Friday, December 30, 2011

The Write Designs: Companies Producing Collectible Fountain Pens

!±8± The Write Designs: Companies Producing Collectible Fountain Pens

Can you possibly imagine what it would be like today if the invention of paper, ink and pens never came to fruition? Would we still be writing on the walls of caves with rocks and pebbles to get our visual and verbal communication across? Thank goodness through the evolution of time, there were many technological innovators who created commercial breakthroughs in fine writing instruments.

Here are eleven out of many companies, who produced some highly valued pens that are among a fountain pen collector's dream:

1. Mabie, Todd & Co. itself was established in 1860 in New York was reformed as Mabie Todd & Bard in 1873. Their first fountain pen, the Calligraphic, was introduced around 1878. Production of their famous "Swan" fountain pens is estimated around 1890.

2. Esterbrook Pen Company, 1856: Richard Esterbrook saw that there was no steel nib manufacturer in the U.S.A., and set up operations in the town of Camden, New Jersey. The initial company was named the United States Steel Pen Manufacturing Company, then Esterbrook Steel Pen Manufacturing Company and by 1947 was renamed The Esterbrook Pen Company. In the 1950's, Esterbrook advertised 4 styles of fountain pens featuring 9 popular nibs to choose from, for the way you write.

3. L.E. Waterman & Company, 1883 to Present: Founded by Lewis Edson Waterman, The Ideal Pen Company is born and in 1888 the company was renamed the L.E. Waterman Company. The company developed the mottled hard rubber finish into the wood grain finish.

4. Parker Pen Company, 1891-Present: Founded by George Safford Parker. In 1894 the company was known for the Lucky Curve ink feed system. Parker launched the first self-filling fountain pen, the Parker 61, in 1956. Engineered to "self-draw" ink from the bottle, the Parker 61 could hold enough ink to last for six hours of steady writing.

5. Conklin Pen Manufacturing Company (originally the Self Fountain Pen Company), established in 1897: In 1901, Conklin patents the Crescent Filler for what is now the Conklin Pen Manufacturing Co. In 1903, the company expands its advertising and marketing, including an endorsement by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens).

6. Montblanc, 1906-Present: A German company known originally as Simplo Filler Pen Company and manufacturers of high-class gold and fountain pens. Founding fathers: Claus-Johannes Voss, a Hamburg stationer; Alfred Nehemias, a Hamburg banker and August Eberstein, a Berlin engineer.

7. A. A. Waterman Pen Company located in New York City, was established by Arthur A. Waterman in 1897. The similarity of names seemed to irritate L.E. Waterman and they sued to force the company to label their pens and nibs as "Not Related to the LE Waterman Pen Company".

8. Moore Pen Company, 1898-1950's: Based in Boston, Massachusetts, made high quality fountain pens until the mid-1950s. The company began in 1899 as the American Fountain Pen Company with an excellent black hard rubber safety pen they produced for nearly 30 years, known as the "Moore's Non-Leakable Fountain Pen."

9. W.A. Sheaffer Pen Company: 1908 - Present: The first practical lever filling fountain pen, earned Walter Sheaffer a U.S. Patent in 1908. A single stroke of a slim metal lever filled the pen reservoir directly from the ink bottle. Sheaffer established the W.A. Sheaffer Pen Company in 1912.

10. OMAS, 1925-Present: (Officina Meccanica Armando Simoni) Founded by Italian writing industry pioneer Armando Simoni. One of OMAS collectibles, "The Doctor's Pen" had the capacity to hold a clinical thermometer, two reservoirs for different colors of ink and conveniently offered a choice of two nibs.

11. Namiki, 1924-Present: A Japanese company developing and patenting lacquering techniques for hand-painted decoration that did not discolor or fade. Namiki is now featured as Pilot's couture collection of Maki-e work.

Some companies focused on popular nib points tailored to your writing style. Others were known by their self-filling systems, use of precious metals or gems. It was evident that the innovators of fountain pens gave careful thought, experimentation and consideration to the design, convenience, function, as well as style of these exquisite writing masterpieces. Thank goodness for any creative failures these companies faced, because overall their collectible, high valued pens, despite popularity, made unprecedented strides to enjoy the exploration of pure writing pleasure.


The Write Designs: Companies Producing Collectible Fountain Pens

Cheaper Coaster Fine Furnishings

Saturday, December 24, 2011

How Much Will My Granite Countertop Cost

!±8± How Much Will My Granite Countertop Cost

There are many reasons why people are choosing granite countertops. Many of the reasons include the benefits, installation issues, and cost. You have made an excellent decision to use granite for your counters. The best decision with the installation of granite counters is to use a licensed contractor for the job.

Cost of Materials For Granite Countertops

Granite can vary in cost. It may depend on the type of granite that you choose and the type of finish you select. However, installing granite requires more than just the granite slab or tiles. There are many other materials that you need to purchase for the installation of your new countertops like a 25 lb. of thin set mortar (), a 5 lb. bag of unsanded grout (), a quart of polished sealer (25), a roll of fiberglass mesh tape (), a trowel (), a putty knife(), a honing stone(), a grout float (), caulk that matches the color if you are using tiles (), and plastic spacers (). All of these materials will be needed for installing granite countertops and you should consider the costs when you are budgeting for your new counter. You also might need a tile saw. You can purchase one for around 5 or you can rent a saw from many places for around for each day. The cutting should be able to be done in one day. You also need to estimate the lumber materials that you will need to purchase also. The materials that you will need include a full sheet of ¾ inch plywood. Every 8ft. of countertop that you have you will need one sheet. You will need a sheet of Denshield to back the tile for every 5 ft. of counter that you have. Roofing nails and screws will be needed for securing purposes.

The cost of granite differs by the type of granite that you decide on. If you would like a solid surface granite countertop then you will pay around 5 per square foot. If you are thinking about tiles on your counter then the costs will run around per square foot. Tiles can be very cheap or they can be expensive. It depends on the type and texture of the granite. The finish you would like for your counter will make a big difference also and will increase the price. Many people prefer the faux finish which can cost you approximately .

Installation Costs For Granite Countertops

There are many things that you need to think about when you hire a contractor to professionally install your granite countertops. Hiring the wrong person could be disastrous and cost you more money in the long run. You should find out how long the contractor has been in business so you can be sure that they have been in business for a while. This will also verify that they are well-established. You should also verify if they have any complaints against them through consumer protection officials. You want to verify how many projects the contractor has completed and ask to see a portfolio of the work they have done. Some contractors take pictures of their finished work and this will give you a good idea of what you have to look forward to when it is finished.

You should also ask for a list of references and you should verify all of them. Don't just take their word for it. Call everyone. If the contractor is going to be using other sub-contractors to help them with the project, you should meet them and make sure that you feel comfortable with them in your home. Verify that everyone who will be working in your home is licensed and that they are all covered by insurance. You can protect yourself by asking to see a lien waiver to verify that the contractor doesn't owe anyone any money. A contractor should have personal liability insurance that will cover damage to property and anything else that could happen.

When you pay the contractor for the work completed, verify that you are satisfied with the work done before you make a final payment. You should limit the down payment to as little as possible and if you are asked to be paid in full then you should go with someone else. You can work with the contractor and set milestones for payment. This means, as the contractor completes defined amounts of work, and then you pay them. You should also always avoid paying cash at all costs. You should also have a contract that clearly spells out all of the work that will be done for the countertops. Be sure that warranties are defined for the materials and the work done. Also be sure the contractor cleans their mess of excess materials and things before they leave.

When you hire a contractor to install granite countertops in your home, the price may vary by how experienced the contractor is and how large the counters are. The price can range from 0 to 00 and higher. If you decide to install granite countertops on your own, then you can be looking at prices from 0 to approximately 0. It is usually not recommended to install granite counters yourself. This is because you should have skill when you are cutting granite and installing a counter. The cost of mistakes with granite might cost you more than what you can afford. It is always better to hire a professional contractor to install granite in your kitchen.

Choosing granite countertops for your kitchen is the best decision that you can make to beautify and increase the value of your home. We wish you the best of luck in finding the slab of granite that is right for you and your home. You are sure to find it.


How Much Will My Granite Countertop Cost

General Electric Range Buy Now

Thursday, December 8, 2011

ST-295-AL Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Meat Band Saw w/ 116 Blade

!±8± ST-295-AL Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Meat Band Saw w/ 116 Blade

Brand : Tor-Rey USA | Rate : | Price :
Post Date : Dec 09, 2011 04:00:11 | N/A

Tor-Rey USA - Tor-Rey USA ST-295-AL Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Meat Band Saw w/ 116 Blade in Food Preparation Equipment at ACityDiscount

Pooh Bassinet Save


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