Thanks for the comments guys. Classic's sell a lot of my blanks and I get lots of request for my Ïronclad" blanks. I was pointed to this add by a customer who wanted a blank made like the one in the add. I told the customer that I did not make it to which he replied, but its an ironclad. So there is an association with the name.
I did email the guy and asked him to call the blank something else. I thought I was very nice about it, but I got a rather long nasty email back. He stated that he did not make the blank and in fact had bought it from a member here who sold it as an Ironclad. Hence my example of the Brooks Blanks. Although he is very upset with me, the guy was merely selling by the name in which he bought the blank. So I can't really be upset with him.
BSea, We do associate styles by names people have given them. We all try and copy them to make something of our own. I did it with the ironclads with the blessing of jjartwood. Many guys on here make the foil blanks and are far better at it than me. But they have there on name for them. I didn't want to use the term steampunk, but rather something that would identify my blanks. I actually asked Mark to name the blanks since he came up with the concept.
I guess in reality I shouldn't have said anything. If people want to call them ironclads I should be flattered like Warren said.
OK so, I'm trying to understand your claim and work out what's what and, I would be pretty upset if anyone would start naming their made blanks, with the same name as any of mine, surely if they had the brains to make them, they would have the brains to find their own name for what they did unless, they are deliberately copying the name because the blanks is "Famous"/well sourced/sell well and at good prices.
I would simple has if he/she would like also to share the expenses/costs to have the blanks promoted, advertised, and anything that was involved with what made it them been so well accepted and sourced.
In this case, I certainly would not be flattered at all, in fact, would show me what sort of "dubious character" this person has.
HOWEVER, and I think this is equally important to mention, and that is what some people think of the names they see on certain type of blanks. It has been already mention here, how the word "Worthless" has been used by some and how is perfectly possible that these people are simply not aware that "worthless blanks" is the name that Curtis used to promote his bits of wood and resin cast combinations.
Sure, Curtis already made public that he doesn't mind that people use that name to refer to their own cast blanks however, I don't think that Curtis would be too happy if someone started to produce quantities of these type blanks and advertise them as "Worthless wood blanks".
On the other hand, I take more into consideration what was the real intention of using someone else's name and one that is well known and sell well, was it done deliberately to take advantage of the work that was done to make it reach such acceptance and fame...??? I have a name for that and ain't pretty..!
It is true also that, some people do believe that Worthless wood blanks (just as an example, again), is a specific "type" of pen blank and not a personal name given to a product, in fact, it can all become very confusing however, is important that new people to the world of pen turning, learn to associate the name of the product with the people that made it and then learn the styles/types of pen blanks offered out there, such as raw wood blanks, stabilized wood blanks, wood and resin cast blanks, solid resin/acrylic blanks, etc, etc,.
After all the initial confusion dust has passed, it is all very simple...!
My question still stands, as and per red marked on the quote, who was the person from IAP that sold the blanks to this fellow...???
Cheers
George
