The Pen Room, Birmingham

Because of my camera fail, these photos do so little to portray the amazingness which is Birmingham's Pen Room museum. I love obscure little museums, run by volunteer enthusiasts. The museum tells the history of the fountain pen industry in Birmingham before it was destroyed by the biro.

The best bit, which you can't really see, is that you can make a fountain pen nib using the old machinery on the left hand side of this wall. It took several steps on heavy machinery, and I can't believe they embossed the name and address of the factory on the tiny nibs.

They run calligraphy classes too, on Saturdays, which are £2.5o for 90 minutes; I wished we had known in advance. I know London has inflated prices, but this seemed ridiculously cheap to me.

It makes my top 5 museums ever {actual list to be determined, but I'm sure it makes the cut.} We practically begged some tourists we found in the street afterwards to pay it a visit. Please go! I'm hoping to rejuvenate its fortunes.

Next on my list, the Pencil Museum {has anyone been?}

Black and white photos by Katchoo on Flickr.