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Wanting To Get Into Calligraphy

carevalo1

By carevalo1
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carevalo1 NOS (New Old Stock)

carevalo1

Posted
Posted

Hey, guys I’m trying to get into the calligraphy portion of writing... I want to choose something fairly inexpensive so that I practice on before I move up. Any suggestions?

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lmarine0510 Rare

lmarine0510

Posted
Posted

I would suggest buying a Sheaffer No-Nonsense calligraphy kit. It comes with 3 different sizes of nibs and a bunch of cartridges to get you started up. In my opinion, it is the best deal for that kind of money (~$25). Here's a link to get one http://bit.ly/1zO3itD

Parker 51 Aerometric (F), Sheaffer Snorkel Clipper (PdAg F), Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman (M), red striated Sheaffer Balance Jr. (XF), Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman desk set (M), Reform 1745 (F), Jinhao x450 (M), Parker Vector (F), Pilot 78g (F), Pilot Metropolitan (M), Esterbrook LJ (9555 F), Sheaffer No-Nonsense calligraphy set (F, M, B Italic), Sheaffer School Pen (M), Sheaffer Touchdown Cadet (M), Sheaffer Fineline (341 F), Baoer 388 (F), Wearever lever-filler (M).

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Mr.Rene Collectors Item

Mr.Rene

Posted
Posted

Sorry to say..I do not recommend Sheaffer calligraphy made in Slovenian..looks cheap, feels cheap and works worst...very bad experience with my Kit...

:(

Regards,

René

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lmarine0510 Rare

lmarine0510

Posted
Posted

Sorry to say..I do not recommend Sheaffer calligraphy made in Slovenian..looks cheap, feels cheap and works worst...very bad experience with my Kit...

:(

Regards,

René

I had to flush mine out good when I got it, After that, all 3 in my set have worked just fine since day 1.

Parker 51 Aerometric (F), Sheaffer Snorkel Clipper (PdAg F), Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman (M), red striated Sheaffer Balance Jr. (XF), Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman desk set (M), Reform 1745 (F), Jinhao x450 (M), Parker Vector (F), Pilot 78g (F), Pilot Metropolitan (M), Esterbrook LJ (9555 F), Sheaffer No-Nonsense calligraphy set (F, M, B Italic), Sheaffer School Pen (M), Sheaffer Touchdown Cadet (M), Sheaffer Fineline (341 F), Baoer 388 (F), Wearever lever-filler (M).

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benay148 Rare

benay148

Posted
Posted

Had bad luck with mine as well. Never could write more than a line without it drying out and skipping. With some work I might have been able to get it working, but it was so cheap feeling it wasn't worth it.

 

For me the pilot parallel is about as perfect as you can ask for. Comes many different sizes and the quality is fantastic.

http://i.imgur.com/JkyEiJW.png

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Dottie Mint

Dottie

Posted
Posted

I really like the Pelikan calligraphy pens. They write so well. Manuscript brand, which is available in many hobby stores, is quite inexpensive but good for the money. Another is Lamy Joy.

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zchen Extremely Rare

zchen

Posted
Posted (edited)

if you keep eye on ebay you can find the older Sheaffer Calligraphy sets for under $20 or less shipped.

 

Edited by zchen
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dms525 Antique

dms525

Posted
Posted

The discussion so far has assumed the OP is interested in a style of calligraphy that uses a chisel-point pen, such as italic. These pens are not suitable for Spencerian/Copperplate/English Roundhand, etc.

 

If italic pens are appropriate, for learning at low cost, I would recommend a Lamy with a 1.5mm nib, or, if you have Franklin-Christoph or an Edison pen (or probably others), one of the JoWo italic nibs sold by the pen companies. Or buy a reconditioned Osmiroid pen set off ebay. I have no experience with the Manuscript pens, but I've heard good things about them. I cannot recommend the current Sheaffer italic pens.

 

More information about the style of calligraphy you want to learn would get you more specific advice.

 

Happy writing!

 

David

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Bo Bo Olson Ancient Artifact

Bo Bo Olson

Posted
Posted (edited)

Calligraphy as in stiff nibbed. There are a lot of wonderful scripts to learn, and a life time to do so....hummm...if one practices. :blush:

You need a good book too.

If you have an Esterbrook, the Osmiroid calligraphy nib sets fit. Osmiroid use to be the king of Calligraphy nibs....the English Osmiroid, the Chinese don't fit.

I have a 6 nib set bought on British E.bay goes from EF-BB......Think a pen comes with the set..

 

If you find the nib set, then just buy the Esterbrook. In they are a bit better Quality than the Osmiroid 65 lever and the 75 piston pens. But the Osmiroid will get the job done....after you have re-sac'ed the 65 it has been 3-40 years since they were made so the rubber sac is too old.

 

Fro Calligraphy you have to hold the pen like a ball point before the big knuckle, cant the nib 30-45 degrees so you can push-pull the nib as you draw the letters.

I like the B or BB nibs so I can see what I am doing. I can see the narrower nibs once one has learned how to draw the alphabet, with out having to go to the book.

 

:blush: :rolleyes: I still have to pull out the book....practice too little.

 

My Manuscript pen has a BBBB nib....lots too large.

Edited by Bo Bo Olson

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

 

 

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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Bo Bo Olson Ancient Artifact

Bo Bo Olson

Posted
Posted (edited)

Could be a little high, the pen is an Osmiroid 75 piston pen....check British Ebay for cheaper in they come up more often. You may have to hunt a couple times a week.

Had that been buy now, the price would be for the States not too bad....but as a start bid IMO too high.

My 65 feels a bit cheap.

 

If you bid, snipe or bid in the last 20 seconds...15 would be better....an odd number over start bid, like 43.85. If there is no bids you get it for the 'start' bid....if 42 you get it if 43.75 you get it.

 

Check English Ebay....check past auctions. Do that for the States too.

Edited by Bo Bo Olson

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

 

 

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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Maurizio Collectors Item

Maurizio

Posted
Posted

Working from the assumption that you want to start with learing italic calligraphy, the recomendations for an Osmiroid (English, not Chinese) are good, but they're not readily available. Good pens which are relatively inexpensive and available are the Manuscript and the Rotring Art Pen. Get a nib that's as wide as possible to start, 2.4 at least; the Rotring comes in 2.3; the Manuscript I don't recall. I just got a Kaweco set, this also works very well. The Lamy Joy is also a good pen, but I think it only comes in a 1.5 which is not wide enough to begin calligraphy practice. The Pilot Parallel pen is also good and does come in a 2.4.

 

Get a copy of Elenor Winters book Calligraphy in 10 Easy Lessons. I can not recommend it highly enough. I've bought more than 8 books on italic calligraphy, but Winters' book is by far the best - straightforward, and it shows you how to do italic.

http://www.amazon.com/Calligraphy-Easy-Lessons-Lettering-Typography/dp/0486418049

 

The pens and the book are all available on Amazon, but you should also check out John Neal Bookseller online. They have a big calligraphy supplies catalog you can download; and check out also the Paper and Ink Arts site, another fun place to browse for calligraphy supplies.

The prizes of life are never to be had without trouble - Horace
Kind words do not cost much, yet they accomplish much - Pascal

You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream - C.S. Lewis

 Favorite shop:https://www.fountainpenhospital.com

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Cryptos Antique

Cryptos

Posted
Posted

A pencil.

 

 

What? It's as good a place to start as any. I jumped in with dip pens but have reverted to using a pencil for everyday, do it anywhere practice.

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inkeverywhere Extremely Rare

inkeverywhere

Posted
Posted

Being a learner, or perhaps one step beyond, I have found an Osmiroid FP to give me the most satisfying results. As previously mentioned they are well represented on ebay, and are usually very cheap, however they went out of business in the late 90's.

 

Practice, practice, practice is what is needed to master calligraphy, not the cost of your pen.

 

 

Greg

"may our fingers remain ink stained"

Handwriting - one of life's pure pleasures

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