Review : William Hannah Notebooks

Last week my video was about typewriters - this week it’s an even older form of writing - a different style of notebook: the William Hannah. I absolutely love this design. It’s the one I’m using most of all just now. Here’s why.
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For more information on William Hannah, take a look at their website: www.williamhannah.com/collect... where you'll find more about their notebooks and wonderful inserts.
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Disclaimer - I have not been paid for making this video!
Cheers for now!
Mike

[@williamhannahlimited8348]

Mike, thank you so much for taking the time to record such a wonderfully honest review of the notebook - may it serve you well for many years to come !

[@writerlywitterings]

I am sure it will. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to test it!

[@stampinsan]

I too love these notebooks. I love what you said - "This is something that makes the act of writing more important." I couldn't agree more. Thank you. This was a wonderful find for me. I did subscribe.

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks, Stampinsan, and I appreciate your taking time to comment. I adore my William Hannah - the only issue I have is that they are so lovely, I think I'll have to buy an A6 version when I have saved up for it!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Knew you’d love it. 👌🏻 Also, if you have the Kingfisher lined paper like me, it is a lot easier to see in low light. I keep mine as a journal and write a lot of notes in lower light. It’s awesome paper. I find the ‘Weekly Plan’ sheets very useful. I use those for my weekly summary, then the lined paper for my journal. 😀👍🏻 Info - William and Hannah are David Round’s kids names, ergo, the company name.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, Richard, I am pretty sure it is the Kingfisher in mine. I really adore the paper - but still working out the best way for me to use it just now. It's certainly going to get a hell of a lot of use!

[@pamelaboxall7015]

I splashed out on an A5 William Hannah notebook as my birthday gift to myself when I turned 60 earlier this month. I am so glad I did. It makes my daily diary jottings and notes such a pleasant experience and you’re right - the paper is superb. I’ve got the Bordeaux outside and Petrol inside and I mainly use Waterman Inspired Blue (their turquoise) in my fountain pen just because it looks so good with the lining.

[@writerlywitterings]

Haha - so you were born in the same year as me? A good year, 1960!

[@writerlywitterings]

I do love that lining, and as Richard Barnes says, the kingfisher blue lined paper is easier to see in low light. I just love this notepad, though. Lovely to use!

[@revianwolfe]

Thanks for the review! It looks quite good and now you’ve given me something else to covet. Thanks, Jecks!

[@writerlywitterings]

Apologies! I keep being told off for that!

[@JBFire97]

Love leather bound note books, have always liked my Travellers note book. Thanks for the review.

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Paul, and thanks again for your comments!

[@elcastillo92]

YES! my favorite subject: notebooks. thanks for the review

[@writerlywitterings]

My pleasure, Ari!

[@rp2chil]

Mike, thank you for this review. The challenge is to stay patient until I purchase mine. I like how you differentiate what you put in different diaries; I sort of do the same thing. I look forward to reviewing more of your videos. It's time to go to work now. Can't everyone talk about journals and pens. geesh.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Rita - and thanks for the comment. It's always good to hear from other pen, ink and journal fanatics! I hope you enjoy the other videos I have put up here. THere's a fair variety!

[@1234vws]

Tut tut Michael!! You're much more than just a "writer." You are first and foremost a human being, with the greatness and frailty that entails.

[@writerlywitterings]

Greatness? I'm not convinced about that - I can imagine my daughter giving a hollow laugh at the idea! Many thanks, John. Have a great weekend!

[@1234vws]

And you Michael. Cheers!!

[@evybrowning]

Yes - using something like that is just like the difference between using a gel pen/biro & a fountain pen. The feel of it & the 'ME' time of it - just joyful!!

[@writerlywitterings]

So very true. There are lovely papers and notepads out there, but this one wins for me now!

[@osuata13]

Love my William Hannah!

[@writerlywitterings]

Me too! Thanks!

[@tsherbs1309]

Interesting notebook/journal system. Michael, I think that you would be a great tour speaker.

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks! I really enjoyed my time as resident "expert" last year. This time will be really interesting, I'm sure - and rather less terrifying than last, now I have a good idea what I'm doing!

[@BossPenguin]

Mike, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this nice and long video. Thank you, as always! Also, I'm really looking forward to that patreon series you mentioned in the video. Oh and I'm very happy for you that you'll be working with the Smithsonian again!

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks, Chris - and thanks to you for that very excellent bottle of Blu Mare! It's a gorgeous colour. That and Alt Goldgrün are my favourite discoveries of the last few months.

[@jlb22173]

This looks like a beautiful system.

[@writerlywitterings]

It really is! I can highly recommend them.

[@JerryBearry]

Looking at your lovely leather cover for your Atoma... I imagine you have already purchased a replacement cardboard cover for it to firm up the flopping. 😁

[@writerlywitterings]

Sort of, John. I got some of the William Hannah separators, and find that they work well with WH and Atoma! The other way round (Atoma paper in WH) doesn't work so well because Atoma paper is wider that WH.

[@lindastempt2712]

Thanks for this, Mike. I also use Atoma books. I dithered a lot at the William Hannah stall at one of the Pen Shows last year but eventually slinked away, clutching my purse. I’m a retired lazy person and don’t really need one - do I? Also I couldn’t decide on whether to get an A5 or A6, or which colour combo, or which paper packs - in short, you haven’t made this any easier!

[@writerlywitterings]

I do love reviewing lovely things like this. But it always is a double-edged sword. Now I think I'll have to save for the smaller sized notebook for daily carry. I love my Midori, but these William Hannah notebooks could just force me to change!

[@angbane]

A beautiful and expensive! (Just checked the website) note book. I liked you emphasis on the fact it was about the physical act of writing. I wouldn't say that it dying art, but very close to needing life support.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, Angela, not dying, but it needs help. In several US states, I understand they are no longer teaching handwriting - they assume people can get by with writing everything in capitals now everyone uses a computer. Except paper doesn't replace computers, it gives a different aspect to writing. I keep being asked to do a video on handwriting ... don't know whether I could do that, but it might be something to look at. Thanks, as always, for your view.

[@carlosespinal17]

I found a good compromise on the Atoma Alain Berteau notebooks. The cardboard cover makes the book rigid so it doesn't warp or bend even when used on your lap. It also has an elastic band to keep it closed. It costs 1/4th of the price, but of course, it's not leather. It feels utilitarian and sophisticated at the same time.

[@writerlywitterings]

I have looked at them a few times, but not succumbed yet! In fact I've recently made my own cover for an A6 Atoma ring system, which is working surprisingly well. That was cheaper, using Atoma rings I already had, and an old piece of leather which wasn't being used for anything!

[@thomasaushauser1940]

I once thought about doing one of these things myself. I take the leather from an old handbag (for free), I buy the rings from plastic (2 Euro), a brass rod costs 1 Euro and then I need a drill- machine and a three millimetre drill and some sewing thread for the leather: the handle is ready! But then I noticed: I also need the matching punch: 150 Euro! The thing was already dead.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Thomas, Yes, the easiest things are always the ones that seem easy/cheap on paper, and then the costs mount! I did make my own version with some old leather and a scalpel to cut out where the rings should go. It worked fine, but it isn't quite so elegant! Take care, and many thanks!

[@joshuanorris5860]

3:00 "Quiet at the back" that had me laughing hahaha perfect timing xD

[@writerlywitterings]

We like to please!

[@JavierDiaz-zm1qd]

Great video. Your progression from the other videos was very informative. I see that the quality of the paper is good but I wonder how it will perform with flex pens? Also I'll will check how to archive the notes. I notice one of the viewers comment the concern for that. Your reply was an interesting idea. I will check there website.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for watching! I've been using it with the semi-flex Conway Stewarts, and it works very well indeed. The William Hannah paper is 115 gsm, and excellent quality, and should cope with any pen, I think.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Michael, you are a nuisance in the nicest possible way, I've watched this video several times now and with my travellers notebook looking a little worn but still in use I feel its time to treat myself to something different, for the last couple of years I have used a couple of A4 & A5 filofax notebooks, not the traditional ring type but a similar idea to the WH/Atoma one where you can interchange the pages around, but itdoesnt hold many pages and with 4 plastic dividers even less, so tonight i went on to the WH website to order the A5 Whiskey & Kingfisher notebook but alas they have sold out so I have sent them an email to see if they are able to tell me when they will be making anymore, patience is the key here i'm thinking, so you see by exposing me to yet another notebook you are inadvertently a nuisance, but of course inthe nicest possible way, hope you and the family are all keeping well.....Mike

[@writerlywitterings]

I do apologise, Mike ... nah, not really! I do love the whisky and kingfisher - the colours go so well together, and I really like writing in turquoise blues and Diamine Sepia, which makes it all look perfect! I know you'll have many years of happy writing with that notebook. Mention my videos and how much they're costing you, when you speak to William Hannah!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Well Michael, I took my Parker Sonnet Fountain Pen in the right hand and my Diamine Aqua Blue in the left hand and whilst attempting to fill it, it toppled over and my hands got covered in ink, so into the bathroom with a spray bottle of Flash Bleach and a nail brush I emerged 30 minutes later with a pair of shiny hands.......or so i thought, having thought I had cleaned all the mess and the pen I put the cap back on the pen....a short while later I pulled the cap off and put it on the end of the barrel to see how the writing ilooked on my WH notepaper, its quite a good match to the Kingfisher suede, after removing the cap to replace it back over the nib end I hadn't noticed all the ink from the inside of the cap that had contaminated the end of the barrel, as a consequence I transferred quite a lot of this ink onto the front cover of the notepad, making a right mess, a stain around 4" x 1", which looks awful, so I made the decision to purchase a 2nd notepad and I will use the damaged one for archiving, your videos really are costing me some real cash, but the notebooks are worth every penny , I ought to make a YT video entitled ' The easy way to destroying a WH notebook, like yourself I purchased some A6 leaves and they are very good, altogether the cost is edging towards £260, Anyway off now, got to try and find a job to pay for all this.......Mike

[@vernabailey3671]

I know this is an older video. I was researching William Hannah notebooks and which size I would be better with. I’ve only concluded I need both…lol. I had no idea the a6 paper could fit in the a5 rings.

[@writerlywitterings]

The fact you can swap pages from the A6 into the A5 is a real bonus. And the paper is lovely!

[@vernabailey3671]

@@writerlywitterings it is! I’ve received my A5 and now I’m saving for a smaller companion for it. In love with it!

[@endeavour1976]

I like it very much. Thank's Mister Jecks

[@writerlywitterings]

So do I, Miguel. They are lovely notebooks, and the paper (I have learned) is about 115 gsm, which explains the lovely feel of the sheets. My next ambition is to buy an A6 model to be carried with me replacing my Midori, I think. Lovely notebooks and the company provides a wonderful service.

[@JerryBearry]

Pardon me for being new to new to all of this. Do the rings line up with the Atoma paper punch?

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes. I use the Atoma punch to add notes and comments on alternative sheets of paper to my William Hannah notebook. It makes it a more useful repository of everything I need!

[@johngrubb007]

Thanks for a great review on a really nice product. We have our grail pens but now I have a grail notebook. Is that getting too weird?

[@writerlywitterings]

No, I think it makes you much more human! Being the sort of chaps we are, we're always on the lookout for grail items, no matter what they might be! Thanks for the comment!

[@GodfreyMann]

Re: Atoma although the spine is a bit floppy, given the leather of the Hannah is so soft and supple, does it really provide a much better writing surface on ones lap? Especially as the cover cannot be folded back on itself in the way the Atoma can, thus writing on the back of the first page will be really difficult!

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Anthony, And yes, you are right. When it comes to writing on my lap, I prefer to use the Atoma - BUT - generally that's not how I'd use the Hannah. I find that the William Hannah (in A5) is used only on desk or table tops. The reason is, it's much more of an experience, for want of a better word. The paper is glorious, the leather of the cover wonderful, and it sort of demands that you sit down and use it in a more thoughtful ( I almost said "mindful") manner. Yes, it can be used on your lap, but I'd always reach for the A6 to do that kind of writing. However, the Atoma is ideal for sitting in a lecture or in a park and making rough notes, ideas, sketches, while the William Hannah I find is the one I go to when I'm sitting in a coffee shop with a table in front of me, or at my kitchen table, or at my desk. As to writing on the first page - well, William Hannah notebooks come with card front and back, which means writing on the first and last page is no more difficult than on the pages between. But Atoma does give more rigidity when the covers are folded completely back on themselves, yes. So, yes, I agree with your basic comment, but I'd say that for me the two types basically fulfil different requirements for me. The only thing I would say is, I will never give up the William Hannah, but I would happily discard the Atoma A5. On the other hand, I'll not get rid of the Atoma A4 I have, which is still wonderfully useful. It's horses for courses, really.

[@sarnbradshaw7382]

These do look very nice. I wonder what your views are on the best way to archive old notes with this system as you aren’t able to simply store a completed notebook on a shelf?

[@writerlywitterings]

I have been putting my mind to that. David Hannah has some over-sized rings and hard covers, so that you can keep them all together in one group. That is one possibility. However, for me, I tend to need to file by project (i.e. I file all the notes per book in one place). I think I may well just buy some plain brown envelopes in A5 size, and keep all my pages together that way: one envelope for THE DEAD DON'T WAIT, one for UNTITLED BOOK #6 and so on! That way I can go to the relevant records whenever I want. Plus I can keep A6 sheets in the same envelope, so it looks like a real winning combination to me. The envelopes would sit nicely on the bookshelves behind me. That's my feeling at present, anyway. Keep safe!

[@testinguk_Admin]

Just use large binder clips to group by year or other

[@keithanderson672]

Thanks very much. Great review. Have you ever used Levenger's Circa notebooks? Thanks again.

[@writerlywitterings]

Not yet - I've never seen one, sadly. I'll have to look them up. Thanks for the tip.

[@breadyegg]

Will Willam Hannah paper fit into a Atoma notepad and vice versa? The cut-outs look similar. I don't think I can splash out for the full WH leather notebook, but it sounds like the WH paper is better than the refills that the Atoma system takes, so I'd rather use that.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, William Hannah and Atoma paper are interchangeable. The rings are exactly the right distance apart. The paper is wonderful from William Hannah - I do like Atoma (good quality) paper, but the Hannah beats it for my money. And it's not much more money. What I would say is, the Hannah system just makes the notepad work better. Looking at mine now, it is lying absolutely flat on my desk. The Atomas work well, especially if you want to fold the covers over to keep to a minimal space. But if you want to spread the pad out, the Hannah wins hands down.

[@mike_qbik]

@@writerlywitterings I am now trying the Plotter system which is really lovely, but the system requires less paper on the rings as turning them sometimes band the paper close to the rings. Iam rewatching your reviews often and probably will also give WH a try. I love the system and I only wish Filofax’s Notebooks are made more premium as the system is superb. Anyway, I have a question on the compatibility of Atomas puncher. Is that compatible with WH as WH does not have its own puncher for my own paper inserts. Your previous comment that Atomas paper will not fit WH well got me worried if spending well over 100 Eur will be good investment on the puncher or not. BTW the color of your notebook - is it Whiskey color? Thank you. Love your channel.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@mike_qbik Don't panic! There is a problem with using Atoma paper in WH covers - the Aroma paper is larger than WH by about 2 cm. That means that when the covers close, the paper sticks out of the WH notebook. There's a simple reason - the Aroma system has covers which are held on the rings. With the WH system, the leather cover goes around the rings. So the Aroma paper, if you wanted to use it, would have to be cut down to 15cm wide, like the William Hannah paper. There's no issue with the Aroma paper punch, though. That works perfectly, so you can use pretty much any paper you want in your WH system. And I should say that the WH paper is 21x15cm, which is pretty standard generally, I think. So yes, you'll be fine! I like both systems, but for me the William Hannah beats the Aroma for the design, the quality of the covers, the more stable spine (Atomas can be very floppy with nothing to support the rings, whereas WH has a metal rod holding the disks firmly), and the quality of the paper, which is frankly superb and by far the best behaved of any papers with fountain pens!

[@mike_qbik]

@@writerlywitterings Well, thank you Michael for your reply. I have to tell you that today my WH order went thru. And I went with both sizes A5 and A6. I mentioned to David at WH that its all thanks to you my bank account is on diet. He did reply and was happy to know about how people find out about WH products. So there you go. I am in the club :-) Can't wait. Be well and pls do what you do. You do it best!

[@MrDidaxi]

Thanks for the insight. It looks fabulous. Classy and purposeful; the latter in terms of the “feeling”, one has and/or develops with regards to all special needs and “inner drivers” for putting one’s heart and soul on paper.... alright-alright... I got carried away just a tad... but my thoughts are grounded as much as they are floating... Coming to practical matters: wouldn’t it be nice to have one or two goodies, such as a couple of ribbon bookmarks and a band of sorts to keep it closed whenever one so wishes? Also, some smart add-ins, similar to the Midori zipped container insert etc? Adding all that and then some, would turn this to an object of worship and lust; it would be both utterly elegant and functional to the power of infinity. But, regardless, even as it is, it sure looks gorgeous and probably is super functional. Cheers! George from Hellas.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hello, George, and thanks for the new comments! Yes, there are some extras that William Hannah sell. As well as the pen loop, they sell a pen holder that has elastic and slips over the notebook to keep it closed. As for a bookmark, well, personally I use a ribbon when I need it, or sometimes an Atoma bookmark. I'm thinking about getting some of the Hannah dividers, too, which would make life a little easier in terms of separating sections. It is as lovely as it looks, though. A really special piece of craftsmanship. On the extra things like the Midori zipped insert - I sort of agree, but personally I know I wouldn't use one, the reason being, when I had one in my Midori, it made writing in the first and last pages of the notebook really hard. It was too lumpy where the zip was, and the card holders had a similar issue. I'm happier keeping all that kind of thing away from the notebook itself, but that is just a personal view, of course.

[@MrDidaxi]

writerlywitterings Thanks for reverting Michael. Good points! Especially the one with regards to the lumpy surface. Cheers.

[@revianwolfe]

How is it writing on the left hand page? Do the rings get in the way for comfortable writing on that side? I haven’t seen a review yet talk about that. So any insight would be appreciated.

[@writerlywitterings]

Interesting that you ask that. Several people have asked the same. I can honestly say that in ten years or more of using Atoma and William Hannah, I have never so much as noticed any issue. It's no worse than using a very thick notebook with a stiff spine. The rings aren't that huge - what are you thinking, that the rings will obstruct your hand as you move left to right? I find that my paper is always at a slight angle as I write, so the pen moved over to the margins with no problem at all. They're unnoticeable, really.

[@revianwolfe]

writerlywitterings thank you! I’m looking forward to finding out myself. Just ordered mine today after hearing your comments!

[@writerlywitterings]

@@revianwolfe I really hope you like it, my friend. I love mine. Which colours did you go for? Just in case, there is a really helpful and supportive William Hannah page on Facebook, which is called the William Hannah User Group. I'd apply to join - just mention you have bought a new notebook (you can mention my video too, if you like!) and they'll let you in. The owner of the company, David Round, manages the group, I think. He's enormously helpful and very responsive to ideas or queries! All best wishes!

[@revianwolfe]

writerlywitterings A William Hannah support group?!? Oh dear what have I signed up for? Have I become a “friend of Bill’s” by entering down this rabbit hole. Haha. Thank you for the recommendation, I will definitely signup for the Facebook group to help me navigate these waters and how to maximize my use of the notebook. As for which colors I went for, (btw small rant here, I really hate that American English removed the “u” from words such as colours, Saviour, etc.” Lazy colonists we are.) I got a matching notebook to go along with my other new purchase, the Visconti HomoSapiens Magma, the black and crimson with the reverse stitching. I’ve decided to use my pen collection as a bit of a homage to the men and women I’ve had the privilege to serve as pastor who have now died in the faith. I buried a dear sweet man on Saturday, who was a rock to his family and to our parish and also wore a shiny nylon red vest. The pen just made sense and now I’ll remember him every time I look at it. So it seemed that the black and red pen needed a black and red notebook to go along with it. Sorry for the long-winded answer to your question.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@revianwolfe Thanks for that. I really like the idea of tying the pen and notebook together - and I know you're going to love the Visconti! Sorry to hear about your friend, but it's nice to be able to commemorate him with something that you will use every day, and which can remind you of him and his kindness. Keep safe, my friend.

[@EricBryan]

Timely video...I was just beginning my search for a quality notebook. I hadn’t heard of William Hannah before, but I really like what they offer. Big metal rings give me pause; have you found them to be a problem when writing on the opposite page? I also wish they had a pen loop on the inside...I don’t want to broadcast an expensive pen to all the world, or risk scratching it up. Have you found that to be a problem?

[@lindastempt2712]

Eric Bryan - I don’t own a William Hannah (yet) - but I use Atoma disc-bound notebooks; I’m left handed and find most ring-bound notebooks a nuisance because of this... However, at least in the Atoma, I can just take the offending page out, write, then pop it back! WH now do a pen holder which encompasses the whole book (so a closure as well) but it’s mighty expensive.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Eric, To be honest, I have never even thought about this. I find I angle the notebook slightly, so the spine is in parallel with my forearm, and it's just like writing on any standard notebook. I don't find the rings have any impact whatever, no matter which side of the paper I'm writing on. I've been using this kind of system for years now, and never had an issue. The only occasional glitch is that sometimes the paper can cling to the rings if you try to move too much at the same time. But that's just an occasional, very minor thing. As to pens - well, I never, ever, leave a valuable pen in any notepad. There are little pen pockets that William Hannah sell, which double as elasticated bands that keep the notebook closed. Because they are actual sleeves, you could keep your pen hidden inside that - or just have the elastic covering the back and all the paper, but with the pen concealed under the front cover, I suppose. Personally, with my Viscontis, I keep them in my shirt pocket. I always know where they are that way, and I would be appalled to lose one!

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Linda, Thanks for that. (I liked the "yet"!) I had not thought of there being any issue with this kind of ring mechanism - I've never had any issues at all, so I was interested by your comment. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@EricBryan]

Thank you both for your input! Very helpful!

[@t0dd000]

Oh my.

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry. These are essential, though!

[@t0dd000]

Wait. Did I miss this, but the perforations . . . are they identical between Atoma and WH? So, if one goes out of business, you have a supplier still?

[@writerlywitterings]

They are identical, Todd, which is great. However, I would say that the paper from William Hannah is such a wonderful quality that I hope they keep going for a long time!

[@t0dd000]

@@writerlywitterings Indeed. I hope so as well. It's just great that an investment into such a wonderful system won't leave you high and dry if he decides to retire and liquidate the company. :) Standardization is wonderful.

[@JoeCool0510]

At 130 USD per notebook you have to buy alot of cheaper fillers to make up the price on a L-streum...

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, but it is a very different route to a Leuchtturm. And I have to say, the paper is just superb. I'll not stop using my L'turm notebooks, but the William Hannah fills a different niche for me.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Not a fan of rings at all, but I enjoy your videos immensely;)

[@writerlywitterings]

Well I'm really glad you're happy with the videos! And the main thing for me is, making people aware of the huge variety there is out there. It would be boring if we all liked the same things all the time!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

writerlywitterings very true! I am fascinated by finding out about new things even if they don’t appeal to me personally. For instance, I really don’t like blank notebooks but I love watching other people write in theirs;)