As with round-tipped nibs, stub nibs can vary in size. This OMAS stub is just labelled as a stub, whereas the Visconti is labelled as a 1.3 mm stub. The Stipula is a 1.3 mm stub, but feels like an italic, and the Parker is a medium italic. Italics are some of my favorites!
Take a look at this great 1935 Parker Duofold button-filler fountain pen and ink well desk set! The base is incredible, in bronzed metal, and has the factory imprint ”PARKER DUOFOLD” on the bottom front. It measures 13 ½” x 7″ x 2″, with a slanted face, an ornate die stamped floral design, and surface storage compartments. The trumpet is black hard rubber. The base originally held a daily calendar. As that is dated, it is …
What does a ”special edition” pen mean? Unlike limited edition pens that are only produced in a certain quantity, special editions are often produced by a company for a set period of time – such as a year. It could also be that there is no specified number of pens to be produced, but the company will manufacture pens based on how many they can produce out of the raw material they may have.
Trying to figure out what model your vintage Waterman is? Many of them have an imprint on the end of the barrel. Depending how old and worn it is, you may be able to see it quite clearly. The numbers can tell you a lot about your pen – visit Mr. Richard Binder’s site to find out what your pen may be!
If you need the perfect piece to display your pens, this Anonymous/Parker counter top display case, circa 1920, is fully operational and quite interesting, although the case and trays are a little threadbare. The rear door is hinged, unlocked, with no key. This display case measures 25 ½” x 9.5″ x 4″, and has three wooden trays – two vintage and one more modern reproduction. All have the ”Parker Lucky Curve” reproduction label. A great piece …
What is Superchrome ink? Superchrome was a special ink created exclusively for the Parker 51. Parker made several claims about this ink: it dried three times faster than ordinary ink of the time (such as Waterman), it had a dye content three to ten times greater, and was said to have eleven times more resistance to fading than government standards.
A nib grade can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and to make it even more confusing, the actual writing width can vary from nib to nib. Higher end nibs are often finished by hand, and unless each is measured precisely, they will be different. They all look like mediums, roughly, but when you really start looking and writing with them, some are more wet, some are softer, some are wider, some offer more line variation. …
This beautiful 1930 Conklin Endura Desk Set in Jade is a great set. The base is a 3″ x 4″ x 3/4″ geometric shape with white and black edges and a black trumpet. The lever-filler desk pen is a matching piece, also in Jade, with a black taper. To make this set even more complete and perfect for your desk, there is a matching Conklin ”Knife” letter opener. Note the color is a little lighter than …
Why is there always ink in the cap of my pen? This can happen for a number of reasons, which generally involve ink on the nib and feed: ink left on the nib after filling, then being capped, ink left in the feed after filling (and not expelling the excess that saturated the feed), then being capped, the pen being tossed around in your bag/pocket/case and splattering ink from the nib and feed into the cap. It’s …
I get asked this question a lot: what’s the best flex nib? I can’t answer that because I haven’t used that many compared to the amount that are available. What I can say is my favorite flex nibs are found on vintage Watermans. Although some modern flex pens offer some semi-flexible nibs, and they are getting better and better, I still say, if you want a nice, soft, juicy nib, go vintage!
