeld thrown in as well. From Steidl: This is an opportunity [...]

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Tiger Pens April Giveaway – Stabilo Be Wild

April 8, 2013

Readers, I have to confess: Sometimes, I get jealous of you. The Pen Warrior always come up with such great prize packages for you guys, and this month is no different. The prize this time is a full set of 18 Stabilo Be Wild writers. Be Wild is a limited-edition range of popular Stabilo ballpoints, [...]

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