Chad Schumacher turns a pen on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
A selection of Precision and Original Collection pens at Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher cuts pieces of wood to length for pens in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher drills pieces of wood for pens in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher drills pieces of wood for pens in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Wood blanks cut to length for pens wait for Chad Schumacher to turn on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher turns a pen on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Craftsman and Production Manager Steve Elmore sands and then polishes a pen on a lathe at Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher turns a pen on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher turns a pen on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher turns a pen on a lathe in his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Craftsman and Production Manager Steve Elmore polishes a pen on a lathe at Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher sets up a laser engraver to finish off a three pens at his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
A laser engraver finishes off three pens at Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher sets up a laser engraver to finish off three pens at his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
Chad Schumacher watches a laser engraver finish off three pens at his home business Allegory Pens in Joliet, Illinois, Thursday, December 13, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
An unobtrusive workshop in Far West Joliet is becoming well-known by those who appreciate quality workmanship and a lovely writing instrument. Allegory Pens, an area business only about a year old, produces fine wooden ink pens, both ballpoint and fountain, which are now gracing desks …
