Highest Praise for a New Nibmeister

[Woody]

So - Turnaround time is amazing and the quality is superb (even for super picky people like me and jdclarkson)- I guess the question is why should people wait months for other nibmeisters?

 

 

That's because other nibmeisters do more than just nib work. Often times, a person sends a pen in for nib work and for restoration as well. If you look at Mike's site, you'll notice his only services listed are for nib work. It would make no sense for someone to send a pen to some other nibmeister for restoration, then turn and send that same pen to Mike to have the nib work done, when you could easily get the same nibmeister to restore your pen and adjuts/re-grind the nib to your liking.

 

I agree but respectfully submit that many FPN members who send their pens to nibmeisters do so for nib repair and customization. In fact the many posts I have read on FPN confirm this. Moreover, the huge waiting list at the Philly Pen Show I referred to in my posting was for nib work - not extensive restoration services.

 

So, my question could be made more specific: Why would you want to wait months for nib repair/customization when people like Mike are available who not only provides super results and high quality but also super turnaround times?

 

Keep in mind the title of this posting - we are talking about nibmeisters (hence nib services) specifically - not restoration masters which is an entirely different discipline.

 

That's because Mike, like Greg Minuskin, and others, aren't as well known as Richard Binder, John Mottishaw and others. If you don't know a person is out there doing that kind of work, you won't bother to send anything to them. Not only that, but some folks have "favorites:" a favorite nibmeister, a favorite pen restorer, etc. As such, those folks will continue to stick with the people they like, regardless of who else is out there. Let's not forget, for many folks, there are other pens to use. Few people out there own just one pen, so waiting a while, even months, is not that big a deal as there are other things that can be used in the interim.

[jkrewalk]

So - Turnaround time is amazing and the quality is superb (even for super picky people like me and jdclarkson)- I guess the question is why should people wait months for other nibmeisters?

 

 

That's because other nibmeisters do more than just nib work. Often times, a person sends a pen in for nib work and for restoration as well. If you look at Mike's site, you'll notice his only services listed are for nib work. It would make no sense for someone to send a pen to some other nibmeister for restoration, then turn and send that same pen to Mike to have the nib work done, when you could easily get the same nibmeister to restore your pen and adjuts/re-grind the nib to your liking.

 

I agree but respectfully submit that many FPN members who send their pens to nibmeisters do so for nib repair and customization. In fact the many posts I have read on FPN confirm this. Moreover, the huge waiting list at the Philly Pen Show I referred to in my posting was for nib work - not extensive restoration services.

 

So, my question could be made more specific: Why would you want to wait months for nib repair/customization when people like Mike are available who not only provides super results and high quality but also super turnaround times?

 

Keep in mind the title of this posting - we are talking about nibmeisters (hence nib services) specifically - not restoration masters which is an entirely different discipline.

 

That's because Mike, like Greg Minuskin, and others, aren't as well known as Richard Binder, John Mottishaw and others. If you don't know a person is out there doing that kind of work, you won't bother to send anything to them. Not only that, but some folks have "favorites:" a favorite nibmeister, a favorite pen restorer, etc. As such, those folks will continue to stick with the people they like, regardless of who else is out there. Let's not forget, for many folks, there are other pens to use. Few people out there own just one pen, so waiting a while, even months, is not that big a deal as there are other things that can be used in the interim.

 

Actually, That is precisely the purpose of my post - to tell people he is out there and they don't have to wait!!!!

 

As for the "favorites" you mention - MY new favorite is Mike - not only because of the quality but because of the aded bonus of geting my pen back FAST! Even though I own a hundred pens I do not choose to wait months.

Edited February 8, 2009 by jkrewalk

[Prise]

I'm glad that I've stumbled onto this thread.

 

If given a choice, I always prefer work of an individual artisan craftsman over something that is massed produced.

 

I've been considering turning some of my nibs into a cursive italic. The endorsements I've read on this thread alone is enough for me to try Mike.

 

I'm one of those who find a 4 month waiting time far too long of a wait, irrespective of how ever many pens I may have at my disposal.

[jkrewalk]

I'm glad that I've stumbled onto this thread.

 

If given a choice, I always prefer work of an individual artisan craftsman over something that is massed produced.

 

I've been considering turning some of my nibs into a cursive italic. The endorsements I've read on this thread alone is enough for me to try Mike.

 

I'm one of those who find a 4 month waiting time far too long of a wait, irrespective of how ever many pens I may have at my disposal.

 

 

I agree completely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Four months is too much if another master is available.

Edited February 8, 2009 by jkrewalk

[Nabster]

The more people who send work to him, the longer the wait to get your pen back. Conversely, because less work will be sent to other miesters, their wait time will lessen. If Mike can do the work quickly enough that he can get to and finish each pen that arrives within a day or two and keep his queue down all the better. You'd have to think though, the more people who hear about hos great his turnaround time is, the more will send work to him, and eventually he will take longer, because there is only so fast the work can be done. I'm sure if you go back far enough with Mr. Binder you'd find at one point he did his stellar work in a very quick time as well.

 

I guess what I'm saying is get in now if you want to wait just a short time.

[hari317]

Thanks for sharing your positive experience with Mike.

[jdclarkson]

The more people who send work to him, the longer the wait to get your pen back. ... You'd have to think though, the more people who hear about hos great his turnaround time is, the more will send work to him, and eventually he will take longer, because there is only so fast the work can be done. ...

...

 

You are absolutely correct. So: You are getting very sleepy. A profound calmness is coming over you. Deeper and deeper with every breath. You hear only the sound of my voice.

 

There is no Michael Masuyama. He cannot be reached at http://mikeitwork.com Any time you think of Mike, you will make a noise like a chicken.

 

*********

 

I am starting another thread for a nibmistress I'd recommend. Look for it.

[PenFisher]

Thanks for the post about Mr. Masuyama .... it's always a nice to have quality options.

[Jared]

I hope Mike attends the DC Pen Show this August. I just found out from Karen at Sailor USA that Nagahara-san will not be attending the DC show anymore, and will make his final visit to the US this August at Art Brown's in NY. Richard Binder is great, but you'll consider yourself luck to even get to sit in his chair to have a single pen worked on. We could use another Sailor expert like Mike in the absence of Nagahara.

[jkrewalk]

I hope Mike attends the DC Pen Show this August. I just found out from Karen at Sailor USA that Nagahara-san will not be attending the DC show anymore, and will make his final visit to the US this August at Art Brown's in NY. Richard Binder is great, but you'll consider yourself luck to even get to sit in his chair to have a single pen worked on. We could use another Sailor expert like Mike in the absence of Nagahara.

 

 

Yes - as we all know, Mr Nagahara is the greatest of all time - indeed he is known as the "GOD OF FOUNTAIN PENS" - and Mike worked with him extensively.

 

I hope FPN members understand how lucky we are to have a man of this caliber to work on their pens.

[Joe in Seattle]

Well I sent one off to him this morning. It's a Parker Duofold I bought as NOS which appears to have nib damage. It won't write. I'll report back.

[ralphawilson]

Hey, great to hear about a fine nib craftsman--I'll definitely consider sending work to him. I'd just like to say, though, if no one else has, that there are many reasons why Mr. Binder gets a lot of respect around here. For one thing, he has shared so much valuable pen information with us via his web site and posts here that people who have never bought a pen from him, or had work done by him, are likely to have benefited from his knowledge. He's an acknowledged expert, and that's a rare thing, and it goes beyond being a fine craftsman.

[Robert Hughes]

So this brings the total of walk-on-water types to, what, 6? 7? Each with his own band of acolytes.

 

Of course, if you really wanted to believe in miracles, you could try fixing the d#$% thing yerself ...

[Garageboy]

Is Ron Zorn a nib tuning specialist as well?

I like sticking to Richard for things like vac-fill/vacumatic restos

Edited February 10, 2009 by Garageboy

[obnubilator]

Just because no one else is saying it: IMO, the reason that R.B. is so much better known than other nibmeisters of possibly equal calibre is not because of some mysterious fluke of popularity; it's because he is that rarest of individuals, a gifted craftsperson who is also a gifted entrepreneur, as well as an all around charismatic guy. The web site alone is an absolutely mind-boggling achievement, totally independent of his nib-grinding expertise. I run a small craft-oriented business; I'm impressed. If he is the most well known figure in pendom, it's because of the really remarkable amount of energy and talent he has poured into making himself just that.

 

 

 

O.

[georges zaslavsky]

Congrats on the good work from the new Nibmeister. Nibmeisters are non existant in Europe, aside Mr Mora who is the one and only nib repairman in Europe and who knows Richard Binder, Greg Minuskin, John Mottishaw, SMG and Pendemonium, nibmeisters are more to be found in the USA. I have heard a lot of good things about various nibmeisters and Ron Zorn also does nib regrinds so is therefore to consider as a nibmeister.

[craynerd]

Sent a p51 vac with M nib off to him for a regrind to cursive italic early in the week. When it comes back I`ll post a writing sample. Emailed him a few times before sending it (from the UK) and his responses were most informative and helpful. I hope his work is a good as it sounds. His expected turn-around time is 2 weeks, smashing the current RB 13 week time scale!

 

Hope it works out. I`ll let you know.

 

Chris

[theblackpen]

Just because no one else is saying it: IMO, the reason that R.B. is so much better known than other nibmeisters of possibly equal calibre is not because of some mysterious fluke of popularity; it's because he is that rarest of individuals, a gifted craftsperson who is also a gifted entrepreneur, as well as an all around charismatic guy. The web site alone is an absolutely mind-boggling achievement, totally independent of his nib-grinding expertise. I run a small craft-oriented business; I'm impressed. If he is the most well known figure in pendom, it's because of the really remarkable amount of energy and talent he has poured into making himself just that.

 

 

 

O.

Couldn't have said it better

[Chris H]

Just because no one else is saying it: IMO, the reason that R.B. is so much better known than other nibmeisters of possibly equal calibre is not because of some mysterious fluke of popularity; it's because he is that rarest of individuals, a gifted craftsperson who is also a gifted entrepreneur, as well as an all around charismatic guy. The web site alone is an absolutely mind-boggling achievement, totally independent of his nib-grinding expertise. I run a small craft-oriented business; I'm impressed. If he is the most well known figure in pendom, it's because of the really remarkable amount of energy and talent he has poured into making himself just that.

 

 

 

O.

 

 

I would dare say you are right. Tooting one's own horn has its advantages, especially if there is talent and knowledge to back up the tooting.

 

Someone posted about Deb Kinney and the excellent nib work she does. The poster said each person has his or her way of doing things and he can start to distinguish what person did what nib work. I sent two pens off to Deb for work and am looking forward to getting them back. Her turnaround time is about 3 weeks.

 

Chris

 

 

[jkrewalk]

Just because no one else is saying it: IMO, the reason that R.B. is so much better known than other nibmeisters of possibly equal calibre is not because of some mysterious fluke of popularity; it's because he is that rarest of individuals, a gifted craftsperson who is also a gifted entrepreneur, as well as an all around charismatic guy. The web site alone is an absolutely mind-boggling achievement, totally independent of his nib-grinding expertise. I run a small craft-oriented business; I'm impressed. If he is the most well known figure in pendom, it's because of the really remarkable amount of energy and talent he has poured into making himself just that.

 

 

 

O.

 

 

I would dare say you are right. Tooting one's own horn has its advantages, especially if there is talent and knowledge to back up the tooting.

 

Someone posted about Deb Kinney and the excellent nib work she does. The poster said each person has his or her way of doing things and he can start to distinguish what person did what nib work. I sent two pens off to Deb for work and am looking forward to getting them back. Her turnaround time is about 3 weeks.

 

Chris

 

Yes - Along with Mike Masuyama, Deb Kinney is also one of the best nibmeisters around. That is the point of this whole post here people - that there are plenty of other great nibmeisters to choose from that will do just as good a job and they deliver precision work in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. The purpose of the post is to let people know that they do not have to wait 3 months or more for the same exact results!!!!!

 

By the way, that has nothing to do with whether someone else is knowledgeable, has a great web site, is a great guy or is fabulously personable and popular. When it comes to getting my nib adjusted or customized that has no bearing on my choice. Mike, Deb and others that this post is about will give me the same results in less time for less money. Now that translates to better value - and right about now - in this economy - value is far more important to me than anything else.

 

John

Krewalk.com

Edited February 14, 2009 by jkrewalk