The postman delivered my Omas Paragon and Aurora Optima back to me in Florida 11 days after they left on their way to Greg Minuskin in California. These are pens I've just recently purchased. In a previous post I bemoaned the fact that I often have to part with new pens shortly after buying them in order to get the exact nib/writing experience I want especially when many of the top nibmeisters work flow results in waits of 3 to 6 months.

The sterling cap old style Paragon from Regina Martini came with an 18k medium nib that had much too wide a space between the tines. I prefer bit narrower nib so this pen was off for a "fix" to the flow and a bit narrower nib.

The sterling cap/body Optima from a fellow FPN'r came with a broad nib and I was fortunate to find a second, identical broad nib on Ebay. Although both nibs were "perfect" as broads, I already have a good selection of Pelikan broads so these two also went to Greg to result in a fine, like the Paragon, and a medium stub.

First, for those who haven't worked with Greg, he's a pleasure to work with. To say he's detail oriented is an understatement. He will make sure you know what you want before he goes to work, including his request to include writing samples with the pens you send. In my case there were things he wasn't sure he understood that resulted in a phone call to me prior to starting work. Then, after the work was complete he sent photos to demonstrate the finished product, including writing samples next to the writing samples I'd sent....even micrometer digital capliper photos of line width (see further discussion below by SMG).

I'll post the photos when I get some time in the next week.

The end result met all my expectations. The Paragon has perfect flow and the fine regrind was dead on to the writing sample I'd sent. The Optima now has a "split personality". The fine is perfect and identical in stroke width to the Paragon and the Pelikan fine sample I'd sent. It almost seems that the nib even retains that unique Aurora nib "feel" despite having been taken from a broad. The stub is truly a joy....smooth and forgiving but full of personality and variety in the vertical and horizontal strokes. This nib will likely stay on this pen most of the time. It started as a .9mm broad and ended up a stub between .89 mm and 1.0 mm depending on pressure.

In conclusion, my kudos to Greg both for his attention to detail, great communication and fast service. Although he advertises 2 to 4 week service, my 11 day turnaround kept me from having to look longingly at the empty slots in my pen box...especially for NEW pens!

Randy in Florida

Wow - that does sound like attention to detail!
And if the craftsmanship isn't enough, the 11 day turnaround is just unreal - looking forward to seeing the photos - and will we get benefit of a review the new nibs (hint hint!)

How about some writing samples?

Very impressive turnaround times.

Still pressed for time...haven't even had time to do much more than dip these... but wanted to get some pics up. These are the pics Greg sent for comment after the regrind. Be sure to open each picture to find explanation I've added to each pic. I'll try and do more complete writing samples soon, but I dont' think I have any "before" as these were new pens/nibs that I knew would be reground from the outset.

Enjoy.

http://regrinds.floridafpnut.mailcan.com/M...kin%20Italians/

Not to pick nits, but I have a couple of remarks to share.

1. Those are not images of a micrometer, they are of a digital caliper.
2. Digital calipers (as well as micrometers) are intended for contact measurement of parts.
3. Measuring a line on a piece of paper with said caliper is not a reliable method of measurement.

As the devices mentioned are intended for contact measurement they will not provide a repeatable and reliable measurement on a width of ink on a piece of paper. The user has way too much control over what the final measurement will be in the application shown.

A more accurate method of measurement would be non-contact, ie an optical comparator. This is what I use and I know Richard uses the same. An optical comparator compares the width of the line to a calibrated graduated scale under magnification. There is little an operator can do to influence the measurement of the line width with this instrument. All you have to do is hold the comparator on the paper, ensure that it is perpendicular to the line and read off the width of the line. It is much like reading a tape measure in that respect, but with 10x mag to help, one can easily see 0.1mm differences (with a good comparator).

If you were to take 3 people and have them measure the same line 10 times, while covering the readout of the caliper you would most likely have 26 or so different measurements and about 4 that were the same. With an optical comparator the R&R would jump considerably, and the ratio would most likely be 180 degrees the other way, 26 identical measurements and 4 differing ones. Note I have not actually run a gage R&R on this, but I am speaking from 15 years of industry use of all three instruments mentioned above, and even more accurate instruments than those.

Also, as ink will feather slightly on paper, if the paper were different, or ink different then the results would also vary. I measure all line widths on Rhodia paper and with Waterman ink for consistency.

That said, and it was a mouthful I agree, Greg does a great job. I am not trying to take anything away from his abilities at all, just to point out sources of variation from the measurement technique shown.

Cheers,
Sean

Sean -

Thanks for the technical info and correction. I am NOT a technical person but I found the visual a useful way for me as a non-technical person to "see" the comparison of what I'd sent as a sample versus the final product which was being returned. After receipt of the pens and nibs I can confirm that what I got back did fulfill my request and I did enjoy the feedback Greg provided prior to and during the process.

I have no affiliation to Greg and this was my first experience working with him.

Let me also state that I have done work with Richard Binder and found his work to be excellent as well, especially where other restoration is needed. Again no affiliation, just several years of VERY happy experiences.

Frankly, my personal feelings are simply that there need to be more high quality nibmeisters and I hope that Richard and Greg train others in the "art" so FP lovers like me can more readily indulge their curiosity in trying different nibs, especially for pens that provide the easy switch that my Aurora and Pelikans do.

My only frustrations have been with the length of the wait. I almost always want nibs customized and its hard to take a brand new pen and send it off for months of waiting.

Again, my 2 cents.

Randy

I totally agree with you, on all counts. I was not intending to deride anyone, only to offer up information.

I have conversed with Richard at length and he has been forthcoming with information at all times with me. He is a genuinely fantastic person and I feel lucky to call him a friend. I have not conversed much, if at all, with Greg but I have seen a rejuvination in nib grinding since he sprung onto the scene. I thank him publicly here for that. His work appears to be top notch, but alas, I cannot comment from firsthand knowledge.

I am glad that the pens are as you hoped they would be on their return from Greg. I also echo, more than you know, your sentiments about nibmeisters and the need for more.

Richard has taken on some help of late, I am not sure exactly what they are doing, but it is making a dent in his backlog. That is a good thing, as Richard is often heard to say.

I will have to get a Minuskin nib some time soon and see if I like it.

I was only trying to point out the issues with the measurements which were depicted in the images you showed. I think that Greg most likely uses a comparator to measure the line thikness, and was only using the calipers as a visual aide.

Cheers,
Sean

BTW, I have an Aurora Optima with a bold stub, WOW! I cannot tell you here who ground it, without possibly incuring wrath of some board members. Those pens are so incredibly comfortable to write with. I cannot put mine down.