{"title":"Full Size Fountain Pens","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Foam of the Sea","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is a seafoam green ebonite with a brushed texture. A brass section and tail button contrast nicely with the green and gives it a very sophisticated look. This pen will likely make you more respectable as a professional, although you need to do your part as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46689337082111,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/1.2.jpg?v=1741792392"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-1","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Really Blue","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is a bright blue with a matte finish. A brass section and tail button contrast nicely with the blue and gives it a very sophisticated look. This pen will likely make you more respectable as a professional, although you need to do your part as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691776069887,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/2.1.jpg?v=1741876987"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Lost at Sea","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is an ocean like swirl of blues and aquas with a nice black contrast and features our bark texture. If you like blues (and I do), you can hardly go wrong with this one. It's both fun and dignified. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691781705983,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/3.1.jpg?v=1741877231"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-2","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Weathered Wood","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is a combination of warm earth tones with a brushed finish. While the photos show a matte section, it will have a matching brushed section. Some of these multicolor pens have a rather weathered look, and this one is no exception. The brushed finish actually draws that out whereas a matte finish or bark texture would give you a totally different looking pen. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691788652799,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/4.3.jpg?v=1741877478"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-3","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Grown Up Blue","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is a wonderful subdued blue and is very 'adult' looking if you know what I mean. It features brass accent components and sports our brushed texture. It's pens like this that make me wish I had the sort of job that entailed a briefcase and a tie.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691797041407,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/5.4.jpg?v=1741877888"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-4","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Tagged in Blue","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse looks like it was birthed in a graffiti strewn alley. It's got almost all the colors, although the blues and blacks dominate. This features our bark texture, and it's worth noting that in the texturing I'm able to pull some of those less dominant colors to the forefront. So, depending on what you think of this one I either helped make it what it is or just ruined it entirely. I hope you agree with me that it's for the better. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691802874111,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/6.5.jpg?v=1741878156"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-5","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Tagged in Red","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI just love this one. The red dominates but it's kept from being a complete tyrant by the blues and golds. For my money, it's the golds that make this pen, and I drew out a bit more than would otherwise be there since this features our bark texture. This one is a bit of a rarity in that the accents are blue. It's a joy to both hold and behold.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691810476287,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/7.1.jpg?v=1741878285"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-6","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Under the Hill?","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Muse is a great combo of colors making it a rather blurple-red pen. The color pattern is a bit reserved compared to some so I'd say it's entering its thirties and leaving the raucous twenties behind. Let's be real, we're not quite over the hill yet (here I speak of the pen, not necessarily the reader...or writer). This pen can be had with either of our textured finishes, which may push back the hands and give it a completely different look...it's your call.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691816505599,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/8.5.jpg?v=1741878551"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-bark","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – A Very Nice Brown","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOver the last few years I've been really drawn to colors I abhorred as my younger self. I was stupid then. Any color the same color as chocolate is a winner in my book. Besides, there's a glut of colorful pen options out there, but finding something reserved and not black, red, or blue can be tricky. This one features our bark texture and uncoated brass accents. I think this combo will patina beautifully over the years with faithful use. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691825352959,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/9.3.jpg?v=1741878924"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-7","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Reversal in Pink","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere is a great example of how mixed ebonite materials can change at different diameters. It looks as if I used a coordinating color scheme of pink and green with opposite concentrations of each color. But alas, this is simply how some pieces of ebonite look when fashioned into pens. To be fair to me, the bark finish this one sports is deliberately done to bring out the colors lacking in each section. In the end, I think it's a quite striking writing tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691837575423,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/10.4.jpg?v=1741879184"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-brushed","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Admiral Globe","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI've recently turned my kids onto the old 'Captain Planet' cartoons that \u003cem\u003estill \u003c\/em\u003esomehow air early on Saturday mornings. That seems an odd intro, but only until I yell \"Earth!\" and you yell \"Water!\" and someone lame yells \"Heart!\", and then you'll certainly see my point. Still don't? The browns, blues, and bits of blush brought that all, weirdly enough, to my mind. You may be better off viewing this brushed Muse through a different lens, at least if you want people to take you seriously in life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691846652159,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/11.3.jpg?v=1741879508"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-8","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – THE NINETIES!","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChuck Klosterman, eat your heart out, \u003cem\u003ethis \u003c\/em\u003epen defines the nineties. Or at least it absolutely replicates not only my first mountain bike, but my second as well. Teal and purple had staying power then and as far as I'm concerned they still do. The bark texture on this one brings the colors out in a bit more brash way than they would otherwise showcase, which is all the better. This one features black accents. Black, just like boom boxes. Remember those?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691856843007,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/12.4.jpg?v=1741879807"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-9","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Philosopher's Muse","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElegant, that's what this Muse is. Creamy tan, blushy blush, and a vein of terra cotta make this a subtle yet distinct pen. I do realize that is rather contradictory statement and perhaps a logical problem, but I'm a pen maker not a philosopher. This pen features our brushed texture making it a wonderful pen to have in hand as you sit pondering life's biggest questions. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691871719679,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/13.3.jpg?v=1741880113"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-10","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Mostly Mustard","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eJust \u003c\/em\u003elike Michelangelo I chisel away the superfluous material to find the complete sculpture within the ebonite rod, but \u003cem\u003eless like\u003c\/em\u003e Michelangelo I'm never quite sure what I might find when I stop chiseling. In this case, a pen I expected to be mostly green turned out almost entirely golden with a few wisps of green to prove I'm not entirely crazy. In any case, with a bark texture and brass accents it's a sharp looking pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691881976063,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/14.3.jpg?v=1741880456"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-11","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Shadow Gray","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHave you ever wanted to own a piece of history? Here's your chance. A pen wearing a suit of dark gray ebonite with a bark texture and aluminum accents is your ticket there. Why, you ask? I occasionally slip up, and perhaps in a rare instance have engraved a cap starting at the end opposite of what I intended. And who's to say that this pen won't some day be as sought after as a 1952 Mickey 'Mantel' card?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'm to say. Because if for a second I thought that was the case I certainly wouldn't be selling it now. But I am selling it because it's still a great pen with a fun quirk. Just to note, the gray does have flecks of black in it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691895378175,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/15.1.jpg?v=1741880912"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-12","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Gilded Blue","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of those pens that looks like I sanded just a little too deeply to reveal the gold hues under the blues. It has a naturally weather look that I always think pairs well with the brushed finish. Nice concentrations of black pop visually, and a brushed black section pairs perfectly here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691936796927,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/16.3.jpg?v=1741881633"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-13","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Sunset","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere we have an extra pen from our Kickstarter campaign. Even after making a bunch of them then, under oath I couldn't tell you now if it was the Sunset or Sunrise colorway. Turns out this is the Sunset version, and I know that because I just looked at the Kickstarter page. In both cases they're a great orange\/pink\/purple\/honey combo, and this one sports the bark texture. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691942465791,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/17.3.jpg?v=1741881858"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-14","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Orion Blue","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI think I'd call this a cerulean shade of blue. Perhaps you might not, but it's a brighter shade of blue with only a hint (\u003cem\u003emaybe \u003c\/em\u003ejust a sniff) of green to it. In any case, I think 'cerulean' has a 'Je ne sais quoi' quality that makes it just right for this pen. Also just right for this pen? The slightly subtle bark texture and the brass accents. This has long been one of my favorite combinations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691969237247,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/18.2.jpg?v=1741882333"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-15","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Pinkortan","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRemember that internet thing awhile back about seeing a dress as blue (or was it black?) or white (or was it gold?). Clearly I'm grabbing a thread of whatever that phenomenon was, but however poorly I remember it this pen reminded me of it. I see a subtle pink that dominates this pen, while others see tan. It has some gray mixed in which is what might be throwing things off. It's also got strong black accents that I think are distributed beautifully. Whatever you see, I find this material one of the most attractive I've worked with and have found others find it quite intriguing as well. This one has a bark texture, which in my opinion, is icing on the cake. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46691975299327,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/19.4.jpg?v=1741882571"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-custom-build","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Custom Build","description":"\u003ch3\u003eBUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you see something that's \u003cem\u003ealmost \u003c\/em\u003ewhat you'd like but not quite, or if you dream of something completely different than what you see, please email us at hi@goodmadebetter to discuss a custom pen just for you. Even if you're not super serious quite yet we're always happy to correspond with you to help you better understand what your options are, so please don't hesitate to reach out.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46692554670335,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/custommuse.jpg?v=1741896337"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-utmost-mustard","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Utmost Mustard","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHad you told me at the age of ten (my age, not yours) that thirty years from now (from when I was ten, not present day) I'd like tomatoes, classical music, and the color yellow I'd have thought you were super weird, because that's a super weird thing to say to a ten year old kid and in all likelihood you'd be a stranger, so that makes it weirder yet. Had I got past all of that I'd just not have believed you, yet here I am, eating a tomato sandwich, listening to Bach, enjoying a mustard colored fountain pen, and writing this copy. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis golden Muse features our bark texture and brass appointments\u003cspan\u003e—a combination I didn't think I'd like, but I credit a kind customer for suggesting it and now I'm hooked. Hopefully you will be too.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46692960436479,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/21.1.jpg?v=1741902736"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-16","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Beyond Expectations Blue DEMO","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is a pen that has been used as a tester at pen shows. It may show very moderate signs of use, but will come with a new nib unit.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDAN'S NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull disclosure:  When I received this material I was convinced it would never make for a good looking pen. Not to pat myself on the back, but I believe I was correct...although not quite in the way I planned. This Muse features a simple two color mix of blue and gray, and it was the lack of contrast between the two that made me think it would be a rather 'muddy' looking pen. On the contrary, it's turned out that the lack of contrast actually brings a depth to the pen and gives it highlights it otherwise wouldn't have. I do think the bark texture on this one helps that out, as the furrows tend to play with the light and create shadows and visual texture that otherwise wouldn't be there. In any case, along with the gray appointments this turned out to be one stunning pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca title=\"Penwell Classics\" href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46692963156223,"sku":null,"price":270.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/20.4.jpg?v=1741902817"},{"product_id":"prototype-fountain-pen-green-trio","title":"Prototype Popstop Fountain Pen – Eggplant\/Terra Cotta\/Light Green","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This pen will ship with a short international cartridge. It will accept converters with a maximum length of 2.75\", but one is not included with the pen. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype pen with a deployable rollstop. Simply press the colored circle in the cap against the sharp edge of a table and the rollstop pops out. Leave it this way or leave it flush for a streamlined look. Or, push it out entirely with a pencil for a unique look or to use as a lanyard hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap can be posted for convenience but doesn't need to be for a comfortable writing experience. We also soften the threads and section edge to eliminate any discomfort to one's grip while using the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore details on this pen are forthcoming, but please contact us if you have specific questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608179589375,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0244.jpg?v=1764366264"},{"product_id":"prototype-popstop-fountain-pen-eggplant-terra-cotta-light-green-copy","title":"Prototype Popstop Fountain Pen – Triple Greens","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This pen will ship with a short international cartridge. It will accept converters with a maximum length of 2.75\", but one is not included with the pen. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype pen with a deployable rollstop. Simply press the colored circle in the cap against the sharp edge of a table and the rollstop pops out. Leave it this way or leave it flush for a streamlined look. Or, push it out entirely with a pencil for a unique look or to use as a lanyard hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap can be posted for convenience but doesn't need to be for a comfortable writing experience. We also soften the threads and section edge to eliminate any discomfort to one's grip while using the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore details on this pen are forthcoming, but please contact us if you have specific questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608205213951,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0256.jpg?v=1764366690"},{"product_id":"prototype-popstop-fountain-pen-triple-greens-copy","title":"Prototype Popstop Fountain Pen – Triple Purples","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This pen will ship with a short international cartridge. It will accept converters with a maximum length of 2.75\", but one is not included with the pen. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype pen with a deployable rollstop. Simply press the colored circle in the cap against the sharp edge of a table and the rollstop pops out. Leave it this way or leave it flush for a streamlined look. Or, push it out entirely with a pencil for a unique look or to use as a lanyard hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap can be posted for convenience but doesn't need to be for a comfortable writing experience. We also soften the threads and section edge to eliminate any discomfort to one's grip while using the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore details on this pen are forthcoming, but please contact us if you have specific questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608206229759,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0259.jpg?v=1764366835"},{"product_id":"prototype-popstop-fountain-pen-triple-purples-copy","title":"Prototype Popstop Fountain Pen – Double Blues\/Brown","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This pen will ship with a short international cartridge. It will accept converters with a maximum length of 2.75\", but one is not included with the pen. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype pen with a deployable rollstop. Simply press the colored circle in the cap against the sharp edge of a table and the rollstop pops out. Leave it this way or leave it flush for a streamlined look. Or, push it out entirely with a pencil for a unique look or to use as a lanyard hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap can be posted for convenience but doesn't need to be for a comfortable writing experience. We also soften the threads and section edge to eliminate any discomfort to one's grip while using the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore details on this pen are forthcoming, but please contact us if you have specific questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608208457983,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0262.jpg?v=1764366978"},{"product_id":"prototype-popstop-fountain-pen-double-blues-brown-copy","title":"Prototype Popstop Fountain Pen – Lilac with Brass","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This pen will ship with a short international cartridge. It will accept converters with a maximum length of 2.75\", but one is not included with the pen. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype pen with a deployable rollstop. Simply press the colored circle in the cap against the sharp edge of a table and the rollstop pops out. Leave it this way or leave it flush for a streamlined look. Or, push it out entirely with a pencil for a unique look or to use as a lanyard hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap can be posted for convenience but doesn't need to be for a comfortable writing experience. We also soften the threads and section edge to eliminate any discomfort to one's grip while using the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore details on this pen are forthcoming, but please contact us if you have specific questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608209932543,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0265.jpg?v=1764367319"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-utmost-mustard-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Green with Micarta Accents","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608269766911,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0287.jpg?v=1764369590"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-green-with-micarta-accents-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Mustard with Micarta Accents","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608271175935,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0293.jpg?v=1764369894"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-mustard-with-micarta-accents-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Burnt Orange with Micarta Accents","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608272322815,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0298.jpg?v=1764370239"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-burnt-orange-with-micarta-accents-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Gray with Black Tail","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608276058367,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0302.jpg?v=1764370463"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-gray-with-black-tail-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Blue with Green Tail","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608281334015,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0306.jpg?v=1764370814"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-blue-with-green-tail-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Orion Blue\/Copper","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608289820927,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0310.jpg?v=1764371070"},{"product_id":"muse-fountain-pen-orion-blue-copper-copy","title":"Muse Fountain Pen – Stealth Black","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTHE STORY OF THE MUSE\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile I'm unabashed in my love for pocket pens, for most of us it's the full sized variant that does the daily driving. And, to be quite honest, it was the Muse that was trickier to get right than the Jester. The reduced length of the pocket pens allows for a certain levity of design that's hard to do with longer pens. I originally worked towards a streamlined pen with no profile break between the cap and body as some of my favorite pens took this approach to their profile. In fact, I was pretty adamant that this would be my approach as well. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI ended up playing around with iterations where the cap was wider than the body and was surprised to find how appealing the overall look became—particularly when the cap length equaled the length of the body when capped. That 50\/50 balance found the design charm I was looking for. I might add that while the Muse photographs well, I tend to find it a bit smaller in hand than it would appear in pictures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDESIGN ELEMENTS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cap\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cap is somewhat exaggerated in length, which in my opinion is what gives these pens so much of their charm. A single facet acts as a rollstop and features our wordmark—manually engraved with our 50 plus year old pantograph, I might add. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Body\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe Muse cap does not post, simply because it becomes very unwieldy if it were to post. The pen is designed to be a comfortable length and with a great balance when using. And let's be honest, our roots are in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/penwell-classic\" title=\"Penwell Classics\"\u003eproduct\u003c\/a\u003e designed specifically for not posting one's cap, so this is likely a surprise to no one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pen features a set of triple rings, and it’s worth noting these are not arbitrary embellishments. They’re positioned at the point of cap to body contact, so if the cap is turned when at an angle to the body and the edge of the cap rubs the body, it won’t mar the surface of the body over time and leave a line. As a secondary use, they’re positioned to visually break up the transition of any color change in the ebonite so even the natural changes that take place are incorporated into the finished product as subtly as possible—more on this below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Section\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe section profile is clean with a simple taper to get the diameter at the grip point comfortable. No concavity or raised edges are needed to keep the fingers from slipping as the sections feature a matte, brushed, or textured finish specifically for this reason. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me,the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse Dimensions: 5.3\" long capped. Additional dimensions can be viewed in the image gallery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuse weights: \n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbonite: 0.74oz\/21.1g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEbonite\/Brass: 1.12oz\/31.8g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608295620863,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0314.jpg?v=1764371261"},{"product_id":"prototype-popstop-fountain-pen-lilac-with-brass-copy-1","title":"Stinger Convertible Fountain Pen – Utmost Mustard","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a prototype shape we were trying out with an extra body to make it convertible from a full sized to a pocket sized pen (or vice versa). The full size is approximate to our Muse, and the pocket size is comparable to the Jester. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nib Unit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile we’re making the body, cap, and section from scratch, the nib and feed are the tried, true, and loved German made steel Jowo units. We’ve opted for a number 6 size quite frankly because it looks the best, proportion wise. These really are great writing nibs and are common on artisan pens for good reason. You have your choice of nib finish (polished steel, gold plated steel, and ruthenium plated steel) as well as size (EF, F, M, B, BB). Other nib materials, finishes and sizes may be available. Please contact us for current availability and additional information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Filling System\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Muse is capable of using either a refillable converter or international cartridges of standard or short length. A Schmidt converter is included with every Muse pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTextures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I had to point to one singular feature that makes our lineup truly distinctive it would be the textures we offer alongside the standard matte finish. Our textures are engraved by hand (with a power engraver, to be clear), and it really brings a dimension and feel to the pen that is singularly unique and quite fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur bark texture is our most popular and the most eye-catching of the three finishes we offer. The light tends to play off the furrows, giving the pens a noticeably different look than their matte and brushed counterparts. The bark finish feels great in hand and makes for a very handsome pen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brushed finish has often been mistaken for wood, and it's easy to see why. It very much resembles a thick coat of brushed paint. It feels completely different than either other finish and exudes an uncanny feeling of softness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Caveats to Using Natural Materials (i.e. a Disclaimer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve chosen to primarily work with ebonite because of its unique warmth and the historic provenance it enjoys. Ebonite is technically a trade name for vulcanite, a hard rubber product made through vulcanization. The raw latex material used to make ebonite comes from the rubber tree, and while it requires human input to get it to the state in which I receive it, it is considered a natural material. Ebonite has been used for pens for many decades, as well as for other common items like musical instrument mouthpieces, tobacco pipe stems, and hockey pucks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile it is a very lovely material, a couple of things about the product should be noted. When freshly machined it has a sulfuric smell to it, but this dissipates rather quickly in the open air and is temporary. It’s also best to keep it out of direct sunlight as colored ebonite will brighten with UV exposure, some colors being more prone to this than others. Black is much more stable in this regard, although it’s still recommended to keep the material out of direct sunlight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith those caveats in mind, we use ebonite over more resilient man made materials for a number of reasons. I would argue no other material offers the richness and depth of ebonite—it’s simply one of the most beautiful materials to make pens from and one of the most satisfying materials to have in hand. To me, the fact that it changes over time is less a fault than a proper indication that it’s a tool being put to use. Everything we make is designed to be useful, durable, and beautiful—and in that order. Our hope is that the honeymoon period of our products doesn’t wear off and that they last you for many years, all the while taking on the marks and character of a well used tool.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe brass components are left raw and will darken and develop a unique patina with use. While we work to keep the brass clean and bright so it’s as fresh as it can be when you receive the pen, it may already show signs of oxidation from the time of our final handling to your initial one. This is natural to the material and is nothing out of the ordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe try to incorporate an understated elegance into the products we make, and to that end most of our ebonite pens feature a matte finish. With time and use the pens will take on a bit of a natural sheen from handling, but they won’t ever achieve a high luster as is common with many polished ebonite pens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Ebonite, also called vulcanite \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in So. Dakota – USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSouth Dakota residents will be charged 4.2% sales tax in addition to any applicable municipal taxes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Good Made Better","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47608316297471,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/files\/DSC_0352_d0eced88-34d3-4f64-b456-9827f249e959.jpg?v=1764372913"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1830\/3915\/collections\/DSC_1004.jpg?v=1741790491","url":"https:\/\/goodmadebetter.com\/collections\/muse-fountain-pens.oembed?page=3","provider":"Good Made Better","version":"1.0","type":"link"}