The Strange Case Of Mr. Pen's Nibs

[Wrecky]

I'm ready to try my luck at line variation. So I'm looking at mr. Pen's Italix range. Seems they have a lot of options to choose from.

It was all a bit confusing to me, so I've made a list. Hopefully it's useful for someone.

 

 

 

[ParkerDuofold]

Thank you for this; I've been considering a PE with a medium cursive stub nib... now I know it is one mm wide... I was wondering what his definition of medium was.

 

Now I may want to consider a fine instead.

 

- Anthony

Edited January 2, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[Wrecky]

Hmmm, Mr. Pen only mentions the width for italic. So a cursive stub could have a different width.

[Wrecky]

I've contacted mr. Pen about it, and he confirms stubs are slightly reduced.

[ParkerDuofold]

I've contacted mr. Pen about it, and he confirms stubs are slightly reduced.

Okay, thank you much for the info, that helps me a lot picking a nib.

 

- Anthony

[Wrecky]

Well, let us know what you decided and provide a writing example!

[ncpenfan]

I recently purchased a churchman''s prescriptor. The nib is terrific but the pen is too big and too heavy for my hand. What other pens will accept this nib? Thanks

[ParkerDuofold]

I recently purchased a churchman''s prescriptor. The nib is terrific but the pen is too big and too heavy for my hand. What other pens will accept this nib? Thanks

Do you know if it is a #6? If it is, there's quite a few.

 

Jinhao x450/750

Kaigelu 316

Noodlers Konrad/Ahab

Some Conklin and Monteverde pens like the Duragraph

TWSBI 580

And more, but these are off the top of my head.

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

I recently purchased a churchman''s prescriptor. The nib is terrific but the pen is too big and too heavy for my hand. What other pens will accept this nib? Thanks

Just to follow-up; unfortunately, their website doesn't say, but it looks like a #6 to me... hopefully someone who knows for sure will chime in.

[ParkerDuofold]

Well, let us know what you decided and provide a writing example!

Hi Wrecky,

 

I think I'll probably go for the fine; I want the "calligraphy look" to be present, but subtle.

 

- Anthony

Edited January 6, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[Wrecky]

I recently purchased a churchman''s prescriptor. The nib is terrific but the pen is too big and too heavy for my hand. What other pens will accept this nib? Thanks

 

Why don't you contact mr.Pen?

 

 

Hi Wrecky,

 

I think I'll probably go for the fine; I want the "calligraphy look" to be present, but subtle.

 

- Anthony

 

Might be too subtle for me though.

Edited January 6, 2017 by Wrecky

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a 'true' regular flex Oblique, and tested another. Little to no line variation.

I had a nail oblique that is now a CI and gives line variation that it didn't do before.

 

I have some 16-17 German vintage '50-66' era obliques in semi-flax and a @ 1/3 are maxi-semi-flex.....there I have great line variation.

The majority are @ 15 degree grind, @ 1/3 are 30 degree grind. There is no rhyme nor reason to that. Could be they fixed the Original owner up at the corner pen shop....

 

I think any oblique that is not a Swan, or English made also from the '30-50's of German from the '30-65 era in semi-flex is a waste of money....in you do not get the line variation.

 

If you are left eye dominate and always cant your nib.....or are one of the left handers that hook write......modern Oblique is a waste of time and money. The line variation is nothing or next to nothing compared to semi&maxi-semi-flex.

[bigkahuna]

Just to follow-up; unfortunately, their website doesn't say, but it looks like a #6 to me... hopefully someone who knows for sure will chime in.

 

I can confirm this. The Churchman's Prescriptor uses a #6 nib, as does the Captain's Commission. The Churchman's Prescriptor uses a removable nib assembly (made up of a nib, feed and threaded housing) that appears identical to the one in my Edison Collier. In fact, I have swapped these nib assemblies between my Italix Churchman's Prescriptor and Edison Collier several times with no ill effects.

 

The Italix Captain's Commission also uses a #6 nib, but does not use removable nib assemblies like the ICP and the Collier... The nib and feed are friction fit. They just pull out of the socket in the grip section, and are easily replaced.

Edited February 17, 2017 by bigkahuna

[Wrecky]

Since I couldn't make up my mind, I did what any sane person would do and I went for Parson's Three:

1. Black with Medium Italic (1mm). I specified no engraving but it came with a barely visible engraving "Italix Parson's Essential"
2. Amber, Medium Cursive Stub
3. Blue, Broad Cursive Stub

I'm inking them up now.

[truthpil]

Ooh ooh....please give us a comparison writing sample!

I've been pondering for weeks over whether to get a fine, medium, or broad cursive stub.

 

I have the medium italic and it is amazing, but no good for writing quickly because my hand may turn a little and the edges of the crisp nib catch the paper. The regular italics (Mr. Pen used to call them 'crisp italics' a few years back) are wonderfully smooth but definitely have a sweet spot.

 

My priority for my next Parson's Essential purchase is an insanely smooth, free-flowing nib, which is why I'm struggling particularly between medium and broad cursive stub. My worry about going all in on the broad is that the line might be ridiculously big for my writing. A comparison would definitely help with figuring that out!

[Wrecky]

By popular demand.

 

[truthpil]

Brilliant! Thanks for posting those!

 

What are your thoughts on the pens? Which nib is your favorite so far? Smoothest writer?

How does the writing experience differ between the IM and CM?

 

That cursive broad nib is looking more manageable than I had thought. Hmm....

[truthpil]

Does anyone have line measurements or writing samples for Mr. Pen's oblique nibs?

Would they be the same as the standard, unmodified nibs?

The numbers above are for the italics and stubs.

[Wrecky]

The upper writing example is Rhodia paper, the lower one is Atoma cream colored paper 90 gr/m². I really recommend this Atoma paper.

 

I like all three of them, but I like the medium italic most. The broad cursive is nice if you want to emphasize. I use that for titles mostly. But the cursive italic is nothing to sneeze at either.

 

That being said, the medium italic tends to run dry after a while with the converter installed.. Bear in mind, I don't use it to write long texts continuously. I use it to take notes, or to jot down short text. So I was disappointed that it tended to run dry. I cleaned it thoroughly before inking them up for the first time, so that couldn't be the problem.

That seems to be a standard problem with standard international converter, as mentioned by others, and the converter fits pretty snug on the collector.

This in stark contrast with the FB Loom that barely holds on to the cartridges and doesn't have this problem. If you fit a mini cartridge in the Loom, you need to jam it up against the converter by backing it up with a second mini cartridge in the back of the barrel.

 

Then I used one of the gratis provided cartridges in the med italic. The ink was black, but it came out dull and grey. I tried to drain the feed, but it kept writing dry. Squeezed the cartridge a couple of times and that saturated the feed, solving the problem. I'll be taking it outside to a meeting tomorrow, see how it performs.

[Wrecky]

Does anyone have line measurements or writing samples for Mr. Pen's oblique nibs?

Would they be the same as the standard, unmodified nibs?

The numbers above are for the italics and stubs.

 

I don't have the obliques, but you have to understand, don't expect any line variation from an basic oblique nib. Left or right oblique is used to compensate for the extra rotation some people put the nib on the paper with.

Only the combination of oblique with italic or cursive will give line variation.

At least, that's my understanding.

 

"Oblique nibs can be ground with round tips that simply accommodate rotation of the pen, or they can be ground to produce line variation in the same manner as an italic. Oblique italics must be ground to the same essential design as italics if they are to exhibit good line variation. Most modern manufacturers grind their obliques as ordinary round nibs that accommodate rotation." http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/nibs/beyond.htm

 

But keep in mind that Mr. Pen seems to use a somewhat different nomenclature.