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broadoblique
May 5th, 2014, 08:55 PM
I've noticed a number of people asking about compatible nibs for their replacement needs. I may be able to help a little with the modern steel nib pens with this post.
(CT = chrome trim/polished nib, GT = gold plated trim and nib)

11273
From left to right are: Reflex, JIF, Pro Graduate, Graduate, Graduate Color, Allure, Apostrophe, Harmonie, Laureat CT, Laureat GT, Expert II.
(Expert II is the only one to feature two-tone nibs - on GT pens. CT Ex II has polished nib)
I should have included the late Forum, Ici et La, and JIF Metal but didn't. JIF Metal is always GT, Forum and Ici were both CT and GT.

11274
The Reflex was hiding when I took this one.

11275
I left out the Grad Color and one of the Laureats. You can see a pattern. The only oddball is the Pro Grad with the long feed.
There are some other cheap plastic JIF types with the same long feed.


11276

There were similar contemporary models that were not compatible including:
Early Forum, Centurion, Maestro and Early Laureat. These have the smooth bottom feed and are compatible with each other.
It's the same smooth feed as in the Man 2, Exception Slim, Exec and Exclusive. You can put an Except Slim nib in your early Forum.

The various nibs will have different details in their imprints, relating to retail price. But I find no difference in writing experience
or corrosion resistance. Cheaper school pens usually only come in F or M. The rest come in EF, F, M, L (French Waterman for Broad).

regards,
Craig

Gran
May 5th, 2014, 09:16 PM
I've noticed a number of people asking about compatible nibs for their replacement needs. I may be able to help a little with the modern steel nib pens with this post.
(CT = chrome trim/polished nib, GT = gold plated trim and nib)

11273
From left to right are: Reflex, JIF, Pro Graduate, Graduate, Graduate Color, Allure, Apostrophe, Harmonie, Laureat CT, Laureat GT, Expert II.
(Expert II is the only one to feature two-tone nibs - on GT pens. CT Ex II has polished nib)
I should have included the late Forum, Ici et La, and JIF Metal but didn't. JIF Metal is always GT, Forum and Ici were both CT and GT.

11274
The Reflex was hiding when I took this one.

11275
I left out the Grad Color and one of the Laureats. You can see a pattern. The only oddball is the Pro Grad with the long feed.
There are some other cheap plastic JIF types with the same long feed.


11276

There were similar contemporary models that were not compatible including:
Early Forum, Centurion, Maestro and Early Laureat. These have the smooth bottom feed and are compatible with each other.
It's the same smooth feed as in the Man 2, Exception Slim, Exec and Exclusive. You can put an Except Slim nib in your early Forum.

The various nibs will have different details in their imprints, relating to retail price. But I find no difference in writing experience
or corrosion resistance. Cheaper school pens usually only come in F or M. The rest come in EF, F, M, L (French Waterman for Broad).

regards,
Craig



Can you provide information on where these compatible nibs can be purchased? I have a Waterman Laureat that needs a replacement nib.
Regards,
Gran

broadoblique
May 5th, 2014, 10:11 PM
Try ebay for a cheap donor pen. Or ask Dutchpen here (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/classifieds/item/26563-fountainpen-nibs-and-other-parts/). He's a great resource that I have no affiliation to outside of being a very satisfied repeat customer.

broadoblique
May 5th, 2014, 10:31 PM
WHOOPS! I forgot to include the Harley Davidson Combustion. This is the one that comes in a headlamp case and has the clip shaped like a fork spring. These are the same nib, always polished steel, with a HD imprint.

Mags
May 7th, 2014, 04:56 AM
I forgot about the Harley pen and the piston shaped cap. It is lovely too for all FPGeeks who ride. It comes in a tank shaped pen case.

broadoblique
May 7th, 2014, 08:45 AM
That's the Harley Horizon. The barrel and cap are unique, but the nib/feed is the same #6 as the Harley Freewheel (special trim on a Kultur). And except for imprints, is the same as in the Kultur, Phileas, Perspective, and the same except for material as the L'Etalon. I should have some photos of those to post.

Scrawler
May 7th, 2014, 10:02 PM
I've noticed a number of people asking about compatible nibs for their replacement needs. I may be able to help a little with the modern steel nib pens with this post.
(CT = chrome trim/polished nib, GT = gold plated trim and nib)

<snip>


11275

<snip>


regards,
Craig
I must get my hands on more nibs like these to experiment with. Did you know that it is possible to fit some of these nibs to an Esterbrook.
http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/FPWriter/WBpic-2_zps1e952b7f.jpg

cwent2
May 7th, 2014, 10:10 PM
I forgot about the Harley pen and the piston shaped cap. It is lovely too for all FPGeeks who ride. It comes in a tank shaped pen case.

I have one of those. Black Tank, matches my 2006 Electra Glide Classic

Cw

broadoblique
May 8th, 2014, 12:15 AM
The Grad/Apost/Lauri/Ex II nib is #5. The Phil/Kult/L'et nib is a #6.

Is that Kultur nib stuffed into the Estie ground quite a bit? There is a proprietary shape to most modern Waterman nibs and feeds that make it a project to move them to other pens. The great exception is the #6 Super 6/Man/big Exception style.

The Esterbrook feed is much closer to a #5.
I grew up using Esties with Osmiroid italics as my everyday school pens. With all the choices I never tried to put any other nibs in them.

broadoblique
May 8th, 2014, 09:49 AM
This is the Harley Combustion, same nib/feed as the group above:
11335

This is the Horizon section, with the Kult/Phil/Let nib/feed:
11334

pajaro
June 1st, 2014, 09:40 PM
Thanks to Broadoblique for taking the time to develop this thread with so much valuable information on what nib works with what pen. I have a Laureat with a medium nib that is too broad for me. Thanks to this information I was able to cross reference available nibs in the market to the list of other pens whose nibs will fit Laureat and identify one that will help -- an Expert II EF nib. Thanks again to Broadoblique for taking the time to share this knowledge.