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Conklin Nibs - Prone To Cracking Or Just Abused


sidthecat

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While examining a recent acquisition - a Conklin ringtop - I noticed a crack beginning across the breather hole. Mr. Minuskin informed me that with use, the tines will eventually fall off unless someone repaired it...him, for instance.

So I began to look around for a replacement nib, and saw one on the Five-Star site, which had a very similar crack.

This, I thought, was interesting: that a cracked nib would still be saleable. I wondered if the quality of these nibs was sufficiently special that we'd want to keep them in use.

 

Has anyone had this sort of experience with Conklin nibs? Are they great, flawed Greek heroes of nibs? Or is there a tendency for these things to be purchased by gorillas?

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Cracks in vintage nibs especially those with some flex is common. The Conklin "crescent" shape breather is prone to crack by way of shape. Otherwise Conklin nibs are very good with no undue problems above any others.

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I've found Watermans from the same era are more prone to crack problems in their nibs than those in Conklin hard rubber crescent-fillers that I've examined for purchase. I don't believe Conklins are more vulnerable. On the other hand, Conklin crescent-filler caps are susceptible to disappearing entirely. :P

 

Fred

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