Zoss Communications, Inc.

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS

CLICK ON BANNER FOR MORE INFORMATION

Earlier Entries

World Famous Whitmire Vac and Teplin Journal - James Ruddock forwarded a check for $150 from this interesting project, involving a handmade Teplin journal and a Vacumatic that has been bought and sold many times for the benefit of the list. The book circulates with each "buyer/donor" adding a page of personal significance. Scott is right when he says "We are a group bound by a shared passion... " Since there are now a couple of new lists the project will continue for the benefit of others, too, but I thank those that made the pens@zoss.com list the first beneficiary of the project.

Laura Berkowitz - Laura is an interesting person. Hailing from Alaska, she throws pottery and - in January - a nice contribution to the pens list, for which I am very appreciative.

Kurt Matthews, Esq. - Kurt has been a regular supporter of the list and I very much appreciate the check he sent from Torrance, California, written with what he calls his Platinum "training" pen. Thanks a lot, Kurt.

M.R. Tinneny - Matt Tinneny has been growing in activity on the list and sent me samples of NOS Parker pencil leads from the "stash" he uncovered and has been sharing with members of the Zoss list. Thank you, Matt.

Amazon.com - Also, we have a link on my pen pages to go to Amazon.com and if you buy books, videos and music through my link I get a 5% commission without changing your price at all. Last quarter's commission was $79.44 and I thank those of you who helped in that way, too.

The 1999 Calendar - Anna Lawson (the Wordsmith) made up a calendar, and it's neat. It features a color picture of pens you'd sell your car for (or something more valuable, even!) and then has tear-off months with all kinds of interesting dates in the boxes, mostly pens list-related or subscriber related. It is very clever and she then donated a large sum (actually $450) from the proceeds to the list, for which I (and my internet supplier) are truly grateful. The list of names is too long to enter here, but I do have it and appreciate each individual's contribution. This was a labor intensive project. Thank you, Anna, and everyone.

More Supporters

December 1998 Gift - Well, it happened again! Several co-conspirators ganged together this year to contribute towards a pen gift for me, and it is a beautiful thing to behold and, for that matter, to hold. This is a handsomely engraved Waterman 452 pen with silver overlay and it's a fine writer, too. I thank you all for the kindness.

THE DONORS: Diane Ollie-Coleman, Nancy Handy, Don Haupt, Tom Marks, Giorgio Muccio, Bill Enderlin, Paul Gloeggler, Sandy Andina, Richard Moller, Barbara Goodwin, Jeffrey Bourque, David Emerson, Geof Harrison, Rick Conner, Chuck Swisher, Sam Fiorello, Steve Kmack, Andrew Zuckerman, Eric Nelson, Marla Wilson, Gad Gur-Ari, Kimberly Hart, Lawrie Williams, Pat Lotfi, David Smith, Tom Kim, Bruce Beaman, Joel Hamilton, J. Center, Edward Weyman, Berliner Pen. [If I've misspelled any names, please help me with a correction?]

Karen Shobe - While not as elegant, perhaps, as a pen or gold plated paper clips, cash is also lovely. Karen sent a wonderful end-of-year donation that will help toward the cash expenses of my internet account and I very much appreciated it, particularly because it arrived on the last day of the year and because it was such a surprise. Thanks a lot.

Ray Erickson - Ray is a veteran of the office supplies business (I wonder how many old stores he knows about with old displays (I'd love to get into the storage drawers in the back and check for parts, old stock, etc.!). He sent me another box of 23k gold plated paper clips, an item that's hard to locate, used by him as an intro when making sales calls. We used them first to hold things together for my daughter's college applications - for good luck.

Nathan Tardiff - Nathan, a long-time member and supported of the list, sent me some fine examples of little-known pens brands, and a nice Sheaffer replacement section/point for a Swisher FP. Neat stuff! Thanks, Nathan.

David J. Penn - David is a repairman and supplier of parts who donated some of the new ink sacs for me to try. Thanks a lot!

Anita Berg - Anita sold a section tool and donated a portion of the income, for which I thank her.

Norman Haase - Norman sent me a selection of Sheaffer school pens, which are realy neat! Thanks a lot, Norman.

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS

CLICK ON BANNER FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kurt Matthews - I received a nice note from Kurt, penned with his new/old Doric desk pen, along with a donation (penned, probably, with the same pen), for what he called his "tithe." I love my Doric desk pen, too, although I use an Esterbrook with a 2048 very fine nib at my desk at the college. Thanks again, Kurt.

Kurt Matthews - One week I received two checks - one from Kurt Matthews

Sam Fiorello and Pendemonium - The other check was from Sam Fiorello for her recent Inky Celebration at Pendemonium. She sent a list of people who supported the Inky Celebration including: Weaver McCracken, Robert Pugh, Bob Whitmire, Bill Riepl, John DiClemente, Mike Wilson, Gary Bartosiewicz, Alexandra Fleetwood, Ilona Mifflin, Art Mashburn, and Charles Barilleaux. Sam is a wonder - thanks to you, too.

Bob Whitmire - Bob is a good supporter but this is a little complicated and I'm not exactly sure I have this right. Bob donated a Junior Duofold and it was bid beyond value simply because it was for the benefit of the list. Or, do I have that wrong? Was Bob the high bidder? Anyway, the pen is making a second landing on the field as part of a handmade book where people rent the book and pen and add something to the book, again as a way of supporting this list. So, Bob has donated again to use his own pen, again. At least that's what I THINK the story is... help me here, someone? And thanks to Bob.

Catherine and Dennis Thomas - Catherine and Dennis Thomas sent a nice donation, for which I express my appreciation.

Weaver McCracken, Ph.D. - Weaver sent a nice letter about his side business of selling special pens. Check out his site by clicking here for Fountain Pen Domain. Thank you for your support.

Michael J. Wright - Michael J. Wright, a pens list subscriber from New Zealand, sent us a nice Conway-Stewart pen. This is an unusual brand for Indiana, and a nice addition to the collection. Thanks!

Curt Matthews Curt hails from Torrance, California, and sent a donation for the list. Thanks a bunch.

Michael Leddy - Michael Leddy, of Charleston, Illinois, sent a check in support of the list. It is much appreciated. Tom.

Michael J. Wright - Michael J. Wright, a pens list subscriber from New Zealand, sent us a nice Conway-Stewart pen. This is an unusual brand for Indiana, and a nice addition to the collection. Thanks!

Chuck Swisher, Nathan Tardiff, David Howes - I received a check for a nice contribution from Chuck Swisher, proceeds from the sale of one of his handmade pens on an eBay auction. Chuck operates C.S. Classic Pens. He also credits Nathan Tardiff, who donated the nib, and David Howes, the winning bidder. Thank you, all three.

Frank Crescioni - Responding to my confession that my computer equipment is rather slow, Frank sent me a box full of spare parts, including a chip, some memory, a video card and more. I'm now looking for a motherboard to take the chip! Thank you very much, Frank.

Ray Erickson- Ray sends an unusual donation, but very interesting - 24K gold plated paper clips for my use with important papers (only those penned in gold overlay pens, I bet! He's been giving these as gifts for over 40 years. Thanks, Ray.

Dr. Keith Williams - A donation comes from this gentleman in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thanks!

Laura Berkowitz - From the (I believe) colder climes of Alaska comes a donation of "cold" cash from Laura in Fairbanks, Alaska. Thank you very much!

Scott Woodside - Scott Woodside has just surprised me with the Platinum Script Pen. This is a nice-sized black with gold trim pen. The script nib is constructed with two slits and a bit longer and wider than my Music Pen. It's a wonderful pen. It looks like an executive pen with fine but not fussy detailing, the weight and balance are "right" by my standards, and overall the whole presentation is first class. I want to thank Scott and Woodside Works, U.S. distributor-importer of Japan's Platinum Pens, for all of his support for my pens list over the past year.

Stephen Evans, Esq. - Stephen has been a regular supporter of the list and made another generous donation at the beginning of July. Your support is especially timely, Stephen.

Kurt E. Matthews - Kurt made a very generous donation to this list as "evidence of my appreciation for your efforts in tangible form." This type of support is especially helpful. Thank you, Kurt.

Art Mactal - Art puts his money where is mouth is, and I thank him for being a supporter and a visible advocate for the idea of supporting this list.

Jeffrey A. Bourque is president of Hemsing Advertising, Inc. ∓ Signature by Hemsing. He has contributed a beautiful example of a revived old-line vintage pen in the form of a Sheaffer Balance II pen, for which I thank him. Check his two web sites for Hemsing Advertising, Inc. or Signature Online.

Gary Lehrer and Myrna supply many pen collectors and the manufacturers, too, with the standard storage and display boxes for pens commonly called "slot boxes." Careful selection of just the right kinds of paper, glue, cardboard, plastic for the inserts, and making these the correct size are required to make sure these modest but important containers provide safe storage for our treasures. Thanks for your support.

Julius Sensat walked up to me at the Chicago pen show and calmly handed me a check in support of the pens list. What a surprise from a very pleasant gentleman. I thank him, as does my internet supplier! As it happens he's a Wirt fan and I had a small one, which is now his.

Matt Tinneny has donated a beautiful blue Pelikan FP to us, although I haven't seen it much because Bernadette has taken it over! This is our very first Pelikan pen.

Bob Whitmire generously placed a Parker Duofold up for auction on ebay for the list's benefit, and we'd also like to thank David Howes, the successful bidder/supporter. Thanks to you both!

Pendemonium Ink Auction - I would like to publicly thank two neat people who have just contributed to the support of this list... Sam Fiorello, doing business as PENDEMONIUM with all sorts of items for pen collectors - pens, papers, supplies, books, and, of course, INK. Sam contributed a large assemblage of partially used ink bottles of various colors and brands. She used these at a few shows and then auctioned them off as a group to the highest bidder. She contributed the proceeds (didn't even deduct shipping) to support this list. We all know who stocks a lot of ink now, don't we? Also, I'd like to thank the generous donor who is Larry Shelton, a subscriber to this list, and who I suspect bid lots more than necessary just to help support the pens and pens-plus lists. I thank you both.

ALSO, Lisa Philpott; Scott Woodside, Woodside Works, U.S. distributors of the Platinum Pen line; Scott Teplin; Laura Berkowitz; Art Mactal; Bill Riepl; Werner Kleinhorst; Richard Stockwell.

DECEMBER 1997 GIFT DONORS - In December, 1997, several sneaky subscribers to the PENS list banded together and donated a wonderful pen set (1932 Conklin Symetrik Pen and Pencil Set) and more (!) to Tom Zoss. They are listed here. I thank them.

THE DONORS: Deborah G. Alicen, Ph.D., Chuck Swisher, Stan Puchalla, Allan Tischler, Bill Keast, Neal Lippman, Mel Lammers, Ilona Mifflin, David Emerson, Renard Baldwin, Jeff Skinner, Alvaro Miguel Rojas Borlaff, Greg Dickinson, Philip Hantel, SEBaird, Rick Conner, John Corwin, Gary Friedman, Psy.D., Giorgio Muccio, Keith Williams, Barry Eckhouse, Andrew G. Harmantas, William Hong, David Howes, Renard A. Dellafave, Larry R. Herrin, Edwin Pawlowski, Todd Williams, R. P. Johnson, Alexandra Fleetwood, Dirik J. Lolkus, D. Cothern, Bob Teplin, David Leibowitz, Gregor Hinckley, Dunlap/Jones, Tom Marks, Tom S. Kim, Harry Hayes, Kate Teeters, Barry Weinstein.

More Early Supporters

Giorgio Muccio, Bill Enderlin, The Pen Mechanic, Stan Puchalla, Fred Plewa, Commercial Artist and Designer, Werner Kleinhorst, Lori Johnson, Airline International (Again!), Bruce R. Beaman, Nathan Tardiff (Again!), E-Mail Link, Don Cothern, Charles Swisher (AGAIN!!), C.S. Classic Pens, Dr. Ronald Chastine, L. Michael Fultz, Chicago Gold, Inc., David J. Penn, Art Mactel, Kansas City, Missouri, Scott Woodside, Woodside Works, exclusive distributors of Platinum Pens in the U.S. and Europe, Ann and Arvin Chaikin, Lori Johnson, Airline International, Nathan Tardif, Terry and Kate Teeters, Boulder Creek, California, Sam Fiorella, Pendemonium, Charles Swisher, C.S. Classic Pens, Simon Gray and Sean Lovell, The Battersea Pen Home (London)

Supporters of First Cyberauction

L. Michael Fultz, Chicago Gold, Inc., Tony Dolle, David Strom, Graham J. Oliver, W. Brian Miller, Charles Swisher, Dennis Thomas, Deborah G. Alicen, Ph.D., Glenn Huels, Bill Riepl, Rashid Nassar, Sam Fiorella, Pendemonium, Tom Marks, Eric Mastrangelo, Bruce Marshall, Tom Marks, Cathy Miller, Rick Conner

To all of you I say....
THANK YOU!

Click Here for Next Support Page

Thomas Zoss Zoss Communications, Inc. 3431 S. Weeping Willow Way, Bloomington, Indiana 47403 USA Telephone 812-332-2334, E-mail to Tom Zoss