There is the number 30 below the M on the bottom of my nib I received today... Anyone know what the 30 represents? TIA

edited to add that this is a LeMan 100 nib with the globe...

I hope someone comes up with the answer about this - mine is the same and I would also like to know

David

My Exception also has the 30 on the feed, which is identical to the feed on my Man 100. The nibs on these two models appear to be the same size. Perhaps the number simply identifies the design and size of the feed so that during assembly it can be matched correctly to its corresponding nib.

That sounds logical Richard.

Any idea why some nibs have a globe on them and others dont? Is it just design or does it mean something?

David

I think nib designs changed with time or models. Consider the modern Parker Duofolds: since the late 80s the nib designs (not size) have changed, but the feeds have remained relatively the same. And Omas Paragons: different nib designs over time, but the same feed, at least within the same generation.

And so, I suspect the design on the Waterman nibs of the same size may have changed for aesthetic or marketing reasons, but the feeds that fit them remain the same. If the feed works, why change it?

I'm no expert here; just trying to think like an art designer with an accountant looking over his shoulder.

I have a few of the Le Man Series Pens, so I just wanted to put in my input here

I called Waterman both about the number "30" and the "Globe" pattern a long time ago

The answer that I received was that the number "30" does not always mean medium, it could also be fine

They told me that some of the replacement parts would have this number on them, and that it did not always mean a "Medium" nib

As for the "globe" pattern, I was told by them that the earlier nibs from the 1980's will not have this globe pattern

Later nibs after 1990 will have this globe design

Again, this was what I was told by customer service reps from Waterman. I called them twice about this, and was given this same answer

Hope this helps

True. My Le Man is EF; my Exception is M. Both have the "30". Clearly the number has no relation to the size of the nib's tip.

30 is the size of the "conduit", I don't know the name in English.

You have two different size: 0.30 until MEDIUM NIBS, 0.35 for BROAD, STUB... J.M.L.

Would "conduit" be the "channel" that runs through the length of the feed to carry the ink? If so, then does the number indicate the length of the channel in millimeters? 30 would be 1.18 inches. I'm just guessing and doubt that I'm correct.

Hi,

Yes, the channel, J.M.L.

Thank you! (Just thinking out loud next...) I imagine a Broad ground down to a Fine would be a nice wet writer... I'm now on the hunt for either a Broad or Stub.