Shadow Nib

[dms525]

Shadow nibs - broad nibs that have had a groove ground in their tip, usually asymmetrically - are fun to play with and also very good learning tools for anyone working on broad-edged calligraphic scripts.

 

I have some old shadow nibs from late model Osmiroid pens. Kaweco currently makes #5 Bock shadow nibs, but I am not aware of any others producing them commercially. Last year, at the San Francisco Pen Show, one of the Bay Area "Friends of Calligraphy" calligraphers had a Pilot Parallel that had been ground to a shadow nib by a friend. Just recently, Salman Khattak (smk on FPN) has offered customized Pilot Parallel shadow nibs for sale, and I bought one made from the 3.8mm model. Here are a couple photos. (No affiliation, blah, blah, blah)

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

David

[ajoe]

I have some extra Parallels laying here.

 

That’s a great idea. Thanks!

[Astronymus]

Manuscript has shadow nibs. They sell them as dip nibs, but those nibs can be easily fitted into their cheap plastic pens. The nibs are similar to those in the pens. As they have no reservoir they are not very suitable as dip nibs.

[dms525]

Manuscript has shadow nibs. They sell them as dip nibs, but those nibs can be easily fitted into their cheap plastic pens. The nibs are similar to those in the pens. As they have no reservoir they are not very suitable as dip nibs.

 

Right! I forgot about the Manuscript nibs. I have tried one. We did not get along well.

 

Thanks for reminding us.

 

David

[WLSpec]

Yes, I think Kaweco is the only company putting those twin bock nibs in their pens from the factory...

Looking into those. Really cool pens. I might try this with one of my parallels!

[BaronWulfraed]

Back around 2003, the Sheaffer Prelude was available with a calligraphic broad and a double-line/shadow accessory set.

[sidthecat]

Edward Johnston would put a rubber band around two pencils (or pieces of chalk) to practice double lines.

[dms525]

 

 

 

 

 

 

David