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Thread: For flex enthusiasts

  1. #21
    Senior Member grainweevil's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by Detman101 View Post
    Wow...and now "Blue-Dew" pens has been ripped off.
    These "Aaron Pens" didn't even bother to change the embossed "B" (for "Blue-Dew") on the nib...unbelievable.
    Perry and Co. must be even more livid...

    Perry_pens_ad_1893.jpg

    Apparently that's from 1893, so pre-dates the Blue-Dew just a leetle bit.

    Honestly, I see these things and it looks like a dip nib, walks like a dip dip and quacks like a dip nib, so I'm genuinely confused why anyone would think it's not a dip nib?
    Last edited by grainweevil; September 12th, 2021 at 09:45 AM. Reason: Errant "at"
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

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  3. #22
    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by scud80 View Post
    Are the Flexible Nib Factory feed/housing for the Zebra G dip nibs good? I'll probably pick one up just to play with it a bit, but I'm curious where that falls on the flex quality spectrum.
    Of all the Zebra G housings, it's the one I've had the best results with - simply because it's been made for it rather than just modified from other bits, and the ebonite is very high quality. It also doesn't require any nib bending to make them fit. If you're happy with a Zebra G, it should work fine for you. You do still need to pull the nib and clean/dry it after use if you want to maximise its life, however, and it still won't last for long - it's not really designed to though. It can't be compared to a vintage nib, but it has its place, especially for practice!

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  5. #23
    Senior Member Detman101's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by scud80 View Post
    Are the Flexible Nib Factory feed/housing for the Zebra G dip nibs good? I'll probably pick one up just to play with it a bit, but I'm curious where that falls on the flex quality spectrum.
    They are indeed good, better than a plastic feed. You won't have any issues with ink starvation when writing long passages of text when you're running the FNF Ebonite feeds.
    "I can only improve my self, not the world."

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  7. #24
    Senior Member Detman101's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    Had a bit of back and forth with the Aaron Pen company person about their nibs, and got a bunch of statements in response:

    This is NOT another G nib conversion. The nib is designed by our team (consulted by a professional calligrapher and a caliber nib technician), taking inspiration from the dip nibs that are mostly rusted in a short time (and many got issues with the ink flow). The nib is rust-resistant, made from Stainless Steel 316 (also known as surgical steel, marine-grade steel).
    'We don't buy the nib from another brand and/or related to any other brands as of now. Hope it clarifies.
    The nib should last for years (depending on how you maintain & use it, of course).

    The only easily observable difference in the nibs of the two companies appears to be the shape of the breather hole. Why do they both use the letter "B" on the nib? Both companies claim to be making their own nibs.

    All a bit head-scratchy to me.
    The third statement is correct.
    However, I would bet money that their second statement and part of the first are flat-out lies.
    They are buying them from SOMEONE or they've clearly broken copyright/trademark rules....lol.
    Their nib is literally, EXACTLY like "BlueDew" nibs down to the horizontal carved lines across the tines and ESPECIALLY the embossed "B" which stands for "B-LUEDEW"...
    They're full of it!
    Last edited by Detman101; September 16th, 2021 at 12:58 PM.
    "I can only improve my self, not the world."

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  9. #25
    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    I bought a NOS Mabie Todd Blackbird (still had the price tag: 14 shilling/8 pence) with a new bladder from FPG's own Deb. It has a full flex nib made of 14K, writes absolutely beautifully, and cost me about the same as a steel-nibbed Blue-Dew pen would cost. (Inflation, you know -- 14/8 is just under 75p if you convert shillings and pence to new pence.) It's a gorgeous marbled green celluloid, too.
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    (What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)

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  11. #26
    Senior Member eachan's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    I bought a NOS Mabie Todd Blackbird (still had the price tag: 14 shilling/8 pence) with a new bladder from FPG's own Deb. It has a full flex nib made of 14K, writes absolutely beautifully, and cost me about the same as a steel-nibbed Blue-Dew pen would cost. (Inflation, you know -- 14/8 is just under 75p if you convert shillings and pence to new pence.) It's a gorgeous marbled green celluloid, too.
    Very pleased you like it, Calamus. Mabie Todd are rightly famous for their nibs.

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  13. #27
    Senior Member Detman101's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    I bought a NOS Mabie Todd Blackbird (still had the price tag: 14 shilling/8 pence) with a new bladder from FPG's own Deb. It has a full flex nib made of 14K, writes absolutely beautifully, and cost me about the same as a steel-nibbed Blue-Dew pen would cost. (Inflation, you know -- 14/8 is just under 75p if you convert shillings and pence to new pence.) It's a gorgeous marbled green celluloid, too.
    How nice! Congrats! I purchased my 1905 Mabie Todd Swan from Deb as well. She walked me through the process of selecting a vintage pen and their selection is amazing. This Mabie Todd Swan is an elegant pen with engraved gold collars and with great flex, but far too small for my large hands. It's the star of my collection however.
    "I can only improve my self, not the world."

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  15. #28
    Senior Member eachan's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Fine and EF Swan nibs come along all the time, not as common as the mediums but by no means uncommon.

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  17. #29
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    I am loving this sweet little one. While my writing is not particularly well-suited to flex nibs, this Swan Leverless has all I would ever need: fine point, moderate spread (to a generous B or so) and quick recovery. That it came from pen friends from afar as a gift from my wife makes it all the more special.

    "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."

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  19. #30
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    Nice to be so fortunate.
    MT pens are not as common in the US, either, but I do know that they are more likely to turn up in the UK, and maybe EU. The pen I received could have been purchased by anyone with an internet connection and a browser, because it was picked from their online listings. If there is any good fortune involved, it was meeting a special person 40 years ago and figuring I better not f**k it up.
    "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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  21. #31
    Senior Member guyy's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    I don’t think flexible nibs have to be needlepoints to get lots of variation. One of my favorite types of flex nib is the flexible stub/italic/oblique. A flexible broad stub/italic/oblique can get really wide yet have very fine horizontals or diagonals.

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  23. #32
    Senior Member Robalone's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    IMG_5134.JPGHere's one of my playthings .

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  25. #33
    Senior Member Pterodactylus's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts



    (Montblanc 149 Calligraphy ….. Lamy Crystal Benitoite)

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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    To know I have the nibs for such writing, and no will power at all.
    Developing a good Hand requires some work. and I am lazy.

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  29. #35
    Senior Member Robalone's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts


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  31. #36
    Senior Member Robalone's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts


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  33. #37
    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    @Robalone how did you fit the nib and feed in the Jinhao?

  34. #38
    Senior Member Robalone's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Hey . Well, as far as I remember, the FPR nib just sat on top of the standard Jinhao feed and pushed in !

  35. #39
    Senior Member Yazeh's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by Robalone View Post
    Hey . Well, as far as I remember, the FPR nib just sat on top of the standard Jinhao feed and pushed in !
    So you didn't use the FPR feed

  36. #40
    Senior Member Robalone's Avatar
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    Default Re: For flex enthusiasts

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Robalone View Post
    Hey . Well, as far as I remember, the FPR nib just sat on top of the standard Jinhao feed and pushed in !
    So you didn't use the FPR feed
    Nope 👍🏻 It surprising how many of the El Cheapo pens you can 'shoehorn' a different nib into .
    I've put FPR flex nibs and Zebra G into quite a few of my 'experimental pens.

    The Moonman 600 ( which looks like a Parker International) easily takes an Ultraflex nib , and even with its plastic feed can produce some lovely script.

    I have to admit, in order that the nib gets sufficient ink to produce reliable flex, I've often run a thin sharp blade down the ink channels to widen them and allow more ink to reach the tip when leaning on the nib....

    I've noticed too that the quality of the FPR ebonite feeds has deteriorated markedly since they first came out. A few I have , under magnification, show very shoddy manufacturing, and I've had to reject them !!

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