Highest Praise for a New Nibmeister

[Lloyd]

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

Richard isn't just a great nibmeister. He is a talented and dedicated pen rapairer. Nibmeisters just work on the nib and feed. Richard works on the entire pen to make it work and look its best including the filler and the body. This includes rare and valuable pens. He knows what one should not do to a pen if a client does not want it to devalue as a collectible even though the pen may have the opportunity to become prettier. His waiting list is long due in part to those that want (need) services beyond just nibmeistering.

[French]

I sent a pen to Michael today for a nib size reduction and smoothing. I've had Mr. Binder do work on my pens (both nibs and restorations), but decided to try another nibmeister for a repair that fell somewhere between Richard Binder's level of experise (huge) and mine (nonexistant). This isn't meant to imply anything about Mr. Masuyama's skills, just that he had a short queue and fair prices. The level of pre-work communication was second to none, and I'm sure if the nib work equals the communication, this pen will quickly become a favorite.

 

I'll post comments when the pen returns

French

[craynerd]

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...mp;#entry951067

 

My parker 51 Vac was returned within 2 weeks including postage from Uk-->USA-->UK !

 

Amazing job, I wrote a thread a few days ago but nobody seemed to care lol

[Jared]

Amazing job, I wrote a thread a few days ago but nobody seemed to care lol

 

Sorry if nobody seemed to care, but I was waiting for your reply here, which is why your post went unnoticed. I'm glad to see that you had an excellent experience with Mike!

 

Jared

[craynerd]

Amazing job, I wrote a thread a few days ago but nobody seemed to care lol

 

Sorry if nobody seemed to care, but I was waiting for your reply here, which is why your post went unnoticed. I'm glad to see that you had an excellent experience with Mike!

 

Jared

 

lol, thanks Jared, I was only kidding. Yes very please, a wonderful job!

 

[Martius]

I'll put in another word for Mike. He acted as the official Sailor nib technician at the Atlanta pen show last year, and boy was he something - he made a new Sailor pen that I had just picked up at the show write even better. I haven't sent him any of my pens yet, but I definitely have a few that I am about to send.

 

Summer

[jkrewalk]

I sent a pen to Michael today for a nib size reduction and smoothing. I've had Mr. Binder do work on my pens (both nibs and restorations), but decided to try another nibmeister for a repair that fell somewhere between Richard Binder's level of experise (huge) and mine (nonexistant). This isn't meant to imply anything about Mr. Masuyama's skills, just that he had a short queue and fair prices. The level of pre-work communication was second to none, and I'm sure if the nib work equals the communication, this pen will quickly become a favorite.

 

I'll post comments when the pen returns

French

 

 

I think it is a mistake for people to think that Mike does not have as much experience or level of expertise as Binder just because he is not as well known. Frankly it's unfair. In fact he may very well have even more experience and expertise than Richard having worked under Mr. Nagahara at Sailor for 23 years!!!!!! May I again remind people tha Mr Nagahara is known throughout the world as the "god of fountain pens" and his special nibs are beyond compare to anything else. I agree that Richard's work is great but he is self taught by comparison to being taught by the "great one" himself. And I also know (from experience) that Mike's work is every bit as good as Binder's.

 

The above is just an observation on my part. So, before you chastise me for this opinion, I will make the statement that I think they are both great.

 

Mike has a short queue because people are not aware of his great skills as a nibmeister yet - you might say that he is the "new kid on the block". That is what this post is all about - to let people know he is here and does wonderful work with great prices and turnaround time. So why spend more and wait months if you don't have to????

 

Mike is getting all of my business and his work is nothing short of outstanding - every bit as good as Binder (and I speak from experience since I own many Binderized nibs).

 

As for those who have commented that Richard's contributions are more than just the nib work he does I say "who cares"? I only care about me and my wallet so when it comes to choosing a nibmeister to smooth or customize my nibs and I compare prices and turnaround time with the best quality, I will choose Mike every time.

 

John

Krewalk.com

Edited February 27, 2009 by jkrewalk

[elena]

I have experience with several of the nibmeisters mentioned, and some that are not. I consider myself fortunate to know first hand, of their expertise.

 

Currently, I am awaiting 3 pens in the mail from Mike. I sent them to him not only for his high level of skill, but because of his excellent communication. He knows and understands the writer in me. I put a lot of trust in this.

 

I was very attached to the first pen I sent him, one that was professional worked on previously for the same issue. Not only did Mike want to know about the pen itself, but he wanted to know about the way I write. The way I hold my pen, etc. He does this for every pen. The end result is a pen that writes perfectly for me.

 

A pen dealer recently asked me who I use as a nibmeister. I was happy to recommend Mike.

 

 

 

 

[GardenWeasel]

Mr. Masuyama has done 3 nibs for me - 2 of them being LeMan 100 nibs! All done exactly the way I wanted them to write. I am 100% pleased with his work - but I've read great things about Deb Kinney (sp?) too and will probably give her some work too (just for the variety)!

[Sazerac]

Piling on: I have sent several pens to Mike, and I have the same story: Excellent work, good prices, and quick turn around. Highly recommended.

 

I knew word would get out sooner or later.

 

 

[wiglaf]

I have been fortunate to have had pens tooled by both Richard and Michael- and the results are different- both artfully done. I would not hesitate sending off a pen to either gentleman- service is professional and timely, results are as advertised. Communication is clear and as frequent as one wishes.

It is good to know there are those who can do what I can not. Michael returned a tile-floor splayed King of Pen to a usable daily instrument; Richard gave me a Pelikan stub that I use every day. It is a rare person who can turn suspicion and disappointment into daily use- both of these gentlemen can.

 

Tony

[jkrewalk]

Piling on: I have sent several pens to Mike, and I have the same story: Excellent work, good prices, and quick turn around. Highly recommended.

 

I knew word would get out sooner or later.

 

Darn! I guess our "best kept secret" in the fountain pen world is out!!!!!!!!! :blink:

[wordherder62]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The most competent of pen repair folks should be able to make your pen write as you want it to. Richard, John, Deb, Greg, Mike--all of them are skilled with nibs but as someone else here has noted, Richard is also a skilled pen repair person. Some of the best writing nibs I have come from Joel Hamilton. I can say the same for his sister Sherrell Tyree. Ron Zorn can make your pen write smoothly and get the flow as you want it. Ricahrd, John and some others also do nib modifications. Mike does that as well. Mike is not new by the way. He did the repairs for Sailor in the U.S. for some time and he is a skilled repair person as well as good at making nibs write as they should. One of Mike's real skills is to make the nib you have write as it should without resorting to the grinding wheel. That's a real talent. I've tried the work of Rick Propas and must say the Penguin does a great job of getting pens to write as they should. Anybody who has bought a Susan Wirth pen at a show knows she is skilled at getting them to write just as they should.

 

If you like Richard's work, by all means wait for him. But if you just need your pen to write the way you think it should, there are many skilled repair people who can make it do that. Most of them are well known and seen at pen shows and many other places. You might be shocked to learn they actually do repairs and adjustments on nibs. Many of them do not do any nib grinding--most by choice. They choose, instead, to focus on the repair work.

 

I'm not belittling the skills of the nib specialists by any means. They are wonderful. I'm just pointing out that many of you have work that can be done more than capably by others in the hobby.

 

Richard

 

[GardenWeasel]

Heck, I'd just like to have some of these shows a little closer to me! I'd really love to wander into a show and meet any of the nibmeisters face-to-face and watch 'em tune my nibs!

[Trom]

Good to know that address. Thanks for bringing it up!

[jkrewalk]

Heck, I'd just like to have some of these shows a little closer to me! I'd really love to wander into a show and meet any of the nibmeisters face-to-face and watch 'em tune my nibs!

 

 

If you are in SC, the closest one is probably the Washington DC Supershow in August. This is one of the biggest and best shows around. Pack a bag, get in the car and drive on up to DC!!!!! You'll love it!!!!!!!

[kookychick]

Have to add my praise for Mike! I don't need pen restoration or anything fancy--I just wanted a "standard" ultrafine nib grind. I've tried many of the nibmeisters mentioned above, and have been quite satisfied with their work.

 

However, the pens that have become my favorites are the ones that have been ground by Mike! And I only use Sensa Meridians, so it's not because the pens themselves are intrinsically better! He can transform a pen to write a hairline width, and really smoothly, considering the extreme tip! After getting back the first one, I was so pleased I sent 7 more pens to him. And I accidentally flicked a pen into my sink to dry it, bending the tines and breaking the iridium tipping off. He happily fixed it into something that writes quite smoothly now!

 

Quick turnaround, lower prices, wonderful communication and service. 'Nuff said.

[skipwilliams]

I'll second the recommendation for Michael's nib work. So far he's done the following for me:

 

1. Tamed ink flow in a 1.1mm Stipula

2. Reground a #10 Indian steel nib that had a baby's bottom problem

3. Reground a Cartier to a luscious .7mm CI

4. Adjusted a Montegrappa Miya Argento that was a dry starter

5. Refit a Waterman #7 whose nib/feed were making poor contact, causing it to be a wet writer

6. Smoothed out my Nakaya Chinkin's .9mm stub to eliminate scratchiness.

 

Highly, highly recommended.

 

Skip

[teaguejb]

I'll add yet another recommendation for Mr. Masuyama. I saw posts about his work sometime last year. So, around the first of this year, I sent him three pens--a Conklin All-American (reshape to stub italic), a Taccia Staccato (reshape to stub italic), and, fittingly, my Sailor 1911 which just needed some TLC (a client had grabbed it out of my hand and proceeded to mangle it). All three pens came back in a couple of weeks in superb writing condition. I, too, fear Mr. Masuyama's queue will get much longer as more people find out about him. Honestly, I would love to see his business soar because his work and his manner are both of the highest quality. If you give your business to Mr. Masuyama, you will not be disappointed with the result.

Edited March 1, 2009 by teaguejb

[Jared]

Mike worked on two of my pens this morning at the DC Supershow--I highly recommend his services!