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His Nibs


PeterBeoworld

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I was wondering, and this may show my general ignorance and please tell me if this is the case, who makes the nibs for pens?

I had naively thought that as this is the 'engine' of the pen, that the manufacturer would be the pen company. I suppose the fact that there are many small companies would suggest that they possibly source the nib form a central supplier - Bocks seems to be the name that comes up - but is this the case for all pens and indeed, has this always been the case?

Is a vintage Conway Stewart going to have a nib made by that company or does it have it made by someone else and the name engraved on? Is the nib the equivalent not of the engine but more of the tyre?

If nibs are made by others, which companies use which nibs?

An interested if slightly disillusioned new member!

Peter

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Peter,

 

Bock, Schmidt and a couple others make a great deal of nibs for pen companies including mine. They have also made nibs for companies who have had their own nib making capabilities, including Montblanc and Pelikan, and more of them than you might think. Some companies, such as Sailor and Aurora still make their own nibs exclusively. What you are seeing now is the market for fountain pen nibs is smaller in the last decades than in the 30s, 40s, etc - when the fountain pen was the main mode for writing. Specialization also helps guarantee quality, and efficiency for smaller companies. When contracting with a company such as Bock, a pen company can either take a "generic" design, or produce a custom design. In the case of a custom design, the nib attributes are particular to the designer (brand), and the specific feed chosen for a nib must be considered. So, it is still possible to attain a unique nib, even while outsourcing the manufacturing. In other words, it isn't just labeling as many think.

 

The nib is a vital part of a fountain pen, however don't discount the feed, and how the feed it fitted to the nib, as key ingredients in effective performance. I'm sure others can add a lot more to your question, but I hope this contributes.

 

Scott Franklin

Franklin-Christoph

 

I was wondering, and this may show my general ignorance and please tell me if this is the case, who makes the nibs for pens?

I had naively thought that as this is the 'engine' of the pen, that the manufacturer would be the pen company. I suppose the fact that there are many small companies would suggest that they possibly source the nib form a central supplier - Bocks seems to be the name that comes up - but is this the case for all pens and indeed, has this always been the case?

Is a vintage Conway Stewart going to have a nib made by that company or does it have it made by someone else and the name engraved on? Is the nib the equivalent not of the engine but more of the tyre?

If nibs are made by others, which companies use which nibs?

An interested if slightly disillusioned new member!

Peter

 

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Franklin-Christoph.com

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Thank you for your informative answer. My other passion in collecting is vintage Bang & Olufsen and I suppose this too has a similar trait. B&O buy in a lot of components, both small and large - the colour tubes in the old sets were almost always Philips and the new screens are also outsourced. It is always interesting identifying the source of some of the components - and also those parts actually made by the company itself.

However in both cases, the outsourcing does somehow reduce the magic a little and makes the object slightly more common place. Of course you are quite correct that this makes perfect sense, but it shatters the image of the grizzled old employee grinding the finish on the nib ! :lol:

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Peter,

 

 

The nib is a vital part of a fountain pen, however don't discount the feed, and how the feed it fitted to the nib, as key ingredients in effective performance. I'm sure others can add a lot more to your question, but I hope this contributes.

 

Scott Franklin

Franklin-Christoph

 

 

Do the same companies that make the nibs also make the feeds?

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Depends - Schmidt for instance makes both nibs and feeds, but Bock does not make feeds. One small Italian company (remaining nameless) I know used to make their own nibs and feeds, however now makes only the feeds and gets the nibs from Bock.

 

Peter,

 

 

The nib is a vital part of a fountain pen, however don't discount the feed, and how the feed it fitted to the nib, as key ingredients in effective performance. I'm sure others can add a lot more to your question, but I hope this contributes.

 

Scott Franklin

Franklin-Christoph

 

 

Do the same companies that make the nibs also make the feeds?

 

F-C on Twitter

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Franklin-Christoph.com

F o r t i t u d o....e t....F i d e s

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Peter,

 

I know what you mean. There's still a craftsman bent over a desk making the parts - just think of it as a team. ;)

 

One pen we have has one company make the feed, one the nib, one the clip, then our acrylic, and lastly japanese art work. So the pen comes from a team of smallish artisans all over the world. We could do it all in house, but then it wouldn't be the same quality it is.

 

Thank you for your informative answer. My other passion in collecting is vintage Bang & Olufsen and I suppose this too has a similar trait. B&O buy in a lot of components, both small and large - the colour tubes in the old sets were almost always Philips and the new screens are also outsourced. It is always interesting identifying the source of some of the components - and also those parts actually made by the company itself.

However in both cases, the outsourcing does somehow reduce the magic a little and makes the object slightly more common place. Of course you are quite correct that this makes perfect sense, but it shatters the image of the grizzled old employee grinding the finish on the nib ! :lol:

 

F-C on Twitter

F-C on Facebook

Franklin-Christoph.com

F o r t i t u d o....e t....F i d e s

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