Wahl Signature Size 6 Nibs, Thoughts On Shape Differences?

[Greenie]

I have two Wahl "signature" pens in the large #6 size. Both Wahl nibs have similar giant thick shanks. The last picture is to show the size compared to a large Sheaffer nib.

 

Both are medium and pretty rigid, probably from being pretty thick. The shapes are different with regards to the shoulders and tines.

 

Maybe this is not interesting, but why are the nibs so different?

 

[Roger W.]

You're comparing a newer Sheaffer to an older Wahl, Sheaffer had some big honking nibs too. Wahl offered a wide line of point options and many of these variances would have been subtle. If we go with your description and compare the points to the early ads the one point may be a manifold (short distance from breather hole to tip) and the other may be a medium signature. Those are two names from the 1930's though your nibs are mid 1920's they were still offering points for every writing style.

 

Roger W.

[Wahlnut]

The 2 WAHL nibs you show here are for different purposes. In early 1920's as Roger alluded to, (before Personal Point nibs) there were as many as 14 different #6 nibs available on WAHL pens. The 2 you show are a Manifold on the right (very stiff - capable of going through 5 carbon copies), and on the left is a flexible nib for more line variation. The different characteristics from firm to flexible are achieved in by the cut of the nib sides to be more tapered on the flex. If you go to the pinned material here on the forum, I think you will find an array of the nibs available in the 20's

[Greenie]

Thanks. They both seemed really rigid, which made me question the shape.