Posts filed under Edison

Edison Pen Co. Comet Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

The new Edison Comet pen model first caught my eye on the Edison Pen Co. Instagram, and when I saw they were bringing them to the Chicago Pen Show, I knew I might be in trouble. Sure enough, there were trays and trays of temptation there--but this one stood out. I've been drooling over Jonathon Brooks's abalone material since its debut, but hadn't scored any yet. Edison and Brooks combined? There was no way I was going home without this pen.

The unbalanced look of this pen is a bit odd. The top-heavy domed cap is unusual and may not have captivated me if I hadn't nerded out over the inspiration--a comet with a trailing tail. The translucent material at the top reminds me of a crystal ball, and the shimmery abalone looks absolutely magical. It reminds me of very happy memories studying the Hale-Bopp comet in my 8th grade physics class, when my best friend and I were studying astronomy for Science Olympiad.

But you don't need to be a nerd to love this pen. While the cap looks top-heavy, the material is light and the cap posts deeply, so it feels perfectly balanced when writing (whether your post or not). The joins are smooth and the clip is sleek and flexible. The grip section has a comfortable concave center that flares enough to keep your fingers from slipping down to the nib. The threads above the grip section are very smooth.

Mine has a broad stainless steel nib. I don't usually get broad nibs--I prefer needle EFs--but that means I have a lot of EFs, and I knew I'd want to put lighter colored inks in this pen. I also had Brian tune the nib to be super wet and smooth--so it's the perfect pen for inks that I love that are too pale to be read easily in finer lines. Of course, getting a custom tuning of the nib is an advantage of pen show attendance, but I've always had good experiences with Edison's nibs.

Overall, the pen is beautiful, a pleasure to write with, and makes me think of happy memories. The only criticism I have is that it's so pretty that sometimes it distracts me while I'm writing and I just twist the pen in the sun watching the shimmer while time passes by.

I conveniently forget what I paid for my pen (pen show brain fog), but Edison offers a lot of customization of materials and filler systems that influence their prices. A base price for the Comet on their site now is $275, and they have a large selection in stock currently—several of which want to come live at my house. Please go buy them so I don't.

(I bought this pen at standard retail from Edison Pen Co. at the 2022 Chicago Pen Show.)

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Posted on July 28, 2022 by Sarah Read and filed under Edison, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Edison x Goldspot Pens Newark Orion Nebula Diamondcast Fountain Pen Review

I’m trying to place the Edison x Goldspot Pens Newark Orion Nebula in context with all of the other fountain pens that are new to me this year. Why? Because I think it is my favorite.

For starters, the Goldspot exclusive Newark model, made by Edison Pen Co., reminds me of one of my favorite Edison models, the Beaumont. The Beaumont is a smaller, lighter fountain pen, and the Newark is designed along similar lines, with a touch more barrel length and a different grip section design than its pen partner.

In my hand, this leads to a perfect writing experience. I talk about this with other pen models, in that the design allows the writing instrument to morph into an extension of your hand when writing. Not every pen I own feels this way. That’s ok, I love pens that don’t fit this description as well. But the ones that do are in a different category. I know they are great from the moment I pick them up.

This shape isn’t for everyone. My tastes lie in the small and lightweight realm. Others have a better writing experience with big and bulky pens. The design, shape, and weight of the pen play into how enjoyable your writing experience can be.

I’m writing a lot right now, and the Newark has been a workhorse. It is fitted with a stock steel EF Jowo nib, and inked with Van Dieman’s Devil’s Kitchen - a dark turquoise ink.

Why this ink? I’m so glad you asked!

Have you seen this barrel material? I had wanted to try the Newark model since launch for all of the reasons listed above. And once I saw it available in this Diamondcast Orion Nebula? Insta-buy.

Diamondcast is a product from McKenzie Penworks, who designed this material in conjunction with Edison and Goldspot exclusively for this pen. The depths of space are explored, with purple and turquoise swirls making me wonder if there really is life out there somewhere.

Ok, maybe that’s a little much. But this material is awesome, and I love using this pen.

With the Diamondcast material, this limited edition Newark is $225 at Goldspot. Two other standard acrylic Newark models - DC Battery Blue and AC High Voltage Green - are priced at $169. Is the Diamoncast material worth the upgrade? To me it is, but it is admittedly a sizable increase over two other great looking materials in their own right. All of the prices seem in line with their respective offerings.

While the material is a knockout, that doesn’t mean a thing if the pen isn’t enjoyable to use. I see the Newark being a workhorse model for me, and one I may even look at adding another of down the line if the design is as inspiring as this one.

(I purchased this product from Goldspot using my 10% off discount code. Do you need the code for your next purchase? Email me! .)

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Posted on November 8, 2021 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Edison, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Second-hand Edison Fountain Pen Giveaway

We have some pretty great readers here at The Pen Addict, including ones who donate some pretty awesome pens for giveaway. Recently, a reader was thinning their fountain pen herd, and offered up a few of their Edison Pens for giveaway. How cool is that?

All three of these pens are in great shape and in working order. I’d consider them user-grade, and ready for you to put right into action. Here are the specifics:

Edison Brockton in Brooks Modified Japanese Autumn, Steel EF nib.

Edison Brockton 2019 Limited Edition Miami Nights, Black Oxide Steel 1.1 mm Stub nib.

Edison Menlo Draw Filler in Red/Orange/Yellow Translucent Swirl, Black Oxide Steel EF nib, with extra Black Oxide Steel F nib.

For this giveaway, instead of choosing three winners from one entry and sorting out which pen to send, I’m opening up three individual giveaways, one for each pen. Please enter any and all of the giveaways you wish to win. Good luck!