This school board meeting from the 1800s could easily have taken place when a few of our members were in primary school!

http://blogs.enotes.com/english-teacher-blog/2008-01/technology-and-education-late-1800s/

A little help from the “Love Coach” on writing a love letter:

http://www.yourlovecoach.co.uk/blog/the-art-of-writing-love-letters/

In 2005, the town of Wengang, China made and sold roughly 7.5 billion brush and metal pens — enough to supply one to every person on the planet and then some.  Of course that Montblanche is real:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_pensjan06,1,3470033.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Just in case you need to sign your name in blood:

http://gizmodo.com/344401/blood+pen-brings-new-terror-to-the-phrase-write-this-out-1000-times

Should someone tell him about the Laban Scotch pen before he finishes or after?

http://woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com/2008/01/segmented-twist-fountain-pen.html

One of the strangest (and most unlikely) pictures that I have ever seen was sent to me by LPC member Stan S.  Stan’s son was in Asia on a medical relief tour and while caught in traffic in downtown Ulan Bator, Mongolia (yes, you read that correctly - downtown Ulan Bator, Mongolia) when lo and behold he looks out his window, only to see the Golden Pen Shop.  Oh what I would not have given to had the opportunity to stroll through this pen shop.  Just imagine what you could and might find!

 Thanks Stan!  Absolutely amazing!

LPC member Kathryn R. from Calgary has provided us with two pages (see the bottom of this post) with some interesting pictures and entertaining comments on a number of black and sorta black inks.

My personal favourite is the Aurora Black which Kathryn seems to like as well.  I find her comments on the Private Reserve Ultra Black interesting and quite humorous.  I also note that Greg Clark found similar drying issues with this ink as noted in a recent Stylus Magazine article.

The Noodler’s Ellis Island Blue shown in the scan is a very attractive blue-black, at least to me, and she has also scanned Noodler’s Zhivago which is also a very popular black that has dark green undertones.

I must admit, while not an expert on black ink (blue is more my style), I was quite surprised at Kathryn’s positive remarks on Montblanc Black.  I have never really heard anyone speak about this ink, let alone make positive comments.  Perhaps I associate with people in “lighter” circles?

Black page 1 Black page 2