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Viewing pen nibs with a QX5

antoniosz

By antoniosz
in Of Nibs & Tines

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antoniosz Antique

antoniosz

Posted
Posted

I guess most people here also read PT, so I apologize for the redundancy.

On the other hand postings on PT are lost few days later.

So I report this article on using a "kid's microscope" to view nibs.

 

I bought a QX5 ($75) microscope for my son (OK, for my son AND me). This is the one that interfaces with a PC via a USB port. After my son lost interest I went on looking at .. what else ... pen nibs. Interesting.

 

These are sevel photos of nibs. All except the last are of the same #7 pink Waterman nib. A hyper-sumgai (me things) - I got this for $25, thinking that I can have someone braze it. The seller thought it had a crack at the corner of the keyhole. But the microscope told me otherwise, it was just dried ink

 

1. Using a 30x loupe in front of the lense of a DX4900 digital camera

2. QX5 Intel microscope at x60 - interesting detail... It can probably be improved with better lighting.

3. QX5 Intel microscope at x200 - of course depth of field is lost here. This is not practical for a round surface. It is OK for flat surfaces

4. QX5 Intel microscope at x10 on the surface

5. QX5 Intel microscope at x60 on the surface

6. QX5 Intel microscope at x200 on the surface at the suspected crack site.

7. Phillips Field Emission Electron Microscope (about $750K) - not bad but at a price ;)

 

1. Pink #7 Waterman

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib0.jpg

 

2. Same as in 1.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib1.jpg

 

3. Same as in 1.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib2.jpg

 

4. Same as in 1.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib3.jpg

 

5. Same as in 1.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib4.jpg

 

6. Same as in 1.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/nib5.jpg

 

7. Warranted 14K #8.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/azavalia/broken.jpg

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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Guest Denis Richard

Guest Denis Richard

Posted
Posted

Great report Antonios !

 

The conclusion would be I guess, in the fashion of grant proposals, that the precision of the $750k Electron Microscope is not necessary for the proposed project, and the $75 equipment will then be prefered. :lol:

 

Denis.

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KCat Museum Piece

KCat

Posted
Posted

i much enjoyed that Antonios, thank you. Makes me very curious about the QX5.

 

I imagine some of us do read PT but I myself only skim it and probably would have skipped past this thread. So any time you think something would be of interest here, please post it. Given the short life-span of PT posts, it will not really be redundant here.

KCat
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Venerable are letters, infinitely brave, forlorn, and lost. V. Woolf, Jacob's Room

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Leslie J. Vintage

Leslie J.

Posted
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That is really cool Antonios! :D I'm a nerd-geek at heart, and I love that such technology is becoming available at a reasonable price. Plus, my eyes are aging, and I think I could really use something like that.

 

Please post more pics!

Never lie to your dog.

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Leslie J. Vintage

Leslie J.

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Isn't gerd a medical condition? Maybe I have that too. I'm of the nerd generation, we didn't really have geeks until the 90's. :P Gerk? Sounds too much like jerk.

Never lie to your dog.

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Brian Anderson Collectors Item

Brian Anderson

Posted
Posted

My opinion is to always buy the best, as it will outperform and be a much better investment than a cheaper alternative.

 

Better start saving up the pennies, I'm only about $748k short....

 

:)

 

 

Nice pics, how well do they work on worn imprints? I might have a rare test subject for you if it works well.

 

Best-

Brian

www.esterbrook.net All Esterbrook, All the Time.
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Brian Anderson Collectors Item

Brian Anderson

Posted
Posted

Hmmm......

 

I've got a rare eyedropper pen with only a trace of an imprint, it doesn't even seem like enough to rub anything in to. Your Waterman looks perfect compared to mine. I can't even begin to have an idea what this imprint reads and I often wondered whether or not magnification of this sort might help or not.

 

I'm still not convinved however. Where do you live again? ;) Maybe I need to send you something for inspection...

 

Best-

Brian

www.esterbrook.net All Esterbrook, All the Time.
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