# 136: Mark Four

- Show: [Thoroughly Considered](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered)
- Published: 2026-10-08
- Length: 52m
- Episode: 136
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four
- Listen: http://relay.fm/tc/136

## Summary

Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the Kickstarter campaign for their first fountain pen, the Mark Four. They explain the design challenges of creating a sealed, magnetic cap system and balancing the pen's weight, while addressing customer education around nib selection and ink maintenance. The founders emphasize their willingness to iterate on prototypes, such as switching from a multi-start thread to a magnet, to ensure a high-quality user experience before launch.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=7) Introduction: Studio Neat and the Mark Four Kickstarter
- [1:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=95) The Philosophy and Challenge of Fountain Pens
- [10:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=637) Nib Selection: German Nibs and Medium Widths
- [16:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=960) Customer Support and Ink Compatibility
- [25:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=1509) Design Details: Two-Tone PVD and Aesthetics
- [30:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=1831) Engineering the Cap: Threads vs. Magnets
- [37:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=2232) Sealability, Leaks, and Flight Testing
- [41:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=2510) Production Risks and Timeline Management
- [48:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four#t=2906) Eyedropping and Campaign Success

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Studio Neat (company)
- Mark Four (product)
- Mark One (product)
- Mark 2 (product)
- Mark 3 (product)
- Keene (product)
- Schmidt (company)
- Platinum (company)
- Twisby (product)
- Cosmonaut (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-12-17-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-pencil-by-fiftythree-12-17) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Episode 205: Thinky Pad and Wippy Pen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-03-08-episode-205-thinky-pad-and-wippy-pen) (Making It)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 11 - Marco Perry and Mark Prommel of Pensa (11/12)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-12-afterschool-podcast-episode-11-marco-perry-and-mark-prommel-of-pensa-11-12) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-4-martin-kastner-9-9) (Core77 Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-10-08-136-mark-four. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Thoroughly Considered.