Fountain Pen for Carbon Copies

[esquire]

My love of fountain pens has me in a predicament. I sometimes have to write on carbon paper. However, as we all know, fountain pens and carbon paper do not go well together. Thus, I'm stuck with my hand hurting from using a BP. I know Sailor produced the Trident back in the early '80s, which apparently could write effectively on carbon paper. However, those pens are scarce and overpriced (in my humble opinion).

 

Does anyone know of any fountain pens that would work on carbon paper? Or is it a lost cause?

[DarkAudit]

What you need is a manifold nib.

 

manifold Indicates an extremely rigid nib, intended to permit the heavy writing pressure needed to make impressions on multipart (carbon) forms. Sometimes called a “nail” (mildly derisive).

 

Esterbrook made a few manifold nibs. The 1461, 2460, 2461, 2464, 9460, 9461, and 9650 are all manifold nibs.

Edited April 6, 2009 by DarkAudit

[gregamckinney]

My love of fountain pens has me in a predicament. I sometimes have to write on carbon paper. However, as we all know, fountain pens and carbon paper do not go well together. Thus, I'm stuck with my hand hurting from using a BP. I know Sailor produced the Trident back in the early '80s, which apparently could write effectively on carbon paper. However, those pens are scarce and overpriced (in my humble opinion).

 

Does anyone know of any fountain pens that would work on carbon paper? Or is it a lost cause?

 

Sheaffers with Triumph nibs are supposed to be sturdy enough for the job. I've never tried myself, though.

 

Regards, greg

[soapytwist]

Pelikan also used to make them.

[Ted H]

Parker 51 would seem to be an option.

[QM2]

Any stiff-nibbed fountain pen will do really, especially EF/F stiff nibs.

[Anne-Sophie]

What you need is a manifold nib.

 

manifold Indicates an extremely rigid nib, intended to permit the heavy writing pressure needed to make impressions on multipart (carbon) forms. Sometimes called a “nail” (mildly derisive).

 

Esterbrook made a few manifold nibs. The 1461, 2460, 2461, 2464, 9460, 9461, and 9650 are all manifold nibs.

 

 

If I were you I would contact Pendemonium to see if they have manifold nibs and corresponding Esterbrooks for sale.

 

They will get you in the right direction.

 

 

Disclaimer, no affiliation, I don't get a discount for mentioning them, we are not related, etc....

Edited April 6, 2009 by Anne-Sophie

[I am not a number]

Waterman Carene.

 

Mmmmmm, Naily...

[QM2]

Waterman Carene.

 

Mmmmmm, Naily...

 

Yes! A lovely solution for your manifold-nib needs.

[tknechtel]

Just a side-note: I believe that this is what the glass-nibbed fountain pens were for, writing on carbons.

[wimsey]

An Esterbrook with a 9451 nib works well for me as does a Parker 51 fine point.

[esquire]

Thanks to all of you for the great suggestions. Based on your suggestions, I should be adding a new FP to my collection soon (to the dismay of the bank account). I just need to decide on the pen now!!!

 

 

 

[Shangas]

Various pens from the mid 1920s onwards were good for carbon-copying. As I understand it, that's one of the reasons why the Parker Duofold was created. My Duofold has a particularly stiff, fine nib, and I reckon that could be used for writing through on carbon paper.

[Iskender]

I had a Lamy Studio that had a nib stiff enough to do the job.

[eric47]

FP with glass nibs were already mentioned as working with carbons.

 

The vintage Omas 361 was a two-sided nib specifically created for this problem: stiff nib on side for carbons, flex nib on the other.

[wspohn]

You need a couple of things to write on carbons well.

 

The upper sheets are usually thinner than normal writing paper, so that a good imprint is made through the carbons on the lower layer. That means that you don't want anything that might tend to tear or pierce the paper, and probably an XF is out.

 

You also need something that you can exert reasonable pressure against without damaging the nib, so a stiff nibbed pen is indicated.

 

The Waterman Carene as suggested is a good choice, as is the Edson, though both will probably work better with a M nib than an XF. Let us know what you end up with and how well it works - I'm sure a lot of people will be interested.

[esquire]

I think I'm leaning towards the Waterman Carene. Once I get it and test it, I'l let FPN know.

 

It's absolutely amazing how much fun this FP addiction can be. Next, I'll be asking how to tattoo someone with an FP.

 

 

 

You need a couple of things to write on carbons well.

 

The upper sheets are usually thinner than normal writing paper, so that a good imprint is made through the carbons on the lower layer. That means that you don't want anything that might tend to tear or pierce the paper, and probably an XF is out.

 

You also need something that you can exert reasonable pressure against without damaging the nib, so a stiff nibbed pen is indicated.

 

The Waterman Carene as suggested is a good choice, as is the Edson, though both will probably work better with a M nib than an XF. Let us know what you end up with and how well it works - I'm sure a lot of people will be interested.

 

[Pippin60]

A Waterman Careene? I have one and love it but I can't imagine an inlaid nib putting up with a lot of pressure for long. I don't exert a lot of pressure one of the reasons I love FP's. However my Pelikan Epoch's nib seems to be pretty sturdy.

[eilu]

Pens I've tried on carbon paper (or those triplicate receipt things):

Rotring 600

Inoxcrom pens (steel nib; cheap enough that if it does fail you won't cry about it)

 

I think the Safari might work too, or any steel-nib pen with a fine enough nib (smaller area = greater pressure)

[esquire]

Just a follow-up. I was gifted a Hero 330 F Nib and thought I try it out on carbon paper. Surprisingly, it worked better than thought. But the ink on the third page did not show up so well. Also, when using the F Nib, I was fearful of tearing the paper when I was writing. It just felt wrong to exert pressure.

 

Also surprising to me was that the Hero is now my daily writer for random notes, etc. I didn't want to like it, but I like it. It's a great pen.

 

The quest continues.