5th London Writing Equipment Show took place @ Kensington Town Hall on Sunday 2nd October 2011

As you can see from the photographs below, it was a successfulevent that was enjoyed by nearly 100 traders and exhibtors and over 300 visitors.

Here are some comments that have been made about the 2011 LWES show:

Dear FPN Colleagues,

It was my first time I had visited the 'London Writing Equipment Show 2011' at Kensington Town Hall - and what a gorgeous sunny afternoon it
was as well !.

I arrived early and soon joined the queue of many people from a wide array of backgrounds. After paying the entrance fee I was provided with a wristband and a mini-brochure ....which also doubled as a raffle ticket for a fountain pen prize.

I met with the very nice group of organisers ( W.E.S. ) who were just inside the entrance and volunteers were also on hand to help.

With about 89 tables laid out with a vast quantity of pens - it was a collectors dream.

Mr John Sorowka was working his magic on the many pens that were coming his way. It was a pleasure to watch him and his apprentice in action - I will definitely be posting him some pens.

I managed to spot a TWSBI Daimond 540 being sold by 'The Writing Desk' for an impressive 40 pounds - after holding it and writing with it - it certainly feels and writes like a 100 pound pen - i can only recommend that you buy one if your looking for a quality and durable demonstrator piston fill fountain pen that can hold a ton of ink. The Writing Desk also had a bargain box of inks - I snapped up an 'imperial purple', 'chocolate brown' and Watermans Green ink for a pleasingly cheap price. Another recommended buy is the travelling ink bottle where you can insert your ink filler at the top and suck up as much ink as is required - very convenient and no ink spillages.

Every seller I came across was friendly and knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to talk about a potential pen purchase.

Mary from Conway Stewart Pens had a 'gorgeous' array of fountain pens - alas I had already spent the majority of my budget on other pens!.

The Visconti / Monteverde Desk had a Monteverde Pen which use's an ink bottle filler to suck up ink but has a ball point which lays the ink
on paper - it was both smooth and wet and it doesn't dry up if the cap is left off for a long time. The line was of fine to medium width. A
hot recommendation and for only 40 pounds ! , the pens come in yellow, blue or orange - they are on display in the third picture from the top
and are closest to the bottom of the picture - hopefully another member will remember the model name.

I only wish I had won the lottery - I could easily have spent 2000 pounds on the gems that were on display.

I didn't win the raffle - but my first visit to this event will be a memorable one. Thank you to the team at W.E.S. Ltd for organising such
a pleasurable event and to all the sellers, I will be attending next year - fingers crossed.

If your thinking of attending the London Writing Equipment Show 2012 - I thoroughly recommend it - the amount of people you meet who share
your interest in pens is worth the entrance fee alone.

I would love to hear from other people who also attended.

 
I didnt arrive until mid afternoon due to British Rail's time keeping plus engineering works on the Tube but I still enjoyed myself despite
no having the opportunity to have a good talk to people, lets hope the Northern in April will put that right.

I didnt buy so much, just a NOS 146 with a nice broad nib and some parts plus a very early Vacumatic pencil and a 51 pencil.

Mary was adorable and had some really nice CS stock plus some really interesting pens coming soon, some big bucks MB LEs from an Italian
seller and generally some nice kit.

Many thanks to the organisers - you did a great job.

Managed to loose my wallet, (Yes A, that actually was mine!) but the delightful lady on Parkers Parts found it and helped me out, thanks
again

G


Just got home my first Pen Show! Very good fun and met lots of nice people.

Stephen Hull was very friendly and explained he was writing a book on Onoto Pens for next year. Found out that he uses a ballpoint, but
collects fountain pens! Ian MacCallum was very friendly and knowledgeable about the Conways I was enquiring about, but ultimately
I felt that the vintage nibs were all a bit too fine (width) for me. Sorry Ian!

Onoto showed off their new plunger filler, but was a little too rich for my pocket! Very smooth nib though!

Rolf from missing.pen was very friendly also, and I would have bought some of the new Diamine Racing Green, but I have 8 bottles of green
ink still waiting to be used. The Journal Shop were showing off their Midoris, reminding me to actually write something in mine! The Writing
Desk were there with the TWSBI ink bottles (yes I got one!). The Oxonian was there but there was always a queue, so I just watched him
work.

Managed to miss the auction as I was chatting with Raj (whose FPN I cannot remember, who showed me his Pelikan Ruby with a BB) out in the
sunshine. Adrian (whose FPN name I told him I was unlikely to remember) was picking up an M800 demonstrator to add to his collection
of demonstrators which he uses! Tempting me to finally ink mine!

I went to the show thinking I would pickup a Conway Stewart 58 or a Parker 51(yes something vintage and not another Pelikan). I got
distracted by Onotos. Spotted an original 31 Toledo (way out of budget). Finally, I ended up at Regina's stall of modern Pelikans. She
had the Green O Green M600. She had the M101N with a BB. I was tempted to go with the 101N, then Andreas Lambrou (yes that one!) popped over to say hello. I asked him what he reckoned: Neither, go for the one that fits your hand. So, that is how I walked away with another M800,
this time with a blue stripe and BB.

Awesome time, would recommend to anyone. Only hint is to bring cash and/or a cheque book.