XXXF Nibs!

Just after 4PM yesterday afternoon, my long-awaited package from Richard Binder was finally in my hands! My ten pens were back - with freshly customized nibs!

I had forgotten that I had originally sent all but one my pens away in little black slipcases, and when I unpacked the pens it was actually great not knowing what pen each case held!

The included writing samples from Richard looked perfect, and my opinion didn't change when I dip-tested each nib. Each nib performs perfectly, and the feedback and flow is exactly as I required - Richard has done a fantastic job, and these nibs were worth the wait! Each pen is now inked up, and being put to use!

• Jean-Pierre Lepine Attila, J.Herbin Indien Orange.
• Jean-Pierre Lepine Indigo, Pelikan Brilliant Brown.
• Lamy Lady, Noodler's Golden Brown.
• Omas Saft Green Princess, Stipula Moss Green.
• Omas Blue La Royal Princess, custom mix.
• Omas Scarlet Red Princess, Noodler's Tiananmen.
• Pelikan M400 White Honey, R&K Alt-Goldgrün.
• Pelikan M300 Green, Montblanc Racing Green.
• Pelikan M201 Clear, J.Herbin Poussiere de Lune.

Earlier today I put some time aside, selected pens with tiny nibs, and created a document which shows writing samples from 22 pens in my collection:

(Note: The image linked below is 1400x2135 and 2MB in size.)

I wasn't sure of the best way to present such a nib comparison, but I think that by viewing the high-resolution scan at 100%, you can form a clear opinion about the nibs shown. The graph paper used has 5mm squares - so that gives an idea about how small my writing is, and why I use such tiny nibs!

Very Exciting Pen News!

Well, exciting for me at least! Here is a summary of pens I am expecting...

1. A second Nakaya Piccolo Cigar! Special Urushi finish, 14K SEF nib.


2. A stainless steel Platinum, exactly like the one shown in this post.


3. A cute Waterman Lady Charlotte.


4. The Fountain Pen Network 'Limited Edition' Bexley.


5. TEN (10) pens from Richard Binder, which I sent to him for nib customizations - I may have them by the end of this week!

Last week I also received two beautiful Japanese pens from the lovely Mr. K. The first was a small Pilot lever-filler, in a gorgeous red celluloid with a firm XF 14K nib. The second was more special... an unusual stainless steel Sailor with a rather exquisite arabesque-like motif. The motif is machined(?) all over the cap, barrel and section. The detail is quite incredible and perfect, and the nib is a 18K White Gold F.

Nib News!

This is the best thing I've read in ages...

"I can grind a nib of any size down to XXXXF. That's a line 0.004" (0.1 mm) wide. One of Phthalo's pens just got that treatment today, and four others were taken down to XXXF. Two more are now 0.3-mm stubs. Who knows what's in store for the rest of the clutch she sent me?"

- Richard Binder commenting on nib customizations I requested.

How exciting! Seven of my ten pens are done!

Fantastic!

Long Time, No Pens...

...well, not really. Some very nice pens arrived in April, and it looks like May will bring more of the same.

The above image shows a few nice Japanese pens I acquired last month. From the top:

• Platinum. White enamel with clover motif. 18K Fine.
• Platinum. Pale gold arabesque motif. C/C. 18K Fine.
• Platinum. Stainless steel. C/C. 18K White Fine.
• Pilot. Black with stainless cap. Lever. 'Hardgilt' Steel Flexible Fine.

Also, I received an Aurora 14K EF nib which had been reground to an XF Stub.

OT: The Wedgwood House

This is completely unrelated to fountain pens, but it’s an interesting tale which I thought I would share.

I collect Wedgwood Jasperware, and I maintain a small website about it. A fellow Wedgwood collector contacted me recently, wondering if I could advise paint colours which matched the colours Wedgwood have used in the Jasper range. The reason? They wish to paint the interior of their house in those colours.

A modern-day redux perhaps of the work of Scottish architect Robert Adam, amongst others, who inspired Josiah Wedgwood with their lavish Neoclassical interiors in the first place...Luckily, I could assist, and have provided the most accurate colour information that I could determine, based upon the PANTONE® system.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. :)

Japanese Pens

Picked up a couple of nice Japanese pens recently - three Platinum pens from the 1970's, and one Pilot pen from the 1950's.

I am particularly interested in the Pilot, which is a lever-filler with a flexible steel nib. My Sailor eyedropper has a flexible steel 'Shiro' nib, which is quite wonderful, so I am hoping the Pilot nib will be similar.

Sailor Sapporo!

I finally got a Sailor Sapporo! Well, I got two actually, a Sapporo and a Sapporo Mini:
Perfect little pens with wonderful 14K EF nibs. :D

Acquisitions!

The drought (of pen buying) has broken. This last week I was up to my old tricks, buying duplicates from collectors, and scouting around eBay. Some nice pens were had:

• Radius - Italian, 1940's ladies button-filler. Brown marbled celluloid, 14K Flexible F nib.
• Sheaffer Valiant - Snorkel. Fern Green, 14K Triumph F nib.
• Pilot Custom 98 - Deep Yellow, 14K EF nib.
• Duchessa (Montegrappa sub-brand) - Italian, 1930's ladies button-filler, NOS. Pink marbled celluloid. 14K Flexible F nib.

An interesting little lot... :)

Nib Customizations

I don't think I've mentioned what work Richard will be doing on the pens I've sent him, so this a breakdown:

Brand	Model	Customization
Jean-Pierre Lepine Jean-Pierre Lepine Lamy Omas Omas Omas Montegrappa Pelikan Pelikan Pelikan	Attila Indigo Lady Celluloid Princess Celluloid Princess Celluloid Princess Micra M400 M300 M250	0.3 Stub XXXF 0.3 Cursive Italic XXXXF 0.3 Stub XXXF XXXF XXXF 0.3 Crisp Italic 0.3 Stub

I can hardly wait to write with them. :)

Ink!!!

My inks finally arrived from Pendemonium! Nine delicious colours:

- Diamine Umber
- Noodler's Russian Chekhov
- Noodler's Russian Dostoyevsky
- Noodler's Russian Pushkin
- Noodler's Apache Sunset
- Noodler's Golden Brown
- Private Reserve Burgundy Mist
- Rohrer & Klingner Fernambuk
- Rohrer & Klingner Morinda

...plus some Red Platinum cartridges and some silicon grease to use on my Sailor Eyedropper, which has a point-section leak.

Very pleased with all the colours except Diamine Umber and Noodler's Dostoyevsky. Umber was touted as a Pelikan Moss Green alternative, which is so not true. Moss Green was a yummy olive shade, while Umber is just a forest green. Meanwhile, Dostoyevsky looks like a slightly faded Sheaffer Turquoise. Boring.

Rohrer & Klingner Morinda and Private Reserve Burgundy Mist are my favourites from the bunch. :)

Samples and such posted here (FPN).