Jon Szanto
@jonszanto.bsky.social
Percussionist, pen lover. Researching joy. Attempting to fight the good fight and put things back on course.
BTW, we're twins! There's mine, 3rd fr left, always on the desk.
November 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
BTW, we're twins! There's mine, 3rd fr left, always on the desk.
I haven't kept lots of vintage Esties, but I have a fondness for their pastel 'purse pen' line. The plastic is softer, so you look for cap cracks. When this was up for auction it looked ok, and cleaned up well. The 9668 nib is also a sweet writer, and this 4-1/2" fountain pen has a forever home.
October 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I haven't kept lots of vintage Esties, but I have a fondness for their pastel 'purse pen' line. The plastic is softer, so you look for cap cracks. When this was up for auction it looked ok, and cleaned up well. The 9668 nib is also a sweet writer, and this 4-1/2" fountain pen has a forever home.
Idiots. There is always photographic evidence...
October 9, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Idiots. There is always photographic evidence...
I have no idea what you are talking about... 😉
September 25, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I have no idea what you are talking about... 😉
Where have I seen that guy before...
September 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Where have I seen that guy before...
🧵 1/2 - Recent new pen day: I left the SF Pen Show having hardly purchased anything, only to text a friend and have them pick this up for me.
This is a "Sashiko", a collab between Gena Salorino (Custom Nib Studio) and Ian Schon (SchonDsgn). Made of black Ultem, the body adornment is unique.
This is a "Sashiko", a collab between Gena Salorino (Custom Nib Studio) and Ian Schon (SchonDsgn). Made of black Ultem, the body adornment is unique.
September 18, 2025 at 4:46 AM
🧵 1/2 - Recent new pen day: I left the SF Pen Show having hardly purchased anything, only to text a friend and have them pick this up for me.
This is a "Sashiko", a collab between Gena Salorino (Custom Nib Studio) and Ian Schon (SchonDsgn). Made of black Ultem, the body adornment is unique.
This is a "Sashiko", a collab between Gena Salorino (Custom Nib Studio) and Ian Schon (SchonDsgn). Made of black Ultem, the body adornment is unique.
🧵 1/2 - FPs to start your week upbeat!
I told a friend I would fix a semi-restored 1940s Wahl-Eversharp Skyline. It was finicky and the clips are *really* a PITA, but the pen came out very nice (it's the pen on top). These modernistic pens were big sellers.
Well, that got me to thinking...
I told a friend I would fix a semi-restored 1940s Wahl-Eversharp Skyline. It was finicky and the clips are *really* a PITA, but the pen came out very nice (it's the pen on top). These modernistic pens were big sellers.
Well, that got me to thinking...
September 8, 2025 at 5:08 AM
🧵 1/2 - FPs to start your week upbeat!
I told a friend I would fix a semi-restored 1940s Wahl-Eversharp Skyline. It was finicky and the clips are *really* a PITA, but the pen came out very nice (it's the pen on top). These modernistic pens were big sellers.
Well, that got me to thinking...
I told a friend I would fix a semi-restored 1940s Wahl-Eversharp Skyline. It was finicky and the clips are *really* a PITA, but the pen came out very nice (it's the pen on top). These modernistic pens were big sellers.
Well, that got me to thinking...
As usual, a pen show starts before it even starts! People with fountain pens are poring over portfolios for pleasure and... purchase? Just wait until 9:00 a.m. on Friday!
August 29, 2025 at 5:44 AM
As usual, a pen show starts before it even starts! People with fountain pens are poring over portfolios for pleasure and... purchase? Just wait until 9:00 a.m. on Friday!
Okay, here we go! If you like fountain pens this weekend, you want to be in San Francisco for the #sfpenshow. I'll post a few updates during the weekend to give a feeling for what it's like and take you all for a bit of the journey. Lots to see and do, and great times with friends.
August 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Okay, here we go! If you like fountain pens this weekend, you want to be in San Francisco for the #sfpenshow. I'll post a few updates during the weekend to give a feeling for what it's like and take you all for a bit of the journey. Lots to see and do, and great times with friends.
Just for fun before closing out the day, here's a fountain pen I restored for a friend: Waterman 515, made in England, 1940s. Robust, handsome pen, found for a song on eBay and only needed a sac and some nib finesse. Lovely, *wet* writer, a stub with a little flex. Fun project for a good person. 💞
August 24, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Just for fun before closing out the day, here's a fountain pen I restored for a friend: Waterman 515, made in England, 1940s. Robust, handsome pen, found for a song on eBay and only needed a sac and some nib finesse. Lovely, *wet* writer, a stub with a little flex. Fun project for a good person. 💞
🧵1/5
Quartet #1: "The Black Page"
Four pens, of different vintage/history, yet sharing a similar aesthetic across years. L-to-R:
1. Early 1920s Sheaffer Lifetime BCHR flattop. In remarkable condition due to little or no use, so a great window into how a pen like this would present in its day.
Quartet #1: "The Black Page"
Four pens, of different vintage/history, yet sharing a similar aesthetic across years. L-to-R:
1. Early 1920s Sheaffer Lifetime BCHR flattop. In remarkable condition due to little or no use, so a great window into how a pen like this would present in its day.
August 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
🧵1/5
Quartet #1: "The Black Page"
Four pens, of different vintage/history, yet sharing a similar aesthetic across years. L-to-R:
1. Early 1920s Sheaffer Lifetime BCHR flattop. In remarkable condition due to little or no use, so a great window into how a pen like this would present in its day.
Quartet #1: "The Black Page"
Four pens, of different vintage/history, yet sharing a similar aesthetic across years. L-to-R:
1. Early 1920s Sheaffer Lifetime BCHR flattop. In remarkable condition due to little or no use, so a great window into how a pen like this would present in its day.
In a couple days I head up to @sfpenshow.bsky.social for 3 days of fountain pen (and related) fun, and time with good friends. Since I'm still somewhat new to bsky and the fp feed, I'll do my best to post a couple of 'show reports' along the way. Stay tuned! #sfpenshow
August 23, 2025 at 8:50 PM
In a couple days I head up to @sfpenshow.bsky.social for 3 days of fountain pen (and related) fun, and time with good friends. Since I'm still somewhat new to bsky and the fp feed, I'll do my best to post a couple of 'show reports' along the way. Stay tuned! #sfpenshow
I knew a pic was hanging around somewhere. Here’s the RK pen I’ve been using recently:
August 23, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I knew a pic was hanging around somewhere. Here’s the RK pen I’ve been using recently:
My muse on IG, @robslitquotes, never fails me.
August 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM
My muse on IG, @robslitquotes, never fails me.
Thanks to @robslitquotes on IG.
August 14, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Thanks to @robslitquotes on IG.
Quartet #2: Stripes Never Go Out of Style
If you decide to collect vintage pens, somewhere you have to draw the line: you can't get them all. A classic case is the Parker Duofold in striped celluloid, from the 1940s. Sometimes referred to as a "DuoVac", but that's not always the case. Anyway...
If you decide to collect vintage pens, somewhere you have to draw the line: you can't get them all. A classic case is the Parker Duofold in striped celluloid, from the 1940s. Sometimes referred to as a "DuoVac", but that's not always the case. Anyway...
August 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Quartet #2: Stripes Never Go Out of Style
If you decide to collect vintage pens, somewhere you have to draw the line: you can't get them all. A classic case is the Parker Duofold in striped celluloid, from the 1940s. Sometimes referred to as a "DuoVac", but that's not always the case. Anyway...
If you decide to collect vintage pens, somewhere you have to draw the line: you can't get them all. A classic case is the Parker Duofold in striped celluloid, from the 1940s. Sometimes referred to as a "DuoVac", but that's not always the case. Anyway...
"All those inks, like tears in the drain. Time to dry".
When I write a fountain pen dry, I put it in a case to await a few colleagues before doing a group cleaning. Afterwards, I hand dry but then leave them open in a case overnight to let all the moisture out. It was worth a photo for the meme.
When I write a fountain pen dry, I put it in a case to await a few colleagues before doing a group cleaning. Afterwards, I hand dry but then leave them open in a case overnight to let all the moisture out. It was worth a photo for the meme.
August 5, 2025 at 3:07 AM
"All those inks, like tears in the drain. Time to dry".
When I write a fountain pen dry, I put it in a case to await a few colleagues before doing a group cleaning. Afterwards, I hand dry but then leave them open in a case overnight to let all the moisture out. It was worth a photo for the meme.
When I write a fountain pen dry, I put it in a case to await a few colleagues before doing a group cleaning. Afterwards, I hand dry but then leave them open in a case overnight to let all the moisture out. It was worth a photo for the meme.
Hmmm... he is somewhat sedate and behaved, but has his moments. His sibling, Ranger, is a big, heavy drifts with a god heart and smaller brain. We adopted them on Kauai at the Humane Society and flew them home in a carrier under the seat. Here's their 1st night home, 8 was old:
August 3, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Hmmm... he is somewhat sedate and behaved, but has his moments. His sibling, Ranger, is a big, heavy drifts with a god heart and smaller brain. We adopted them on Kauai at the Humane Society and flew them home in a carrier under the seat. Here's their 1st night home, 8 was old: