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Thread: It's a Miracle!

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default It's a Miracle!

    It's true! This is one of those neglected pens in a lower drawer of my pen chest. In fact, I've never inked it. It was offered to me because of my interest in certain patterns of celluloid, but when I looked at the nib, I did a double-take. The pen came home with me, admired, put away and promptly forgotten...until yesterday when I spotted an eBay listing by my friend Carl Seidl who also sells at pen shows. He has a Miracle, too!

    Anyway, here's my Miracle:

    IMG_3959.jpg

    Check out the frame or guard around the nib. Was it intended to firm up flexible nibs that were no longer in demand? Perhaps it's a budget response to Wahl-Eversharp's adjustable nibs. Honestly, I don't see the point, so I'm leaning towards sales gimmick. On the other hand, I should ink it up before becoming so doubtful!

    1623264301264.jpg

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    Senior Member Wile E Coyote's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    I can clearly see the point in your second photo.

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    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    What a strange nib. I have no idea why it might be like that.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Senior Member silverlifter's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    A reinforced nib.

    Quote Originally Posted by PenHero
    David Kahn, Inc. patented this design in 1935 as a way to offer a gold nib using less gold and still have enough strength and support for daily use. The solution was to make a nib shaped frame made of a corrosion resistant metal, probably stainless steel, that holds and strengthens the gold nib and fits in the section and onto the feed like a standard nib. This reinforcing frame has a cut out to show the gold nib and tabs at the front end that are bent under the face to hold the gold nib in place. The 1936 Wearever catalog shows pens with both 14 karat and 10 karat gold points using this design.
    Full article: https://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/W...eluxePearl.htm
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Hey twin! Here's mine, re-branded/badged for the Gregg company during their period of promotion, etc.

    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    What a strange nib. I have no idea why it might be like that.
    As a guess, marketing appeal, aesthetics, or just to be different.

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by silverlifter View Post
    ...David Kahn, Inc. patented this design in 1935...The 1936 Wearever catalog shows pens with both 14 karat and 10 karat gold points using this design....
    Ah, a Kahn/Wearever creation! His son, Al, is in Malvern Pennsylvania, and still sells pens and ephemera from his father's hoard.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by An old bloke View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    What a strange nib. I have no idea why it might be like that.
    As a guess, marketing appeal, aesthetics, or just to be different.
    There is another, important aspect: the ability to craft and market a 14k nib but keep it affordable by making it reeeeeal thin, addressed earlier by silverlifter, quoting Jim Mamoulides (PenHero). Here's a closer look at this particular nib setup:



    A little later I'll snap a quick pic of a tiny Victa-Pen I have that exhibits the same setup, illustrating it's use in lesser-expensive pens.
    Last edited by Jon Szanto; June 9th, 2021 at 05:02 PM.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quite apart from the fun nibs - those are both very pretty celluloids IMO

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Here's one last example, pretty quick photo: a VictaPen. A tiny little bulb-filler (quarter shown for scale), this shows an example of using the nib frame to attempt to give some stability to a very thin 14k nib. In fact, you'll see that the nib itself cracked straight up the middle. Still a fun example pen from the period.

    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Jon, that photo should be in Jim Mamoulides' article on Victor Pen Co. in the latest Pennant edition.

    As an aside, I love Victor Pen Co. pens, they are small, but well made.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Jon, that photo should be in Jim Mamoulides' article on Victor Pen Co. in the latest Pennant edition. As an aside, I love Victor Pen Co. pens, they are small, but well made.
    Good eye, too - besides the actual content of the article, I had Jim in mind when I pulled out that particular background. For quick shots, I have a file folder of graphics I've printed out that I think might make adequate backgrounds. I really enjoyed the article and the inclusion of your pen. I agree, too, about the quality - I'm always amazed that the blind cap threaded insert is brass (I don't know if they were all that way). Just a shame about the nib, but a fine little guy.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Jon, that photo should be in Jim Mamoulides' article on Victor Pen Co. in the latest Pennant edition. As an aside, I love Victor Pen Co. pens, they are small, but well made.
    Good eye, too - besides the actual content of the article, I had Jim in mind when I pulled out that particular background. For quick shots, I have a file folder of graphics I've printed out that I think might make adequate backgrounds. I really enjoyed the article and the inclusion of your pen. I agree, too, about the quality - I'm always amazed that the blind cap threaded insert is brass (I don't know if they were all that way). Just a shame about the nib, but a fine little guy.
    Yes, the metal threads are the hallmark of these Victor pens.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    So how do these nibs write? More like the gold, or more like the reinforcement?

    It does rather remind me of the Delta Fusion nib :-)

    PS I *adore* that celluloid. What a stunner!

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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Really nifty nib, never seen a cage before before.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Quote Originally Posted by amk View Post
    So how do these nibs write?...
    I suppose I could fill it and find out.

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    Senior Member Cyril's Avatar
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    Default Re: It's a Miracle!

    Very unusual nibs .
    Could you tell us how they write and what is that new designed frame do actually to writing??
    it does do some way of controlling how the nib tines should run over the writing??

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