Fountain Pens For Copperplate?

[Alex_L]

Hey guys! So I'm new to doing copperplate and I've been using a dip pen, but I was wondering if there were any fountain pens that serve a similar purpose? I guess it would be more of a question of the nib, obviously it needs to be something flexible and of the same style as a copperplate nib. Can anyone help me out? Links are much appreciated

[ANM]

That may turn out to be a rather difficult problem. Most likely you will need a vintage pen because modern nibs don't flex as much as you'd probably like. But vintage pen manufacturers offered a rather large variety of nibs for the customer to choose. It isn't possible to say such and such a model from that company will do the trick. It might, it might not. I have over 200 pens, mostly vintage and some of them have flex nibs but only one is really suited to copperplate script and it is from a brand that is well known for having mostly nails. Pens after the mid 1920's are less likely to have much if any flex but there are some exceptions and one of those exceptions is that smaller pens from any brand may be more likely to have some flex.

 

The pens I have that are more likely to have flexible nibs are Eversharp and Waterman, especially the earliest ones and the smaller one but the one that is best suited in my collection happens to be an oversized Sheaffer flattop. I have an equally flexible Sheaffer OS Balance but it is a tiny tiny bit too wide to be ideal for copperplate but its still a fine nib.

 

My best advice is to go somewhere that has a lot of pens for you to examine. That would be a pen show. There are also a few dealers that specialize in selling calligraphy fountain pens.

Edited February 11, 2015 by ANM

[Randal6393]

The usual suspects list: FPN sells flex pens, very inexpensive, work okay for most penmen. In the cheap end, modern Noodler's Ahabs and Konrads. The Ahab has a 2+ mL ink chamber and was splecifically designed to do flex work. You can find many opinions saying yes and no to how well they work out. If you want to spend the dough, a nibmeister can do a flex nib up from a modern nib, Sailor or Pelikan, most often. Cost is usually over $200.00 to bring the nib to extra-fine and add flex. Finally, vintage pens and nibs can be found that exhibit flex. Ranging from flex-by-elephant to wet-noodle, kinda hard to say without actually having the pen in hand.

 

And, one other way. Peyton Street Pens has a large inventory of NOS Eversharp 14K gold nibs with some flex. PSP has mounted these nibs in Ranga Ebonite bodies that are really nice. (I have one, can say it flexes but not uber-flex.) Cost runs around $75.00 or so.

 

Best of luck to you,

 

PS: All of my Copperplate work is done with a dip nib and oblique holder.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Randal6393

[rwilsonedn]

I think that for the really, really fine hairline strokes you will want, your best bet would be one of the few nibmeisters who do specific nib modifications for copperplate. The one with the best reviews seems to be Minuskin's EEF superflex: he starts with a Namiki Falcon nib, and then reshapes it for much greater flexibility and an EEF tip. But that is expensive, and honestly, unless you need the portability of a fountain pen, you are probably going to end up happier with your dip pens, with or without the quirky nib-holder.

ron

[Nanor]

A Desiderata Pen with a Zebra G Nib could be exactly what you're after (no affiliation etc....). They're beautifully crafted with a needlepoint full flex nib and a feed that can keep up with the ink demanded. Until someone manufactures an offset oblique fountain pen, it is IMO the best fountain pen for copperplate and they are lot more affordable then a vintage extra fine nib wet noodle of known quality. And you don’t have to worry about pushing the limits of a rare vintage nib, replacement Zebra G nibs are less than $2.

Noodlers do make modern flex pens but realistically the nibs and the feeds have to be modified to get reasonable results.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Nanor

[jasonchickerson]

A Desiderata Pen with a Zebra G Nib could be exactly what you're after (no affiliation etc....). They're beautifully crafted with a needlepoint full flex nib and a feed that can keep up with the ink demanded. Until someone manufactures an offset oblique fountain pen, it is IMO the best fountain pen for copperplate and they are lot more affordable then a vintage extra fine nib wet noodle of known quality. And you don’t have to worry about pushing the limits of a rare vintage nib, replacement Zebra G nibs are less than $2.

 

I just bought one for this same purpose! Can't wait to get it.

 

I also have a full flex (4XF—3B) Conklin Crescent-Filler 25 ca. 1918. It is marvelous, but I would not recommend using it to practice copperplate. Once you spring this nib, you're done. Mine, with a lot of care, is very slightly sprung on the right tine. It does not affect writing (yet) but I will limit my heavy flexing in the future. If you spring the Desiderata nib, just pull another one out of the bag.

[dftr]

You people got to stop buying these Desiderata pens, I can't get a second one b/c they're all sold out!

 

[pepsiplease69]

You people got to stop buying these Desiderata pens, I can't get a second one b/c they're all sold out!

 

Talk to Pierre he's a super nice guy. Get on his mailing list. He ususally sends out notifications about what's coming up in stock soon so you can get first dibs at it.

 

I have 3 desideratas and I've never been happier with them.

[dftr]

Yes. I'm on the list... and actually I'm happy he's having success w/ his pens. He's been very helpful and I like seeing people w/ these kind of clever ideas do well.

[Drawing61]

Forgive me but I am rather new here. I draw with fountain pens and am interested in learning some basic calligraphy. I am practising from some recommended guides using pens from my collection. I have never heard of desiderata pens. Can some of you enlighten me?

[pepsiplease69]

Forgive me but I am rather new here. I draw with fountain pens and am interested in learning some basic calligraphy. I am practising from some recommended guides using pens from my collection. I have never heard of desiderata pens. Can some of you enlighten me?

 

 

 

Welcome to FPN first of all. I hope you enjoy your time and make lots of friends here.

Desiderata Pens is a recent development.

Hand-turned pens, most of them made from woods of interesting lineage.

But the best part is the nib and feed. It takes a dip nib, a zebra G nib, for superflex performance.

The guy who runs Desidera, his name is Pierre Miller. He is a very nice guy.

You can check out my review here.

Thanks.

[Lively]

I've got the Desiderata Daedalus and I'm enjoying it a lot! You can read my review here:https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/286988-desiderata-daedalus-review/

 

I've also tried the Ackerman Pump Pen with less success - reviewed here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/286990-ackerman-junior-pump-pen-review/

[caliken]

Here's an example using a Waterman 92 fountain pen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUW-6M1Rvzo

 

And this time, with an Ackerman pen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zEblC-MXE

Edited March 20, 2015 by Ken Fraser

[dragos.mocanu]

Here's an example using a Waterman 92 fountain pen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUW-6M1Rvzo

 

And this time, with an Ackerman pen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zEblC-MXE

 

Great penmanship, but that practice will definitely result in nib damage over time. No straight pen can be properly/correctly used to obtain the required Copperplate slanting angle.

[Lively]

 

No straight pen can be properly/correctly used to obtain the required Copperplate slanting angle.

 

I tend to disagree. I prefer a straight pen. I turn my paper to approx 105 degrees so the down strokes are a straight pull in line with my hand.