New Flexible Nib Company?!

[Meltemi]

http://flexiblenib.com/store/sample-page/ Look! Somebody finally decided to produce 14k gold nibs that are flexible and can create custom feeds to fit into pens! Does anybody from here have any experience with this site or am I just too high on flex?

Edited October 14, 2016 by Meltemi

[Pendel]

Awesome!

 

I have been following jgrasty on Instagram for a while, and I think he has finally decided to make a business of his hobby!

I wonder if Shawn Newton is also involved.

 

Anyway, I hope that the price point of the flexxies will not be out of reach.

 

:-)

[Meltemi]

I hope so... I wouldn't want to pay 200 euros for a nib and feed without the pen.

[gregamckinney]

I hope so... I wouldn't want to pay 200 euros for a nib and feed without the pen.

Given the price of flex nibbed pens, I wouldn't be surprised if 200 EUR WAS the price for the nib and feed without the pen.

greg

[Pendel]

I think a lot depends on the size of the nib. I have certainly observed plenty of flexxies at the Boston Commonwealth show last month with smaller sized nibs going for not that much money. The larger flexxies are expensive because they are rare, having mostly come in a status symbol grade vintage pens.

 

If the fellows who are trying to start this factory can get the price point for modern #5/#6-sized nibs with the feed assemblies to under US$150, they should be in strong demand. If the price is north of $200, I am not so sure. Yet in either case I am hoping that more supply will reduce the market prices on the flex nibs; a welcome change!

Edited October 14, 2016 by Pendel

[GardenWeasel]

Bring them on...I'm ready. Been ready. 😍

[Cryptos]

At FPNibs.com you can buy a semiflex modified Jowo nib in 14K for $110, or thereabouts depending on exchange rates. The same nib without modification costs $160 elsewhere. Something to consider.

[Meltemi]

I did not know that they offered modified JoWos. The idea seems very tempting actually! Although to get... more flex... the nib will have to be made to be flexible.

[Cryptos]

Brian Goulet (of the Goulet Pen Company) raised a very interesting idea on a recent video. In essence he suggested that some of the vintage nibs we see today that behave like a paintbrush may be that way because of the intervening years of flexing in use. I think that he may actually have a point, though if there are any metallurgists here that can weigh in on this that would be cool.

 

This also ties in with an original advert from Waterman, that was shown on the website run by Nishimura, that stated an artist's nib (as I recall, hopefully correctly) had a fairly small spread when flexed. Certainly nothing near as wide as what people are expecting today.

 

Ah, HERE we go.

[Uncial]

I think they could be on to a winner if they get the price point right.

[bleair]

Are they making their own nibs, or just modifying a Jowo nib?

 

I love the idea of someone trying to make a nib that matches the behavior of the super-star Waterman nibs. From everything I've read, those vintage nibs have such distinct performance because of the manual steps used in making them. I know not all were nibs made back then were flex, but of out the millions of pen points made at Waterman they definitely manufactured some that had amazing flexibility and springiness and snapback. They got good at doing it.

 

Can anyone work gold to achieve the needed temper, thinness and flex _and_ do it for a labor cost so that they can sell at a price that people would buy. A great waterman #7 with red/pink nib sells for 6-1200$ (depending on the nib quality and pen condition and ebay frenziness) . If the cost to make a modern flexibile nib + pen results in a price above 900$ though I'll likely just look for the vintage version...

If they are trying to create a "noodlers style flex" pen, well, I'll just buy a modified nib from nibs.com

 

Definitely interesting and hopeful!

Edited October 15, 2016 by bleair

[davyk]

It's certainly possible to create a modern flex nib with the same or even better characteristics of vintage watermans. I say better because they can crack if flexed too often. and too much.

 

As for the ink flow, I believe some companies have their own solutions. Sailor for example uses an overfeed.

[Meltemi]

He makes his on feeds too! The grooves are identical to the Waterman's feeds.

 

Also, Yes, he will be making his own nibs. He will also be making feeds to accompany them into fountain pens like Pelikan. He really seems to like those judging from his Instagram page.

Edited October 16, 2016 by Meltemi

[nibfiend]

That's making me sweat.

 

I just ordered another pen from Fountain Pen Empire -- they have a new U.S. site that doesn't require Paypal. Their flex nibs aren't bad.

[Synnove]

I've been told to expect Zebra G levels of performance from the forthcoming nibs.

 

Couple that with the lovely ebonite feeds, consider me extremely hyped.

[sidthecat]

Mr. Nishimura (not unexpectedly) is onto something. I have a couple of pens with nibs which might be described as Artist's nibs, and they're not the most flexible nibs in my collection. The length of the nib actually makes it tricky to control, which makes me think it was used for fine inking, as an alternative to the kind dip pens I used in art school.

They're not what I'd consider sketching nibs - that honor goes to a Doric ringtop with a fine Adjustable nib that lost its slider - it's much easier to draw with and has a fantastic range of line.