Back in March I flew to New Hampshire to visit my daughters, their significant others, and my granddaughter, and my oldest daughter purchased a fountain pen at a neat Portsmouth shop (Pickwick’s Mercantile). After getting back home in Colorado, I ordered one of the same brand she got…and…well…might have gotten more than a couple additional writing instruments since. 🙂
One of the best pen sites (fountain or otherwise) I found was Goldspot Pens, and it was with them I first saw the Retro 51 brand. This will be a quick, double-review of the two.
Starting with Goldspot Pens, they have a wide selection of inexpensive through luxury (for lack of a better word) pens, ink, paper, accessories, etc. Additionally, their prices are competitive and, when you order, my experience is that it is shipped by the end of the next business day. (The cost of shipping is reasonable: free if your order is above $75, and I’ve only paid about $5 otherwise. The only improvement I would suggest is that they send a note upon shipping, although you can easily check the status through a link in the e-mail you get after purchase.) Finally, they have helps for us newbies (e.g. “Fountain Pen University”).
As luck would have it, my first purchase (and most of what I have bought) from Goldspot have been Retro 51 products. It began with the ridiculously cool Corsair and P-51 Mustang fountain pens (the latter I also sent to my eldest son), but it expanded to the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball – Ombre Avocado. Now, with that one I mistakenly thought I was getting another fountain pen, but I am glad I made the mistake. It became my favorite desk pen immediately. Well, until my wife saw how sweet it was and snapped-up my offer to let her have it. 🙂
Retro 51 pens have amazing designs, sturdy builds, and write beautifully. They are a joy to look at, hold, and use…which now my son, my wife, and I can confirm. The biggest danger to my wallet right now is getting an e-mail from Goldspot Pens that tells me a new Retro 51 pen is available. Even worse, a limited edition one like the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball Pen in Stacked Friends – Brad Oldham with its matching Retro 51 Squirrel Bandit Pen Rest. It is the epitome of design, build, and writing joy I mention above:
Just wow! 🙂
From the product’s description on Goldspot Pens:
Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin are a husband-and-wife team who create place-making sculpture for communities, companies, and collectors across the country. They thrive on the challenge of articulating the personalities of diverse locations and events while ensuring the uniqueness of each installation, which often becomes a cherished community icon. While most of their narrative work is monumental in scale, they also enjoy making intimate, small-scale sculptures to allow viewers to incorporate a piece of the story into their daily lives. The “Stacked Friends” pen design is a collaboration between these artists and the Retro 51 team, incorporating images from a dozen different public art installations into the acid-etched, stonewashed pewter body of the Tornado rollerball pen.
If you’ve reached this far, you probably know the punch line about each. Huge thumbs up to Goldspot Pens and to Retro 51. Also, a bonus review of the art of Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin: tremendous talent! (You can see more of Brad’s work on the Brad Oldham Sculpure website.)
Now, I am just an ordinary guy, and although I owned fountain pen(s) when I was younger, I am a newbie. However, I know what I like and can recognize beauty, quality, and great service. Nicely done Goldspot Pens, Retro 51, and Brad Oldham!