Vaccumatic Nib Repair

[DilettanteG]

Hi Folks,

 

About a decade ago I inherited this nice Vacuumatic from my father in law. It wouldn't draw ink, so I sent it out to Richard Binder who was able to get it working again. About fifteen minutes after getting the pen back in the mail, I managed to snap the tip of one of the tines and it's languished in the broken pen drawer since.

 

So my questions are: Can the nib be fixed or reground to a difference size or type? Or does it just make more sense to replace it? Is this pen valuable enough to be worth fixing? What do you guys think?

 

Thanks,

Kate

 

Here are some pictures:

 

 

 

 

[Ron Z]

Some folks say "grind the other side down to match, and just write on the gold." I don't. Gold is soft, and wears quickly, which is why they put tipping material on the nib in the first place. If you value the nib, you want to have a good nib with tipping material. You have to factor in the labor to have it removed and installed if you can't do it yourself.

 

I would expect a replacement nib for a Vac Major to run about $50-$65. Five Star Pens has a bunch.

 

Having the nib retipped, if you send just the nib, would be about $84 with the return shipping included. Greg Minuskin does good work and has quick turn around. John Mottishaws turn around last time I checked is longer. Either could make the nib any width you want.

 

Is it worth having it repaired? Its a family pen. If you have/had a good relationship with the person, its good to have a good reminder of them. I use a buffing machine that my grandfather made every day, and have his drill press in the shop. My bench is the desk my dad had when I was growing up. Good, useful reminders....

[DilettanteG]

Some folks say "grind the other side down to match, and just write on the gold." I don't. Gold is soft, and wears quickly, which is why they put tipping material on the nib in the first place. If you value the nib, you want to have a good nib with tipping material. You have to factor in the labor to have it removed and installed if you can't do it yourself.

 

I would expect a replacement nib for a Vac Major to run about $50-$65. Five Star Pens has a bunch.

 

Having the nib retipped, if you send just the nib, would be about $84 with the return shipping included. Greg Minuskin does good work and has quick turn around. John Mottishaws turn around last time I checked is longer. Either could make the nib any width you want.

 

Is it worth having it repaired? Its a family pen. If you have/had a good relationship with the person, its good to have a good reminder of them. I use a buffing machine that my grandfather made every day, and have his drill press in the shop. My bench is the desk my dad had when I was growing up. Good, useful reminders....

 

Thanks so much for the quick reply, Ron. It's lovely to hear about your shop, so steeped in family heirlooms.

 

I adored my father-in-law, but I did inherit his entire collection. So, getting this one repaired is a tough call. Plus, my track record with bladder pens is a mixed bag. I'm tempted to just get it done and see how I feel about the pen.

 

Any suggestions for what kind of nib to re-tip it into? Or available sizes or flexibility if I just replace the nibs entirel?. This is my first Vacuumatic and you would be hard pressed to fill a thimble with what I know about this model. I do love an exotic nib, so I'm pretty open to ideas.

[Ron Z]

Flex nibs are rare, though they are out there, and they command a premium. If you have the nib retipped the nib can be anything from an XF to a stub. Your call. Its a favorite way to get a stub. I don't know if Greg will flex a nib or not. I don't get into that, and to tell the truth, can't control one.

[FarmBoy]

Where in Northern California. If you are near SF and could come to a pen club meeting Id be willing to help size up options.

Edited February 12, 2020 by FarmBoy

[DilettanteG]

Where in Northern California. If you are near SF and could come to a pen club meeting Id be willing to help size up options.

 

You sir, are a scholar and a gentlemen. Unfortunately, I live far and away from civilization in the Foothills of the Sierras.

 

However, I’m a sucker for a good stub nib, so if flex isn’t an option I suspect I’ll go that way. Fortunately, I have a Waterman 52 with a flex stub. Unfortunately, I’ve KO’ed that, too. I guess that one needs its own thread.