This is my first post and I am glad I found this place. I hope someone can either tell me how to do this or guide me to someone who can.

One of my fountain pens (MB Agatha) skips when I hold it the way I like to write. When I hold it in other angles or twist it so the nib contact is different than the way I typically hold fountain pens, it works flawless.

This prompted me to call the Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC and ask if they can make adjustments to my nib if I show up and spent some time there (I wonder if I spent some money there it would help too), but they declined.

When I explained I am also left handed they thought that the only way I can get someone that knows how to make such modifications is to attend a pen show. I can't wait to go to a pen show and a bit scared to ruin things by trying something myself unless guided. I can always drive to MB in Bethelham, PA and try to convince them to make the modifications.

If it makes any difference, here is a bit of history on the pen. I bought the pen from someone that stored it for many years uncleaned. I spent an entire day cleaning it out and it was completely clean by the end, not one speck or trace of color. The only problem was the piston mechanism would bind a bit. I drove from Connecticut to PA and visited MB. Dropped off another pen to get the nib changed from Medium to Fine and spoke to a German lady there, she said that my pen just needed some grease on the inside, she took the pen and a few minutes later came back and it twisted like butter. No problems. I took it home, cleaned it again and here is where I am.

I thought that maybe "greasing" the inside affected the ink flow, but I doubt it because I cleaned well when I came back from MB and changed the ink twice in hopes things will improve, but no change so far.

Sorry for the long post, didn't want to miss anything

Any help is appreciated.

the silicone grease won't impede flow. sounds like she knew what she was doing. The only problem would be if she got grease on the feed somewhere and that's hard to do if you're doing things right. She'd have to be juggling the nib unit in the same hands she's using to grease the piston.

As far as getting help via a show - it's preferred perhaps, but not necessary. There are a number of nibmeisters who can check out your pen and get the flow adjusted for you and make sure there are no other possible clogs. What this means is sending it off to someone though. they generally are well-versed in the different angles of attack from both left-handers and right-handers. (are those words?) Depends on how long you are comfortable with letting the pen out of your sight. The advantage of a show is that you are with your pen and you can demonstrate your grip and angle then and there. But usually the nibmeisters can tell by a description and a form they have created how they can adjust the nib to suit your hand even though you're not there.

Great! Thanks KCat. I will try the search function this evening to find a nibmiester. Is there a list? Just checking to see if I can save some time.

Thanks again.

cheers

W

i think there's a thread in the Market Place re: this. Off hand - there's Deb Kinney, Richard Binder, John? Mottishaw - not sure how much experience Dillon has with left-handed writers.