Posts filed under Storage

Galen Leather Co. Wood Pen Holder Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

With all these pens I have inked up at any given time, I'm always in need of a storage or organization system. For me, the organization and storage of things is almost as much fun as the stationery hobby itself, and they also work really well together. What's even better than having a great place to store pens? Having a great pen storage system that doubles as a great decorative piece for your desk or table.

The Wood Pen Holder from Galen Leather out of Istanbul is a solid block of wood with several precisely drilled holds to accommodate pens of many different diameters. And the right side of the block also has a larger hole for other tools and trinkets. Being able to organize 15 pens in a way that's accessible is a fantastic tool for any desk. And being able to store scissors, small bottles, and other small items upright alongside the pens is a bonus.

The Wood Pen Holder is available in either Walnut (pictured here) or Mahogany. The design and finish is the same regardless of the wood species you pick, and they both feature a warm, dark brown that look classy and at-home with most decor. The clear finish or oil that they used to seal the wood is thorough and has a small amount of shine that enhances the natural beauty of the wood without making it look wet.

The finish is silky smooth to the touch, and there's a very faint smell from the finishing oil that diminishes over time. Based on the quality of the finish, I have no doubts that it will stay protected and looking great for many, many years. This isn't a piece that gets a lot of hard use (like a tabletop, for example), so refinishing the wood shouldn't necessary in most moderate climates.

The front of the block also features a debossed metal plate with the Walden Woodworkers brand (to distinguish from their leather goods), which adds a nice black and gold look to the warm brown wood.

The Pen Holder is a solid block of wood, so it feels stout while not being heavy. Each block is cut and then drilled with a drill press to ensure precise vertical cuts and smooth, rounded edges. There are four silicone feet on the bottom to prevent the block from moving around when being used.

The block is 7 inches long, 3 inches tall, and 2.5 inches deep (or 20x8x6.8cm), and the pen holes are 15.5mm (or about 5/8") in diameter, so nearly any fountain pen will fit with no trouble. I don't have any pens in my collection that are larger, and I think the number of pens that are larger than that diameter are few and far between. If you have one that large, you probably already know!

The larger hole on the right side of the block is about 39.5mm in diameter and can hold lots of office supplies or other writing instruments. I've using this hole as a small pencil cup for storing wood pencils, but it also fits scissors, erasers, a small ruler, and other slim tools. To add some frame of reference, I also tried some other objects that I had in the room with me. Most ink bottles are either too wide or too short, but the Robert Oster bottles fit nicely with a little room to spare. The small Ono roller that I keep on my desk also fit nicely. Unfortunately, the AirPods Pro case was just a little too big to fit.

For something so objectively simple and utilitarian, this pen holder does everything so well while also looking like a piece of decor. My list of nitpicks are short, and they wouldn't prevent me from recommending this to anyone that is interested in a desktop pen storage system. The first thing I noticed is that the inside of the drilled holes are no sanded smooth. As someone who dabbles in woodworking, I know that sanding the walls of the holes is not an easy or time-efficient task, but it can be done. That said, it's not something that detracts from the aesthetic, and it also won't affect how it functions. It's not something you touch, so it doesn't really matter that the holes aren't smooth on the inside.

The second nitpick is an even smaller one. I really appreciate that the drilled out holes are also finished with whatever sealing oil or solution as the outside, but there's some obvious build-up of this substance at the bottom of the large hole that wasn't wiped away when it was wet. Since it's cured now, there's no easy way to remove it. Again, not something that affects the functionality or appearance, but worth mentioning.

My nitpicks aside, I'm really enjoying this Wood Pen Holder from Galen Leather. It looks great on my desk, and I really appreciate having a place to store 15 pens upright in a neat fashion. Sure, I want to pare down the number of inked pens I have at any given time, but that's a problem for a different day. For now, this pen block does the job exceptionally well, and also has a built-in pen cup for other small bits and tools that I reach for regularly. Way back in the day, I bought a couple of walnut pen blocks from Mike Dudek before he closed up shop. His pen blocks were of the same concept — simple rectangles with drill-pressed holes to hold pens. The Galen Leather Pen Holder is a similar product to carry on this simple but timeless design. And at $38, it's easy to recommend.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.)

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Posted on March 6, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Galen Leather, Storage.

How Many Pens Can Girologio Cases Hold? All Of Them.

When you reach a certain point in the pen hobby, you begin to think about how to store, carry and protect your pens. What is that certain point? One pen. At least that’s when I started thinking about how I want to protect my favorite writing instrument. But what if you have more? Like 96 pens maybe? Then Girologio is a brand you need to check out.

Of course, most people don’t need a case that holds 96 pens (y’all hush your collective mouths!🤪) but Girologio has many different options for all of your carrying and protecting needs.

*Lamy Safari for scale, in many of these pictures.*

First up is the Triple Top Flap Case, which is the smallest of the cases I’m looking at today. As the name states, this case holds three pens, and does a nice job covering them individually from top to bottom. The slots easily hold some of my wider pens, too, although I don’t have any of the classic large pens (Montblanc 149-ish,) to test with.

If there is any hangup, it is when the long flap is open. It’s certainly secure when tucked in the front, but you will likely want to tuck it under the back to save space on your desk or table when open. At $22, it provides a good value for a portable pen case.

Going in pen slot number order, the Grab N Go 4 Pen Case might be the most unique of this batch. It is more than a pen case, with spots for an A6-sized notebook, pocket notebook, 4 pens, 7 credit card-sized slots, a small snap pouch, and a keychain loop on the interior. Whew! There is so much going on that I forgot to even take pictures of the card slots, so check out the product pictures in the link above.

*Notebooks on the right. Card slot divider in the middle.*

What I was mostly concerned with were the pen slots, and the notebook storage. I have to say, the Grab N Go handled everything perfectly. Since there are only 4 pen loops, there is plenty of room for pens of any size. Even some of my widest acrylic barrel pens with roll stops fit without issue. And inside the back, I fit a Midori MD A6 notebook underneath the flexible flap, and a Field Notes in the top slot.

The drawback with this case is the size. It is chonky! I think that is ok for the most part, because this isn’t a case you are going to buy on a whim. It is purpose built, and it is clear what you are getting going into it. For $56, you are getting a lot.

Next up is the 12 Pen Zip Case, which features loops for six pens on each side of the case, with a fabric-covered divider to separate and protect the pens from touching each other when the case is closed. When open, the flap lays on either the left of right side, leaving the opposite side open and accessible.

This case is useful for those who want to carry a good amount of pens in a compact, and protected fashion. This case can easily fit in a bag or backpack, and not cause too much of a fuss. The $44 price tag makes it a great option for exactly that.

With those standard options out of the way, Girologio steps it up in a big way, starting with the 48 Slot Zip Case. If you have ever been to a pen show, this is the type of case you see at many tables, and maybe even at the bar late at night. This case means business, and it handles that business perfectly.

Each side of the case holds 24 pens, with a removable velcro divider on the left side of the case that protects the pens when zipped shut. The dual bands for each pen slot are fixed, but flexible enough to hold many diameters of pens. They hold smaller and narrower pens comfortably and securely as well, even when closed due to the divider.

*Pro: removable dividers. Con: velcro bumping up against the pens in the left-most slots. I’d consider leaving those slots empty when moving the case around frequently.*

While big, I wouldn’t say it is bulky. It’s a stand-alone product for sure, and won’t fit into any other bag easily outside of your luggage, but is super functional for those who want to carry a large number of pens. This case runs $103, and comes in several color and material varieties.

In my time traveling to pen shows I’ve seen a wide variety of carry, storage, and display options, including all of the options above. What I haven’t seen is what’s next on my list, the 96 Pen Briefcase Carrying Case. And you know what? It is awesome!

Not many people need something like this in their life, but if you do, I imagine you are very happy with what Girologio has done here. In a nutshell, this is two of their 48 pen cases attached in such a way to open and display half of the pens, or all 96 at once. On top of that, it zips and folds up nicely, with the added benefit of telescoping briefcase handles for easy carrying. It is quite the spectacle, and at $230, it’s a great fit for the right person.

Girologio has expanded their lineup greatly since I first became aware of them several years ago. From single pen cases, up to the 96 pen standout shown above, they have most of the bases covered in the pen storage realm. They are worth checking out the next time you are looking for storage, portability, and protection for your pens.

(Luxury Brands USA loaned these products at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on January 8, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Girologio, Storage, Pen Case.

NFP Design Block 6 Pen Box Review

I met the team from NFP Design at this year’s Washington D.C. Pen Show, and came away impressed. Not only are they great people who took the time to share their story with me, I have been in love with the products I came home with.

One of those products, the 2-pen Tile, was too cool to keep for myself, so I added it to the recent Raffle for St. Jude. It features beautiful traditional Turkish artwork on the exterior, and would be a stylish addition to any workspace.

The product I hung on to for my own desk, and for this review, is the awesomely Orange 6-pen Block. It does come in other great colors - such as Purple, Green, Yellow, Blue, and Grey - but Orange! I wasn’t going to pass this one up.

Given the architecture background of the founder of NFP, you can bet the technical aspects of the Block are completely dialed in and refined. The square shape of the Block 6 features slightly beveled edges and rounded corners. There are two notches on each side near the opening to assist with opening. Once open, the brass hinges allow for the lid to be open fully, and stay in place. The 6 interior slots are lined, and sturdy - not pliable to the touch - and fixed in place. The exterior finish is spotless.

When you see a collection of design decisions made this well, you can’t help but be impressed with the end result.

That’s where I am with the Block 6. It’s as impressive to use as it is to look at. And priced fairly, too. This model is around $73 given the current conversion rates of the Turkish Lira to the US Dollar, and, even with another $40-ish dollars for shipping, puts it in a good spot. There is also a Block 11 model (around $91) available if you need more storage. Why not both?

Pen shows offer a great opportunity to meet new makers from around the world, especially shows as large and well-attended as Washington D.C.. I’m fortunate to be able to make these trips, and love sharing stories about the people I meet. Huge thanks to NFP Design for their time, and for sending me home with some great products.

(NFP Design provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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