Shaeffer Feathertouch Nibs

[inkyhands]

Good day everyone:

 

I have been using fountain pens for 30 years now. I am not so much a collector as I am an acquirer. I mostly buy pens that I use. I don't buy "collectable" pens. In that time I have used several different brands of pens. My favorites tend to be MontBlanc Noblesse. However, the pens I have with the best nibs, bar none, are my Shaeffer Balance II pens. These pens have the 18kt Feathertouch nibs, and they are wonderful. The inkflow is excellent, they will work with any old ink, and the line that they give is great, even with the extra fine point. The flexibility is also nearly perfect. I also have an older Balance with the 14 kt nib. Nice pen, and inkflow with this nib is good as well, but the feel of the pen is slightly different-maybe not so flexible? One of the two Balance II pens that I have is damaged, with slightly out of kilter tines on the nib and the threads worn off. I will be sending that pen in for repair soon.

 

Now the questions: for any of you out there who have used the Shaeffer Balance II-Are there any pens out there with similar nibs that are in the price range for someone who is well off enough to indulge his acquiring habit, but not so well off that he can plunk down his hard earned cash for expensive pens? My price range is in the $200 range normally. I can go higher, but it usually takes me a while to come around to a decision. Second question: Is there a way to "tune" a nib to get an experience like the Feathertouch nib? I have several pens with 18 kt nibs that I would love to have worked on to improve the experience of using them. In a sense, this may be a better choice than new pens since I have pens that I like, but that would be improved with better nibs. I realize that if you haven't used a Feathertouch nib, you don't know what I mean by saying they are wonderful, and probably don't quite know to which other nibs they should be compared, however, I am interested in any information that can be passed on.

 

Inkyhands

[Paddler]

I have one Feather Touch nib and it is indeed a superb writer - one of my three best. Another "best" is a Lifetime nib in a Sheaffer "Vigilant" with a military clip. Another is a "turned-up" Lifetime nib in a Sheaffer "Valiant" with a military clip. I also have many Sheaffer pens whose Lifetime nibs do not quite meet this standard. I cannot comment on their flexibility, however, because I write with a very light touch and don't flex the nibs.

 

$200 would buy 20 of these pens, because they were all purchased at flea markets and I replaced their sacs myself (I consider the restoration of a pen as part of the fun.) Nearly any vintage pen will write smoothly if the tines are aligned properly. To perform that adjustment, you need a 10X loupe and a thumbnail. Out of my 80+ vintage fountain pens, perhaps 5 have needed smoothing or reshaping with abrasives.

 

Paddler

[psfred]

You will be pleased with any Sheaffer Triumph nib in good condition. All the Snorkel nibs are Waverly form, and I believe all the later Feathertouch are as well. Very nice. Naturally, one that is buggered up won't write very well, so watch the fines and extra fines for damage. Typically excessive pressure has distorted the nib, and some work is required to re-align the tines properly.

 

You may also fine some very nice Parker nibs, but I've found far more of them to be worn to the point they don't write well for me, unlike Sheaffers of the same age.

 

Surprisingly, quite a few Wearever nibs from the 50's and 60's are VERY nice nibs. Not much in the way of looks, and often have loose sections and bad feeds, but the nibs, by and large, and great when not corroded.

 

Peter

[ANM]

I could be wrong but I seem to recall some Sheaffer advertising that claimed the white metal overlay was "wetter" or words to the effect that it allowed ink to flow better. So to answer one of your questions, you can't tune another nib to work like a Feather Touch because they don't have that metal over lay. An experienced pen repairman, however, can adjust any nib so it writes dryer, wetter or smoother if it isn't smooth in the first place.

 

I have some Balance II pens and like them very much except for the ones I have had an early feed that didn't work as well as the later ones, so mine tend to skip unless I take them a part and work on the feed to open the channel.

[Pen Is Mightier]

I would go for a original Balance with a waverly nib style if you can, but the regular feather touch on the Balances will be good as well. Be aware that most of them are stiff as all get out, but they are pretty smooth with a little bit of feedback. You can usually find and old disrepair Balance on ebay for under $25 and repairs can be under $50 so it would be well under your $200 mark and would be just as good as your new Balances.