John Mottishaw Partners with Mike Masuyama

[junglejim]

The two experienced nibmeisters have formed a new business together called Pacific Pen Works. David Lewison, former manager of nibs.com before it was sold to you-know-who will also be working there. The new company is based in Los Angeles.

link: https://pacificpenworks.com/about-pacificpenworks/

Hopefully, they will become the new Authorized Nakaya USA Representatives.

[Jon Szanto]

JJ, thank you for this timely information! I'm very happy to see two of my favorites coming together this way, and I was just remarking in a reddit thread, regarding a horrific story with the current owner of nibs.com, that it bore no resemblance to the company that JM ran. I gotta talk to Mike about this at the CA pen show in Feb.

[LizEF]

Interesting. Went to nibs.com, but it doesn't look like there are any updates (no idea who "you-know-who" is or what happened with nibs.com). Anywho, Mike worked on one of my pens and it was an excellent experience. I hope they are able to take on an apprentice to continue the business when they decide to retire.

[empliau]

Thank you junglejim! I didn't think I wanted another pen, but Masuyama and Mottishaw together are irresistible! Hallelujah - I've missed John, and Mike has brought a favorite nib back from the dead. I love them both.

[Jon Szanto]

Interesting. Went to nibs.com, but it doesn't look like there are any updates (no idea who "you-know-who" is or what happened with nibs.com). Anywho, Mike worked on one of my pens and it was an excellent experience. I hope they are able to take on an apprentice to continue the business when they decide to retire.

Well, this is the crux of the matter: JM sold his business, nibs.com in 2021 to Emmanuel Caltagirone of "the Pen Family". To be brief and blunt, they have run the business, and the name, into the ground. Abysmal customer service, just remarkably bad. To see Mottishaw come back from retirement, partner up with another great nib person with a long history in the pen world, is something to celebrate.

[Dougc]

Incredible news!!

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[LizEF]

Well, this is the crux of the matter: JM sold his business, nibs.com in 2021 to Emmanuel Caltagirone of "the Pen Family". To be brief and blunt, they have run the business, and the name, into the ground. Abysmal customer service, just remarkably bad. To see Mottishaw come back from retirement, partner up with another great nib person with a long history in the pen world, is something to celebrate.

Thanks for the summary. That is sad. Hope John enjoys his new venture!

[Motomachi10]

Good news.

[manoeuver]

That's awesome. I was lucky enough to get a JM nib shortly before he retired.
Got the same mod from nibs.com a year or so after the sale and realized ah shit, it's over.

[wahlnut]

I think you'll find that Mike and John provide their services for PacificPenWorks rather than owning it. OTOH, anything that adds quality services to the community is to be applauded.

[Farmboy]

David worked in the nibs.com front office.

[Chrissy]

That's awesome. I was lucky enough to get a JM nib shortly before he retired.
Got the same mod from nibs.com a year or so after the sale and realized ah shit, it's over.

So sad to hear that.

[dneal]

Good to know folks can still get a grind from these highly competent nibmeisters.

Only thing I wonder (that I can't find on the site) is who. Suppose you want a grind from one of them, and get one ground by the other?

They're both quality grinds, but their CI geometry is a little different; and I'm not sure Mike does architect or superflex/Spencerian. That was always John's thing. Conversely, Mike is the guy you want to do an EEF. Maybe you can specify. I can't see the order form.

[~JJ]

Keep in mind, the 'neo-' site is still under construction. There's a place on the order form [I saw yesterday] where you get to make notes about what exactly you want -- if nothing else I'd think that should suffice. Too, you could always call ahead & ask for whomever, & make them aware before sending, & ask [if not specified] how to ensure your send-in package goes to the correct party. I'd guesstimate simply addressing it to their attention would suffice, esp. when they've been made aware to expect it.

[~JJ]

While I'm also glad to see this 'revitalization', for folks on the eastern seaboard, have any of you ever utilized the services of Deb Kinney of Duke University? She attends/works at the Triangle Pen Show (Raleigh, NC) & no doubt others too; she's done 3 jobs for me & I've been impressed with her work. Others agree or ??
Folks on this end of the world might find her more convenient, prices reasonable et al -- give her a lookup.
~_/.

Base link I found: https://www.penhero.com/DebKinneyMain/CustomNibs.htm

[blopplop]

It's been a long time since I've gotten a nib done by Mike Masuyama. But in years past he's done numerous nibs for me. Hope this venture works out.

[~JJ]

It's been a long time since I've gotten a nib done by Mike Masuyama. But in years past he's done numerous nibs for me. Hope this venture works out.

Wasn't he with Franklin-Christoph for awhile?

[dneal]

It's been a long time since I've gotten a nib done by Mike Masuyama. But in years past he's done numerous nibs for me. Hope this venture works out.

Wasn't he with Franklin-Christoph for awhile?

He partnered with them for a while. I think he did a bunch of nibs for them to have in stock, and you could also request a grind through FC.

[alperozt]

This is not quite related to this topic, but tangentially relevant... Nakaya official website no longer lists nibs.com as an authorized retailer. In fact, there is no US retailer. I am wondering if the people knew something about it when they mentioned Mottishaw & Masuyama should become the Nakaya retailer -- I took it as wishful thinking.