Peter Ford (Mr Pen/Italix) retiring

[catbert]

Announced by Peter Ford over in the other place.

[TSherbs]

I saw that. I like my Essential a lot, but I don't think I need another Italic. I tend to only get one pen per brand, except for the least expensive ones (under $10).

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[catbert]

I suffer similarly from one-of-everythingitis. (And I don't have an Italix ... yet.)

[Pterodactylus]

Unfortunately I have bought years ago a Parsons Essential, one of only a few pens I really dislike.
This pen for me is a unbalanced heavy Monstrum, which Rest in a drawer unused since years.


Additionally I had a very bad customer experience with this shop buying a Sheaffer Valor.


I can’t say that I will miss this brand and the shop....

[KBeezie]

I used to have an Itallix years ago, wouldn't mind finding another.

Still got the Mr.Pen box tho.

[Chrissy]

I never knew of his existence and therefore haven't seen any of his Italix pens.

[Deb]

I had one. I don't remember which model. Just another heavy brass-bodied pen.

[Lady Onogaro]

Had one and sold it on. I wasn't a fan.

[catbert]

The range of obliques and cursive italics interests me more than the pens. Might still go for a Chaplain's Tankard, despite misleading description as a button filler. Based on user comments over the years, I'm surprised Italix doesn't have a model called the Curate's Egg.

[Pterodactylus]

The range of obliques and cursive italics interests me more than the pens. Might still go for a Chaplain's Tankard, despite misleading description as a button filler. Based on user comments over the years, I'm surprised Italix doesn't have a model called the Curate's Egg.

FYI:
If they didn’t changed their approach (since I bought my Essential) then you get a regular nib which is crudely beheaded to produce an italic.
So don’t expect sophisticated nib work (reshaping the tipping), they just cut the complete tipping of a regular nib off.

This means you get a untipped nib (of a nib which was originally tipped and the manufacturer never intended the user to write with the plain steel).
So nobody knows how hard the alloy of the nib really is and how quickly it wear down.

Itˋs more than easy to produce such a simple beheaded italic nib using a cheap pen as test object.
Just cut the tipping off (straight for a plain italic, angled for an oblique italic), smooth it out and you are done.
So for that you don’t necessarily have to buy a complete pen from them.

[TSherbs]

I never knew of his existence and therefore haven't seen any of his Italix pens.

Check them out. Surprised they have escaped your notice. SBRE Brown was a big fan in his early days. Used them in all his ink reviews back when this site had a web page, too.

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[catbert]

The range of obliques and cursive italics interests me more than the pens. Might still go for a Chaplain's Tankard, despite misleading description as a button filler. Based on user comments over the years, I'm surprised Italix doesn't have a model called the Curate's Egg.

FYI:
If they didn’t changed their approach (since I bought my Essential) then you get a regular nib which is crudely beheaded to produce an italic.
So don’t expect sophisticated nib work (reshaping the tipping), they just cut the complete tipping of a regular nib off.

This means you get a untipped nib (of a nib which was originally tipped and the manufacturer never intended the user to write with the plain steel).
So nobody knows how hard the alloy of the nib really is and how quickly it wear down.

Interesting about their approach to nib work. Are untipped steel italics and stubs made of a different alloy than a steel nib with tipping? Assumed my untipped Bock, Jowo, Lamy, Nemosine, etc. stubs would outlast me.

Itˋs more than easy to produce such a simple beheaded italic nib using a cheap pen as test object.
Just cut the tipping off (straight for a plain italic, angled for an oblique italic), smooth it out and you are done.

I know, but I'm definitely more user than maker/modifier.

So for that you don’t necessarily have to buy a complete pen from them.

I don't have to buy a whole pen I've never tried before, but I wouldn't be here if I didn't do that occasionally.

[carlos.q]

Has anyone tried their "Radiant Blue" ink? Is it special enough to buy a bottle before it's too late?

[TSherbs]

The range of obliques and cursive italics interests me more than the pens. Might still go for a Chaplain's Tankard, despite misleading description as a button filler. Based on user comments over the years, I'm surprised Italix doesn't have a model called the Curate's Egg.

FYI:
If they didn’t changed their approach (since I bought my Essential) then you get a regular nib which is crudely beheaded to produce an italic.
So don’t expect sophisticated nib work (reshaping the tipping), they just cut the complete tipping of a regular nib off.

This means you get a untipped nib (of a nib which was originally tipped and the manufacturer never intended the user to write with the plain steel).
So nobody knows how hard the alloy of the nib really is and how quickly it wear down.

Interesting about their approach to nib work. Are untipped steel italics and stubs made of a different alloy than a steel nib with tipping? Assumed my untipped Bock, Jowo, Lamy, Nemosine, etc. stubs would outlast me.

Itˋs more than easy to produce such a simple beheaded italic nib using a cheap pen as test object.
Just cut the tipping off (straight for a plain italic, angled for an oblique italic), smooth it out and you are done.

I know, but I'm definitely more user than maker/modifier.

So for that you don’t necessarily have to buy a complete pen from them.

I don't have to buy a whole pen I've never tried before, but I wouldn't be here if I didn't do that occasionally.

Ptero has a beef with Mr Pen, obviously. Our pen nibs will all outlast us unless we damage them in mishandling. And of course, we don't need these pens at all, technically. I really like my Parsons Essential (burgundy) with the medium CI, even if it was forged in the fires of Mordor.

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[TSherbs]

Has anyone tried their "Radiant Blue" ink? Is it special enough to buy a bottle before it's too late?

Never knew they had/made inks. I've only looked at their pens, and I restrict myself to their least expensive models. I try not to "browse" pen websites. Better for my wallet that way. What I don't know won't end up in the shopping basket!

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[sgphoto]

I'm interested in the black Italix pens of Mr. Ford particularly the Churchman's Prescriptor. I like metal pens, the weight doesn't bother me, and the price even shipped to the states, is less than your average run-of-the-mill acrylic "Pen du Jour" in over 25 assorted colors that reminds me of a kid's cotton-candy ejectum after riding the county fair Tilt-a-Whirl.

The pens look classy and by most accounts are well made, good writers, and good values. Great selection of nibs almost unheard of with American vendors.

I'm having a premonition of looking across the pond and seeing one floating on the waves towards Tennessee.

Update: Asked a question of Mr. Ford, received reply in one hour. Ordered the Churchman's Prescriptor w/ Broad italic. Received notice that the pen was shipped three hours later. Sounds like good service to me.

Hope the pen is shipped by air and not the Titanic.

Cheers and Tallyho!

Sg

[TSherbs]

Good luck with it, sg!

[derlean]

Peter Ford, the proprietor behind Mr Pen and the Italix brand, has announced his retirement, leading to the closure of the business. Mr Pen is well-regarded in the fountain pen community, especially for its Italix range, which offers a wide variety of customized nib options.
Hole IO

[~JJ]

... that reminds me of a kid's cotton-candy ejectum after riding the county fair Tilt-a-Whirl.

And my breakfast has left the building!