Now That's A Nib!

March 21, 2017

A comparison of three different sizes.

The small one is a Leon Isaacs Lady Falcon (same size as the Esterbrook Lady Falcon)

The medium is a standard 048 Esterbrook Falcon

The "other one" is an Esterbrook 340 Mammoth Falcon. Yeah. It's big.

I actually have a holder that fits it and I tried one that had some rust on unimportant areas. It's quite fine and flexible. But it's not easy to write with. Your hand is so far away from the page that unless you're Andre the Giant you will have some challenges getting a clear, steady hand out of it.

But it's also really fun.

March 21, 2017

And you know what they say about BIG NIBS ... ;)

:D

March 21, 2017

Actually that's not a nib, it's a large steel paint brush - :D :D

Seriously though, it must write a very "wide" line. Any chance of a writing sample with some references to compare it to?

Thanks for the interesting note and images.

March 22, 2017

The holder that fits it is at work. I'll see if I can post something tomorrow. Actually, it has a much finer line than you would think. (In fountain pen terms it would be a Japanese XF, as opposed to the Japanese XXXXF you get from something like the Gillott's 303) It writes a similar line to the 048 Falcon, but is more flexible. (Larger tines, doncha' know)

And you know what they say about BIG NIBS ...

They need a big holder.

The 1883 Esterbrook catalog said: "It has a medium fine point, and a beautiful and easy action which cannot be obtained in a smaller pen. Owing to its size, its capacity for holding ink is greater than any pen heretofore placed upon the market. It is especially adapted to the use of Bank Officer, Clerks, Tellers, Bill and Shipping Clerks, Correspondents, etc., etc. We also recommend its use to elderly gentlemen, because of its firmness and smoothness of point."

Sounds a lot like a marketing guy who has not actually written with it. Unless the elderly gentleman has massive, giant-like hands, it won't be that easy to use. Easy to find, granted, when the eyes start to go, but not that easy to write with.