SF Pen Show 2011, Dublin-Pleasanton

        Franklin Lei was introduced to watches by his father, and pens by his mother. In 1995 he met Saul Kitchner, who introduced him to the Pan Pacific Pen Club. But it was not until 1998 that he joined up, after attending his first San Francisco Pen Show and meeting Peter Ford and John Strother. 

       Besides collecting pens and vintage watches, Franklin is a seasoned musician specializing in the lute and Early Music. Since 2008 he has served on the staff of the University Library at Berkeley.

       Here are a few of the treasures Franklin is bringing to the San Francisco Pen Show 2011.

Value Tray ($40-$80)

ringtops from Carter and Conklin, clipped pens from Parker, Pick, Sheaffer, Webster (Chicago) 

and Gold Star, Shanghai ca.1950 (金星)

Parker 51 Aerometric P&P sets:

Flighter (pencil dated 1950, pen n.d.)

First-year (4th quarter 1948) burgundy Aerometric ("Press 6 Times"), ex Al Mayman

Sailor 1811 standard-sized clear demo

          Bexley Simplicity with 2-tone 18K nib installed by John Mottishaw

Diamond Point oversized Mandarin with jade tops

          Diamond Point gold-filled filigree over orange barrel

2 entirely handmade King of Celluloid pens from the late Kato-san of Osaka, Japan (oversized green marble, standard-sized "kaleidoscope.")

Waterman sterling silver ringtop

          Leboeuf zebra-stripe ringtop

Howard Watch Company, Boston (aka "Keystone Howard") Series 5 (19-jewel) railroad watch with Montgomery dial, in original Howard wood presentation case

Omega 18-karat sub-second manual-wind watch inscribed "To Dad 24.XII.1951"

           Universal Genève 18-karat center-second manual-wind watch, early 1950s

Hamilton Brock, 14-karat watch with rectangular 982 manual movement, ca.1950

          Hamilton CLD (="sealed" or Oyster-style) 14-karat manual-wind watch, ca. early 1950s

Bulova 2-dial chronograph in stainless steel