Possible Bent Nib

[-=walrus=-]

Hello,

 

I have just received a pen via ebay uk.

 

Item number 111324386561

 

It looked as if the line was really thick in the pictures so I thought that I would check the pen.

 

I think that the nib may be bent, as one of the tines appears to be higher than the other, I have tried writing and it seems ok. But is very thick line.

 

When I look at the nib end towards me the left hand tine is higher, is there anyway to tell if the nib is bent knackered or not?

 

Or could it just be that as I a left handed there is a good chance the previous owner was right handed hence the difference in height?

 

I can't get a photo as only have a fruit based tablet to hand.

 

Thanks for the forthcoming advice.

[theverdictis]

Did the seller not mention anything on ebay? Can you still contact the seller regarding this item?

 

Ben

[dali3464]

It may be that the nib is sitting slightly unevenly on the feed.

 

But it's worth noting that English Parker 51s have a tendency to be more wet and run wider than comparable labelled nibs from the US.

 

Apart from removing the hood, it'd be hard to gauge the condition of the nib (since most of it is hooded!).

 

Removing the hood isn't a terribly difficult task. I purchased a 51 a little under a month ago, seller indicated that it was in otherwise excellent condition and whatnot. When I received, it could barely pull up any ink and it was wet beyond belief. Many recommend the use of a hair dryer/heat gun to melt the adhesive under the hood, but to be honest I was a bit hesitant. I instead opted for David Nishimura's method and just used a cup of hot water (70 degrees celsius, not boiling!) and dipped the hood (up to the clutch) into it for 10-15 seconds at a time, gently twisting the hood to see if the sealing adhesive had melted. The hood gave way quite easily, and after disassembly I noticed that the entire silver feeder tube had corroded off.

Edited April 23, 2014 by dali3464

[-=walrus=-]

I think I will e mail the seller and see what comes of it.

[OcalaFlGuy]

You NEED a loupe to see the tips well. A local jewelry or pawn shop will gladly let you borrow one at their counter. Take your pen in and adjust the nib there. Jewelry stores especially, usually have very decent lighting at their counters. I would not be shocked to have to do a minor tine adjustment to an Ebay pen NOT sold as restored. (As yours wasn't) I also wouldn't return it Just For needing a tine adjustment. Your seller clearly appears to not really be a pen person who I'd expect to pay much attention to the nib tipping.

 

I went and zoomed in on your listing pics. Only 1 pic showed the nib and the point area is too inked up for me to tell anything.

 

If you adjust the down tine up, be careful not to adjust it higher than the other tine and run into the hood tip. They DO chip off like that.

 

+1 to the wider UK nibs. I have seen Medium UK nibs that were noticeably more bulbous and approached a US Broad in width.

 

I laughed at how my Dad taking a pic with an iPad looked. I was Shocked at how good of a pic it took. Don't blame your iPad. It may be unwieldy as a camera but it takes a Very Decent pic.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[-=walrus=-]

I have a x10 loupe and decent source of light.

 

I am also going to nip into a local pen shop who has kindly agreed to look at it for me.

 

I will wait and see his response before I attempt any adjustments, would it be worth cleaning the pen out do you think?

[OcalaFlGuy]

I have a x10 loupe and decent source of light.

 

I am also going to nip into a local pen shop who has kindly agreed to look at it for me.

 

I will wait and see his response before I attempt any adjustments, would it be worth cleaning the pen out do you think?

 

I would not do Anything to the pen until you determine it Isn't going back.

 

IF and when you determine that, Re; cleaning, there is a pinned topic at the beginning of this forum that should help there.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[-=walrus=-]

I gave it a quick flush just to see if it would help.

 

It appears that there is a blob of dried ink at the end of the nib, which appears to be pushing

the tines apart, which would explain the wet flow,

 

I'll leave it and see what the pen shops view is.

[-=walrus=-]

Nib sorted, clump of crusty ink at end of tines.

 

Removed and checked by a professional all fine.

 

Now testing it out as an everyday pen.