Is This Actually A Sailor Zoom Nib?

[JonB55198]

Hello FPN,

 

Quite some time ago I bought a used 1911 with 14k "Zoom Nib" without the box or papers. I was told it was a Zoom Nib. But, I cannot seem to get the same line variation out of it that other reviews and photos seem to show. Could you please take a look at the photos of the nib here as well as my writing samples to determine if this is actually a zoom nib or just maybe a Medium or Broad? I've heard that even the other types of nibs do show some variation when the writing angle is changed. Let me know what you think:

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_143402_zpsdug0kq90.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_143432_zpsd4al09pz.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_151504_zpsvstz8w7m.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_151551_zpszy3pkbam.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_150220_zpss4awx4jn.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_150019_zpsv5owrb2c.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_145949_zpsgrs6ezjh.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_145839_zpsckvlcmqb.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_144519_zpsj1opets8.jpg

 

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/jonb55198/Sailor%201911%20Zoom%20Nib/20170302_144507_zpsn8tjusvi.jpg

[Bluey]

Does it not say "H-Z" on the side of the nib? The line width at a shallow angle doesn't seem as broad as a zoom.

 

All Sailor nibs will show line variation when you change the angle because of the shape of the nib

 

I took some pics of my zoom nib here so you can compare

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/318572-sailor-h-b-marked-nib-writes-like-a-zoom-nib/?p=3793566

Edited March 2, 2017 by Bluey

[JonB55198]

Does it not say "H-Z" on the side of the nib? The line width at a shallow angle doesn't seem as broad as a zoom.

 

I will look when I get home. Tho I do not recall seeing "H-Z" imprint. In fact, I do not recall any imprint indicating fine, medium, broad, zoom or any nib type. Is it possible since this is an older model, before the 21k version, that this imprint isn't present?

 

It is possible the original owner made a mistake since I wasn't given any documentation. Do you have a guess of what nib type this is if it isn't zoom? Is it possibly a broad?

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

IIRC my Zoom nib has a 'Z' (for Zebra) engraved on the left side wing of the nib.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited March 3, 2017 by Sandy1

[AD43]

Variation seems too little.

[ink-syringe]

Many of Sailors regular nibs are cut like quasi-zoom nibs with the facets on the top.

 

I have a Sailor B nib that acts just like a less dramatic zoom nib and it is just labeled H-B. So it is hard to tell without looking at the imprint if it really is a zoom nib. But since the regular nibs are not round ball tips just looking with a loupe might lead you to believe any random larger nib could be a zoom.

[Bluey]

 

I will look when I get home. Tho I do not recall seeing "H-Z" imprint. In fact, I do not recall any imprint indicating fine, medium, broad, zoom or any nib type. Is it possible since this is an older model, before the 21k version, that this imprint isn't present?

 

It is possible the original owner made a mistake since I wasn't given any documentation. Do you have a guess of what nib type this is if it isn't zoom? Is it possibly a broad?

I think it's closer to a broad. There should still be something written on the side of the nib on the older(?) style nibs, but in the case of the zoom it's not very conspicuous.. I've just had a look at mine and attached a pic along with a pic of the older(?) style nib with the zoom imprint from somewhere on the net.

 

It's possible that the "Z" wasn't indicated on the older(?) 14k nibs

Edited March 3, 2017 by Bluey

[JonB55198]

It's possible that the "Z" wasn't indicated on the older(?) 14k nibs

 

Thank you for the photos. I took some time to go over every square micrometer of my nib using a 30x loupe and some really great lighting. I even pulled the nib and feed from the section to examine if the nib type had been stamped in a location that sits within the feed. I could not find anything on my 14k nib at all.

 

A friend of mine says that it is possible that the older nibs had less variation and in response to the market, Sailor started creating them with more variation ability. I'm not sure and this is just hypothesis.

 

Does anyone have an old 14k zoom nib to compare writing samples with?

[Sailor Kenshin]

Mine's a 14k attached to a 1911, has a small 'Z' inscribed on the side of the nib, and I've never been able to make it do much line variation.

 

[Bluey]

You have to change the angle a LOT(eg 90 degrees, 50 degrees, 30 degrees). I find it a bit too broad for me for everyday writing. Perfect in every other way though - flow, wetness/dryness, smoothness/feedback

[JonB55198]

I may try to find a used pro gear realo with a zoom. I thought Ajit the music nib, but with only 2 tines, I don't consider it a true music nib.