The Retro 51 Blog

The kids are back in school, the weather is starting to cool down and Retro51 has three new designs to kick off September!

(These are new editions to the Retro51 and Smithsonian collections i.e. they are not limited editions). 

Fifteen years ago, the Retro 51 team took a trip to an old Italian fishing village where they learned of a wonderful dish called Cioppino which inspired a new collection that quickly became a fan favorite.  Fortunately for all of us, we managed to unearth the original seashell barrels and have cooked up a fresh new batch!  The Cioppino Rose Gold Edition features heavily plated rose gold accents that bring a new level of sophistication to the Tornado collection.  The genuine seashell barrels are painstakingly crafted to transform the rough shell into a perfectly fitted piece that radiates color and iridescence. This timeless capless rollerball features Retro 51’s signature knurled twist top and can easily convert to a ball pen with a refill change.

Think about someone you know that loves dinosaurs and will open this officially licensed Smithsonian rollerball pen. Inside the commemorative tube they will discover a metal pen where you can actually feel the bones. It’s been plated in stonewashed copper to give it an unearthed look and finally top printed in ivory to highlight the several dinosaurs that wrap around the barrel.The top ring has been engraved with the Smithsonian name, plus it’s numbered and then imprinted with the Smithsonian logo on the top disc. This pen is sure to make you roar!

Amelia Earhart set two of her many aviation records in a bright red Lockheed 5B Vega. In 1932 she flew it alone across the Atlantic Ocean, then flew it nonstop across the United States – both firsts for a woman. These feats made Earhart an instant worldwide sensation and proved she was a courageous and able pilot. The Smithsonian acquired the Vega in 1966 and is on display at the National Air and Space Museum to this day.

The Vega by Retro 51 has “rivets” acid-etched into the metal barrel with bright red lacquer finish and then top printed with the Vega’s original golden pin stripes. It is complete with antiqued brass accents and the Smithsonian logo on the top disc. It is packaged in a commemorative tube that doubles as a pen stand. Pick up this rollerball pen for a flight enthusiast in your life.

Officially Licensed Smithsonian Collection by Retro51 (from left to right): National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Corona Pen, National Air and Space’s Vega Pen and National Museum of Natural History’s Dino Fossil. Each Tornado rollerball pen has been numbered on the top ring and then packaged in a commemorative tube complete with foil stamped logo. What other Smithsonian theme should we explore for a future design?

If you need help finding a retailer with these new designs, please contact our customer service by calling or email. Contact info can be found here: http://retro51.com/e_contact.html

RETRO 51 BULLETIN by Rob Woodruff

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At the annual Ya-Ling festival in Manhattan, two burly knurly-knobbed Tornado rollerballs wearing bandanas got into a Cursive dispute with two elderly Acrylics: an Umbra and a Cotton Candy who were on their way to Lincoln Plaza to view a documentary about Eisenhower. The heated exchange, no doubt fueled by Absinthe or Vino on the part of the masked Tornadoes, escalated into a physical assault in Shark Alley.  

Luckily, two nearby Rescue Retros armed with Easy-Flow 9000 ballpoints quickly intervened to lend a Hand. A Dog, floating like a Butterfly, dispensed a flurry of mixed-martial metaphors and a Buzz delivered several perfectly timed, stinging rebukes that subdued the ruffians until a squad of Desk Sets arrived.

The heavily inked rollerballs were apprehended at the scene and later identified as Bandits Jesse and Billy. Both were described as well-known, brightly colored Poppers always looking to spill some ink. Fortunately, the thin blue line has their Numbers and knows their Agenda but acknowledged they are nothing like the Radicals the Desk Sets occasionally encounter.

Two Japanese tourists, smartly dressed in Blue & Gray Stripes, said they were just photographing the NYC Skyline when the brouhaha erupted like a Lava Flow. The self-described 3rd-degree black belts in Sudoku said they were preparing to intercede when the Rescues appeared like bolts of Lightning out of the clear True Blue sky.

Another witness, Juliet (last name withheld), was overheard saying, “anyone that gets into a scribbling match with those Rescue Retros will be easily out-doodled. If I hadn’t been sitting here waiting for my friends Betsy and Jackie to go get some Hot Coffee I would have missed the whole thing.”

Later, the Buzz, with a Twinkle in her eye, told our reporter, “we Rescues might start out as ballpoints but we’re Tornadoes, afterall, and can easily handle any rollerballs, and we definitely know when and where to draw the line. I would happily Zap those Jokers again, she added.” She and the Dog then departed to a Medley of Cheers from a small group of nearby Elite festival attendees.

The ailing Acrylics, bruised and with minor scratches (but fortunately no chips), were escorted to Dr. Gray’s office for new refills, a brief Infusion of Red Wine, and to have their clips adjusted. Then it was just a quick Zip over to see their Legal pencil to see if charges should be filed. Declining to Bill the distraught victims for their services, the providers said their work for elderly Retros is covered by RetroCare with just a $7.50 deductible. Both victims asked to meet their rescuers to extend their “Thanks” and hope to send them each a Daisy Bouquet.

After hosing the Blue Streak and Bubblegum off the sidewalk, Engine 37 departed with sirens quiet but lights flashing.

As of 10:00 p.m. the assailants’ brother, Sundance, had yet to post bail.

Can you count how many Retro51 product/pen names were used?

According to historians, blue and white earthenware originated as early as the seventh century during the Tang Dynasty and became broadly popular in the 13th century during the Yuan Dynasty. By the 14th century it was mass produced and traded throughout the Eastern world and continues to be popular to this day. The latest Tornado Popper ‘Dynasty’ is printed with a dragon, phoenix and floral motif inspired by these historical artifacts. They are finished with stonewashed pewter accents and complete with the Chinese symbol representing “fortune” imprinted on the top disc. Each rollerball pen has been numbered on the top ring and packaged in a commemorative tube with only 888 pieces produced. Make sure to get one for your collection before they become history themselves.

Friday April 27th is National Arbor Day so get out your Retro51’s and share the message! With every purchase of a bamboo Retro design, a donation was (or will be) made to the Arbor Day Foundation to save 250 square feet of rainforest. Since this program was launched in 2010, Retro has made donations that has saved over 6.6 million square feet of rainforest. That is 116 football fields worth of land! 

Arbor Day’s goal is to plant an additional 50,000 trees this month. Whenever you use #arborday in your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram posts during the month of April #arborday plants a tree.

We will randomly choose five winners and you may enter once per day (up to five times). Enter the contest by doing the following:

1. Take a photo of your Retro51 pen with handwritten message “Arbor Day 2018.”
2. Type #arborday when you post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Bonus Entry!

1. Sign the pledge to plant a tree during the month of April for an additional entry into the drawing (just note in the handwritten message #Pledge)
2. Buy something or Donate to the Arbor Day for another entry (note on the handwritten message #donation)

Prizes:

Five winners will get to choose from the Bamboo Tray, Bamboo Tornado or Hamsa Tornado. You can only win once.

Contest entry ends Monday April 30th at 8 am CDT. We will compile all the entries and randomly  choose 5 winners that will be announced via social media Monday 4/30 in theafternoon. Winners will be contacted via the site they entered through (FB, IG, or TW).

For decades NASA has sent orbiters and rovers to gather intelligence that will help us learn about Mars and the ability to land a manned mission. The latest Tornado Popper, Mission to Mars recognizes the imagination that first started in the pulp comics of the 30s – 40s to the reality it has become less than a century later. This Tornado barrel is printed with graphics reflective of the future rocket that will launch this mission complete with logo top disc and numbered top ring. Pick up one of these collectible rollerballs (numbered edition of 730) because they’re going to blast off in 10…9…8…

They are shipping to retailers today (1-8-18) and will be in stores later this week to early next week (Jan 10th-15th). Email Sales@retro51.com for help finding a dealer.

Why 730 pieces? This is significant for the number of days it would take to make a round trip from Earth to Mars and back.