Hello. I am new, but have been lurking for a few weeks. I have in front of me a not so rare or exciting pen, but one I like , nonetheless. When I was in Junior High, I took a calligraphy class and my Dad bought me a No Nonsense calligraphy set for $9.97, for which I have the box and booklet, but no pen (I do have one nib left). It seems I was good at it so one day he came home with a Targa that had 3 nibs. Brushed stainless, quite lovely, for which I don't have a box. I hung onto this for about 15 years but haven't seen for at least the last decade (you do the math, a lady never tells...or farts, for that matter).

Fast forward to yesterday... I am at my Mother's house and I look under the bookshelf. Hm, says I. That looks like my old calligraphy box. I opened it and lo! There was my Targa with 2 nibs. Now, I must digress here and mention that my memory is faulty at best. The next thing I said was "Damn. It's missing a nib!" So depression sets in, as I like things tied up in neat little packages and I reluctantly take the thing off my Mom's hands. This morning I start thinking that it is time to start looking on the interet for someone selling the broad (missing) nib. I look in the usual places on the internet, no luck. I then get a craving for a piece of gum, open my desk drawer and see that the missing nib is right there. I must have had to look at it every single time I opened that drawer. It is then that I remember that I have always held onto the nib just in case I find someone selling the rest of it. Hm.

Does anyone know if the Targa was sold as a calligraphy set, or did my dad just go buy the pen with the three italic nibs? Also, Excuse my ignorance, but this one is bigger than my other Targa (was my Dad's). Is the Slim Targa about the same diameter as a bic? If so, my Dad had a slim (also on my desk) and I have the regular. For introduction, I also have on my desk a Mont Blanc pencil, fountain pen and ballpoint, a Parker Vacumatic Junior-golden pearl fountain pen with matching pencil and my new favourite thing, my Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro pencil for doing crossword puzzles with. Oh. And a frosty green Lamy fountain pen that my mother gave me to write letters with because my MB is leaking horribly.

I am enjoying this site. Thank you.

I could have sworn that someone replied to this last night... I was on my way out, so didn't get a chance to read the whole thing. Why would someone post a reply, then delete it. I am sorry if I asked a stupid question, I just wanted to be on the lookout for the original box...

Being able to manifest things like a Targa broad calligraphy nib is an excellent talent. Most people can only get empty parking spaces to manifest. A bit tricky to get it to work reliably, though. I can only manage to manifest parking spaces between giant pickups and SUVs. They always look empty, but turn out to have PT Cruisers or Harleys already in them. Or maybe my talent is manifesting PT Cruisers and Harleys.

I don't know anything about Targas, but welcome to FPN anyway!

Edited to add: O look! You've just manifested a reply!

Sweet. Thanks.

Kathryn

The Targa was indeed sold as a calligraphy set. Here's proof:

Wow. That's much nicer than the Sheaffer No-Nonsense sets that I've had in the past.

TMann

Wow. Very cool. Why don't I remember ever having that box? I have the pen and nibs, so I guess that is the important part. Thank you very much for sharing. Do you find that if you pause between words, the pen needs a kick start to get flowing again? Is this something that is common with italic nibs? Thanks again.

Kathryn

I keep meaning to actually use this set but I just don't seem to get around to it. I do have about a dozen other pens with italic nibs, mostly cursive italic, that I do use. Those are a LOT easier to write with than a very crisp calligraphy italic, but they don't give as nice a result. I need to set aside some time to learn how to handle the crisp calligraphy style nibs and I don't ever do it. Someday! Anyway, in answer to your question, my cursive italic nibs don't ever need to be kick-started, but I don't know about this set.

I really like this set. I've been playing around with it tonight and am really happy. I am sorry, I don't know the correct terminology, but when I hesitate with my nib on the paper (Claireafontaine at present) the pen waits for me and doesn't do a puddle thing. Other than it halting at the start of a word (I just have to wait for a second before it starts flowing) which is only a problem with the broad nib, it is very responsive. I am so glad I looked under my Mother's bookcase...

Thanks for your help.

Kathryn

Hi Bill. I'm reaching out from Vacation but the catalog scans I'm going to send you when I return have pictures of several Targa Caligraphy sets for your viewing pleasure.

Regards,

PeteWK