Chicago Pen Show 2002
This year we have gathered a number of reports and snippets together from a number of attendees - photography by Terry Clark, Donal Higgins, Don Lavin and Len Provisor.
Donal Higgins
An eagerly awaited return visit to the Chicago Pen Show saw me back at O'Hare Airport wearing the same jacket and greeting Len in the same spot - Groundhog Day Pen Show style.
Wednesday evening and a chance to catch up with Steve and Maryann Zucker, who drove non stop from New York and still managed to host a great dinner for myself and Len - what a buzz to get straight into pen mode and up to date on the latest happenings in the business.
Thursday started early with a breakfast meeting with Don Lavin and Len, once again Don extending the tremendous hospitality shown to me last year - making sure I didn't go hungry at any stage and keeping me supplied with sound advice.
Len Provisor and Donal Higgins (photo: Don Lavin)
This time I got to see a bit of Chicago outside of the hotel, one of the highlights being a visit to Don's home and office where he has an amazing collection as many Chicago Pen Club members will confirm.
Don Lavin in his office (photo: Donal Higgins)
Part of Don Lavin's collection (photo: Donal Higgins)
From there a visit to StudioNorth to meet Pentracer Rob Schueneman for a tour of the studio and a chance to engage in some serious technobabble with his technical team who live in a darkened room surrounded by computer hardware and lit only with "black light", which creates an atmosphere that Jimi Hendrix would be proud of. I was privileged to also get a chance to visit Len's home, meet his wife Shelly again and his son Jeff and see the "command center" for myself.
The serious pen business started early in the upper reaches of the hotel, two rooms were already buzzing as familiar faces laid out their goods on the tables and any other flat surface available. Dan Zazove greeted me with an elegant pen case
Dan Zazove (left) and Don Lavin prepare for the show (photo: Donal Higgins)
"remember those Parker prototypes I showed you last year? - well I don't have anything like that this year" and promptly opened the case displaying an even more amazing collection of unique Vacumatic prototypes. As I was in Vacumatic hunting mode this year it was a hell of a way to start the show! Those Vac prototypes incidentally featured in a prank a few minutes earlier - Don Lavin asked a dealer to hold three of the particularly priceless ones up while he plonked a small bundle of twenties on the table - just as David Isaacson came into range. David of course broke out in a sweat thinking that he had just missed that Sumgai moment and inquired if Don was willing to consider selling them - until the laughter gave the game away..
As I toured the tables, I met Anna Lawson (ListMom of the 4Pens list), Bill Riepl of Stylophiles, Dean Tweeddale of Penlovers and Sandy Andina. During some pen talk, Don Lavin appeared and quickly ushered me to a dealers table where he had spotted the Vac Maxima I was looking for - only to find it was sold seconds earlier - rule one, keep an eye on the tables!
Another surprise - Pentrace posters and blotters bearing the Pentraceguy image by Russ Stutler all over the show courtesy of Len!
Straight out to dinner with Don Lavin, Dan Zazove and Dean Tweeddale and a return visit to Gibson's where the food and presentation has to be seen to be believed. Back to the show and a chance to meet Herb Schultz again and talk Pelikan's and Apple Mac!
Friday saw the show move into the main hall, pen folk lined up early for tables. Time to search the tables for Vacumatics!
Last year at the show I got a silver pearl and liked it so much that I decided to get some more vacs. A quick tour of the room showed me where the likely hunting grounds were and I quickly started my mini-collection with a pristine 1938 golden pearl senior with speedline filler from Steve and Maryann Zucker .
Steve Zucker (photo: Terry Clark)
Time to stop by at David Isaacson's table and see if he had any gems. Not for nothing does David use Vacumania as his pen collecting name. One pen in particular caught my eye - a green Maxima. The problem was that it was in need of some work as David hadn't had it done yet, but the deal was done on the basis that I take it to Roger Cromwell who would look it over and overhaul it on the spot - if Roger found a serious defect then I got my money back. As it happened Roger DID find a major crack in the barrel, but one which could only be detected by dismantling the pen - so the pen went back to David for parts. Kudos to Roger for stopping work on the pen and pointing out the problems - he didn't even charge me!
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David
Isaacson
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Roger
Cromwell
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One of the drawbacks of collecting vacs is the difficulty in spotting barrel cracks due to the transparency and striations in the barrel and as there is no sac, a cracked barrel is a major problem. Rule two - make sure you deal with someone you can trust like the Zucker's or David. I did however get a great oversize green vac pencil and a really unusual Junior #3 size brown (golden web) with a double broad stub!
I was still looking for a Maxima so Maryann took some time out to advise me on what to look for and pointed me in the direction of Geoffrey Berliner who along with Bernie Isaacowitz helped me add a 1940 golden pearl Maxima to the tally. Geoffrey was careful to show me a hairline crack in the cap which accounted for the low price and then showed me how to check the soundness of the diaphragm by holding the nib to your upper lip.
Bernard Isaacowitz (left) and Geoffrey Berliner (photo: Terry Clark)
Happy with my haul, I joined the blues fans on the bus for a trip to Kingston Mines where we sampled some good ribs and good blues - first time I have ever been in a blues club with a no smoking rule!
Saturday and more action in the main hall. My next purchases were no-brainers. Len had showed me some minty vacs refurbed by Richard Binder which positively glowed - so Richard, that burgundy demi you liked so much has gone to a good home! I added a pencil of the same color and went back to the tables. I visited George Kovalenko and came away with a set of Ma and Pa Carter ink bottles which had fascinated me ever since I read an article about them by Sam Fiorella.
I took in the seminars by John Mottishaw and one on digital photography, both of which were well attended. Bill Riepl, Terry Clark (who took most of the great shots for this article) and David Isaacson made up the panel for the photography session, moderated by Don Lavin, himself an accomplished photographer.
I took an hour or two to go downtown on the train and get the kids some souvenirs - I really had to discipline myself to leave quickly and get back to the show - so many great shops and things to do!
I arrived back and the auction was underway. Bidding was brisk, with a few extremely rapid rallies such as the frantic bidding for a vacumatic paper knife.
The Auction (photo: Terry Clark)
One of the highlights was the chance to meet and talk with Geoffrey and Steven Parker, who then joined us at the internetters meeting which included Dean Tweeddale and Tom Zoss. The jam session followed, with Sandy Andina and Mitch Lavin doing the honors.
Sunday - the main public day. I get to meet many Pentracers including Miles Turner and Herb Schultz again - both of whom have added to this report- Eizo Fujii from Euro Box in Tokyo, Leslie & Paul Neilan, Rob Schueneman and Steve Pierce who picked up an Aurora Idea, a Parker 21 ($3..no cracks!) and an Aerometric Esterbrook.
Chartpak were sponsoring once again the great Pelikano's for kids give away which Penlovers were hosting. Dean reserved two for my kids - I should have tried for three - I want one also!
I finished my vac hunting with a beautiful senior oversize burgundy from Gary Lehrer,
Mr. Nagahara from Japan attracted a lot of attention at the Sailor booth, where he tweaked nibs for customers. His cross cut nib was the hit of the show - easy to see why. David Ushkow had given me some great information on Japanese pens earlier in the morning and it was great to see a master at work armed with some knowledge of the painstaking details of his craft.
Time to stop by the table of another nib master - John Mottishaw. Miles was just finishing up his purchase of a red Pelikan, so I slipped into his chair and came away with a similar red M800 - this one with a very flexy oblique cut from a medium nib, which John further tweaked to suit my hand. I got a Parker 51 from him last year with an XB stub, but the Pelikan is even better.
My collection was rounded out (and presents organized) with a trip to the Fountain Pen Hospital table to buy up a brace of Rotring Cores and some other bits and pieces.
Fountain Pen Hospital (photo: Terry Clark)
Before I knew it, it was time to head to the airport - another great Chicago Pen Show over in a flash and fond memories of great hospitality, friendship and invaluable advice.