His Nibs.com update -- New Chinese brands & Shaving a Yeti

His Nibs.com Update
New Chinese brands
November 4, 2005

This week we introduce the first of several new
Chinese brands, all from the pen 'capital' of Shanghai.
Unlike the better known Hero -- and since I
introduced them to the U.S. last year, DUKE and
Uranus -- these brands are probably unknown to
most western pen collectors.

Baoer #3013

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of
small to medium-sized pen manufacturers based in
Shanghai, serving the Chinese population of over one
billion, as well as many other Asian countries.

To start with, I've selected one pen model of each
brand that I'm introducing, in order to give you a
flavor of some of the creative and interesting designs
being produced for domestic consumption on the
other side of the globe. Unlike western-produced
pens, but typical for Chinese ones, the nibs are not
typically graded as to size, but I have noted their
correspondence to our western understanding of x-
fine, fine, and medium on the website. Often there
will be variation in the nib sizes I receive even for
one model, and if I make mention of such variation, I
will do my best to fill preferences toward the finer
or broader end of the spectrum from available stock.

This week I'm starting off with models from
Baoer and Speeno and will have a
few more in the coming weeks.

Keeping our attention fixed toward Asia, there are
two entries on the blog which might be of interest.
The earlier one deals with the spread of Avian or Bird
Flu in the region (China's cases have multiplied
substantially in the past two days), and on a lighter
note, we give you an opportunity to 'shave a Yeti' --
and who hasn't wanted to do that at some point in
their life?

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in this issue
* Baoer #3013
* Speeno #1013
* Monteverde Sonata
* On the blog....Bird Flu and Shaving a Yeti

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baoer #3013

Here we have a full-sized (5-1/2" capped, 6-3/8'
posted) lacquer-over-brass beauty. The rich
chocolate-brown base has black veins running
through it. The chrome clip and rings add a nice
visual balance to the black lacquer used on the rest
of the pen. Each pen has a unique appearance, with
no two exactly alike.

Read more here... - http://www.hisnibs.com/baoer.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speeno #1013

Now this is a cute, and practical pen. Measuring just
3-/14" when hanging from your belt, purse or
keychain, this all-metal wonder unscrews from its
cap to reveal not a little ballpoint, but an extra-fine
hooded fountain pen!

Read about how it works here... - http://www.hisnibs.com/speeno.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monteverde Sonata

Speaking of smaller pens, the Monteverde Sonata is
now back in stock.

Click here to read more... - http://www.hisnibs.com/sonata.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the blog....Bird Flu and Shaving a Yeti

Avian, or Bird Flu seems to be on everyone's mind
this week, with Asia still being hardest hit at this
point.

Traveling to the Himalayas, we explore the new sport
of Yeti shaving.

Click the title on the blog to read the entire article.... -
http://hisnibs.blogspot.com

Regards,

Norman Haase
His Nibs.com
www.hisnibs.com
Blog: http://hisnibs.blogspot.com