Saul,

I wouldn't completely recommend it for people who are used to these type of forums. Partly because it is a very young crowd, lots of new users, but also because the format is different: everything scrolls off the page and you would have to do a search for it (hard to explain). It is for new generations that want their info quickly and just ask questions rather than research on their own.

As for the articles and deeper content that used to be archived here... who would it be for? The pen hobby is morphing away from older, vintage collections (and collectors) and while I am the FIRST person to bemoan resources disappearing, there isn't as big an audience for those topics as the hobby contained 10-20 years ago. Now the only place you can find solid pen history and repair, etc info is on anyone who has decided to keep a dedicated website alive about it. And new generations don't read websites, they go to YouTube. A lot of the vintage stuff there is sketchy and no way to search.

My overarching point was simple: when WEEKS go by on a site like this with no commentary, why is that, and how much work should be put into keeping it alive? It makes me very sad to see communities dwindle and go dark, but all life is about change, and change does occur. I have no idea how many people still log in here on a daily basis to see if anything has been posted, but I'll wager it is a very small number, and far smaller is the number of people who post. THAT is why a forum goes quiet, and then dark.

All kudos to Len for keeping the ship afloat, not unlike maintaining an old house with empty rooms and only the occasional visitor looking around. I wish it were not so, but after trying to spark threads, I think it is just part of the story of Pentrace.

I wish all of you well, and a bright new year to come.

Best regards,
Jon