Heartbreak! Doomed John Holland Nib

[Goudy]

Another question has come to my mind. Why is there a need to spread nib tines so wide beyond its seeming capability in any case unless anyone has a tendency to write an extremely large script?

 

A gold nib that spreads wide is perceived as more valuable (and therefore is more valuable) than one that doesn't. But that doesn't answer your question about why people need to write with bulging letters teetering on tiny feet. Perhaps if wet noodles were the norm, everyone would be lusting after nails.

[sidthecat]

The nib in the picture isn't my nib but a near cousin. It wasn't spread like that, and it flexed beautifully. It just has all these damn cracks.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pickwick.....I've been very lucky....but out side a few '30-40's nibs most of mine are '50-60's....so they are not the '20-30's Wet noodles.

I only have a couple Wet noodles and a hand full of the next stage up....Easy Full Flex superflex nibs and nibbed pens. (Those under the maxi-semi-flex set. Semi&maxi...don't go out on me much in I try never to press them more than 3 X a light down stroke.)

 

I use my Wet Noodles less than I could....if If and When I start....I'll have to learn to Draw the Letters.....and Practice.

Basically I just scribble normally, instead of making fancy letters.

L is my best fancy letter....it shows me best what the nib can do.....Snidely whiplash or full English handlebar Mustache. It helps to have a nice shading ink and a good to better paper, so I can see the little trapezoid when I cross the lower L line.

[sidthecat]

I have a wonderfully flexy Conklin that Is my go-to pen, and a spectacular Eclipse with a Warranted nib. The Holland is so go as to make it worth taking some trouble to make it work.

[sidthecat]

Update: I have a fallback.

If nothing can be done for the cracked nib, I bought two desk pens with Holland nibs. Neither is as flexible, but something must be usable.

The original goal was to have a Holland ringtop, and one way or another that is still possible.