In Pursuit Of The Evasive Economical Flex Nib

[dhosh]

New site/forum member, and have been banigng around a bit, looking for some information .. I might yet stumble on it ...

 

I currently have 4 pens...

Esterbrook J (I believe) with a 9314-F Releif nib

Esterbrook J (I believe) with a 9550 nib

Esterbrook ? desk pen that goes in the '8-ball' desk holder with a 9550 nib

Shaeffer's Balance White Dot (again .. I believe .. larger unit) with a Lifetime gold (gold, colored anyway .. doesn't say gold) nib

This one is cleaned up, and I'm currently waiting for some rebuild parts (sacs, talc, etc) to get it back into working order. Seems to write nice and smooth via dipping, however.

 

I would like to end up with a reasonably priced (i.e. $100 or less) flexy pen. As I already own these pens .. that would leave me with a few more bucks for a replacement nib, rather than purchasing an entire pen. I'm not that into having a prestine pen (nor would mind a Franken-pen, if I'm not destroying a real collectable) .. but something I could try more elaborate penmanship with .. Spencerian / Copper Plate style, I guess.

 

I understand the Etsy line doesn't really have a true flexy nib ... and the current nib on the Shaeffer's certainly isn't. As these appear to be relatively available nibs .. I'm not opposed to having them 're-built', but I would think the starter nib would need to be closer to what I'm looking for, than these.

 

Anyone have suggestions as to replacement nibs I could look at for the above pens? Certainly a old Waterman with a nice flexy would be wonderful, but I'm asuming they will be out of my price range.

 

Thanks for all ... while I keep keep checking out this vast site & forums!

 

Dennis

[ac12]

4 options that I can think of off the top of my head

 

1) An Esterbrook flex nib; 9128 XF, 9048 F and I don't remember the M nib. nibs are about $40. A little stiff, but quite writeable. I think these nibs are similar in stiffness to a Noodlers nib.

 

2) Noodler's pens, a bit stiff but you can flex it. About $20

 

3) Desiderata, hand made bulb filler fountain pens that use dip pen nibs.

 

4) Dip Pens. This is the most economical route. $3 for a straight holder or $13 for a Peerless oblique holdler, nibs run between $1 and $2 each for a huge assortment of different flex nibs. For doing Spencerian, Copperplate, and similar, a dip pen is the tool of choice.

 

Note, with a frountain pen or straight dip pen holder, you will have to learn a new grip. It is a finger over grip, with the index finger at the 12-o'clock position on the grip. This is shown in the various Specerian and Palmer instruction books.

With the oblique dip pen holder, you can use your standard grip, as the oblique pen flange provides the angular offset for you. This is the dip pen holder that I prefer.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Ahab with the Ahab Mod or Angel Wing....Try Pendelton Brown....

I had a Ahab which has a semi-flex pressure "Flex" nib, that is real hard to fool with. I now have it with the Ahab Mod and it is now Superflex...Easy Full Flex...the first stage of Superflex.

It is now a joy to write with.

 

I have 5 or so Easy Full Flex nibbed pens; one a Pelikan 100n....and enough Degussa nibs of that flex to do other pens. My Waterman 52 starts at Easy Full Flex but gets flexier as the tines spread....which was not expected.

I'm sure other 52's can start at Wet Noodle.

 

If you do get a modified Ahab....I suggest a download or buying a used stiff Italic Calligraphy book, so you can learn to draw the letters. It helped me, when I tried dip pens that are so flexible they flex when there is an Earthquake in California. They make a wet noodle...got three, look like regular flex.

That is a second option.

There is a guy on the com selling a fountain pen with dip pen nibs....starts with D.

[dhosh]

Great information from both of you! I had wondered about finding a fountain/auto-fill pen that could use dip pens. I have several ... a couple very flexible, but can't seem to keep enough in in them to do only 1/2 a 'flex'! ;-) I'll look for the Desiderata beasts. I DID just order a Noodler's Ahab flex and a Goulet #6 a few hours ago .. we'll see how that goes! I'll have to see what the Ahab Mod is ... I hope to do some decent 'normal/flourished' writing with it .. just for the flair of it! ... but also more serious Spencerian/Copper Plate practicing .. maybe do more (better!) cards than in the past.

 

Thanks!

[Stowford]

While the Pilot soft nibs may be semi flex, in my opinion they are the best flex writing experience. I have a Pilot Falcon (around $140 online) soft fine and a Pilot Custom 74 ($85 online) soft fine. The Falcon is more flexible, but both are really well made pens with good flex and a lot of fun to use. You will be able to get some beautiful flex writing from both. I also have an Ahab, but the build quality is not that great and the writing experience is not worth the cheap price in my opinion.

[Bo Bo Olson]

If you want real semi-flex that is not a "Flex" pen, I suggest the vintage Pelikan 140 or a Geha 790...none of this unmodified Falcon BS...which is a soft nib, not semi-flex.

 

The modified Falcon is cut out, just like the "Ahab Mod". Look that up as marked in Advanced Search....there is a large thread on that in one of the two Pen Review sections. Shows good pictures.

[PrestoTenebroso]

New site/forum member, and have been banigng around a bit, looking for some information .. I might yet stumble on it ...

 

I currently have 4 pens...

Esterbrook J (I believe) with a 9314-F Releif nib

Esterbrook J (I believe) with a 9550 nib

Esterbrook ? desk pen that goes in the '8-ball' desk holder with a 9550 nib

Shaeffer's Balance White Dot (again .. I believe .. larger unit) with a Lifetime gold (gold, colored anyway .. doesn't say gold) nib

This one is cleaned up, and I'm currently waiting for some rebuild parts (sacs, talc, etc) to get it back into working order. Seems to write nice and smooth via dipping, however.

 

I would like to end up with a reasonably priced (i.e. $100 or less) flexy pen. As I already own these pens .. that would leave me with a few more bucks for a replacement nib, rather than purchasing an entire pen. I'm not that into having a prestine pen (nor would mind a Franken-pen, if I'm not destroying a real collectable) .. but something I could try more elaborate penmanship with .. Spencerian / Copper Plate style, I guess.

 

I understand the Etsy line doesn't really have a true flexy nib ... and the current nib on the Shaeffer's certainly isn't. As these appear to be relatively available nibs .. I'm not opposed to having them 're-built', but I would think the starter nib would need to be closer to what I'm looking for, than these.

 

Anyone have suggestions as to replacement nibs I could look at for the above pens? Certainly a old Waterman with a nice flexy would be wonderful, but I'm asuming they will be out of my price range.

 

Thanks for all ... while I keep keep checking out this vast site & forums!

 

Dennis

Jiminy Crickets, I created my company for you! Please sign up for the mailing list.

 

http://www.desideratapens.com/faq/#4

[dhosh]

Presto..

I did, yesterday! :-). Looks like you are out of stock... And I mentioned 2nds would be fine with me as well! It's great you are following your dream, making these pens, and am waiting with baited breath for your next batch! :-)

 

Dennis

[balson]

Its not the easiest mod to do, but esterbrook pens can be modified to take fountain pen revolution's #5 nib. if you have a spare, preferably broken, esterbrook nib unit you can nock the feed out of the collar and fit on a fountain pen revolution nib. you will want to do the easy my flex mod, deepen the feeds, and dremel down the front of the feed way back because the stock feed is too long for that nib. that would meet your needs for just $7 if you have a spare nib unit and a dremel.

[dhosh]

I got the Ahab with the Noodler's INk top .. isn't marked other than that .. but does 'flex' ... but does take some effort. I would expect some papers might get ripped up when dragging the nib in a flexed position. I'll probably do the mod on it. I have lots of dip pens ... might see if one of those will fit in it, to make do until Pierre/Presto ??? of Desiderata Pens gest some stock built up. :-)

I got the beginner parts in for sac replacement/repairs, and got the Seaffer's Balance and Esterbrook desk model pen (in my profile pic .. in the '8-ball') re-sacked and working. I mod-ed the Esty's 9550 nib (as I had 2), to be a bit smoother and now writes a bit finder line. It wasn't a pristine nib,and I'm much happier with it now. It'll be a great note-taker at work ...

[sidthecat]

And of course you can haunt ebay for the vintage flex pen that nobody's noticed - not recommended if you have a life.