A Christmas Bonus

Well, we've been a bit behind schedule here at Tempus Fugit HQ owing to a fairly massive project that I have undertaken (more to come on that).  So I haven't really had a chance to even reflect too much on what Santa Claus brought me for Christmas.  In fact the coolest item under the tree did not come from a rotund fellow in a red suit with white trim.  No, in fact one of the coolest things that I received was a joint present from my work mates, the Executive Publisher and the Cub Reporter -

And I suppose it might have been a gentle hint to get back on the horse and write a bit more frequently, but I have to say it really hit my visceral buttons.  I have often waxed lyrical about Pelikan, and they make a very fine pen.  But I have to be honest, I am becoming more and more enamored with Kaweco!

This is the Kaweco Student 70 Soul Rollerball.  And it is the Witches Britches! 

It is wonderfully whimsical, reminiscent of the
Creamsicle® of my youth -

Courtesy of Popscicle

And that is perhaps what I have come to love so much about Kaweco.  Rather than pontificating and bloviating on how important, stately, iconic (insert other self-important language here) their pen brand is, Kaweco tends to focus on communicating just how much fun a pen can be.

Shamelessly borrowed from the world-wide infoweb

Ultimately, while a pen can be a beautiful item, it is also a tool.  And more specifically?  A tool for communication.  And what I find so fascinating about Kaweco is the lengths that they go to help their retail partners communicate Kaweco's message.  Remember, a lot of people start out with the Kaweco Sport -

Courtesy of Kaweco

This is a pen that goes for a little north of US $20.  Think about that for a minute.  Whereas most retailers refuse to go anywhere near something that inexpensive, Kaweco has found a way to bridge the gap and not only support their retail partners with, let's face it, totally bitchin' point of sale displays, but to get the retail partners excited about it.  Consider this, when a young person first gets exposed to a fountain pen, it is a much easier bridge to purchase a Kaweco Sport, and get the feel of it.  This in turn leads to more Kaweco Sport models, and then, inevitably, to a higher end model.  And while there are other brands, if that first fountain pen kiss came from Kaweco, they have already established a relationship.  

So well done Kaweco!  I have and use SEVERAL of your Sport collection of varying colors, a few in metal, several in fun colorful splashes.  And I can say without fear or favor - if you are even into pens just a little bit?  Treat yourself!

They Might Be Giants

Every now and then there are topics beyond watches here at Tempus Fugit.  Pens are one of those items that, when dressed up by the wordsmiths in PR are magically transformed into "writing instruments".  And I suppose when you drop a week or two worth of pay on something, you are looking for it to become a bit more transcendent than merely utilitarian.

But what this has really succeeded in doing, is creating a vacuum in the pen industry.  While the great and the good focus on creating rare and beautiful vessels for holding ink (and maybe occasionally writing), these very expensive objects, in many instances, become just that.  Objects.  They are too expensive, often too delicate to ever dream of writing with.

Courtesy of Kaweco

Enter Kaweco. 

Spending more than my fair share of time trying to craft story lines and narratives to fit the needs of my clients, I have a fairly sensitive bullshit meter.  And while the words "writing instrument" do make the odd appearance here and there on the Kaweco website, the Kaweco approach is actually quite refreshing.  Pens for NORMAL people, who might actually use them.

And despite the opinions of certain watch company CEOs and over indulged PR mavens, I like to think that I am a normal person.

So normal that I picked this little communication tool yesterday -

This is the Kaweco CLASSIC Sport in brushed aluminum.  An honest pen made from honest materials for (I hope) an honest writer ; )