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King or Queen of Flex

Wahlnut

By Wahlnut
in Wahl-Eversharp

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Wahlnut Vintage

Wahlnut

Posted
Posted

Many people come to "The Wahlnut," looking for Wahl or Eversharp pens not at all interested in the beautiful pens for their collectibility or for the outward appearance. They come in search of the renowned Wahl Eversharp forged alloy nibs that these great pens carried. These people are the "Writers", not the collectors. They come looking for everything from expressive line to wet noodles. And in almost every case they find what they are looking for. Wahl's attempt to satisfy upwards of 14 different writing styles or "hands" back when these pens were sold new, is today's hidden or not so hidden bonus that comes with every vintage Wahl-Eversharp pen.

 

The Wahl Factory, a model of vertical integration in its day, not to mention that it was apparently considered by many to be the paragon of industrial modernity if a recently discovered 1925 magazine ad for toilet paper -(that's right, toilet paper) is to be believed. Seems the maker of the toilet paper so recognized the Wahl factory as being "state of the art" that the fact that the Wahl Company chose to use their toilet paper in the company lavatories was prima facie evidence that the toilet paper was also "state of the art"! I love American business! ... But I digress.

 

Oh yes, we were discussing vertical integation...The Wahl factory contained every department for the manufacture of every part of the Wahl and Eversharp pens and pencils. Among these was their own rubber plant and apropos this post their own gold alloying and nib manufacturing processes. Wahl pen nibs were referred to as "hand wrought" in the 20's. These nibs were made of special alloys that promoted extreme flex-memory and resistance to deformity even under a very heavy hand.

 

So in celebration of these facts (minus the toilet paper bit) I am requesting those who own such pens and would like to post examples of the line(s) put down by their flexible Wahl pen nibs to add to this post with such examples. How wide? How much variation to the line, and examples of the great handwriting and caligraphy skills of the Wahl-Eversharp owner are there?

 

Please demonstrate your Wahl-Eversharp pen's flexibility!

 

Syd the Wahlnut

Syd "the Wahlnut" Saperstein

Pensbury Manor

Vintage Wahl Eversharp Writing Instruments

Pensbury Manor

 

The WAHL-EVERSHARP Company

www.wahleversharp.com

New WAHL-EVERSHARP fountain and Roller-Ball pens

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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted

So, Syd - how 'bout you go first? :ltcapd:

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi, JBB - what gorgeous writing and flex in your nibs! Ok, now I'm going to have to go play with my one Wahl and see what I've got. The results won't look a thing like your's, but I might as well start somewhere! Thanks for being the first brave soul to post their example.

Edited by kudzu

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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antoniosz Antique

antoniosz

Posted
Posted (edited)

OK, here are some. They are all Wahl-Eversharp (even that strange one which does not look like an Eversharp ;))

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wahl-wood.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wahls1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/flex1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/evershymph-semiflex-2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wahl-ringtop-1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-005.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/stub2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/vikflex.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/ffflex1.jpg

Edited by antoniosz

1. A short guide to flex (comments welcome)

2. Some reference postings on FPs.

3. Some pen videos

4. The perfect fountain pen

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John54green Rare

John54green

Posted
Posted (edited)

What a beautiful hand Syd and Antoniosz! As a lefty overhook I despair of ever being able to come close to what you do!

Edited by John54green
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addio6 Rare

addio6

Posted
Posted
OK, here are some. They are all Wahl-Eversharp (even that strange one which does not look like an Eversharp ;))

 

I want one of those!! :puddle: :puddle:

 

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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted
Kudzu, which Wahl do you have? Have you ever tried flex in a dip pen?

 

Hi, jbb - Syd fixed up a 1921-23 Wahl Rosewood Ripple with a #2 nib for me. I just tried it out after seeing what you and antoniosz could do with your pens. I don't have near the same flex, nor the beautiful hand the two of you demonstrate. I have some old dip pens with very strange looking nibs that I've never experimented with - how would I know if an old dip pen nib is of the flexible sort? Thanks.

 

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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jbb Donor Pen

jbb

Posted
Posted
Syd fixed up a 1921-23 Wahl Rosewood Ripple with a #2 nib for me. I just tried it out after seeing what you and antoniosz could do with your pens. I don't have near the same flex, nor the beautiful hand the two of you demonstrate. I have some old dip pens with very strange looking nibs that I've never experimented with - how would I know if an old dip pen nib is of the flexible sort? Thanks.

 

My Wahl Ringtops both have #2 nibs I wonder if that means they're the same or if there are a variety of Wahl #2 nibs. There are SO MANY dip nibs out there with a huge range of flex (or not). If you PM me you're address I'll mail you a couple of flexy dips nibs that I like.

JBBPensPaper
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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted
Syd fixed up a 1921-23 Wahl Rosewood Ripple with a #2 nib for me. I just tried it out after seeing what you and antoniosz could do with your pens. I don't have near the same flex, nor the beautiful hand the two of you demonstrate. I have some old dip pens with very strange looking nibs that I've never experimented with - how would I know if an old dip pen nib is of the flexible sort? Thanks.

 

My Wahl Ringtops both have #2 nibs I wonder if that means they're the same or if there are a variety of Wahl #2 nibs. There are SO MANY dip nibs out there with a huge range of flex (or not). If you PM me you're address I'll mail you a couple of flexy dips nibs that I like.

 

Sending PM now! Thanks, jbb! :D

 

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted (edited)

Ok, from the subline of jbb and antoniosz' sample Wahl flex nib writing to the ridiculousness of mine. I have no clue what I'm doing :wacko: , but found that I actually had to press pretty hard to get the line variation I did. And your posts inspired me to work more with this spectacular nib to get even more out of it. Thanks.

 

 

Don't laugh - we all have to start somewhere!

 

And thanks, jbb, for sending the dip flexy nibs. I'm excited. :bunny01:

 

Ok, Syd - your turn!

Edited by kudzu

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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jbb Donor Pen

jbb

Posted
Posted

Kudzu, :clap1: That's great! and I love the quote too. It took me months and months to get the hang of writing with a flex nib pen but it's just so fun to write like that that you just HAVE TO do it.

JBBPensPaper
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kudzu Vintage

kudzu

Posted
Posted
Kudzu, :clap1: That's great! and I love the quote too. It took me months and months to get the hang of writing with a flex nib pen but it's just so fun to write like that that you just HAVE TO do it.

 

Thanks for the encouragement, jbb. I'm going to play more with my Waterman flexy nib, too, now that I can see what others can do with their flex nibs.

 

Kudzu

 

"I am a galley slave to pen and ink." ~Honore de Balzac

 

Happy Pan Pacific Pen Club Member!
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Johnny Appleseed Antique

Johnny Appleseed

Posted
Posted

Well, I don't have AZs hand either, but here are a few of my Wahl's in various degrees of flex.

 

How about a Sterling example of a tempoint:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/TempointFlex.jpg

 

Or Skyline flex - a medium flex, which doesn't show off the line variation as well as an XF, but it is still pretty sweet:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/Skyline1.jpg

 

And let us not forget, not all Wahls are Wahls:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/Olympian1.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/Penrite2.jpg

 

How about some Oxford Flex?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/Oxford-Flex.jpg

This one has a really scratchy nib, so the flex does not show as well. It is one of those twist-vacumatic type of fillers, which is oh so easy to repair :headsmack: . Been working on this one on and off for a year (and showing it posted so I don't have to put the blind cap back together).

 

But the best, by far:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/Rosewoodflex.jpg

 

Enjoy!

John

 

 

So if you have a lot of ink,

You should get a Yink, I think.

 

- Dr Suess

 

Always looking for pens by Baird-North, Charles Ingersoll, and nibs marked "CHI"

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framebaer Collectors Item

framebaer

Posted
Posted

Syd,

In your experience which W-E nibs tend to be the most flexible? The large (4.5.6) Wahls found in the metal and earlier HR Wahls, or the "flexible" gold seals? or the smaller #2 eversharps found in a variety of W-e products?

 

Or some other?

 

or is the question not relevant because each category of products/nibs had varying degrees of flex?

 

was there a special flex model similar to the waterman Artist nib?

Sensitive Pen Restoration doesn't cost extra.

 

Find me on Facebook at MONOMOY VINTAGE PEN

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