"waterman Style" Nib?

[wayfairing]

Hello all!

 

As stated in my introductory post, I recently purchased a pen from a woodturner. He only sold pens with a medium nib, which is too big for my writing style. Because the nib writes very smoothly, I want to buy the same make if I can. Being a fountain pen newbie, I thought I could find the nib online by searching for what it is stamped with, "Iridium Point Germany." You experiened users will know that this led nowhere. I was, however, able to find a turned pen with the same hardware as mine. The kit for it had been purchased from Penn State Industries (US), so I emailed that company in the hope that they would sell me a fine nib. Turns out that they only sell medium nibs as well. The representative said that I could use any "Waterman style" nib in the pen.

 

I emailed the Goulet Pen Company, whose videos have been helping me with the fountain pen learning curve, to see if they would know what the Penn State Ind. representative meant and if any of their nibs would work. Though kind and helpful, the Goulet representative was unsure what the woodworking supply company would have meant by "Waterman style," so she directed me here.

 

Long story short: anyone know what would be meant by a "Waterman style nib"? I would have attached a picture of the medium nib that is currently in the pen for comparison but the picture I uploaded in the Introductions board took up all of my MB allowance without my noticing.

[jar]

There is no such thing as a Waterman style nib; what I think they were referring to would be a pen designed for an International standard cartridge also sometimes called the Waterman standard cartridge even though that misses the point that Waterman had many styles of cartridges over the years. The Pen State person just didn't know anything about fountain pens.

[wayfairing]

That's what I was afraid of, jar. Thanks for your reply. Does knowing that the pen likely uses a Waterman standard cartridge help me with what kinds of nibs I may be able to use?

[jar]

That's what I was afraid of, jar. Thanks for your reply. Does knowing that the pen likely uses a Waterman standard cartridge help me with what kinds of nibs I may be able to use?

 

Not really. What you might want to do is take your pen to the upcoming DC Fountain Pen show and there will be lots of folk there that can help advise you or modify the nib to suit your needs.

[Mike 59]

Hi, Kit pens tend to use fairly easy to find nibs and feeds, and they would most likely take 'international' type cartridges, the most common type available.

Pen companies have their own ideas and 'standards' but mostly it's not possible to swap nibs between brands.

If there is a scale of nib widths or types then it's the number system, i.e. a number '5' nib, or a '6' etc.

This refers to the diameter of the feed ( I believe ) so a pen with a '5' medium nib (for instance) should be able to take a '5' fine nib, which might be more to your liking.

If you turn the pen upside down, and look closely at the black plastic feed under the nib , you might see a number in it which is the type of nib you will have to buy to give a good fit. You don't need to change the plastic feed.

It's also possible to have the medium nib modified to write fine, pen shows are a one way to find someone who will do that work, or you can send the nib off by post to the same pen nib experts.

The cartridge for the ink has no bearing on the nib width, or how the pen will write.

The 'international' type of cartridges are the most common, some pen makers have their own types and they must be used, but all the types are available.

In the UK, our high street stationers stock every type I know of. I think it's the same almost everwhere.

If you want an ink colour that's not black or 'medium' blue, then you could buy an 'international' cartridge converter, (twist type plunger inside) so that you can use any colour fountain pen ink you want to.

If you like cartridges and want to try various colours other than black or blue, they are available to buy from online dealers, you generally won't find them in high street shops though.

Edited July 19, 2015 by Mike 59

[Frank C]

Nib sizes are based on the diameter of the feed (the black plastic under the nib) in millimeters. Just getting another nib that uses the same size feed won't necessarily solve your problem. The interface between the feed and the nib determine the flow of ink. This is based on capillary flow. They have have to be closely approximated or the flow will be too much or too little. Adjusting nibs and feeds is beyond most hobbyist fountain pen users. We usually leave that up to nib specialists or fountain pen repair people. As mentioned above, some will be at the DC Pen show. Another person to ask would be Ron Zorn, who is a moderator on FPN.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/user/1710-ron-z/

 

He could easily perform a nib swap on your pen.

 

Good luck with your studies at WVU. I greatly enjoyed my time in Morgantown. Do they still play "Morning in Morgantown" by Joni Mitchell on the radio from time to time? I always enjoyed hearing it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdd5cl-qDvE

 

I also liked riding on the PRT.

[fiddletwist]

Dear Wayfairing, I am in the exact same situation as you are and I have an extrafine nib stamped exactly as you say, that was made with a Penn State Industries kit, and I called them with the same question and got the same answer, which as I can see from this forum thread, is nonsense... What did you ever do? If you threw your hands up in despair and gave up - I I can't stand this extra fine nib and want a medium! We could swap! Or alternatively let me know what you did. I pulled the nib and tried to swap in a Knox #5 but the original nib has this weird little bump that catches in the inside of the section so the Knox fell out. Hope to hear from you!

As stated in my introductory post, I recently purchased a pen from a woodturner. He only sold pens with a medium nib, which is too big for my writing style. Because the nib writes very smoothly, I want to buy the same make if I can. Being a fountain pen newbie, I thought I could find the nib online by searching for what it is stamped with, "Iridium Point Germany." You experiened users will know that this led nowhere. I was, however, able to find a turned pen with the same hardware as mine. The kit for it had been purchased from Penn State Industries (US), so I emailed that company in the hope that they would sell me a fine nib. Turns out that they only sell medium nibs as well. The representative said that I could use any "Waterman style" nib in the pen.

 

[fiddletwist]

Here is a photo of the nib and a Knox#5.

[fiddletwist]

The entire pen...

[wayfairing]

This is my pen. It is turned apple burl and roughly the size of yours.

[Honeybadgers]

that's just a standard #5. All Penn state bodies use a #5 on almost every body and a #6 on the more expensive kits like the "majestic"

Also, PSI nibs are tripe. Just throw them away and get a #5 nib from schmidt, bock, knox, nemosine or JoWo.

 

I've never seen that bump before on a PSI kit though. I've turned a buttload of pens from their kits and they are all very standard looking IPG's.

 

Try a longer #5, something made by nemosine or JoWo. Knox nibs are on the shorter side.

Edited October 3, 2018 by Honeybadgers