Wyvern Orium Pens - Interesting "waverly" Nib - Worlds Smoothest

[markh]

I just purchased one of these from Bob Speerbrecher (Speerbob)

 

http://stores.ebay.com/Speerbob/Wyvern-Pens-/_i.html?_fsub=9424941015

 

On the pen is:

 

ORIUM No. 75

BRITISH MADE

WYVERN PENS OF LONDON

 

But what's really interesting is the nib. Marked:

 

WARRANTIED 1st QUALITY

NON RUST

F

 

The box (as you can see in the listing) describes it as "The World's Smoothest nib." The cap label from the unused pen says "ORIUM No. 75 REINFORCED NIB"

 

The nib has long, thin tines, which would make me think it was flexible, but it's not at all

 

The nib has no tipping material - no iridium. It's bent upward to a spoon shape,what I would call a Waverly nib. See Richard Binders page here: http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/ttp/waverley.htm

 

Unlike the 30s and 40s Sheaffer pen that had an upturned tip, this is quite visible, the last 1/16 inch of the nib curving down and then up.

 

Is it "the world's smoothest nib" ? I haven't filled it, and I'm not sure I'm going to, but just trying out a dry pen on paper, I wouldn't think so.

 

 

Anyone know about these???

 

 

thnx,

 

 

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[kestrel]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Waverly nib.

 

http://vintagepensblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-is-waverley-nib.html

 

I own some of the original Waverly dip nibs and they are smooth but not the smoothest nibs I own. Ditto the Waverly on a vintage MacNiven and Cameron dropper filler. It is a smooth writer but I have others that are smoother. Nice pen. Enjoy.

[northlodge]

I think the Orium was the economy range as far as Wyvern were concerned. That makes the survivors quite collectable now.

 

A SS 1st Quality nib might be expected, but I am unsure about a Waverley nib, which was a separate company altogether.

 

Advertising was not restricted by Trading Standards back in the day, so almost any claim about being the world's best / smoothest /longest lasting was acceptable

[markh]

I think the Orium was the economy range as far as Wyvern were concerned. That makes the survivors quite collectable now.

 

A SS 1st Quality nib might be expected, but I am unsure about a Waverley nib, which was a separate company altogether.

 

Advertising was not restricted by Trading Standards back in the day, so almost any claim about being the world's best / smoothest /longest lasting was acceptable

 

I didn't mean to imply the nib was made by Waverly, or any other company. It's a non-branded "waranteed" nib. But the style and shape are like a Waverly. It's also an untipped nib, which probably means pretty cheap. Kind of like the 2xxx series of Esterbrook nibs.

 

 

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[northlodge]

In that case, the SS nibs found on both the Wyvern and Lang (Summit) economy pens were I believe both made by the same company (- owned by the latter). From my experience I would say they are often surprisingly smooth, and firmer that might be expected,

 

but the "world's smoothest" ? well there is someone on here who would claim Scunthorpe are home to the worlds greatest football team ;-)

[peterg]

Original Orium nibs were stamped 'Orium'

[markh]

Original Orium nibs were stamped 'Orium'

 

Possibly. But if I was going to print on the box "The Worlds Smoothest Nib," a Waverly shaped nib kind of makes sense. Meaning that my guess is that this is how the pens were sold originally.

 

These are not expensive pens - more in the low priced category.

 

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[peterg]

We call them 'duck bill' nibs because of the way they turn up around the edge. It was the standard style of SS nib produced until folded tip nibs was developed.