Dip Pen Nib Longevity?

[Breck]

Clearly, this is a question with many, many answers, but assuming a steel nib, not tipped, of perfectly acceptable quality and reasonably low cost, how long can one expect a dip pen nib to last?

 

I guess I'm looking for an answer in a unit like pages or words rather than time... Please describe the paper size and degree of tooth and size of your writing in your response for clarity.

 

Thanks a lot. Doing ink reviews (Waterman Havana coming up tomorrow) has made me think of investing in some real old-timey writing instruments, and I want to have an idea what I'm getting into...

 

--Breck

 

edit to add: I'd do a search, but three-letter terms are un-search-able, so "dip", "pen" and "nib" are all out!

Edited January 1, 2009 by Murderface

[Shangas]

Oooh...In terms of inks, pages and word-count, I really couldn't say.

 

But with fairly regular (at least once a day, perhaps 4-5 times a week, or more) of use, with at least 2-3 pages of use each time (A4 size), I've managed to get a dip-pen nib to last for well over two months. It might've lasted longer, but the rust was irritating me.

[dcwaites]

Old-style plain steel nibs aren't going to last as long as currently made stainless steel ones. The same would apply to brass vs bronze nibs.

 

As well, thin vintage-style ink won't lubricate the nib tip as well, shortening the life of the nib.

 

I would also assume that hard paper that wasn't very smooth, such as cheap copy paper, would wear the nib more than a softer, smoother paper made from bagasse or equivalent.

 

Bowl-pointed nibs, such as the Waverly pen or Hunt 512, present a larger, smoother surface to the paper than a plain tipped Post Office pen, and so would last longer. This would also apply to nibs with a turned up point, such as D. Leonardt's DP400 in 1/2 mm size.

 

Finally, if you have an ink that flows smoothly down the pen, and wets the pen and paper easily, without flowing so much you get feathering and bleeding, you will need to apply much less pressure on the nib point, wearing it less, than if you have to press the nib hard to get it to write.

 

So, if you are using a plain-pointed, steel Myers Post Office Pen, and Parker Quink Blue, on HP Everyday paper, I would expect 20-50 normal pages.

If you are using a very fine-pointed pen, then it will last fewer pages, and a bowl-pointed or turned up point would last more pages. Modern stainless steel will last longer still.

If you press harder, to make the ink flow better, or to get more flex out of the nib, it won't last as long.

 

 

 

[Breck]

Thanks for the replies, they give me a good ballpark estimate.

 

Before I had no idea if they lasted more like 2 pages or 200.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I used a Spencerian 38, stainless steel dip pen, for years. I wrote hundreds of pages using Sheaffer Skrip Jet Black ink. Actually, I probably write something on the order of a thousand pages with that dip pen. As someone else pointed out YMMV.

 

I wrote in ordinary marble covered notebooks through the '60s and '70s on into the '80s a bit. So the paper was, well, ordinary.

[Breck]

I used a Spencerian 38, stainless steel dip pen, for years. I wrote hundreds of pages using Sheaffer Skrip Jet Black ink. Actually, I probably write something on the order of a thousand pages with that dip pen. As someone else pointed out YMMV.

 

I wrote in ordinary marble covered notebooks through the '60s and '70s on into the '80s a bit. So the paper was, well, ordinary.

 

Wow, that's quite a different estimate! So, do you think that the Waterman nibs offered by All Write Now (bottom of page) could have a similar lifespan? That would certainly explain the price.

[ANM]

In my opinion, the Waterman nibs (for $44.) at the bottom of that page at Write Now is an entirely different proposition from the OP. The steel nibs, on that page, OTH are not Watermans. I would imagine the Watermans should have a life span of years, if not a few decade.

[dlmoak]

A vintage dip pen nib that is 14K is not expensive and will last indefinitely. I am writing with a Mabie Todd dip pen that is over 100 years old. some of these can be expensive, but most are not because most collectors have no interest in them.

[Breck]

Very good to know. The plot thickens...

[Titivillus]

For some of the time it depends on how well the nib is taken care of to prevent rust and the like. I have a vintage nib ( can't remember the brand) that I have used on and off for years and it writes just as well now. Keeping it clean and dry after use helps.

 

But as David said above if you get gold it's like a FP nib and will last a long time\

 

K

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I used a Spencerian 38, stainless steel dip pen, for years. I wrote hundreds of pages using Sheaffer Skrip Jet Black ink. Actually, I probably write something on the order of a thousand pages with that dip pen. As someone else pointed out YMMV.

 

I wrote in ordinary marble covered notebooks through the '60s and '70s on into the '80s a bit. So the paper was, well, ordinary.

 

Wow, that's quite a different estimate! So, do you think that the Waterman nibs offered by All Write Now (bottom of page) could have a similar lifespan? That would certainly explain the price.

No, I think that price is inflated by the cachet of their being vintage. That Spencerian 38 I bought in the '70s, cost me 10¢. Unfortunately, I only bought two of them. I went back to get more when I found how great they were but the stationer couldn't find the box again. I always wish I could have bought the entire one gross box.