Safely Flexing A 52 1/2V Nib

[Custom]

Hello vintage pen lovers,

 

The Waterman's Ideal 52 1/2V I bought at the Philadelphia Pen Show has a quite flexible 14K gold nib that flexes from <0.5mm to ~2mm. I love doing this, but I am worried about springing the tines on a vintage pen that cannot be replaced. I also noticed that the nib has a slight upward curve. I would assume that this is from overflexing, but the curve was present at the pen show where I bought it. Does anyone know if what I am doing is safe for the pen? Thank you!

[sidthecat]

I have a 52 1/2V with a similar upturned nib. It's a nice writer and doesn't appear to have been forced into that shape.

Developing a reasonably light hand is a matter of practice and awareness of what you're doing while you're writing. You can get nice results without having to overflex your nib.

[Custom]

I have modified the nib by removing a sharp edge and reducing the flow. This included bending and realigning, so it is not original, but writes very well. I can write with a light hand, but I want to know just how much flex I can get when I need it.

[Goudy]

Take a look at David Nishimura's blog post on the subject: http://vintagepensblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/seeking-and-using-flexible-nibs.html

[linearM]

Also check out: http://www.vintagepen.net/how-to-use-flex-nibs.html. There are two other articles on flex nibs at the same site you might find usable. When you are using flex don't push the nib to the maximum flex, just enough to get nice line variation. I've seen some flex pen sellers who show the nib almost doing the splits showing how far the nib will go, I'm very hesitant to buy a pen from them. If you have a loupe look closely at the nib and see if there might be a small crack starting at the breather hole.

[FarmBoy]

Hello vintage pen lovers,

 

The Waterman's Ideal 52 1/2V I bought at the Philadelphia Pen Show has a quite flexible 14K gold nib that flexes from <0.5mm to ~2mm. I love doing this, but I am worried about springing the tines on a vintage pen that cannot be replaced. I also noticed that the nib has a slight upward curve. I would assume that this is from overflexing, but the curve was present at the pen show where I bought it. Does anyone know if what I am doing is safe for the pen? Thank you!

Your nib doesn't flex to 2mm it bends to 2 mm.

 

I would say what you are doing is not safe. I would also say if the nib is turned up it is bent or sprung or over flexed or however you like to think about it but it would not have had a slightly upward curve when it left the factory.

[Custom]

As I said, the pen was in this condition when I got it. This thread has proven that the pen was not forced into being bent. If you own a 52 1/2v, please say how far you will push your ✒ nib.

[praxim]

If you own a 52 1/2v, please say how far you will push your ✒ nib.

 

I own a couple of those and some 52 models and I don't; and I won't.

 

All of them have a normal straight or trivially down-curved tip.

[Vintagepens]

It's not the model of pen that matters here -- it's the nib. A more useful and accurate way of posing the question would be to ask how far a 1920s vintage Waterman #2 nib can safely flex. To which the answer would be, it depends on the nib, since #2 Waterman nibs were made in a wide variety of geometries and thicknesses. But one thing is certain: 2mm is well over the safe range for any of them, which really should top out at 1mm or so, with perhaps another 0.5mm, max, for a rare and exceptional super long-tined example.

 

As I said, the pen was in this condition when I got it. This thread has proven that the pen was not forced into being bent. If you own a 52 1/2v, please say how far you will push your ✒ nib.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Vintagepens

[sidthecat]

Interesting. I should send my bendy-up Waterman to a nibmeister to see if it was deliberately shaped that way. Maybe I'll take it to the LA pen show and let someone give it the eyeball.

[FarmBoy]

As I said, the pen was in this condition when I got it. This thread has proven that the pen was not forced into being bent. If you own a 52 1/2v, please say how far you will push your ✒ nib.

I do not believe it should be bent up but rather most nibs arc downward. Lets go wth someone bent it before you got it.

[FarmBoy]

Interesting. I should send my bendy-up Waterman to a nibmeister to see if it was deliberately shaped that way. Maybe I'll take it to the LA pen show and let someone give it the eyeball.

David will be at the LA Show according to reports on the internet.

[Left FPN]

Pictures speak a 1000 words

[Sandy1]

 

 

Pictures speak a 1000 words

 

 

Hi,

 

Only too happy to oblige. (You have two wishes left.)

 

Line G is a sample of my 52 1/2V. At the bottom of that line there are horizontal cross strokes.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20ESS%20Registrars%20Blue-Black/d6c3e8c9.jpg

 

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20ESS%20Registrars%20Blue-Black/9dbbb973.jpg

 

Both samples taken from my wee Review of ESSRI ink https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/205705-ecclesiastical-stationery-supplies-registrars-ink/

 

 

 

And from the same pen in my IR of Diamine Ancient Copper:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/210317-diamine-ancient-copper/

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Ancient%20Copper/72dc89aa.jpg

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Ancient%20Copper/d12d7b54.jpg

 

I typically write with a light brisk hand, gently grasping the pen between my thumb and index finger (no pinching), but with the flexi nibs I've gone to an 'index finger over' grip, so that finger controls the degree of flex - no arm or wrist.

 

As I practice judo, my hands are relatively strong, so I am very cautious/conservative about handling such nibs.

 

Clearly I need to spend more time in the calligrapher's dojo.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited February 11, 2017 by Sandy1

[Left FPN]

Wish 2...the nib I really meant.

[Sandy1]

Wish 2...the nib I really meant.

 

 

Hi,

 

Ah.

 

As I am on remote assignment, at this time I cannot grant your wish for side view close-up photos of the nib used above.

 

No abracadabra today.

 

Bye,

S1

[pen lady]

Thanks for your words of caution David. I shudder when I see a post asking "how far is too far" with an old Waterman nib.

[sidthecat]

I write with a very light hand, so the more flex the better.