Comparing Medium nibs from different makers

[Paul-H]

Hi all

The question is often asked how does one make of nib compare to another make of nib if they are both supposed to be the same size

So I thought it might be fun and helpful to others if we compiled some images showing how the Medium Nibs on our pens compared or differed from each other.

The Scan below is of a few of my pens that I know are supposed to be mediums.

[IMG][/IMG]

To me the Montegrappa is almost a Fine and the two surprises are the Churchill and M1000 which not only write like a broad or even double broad but going from the size of the tipping are broad or double broad even though both nibs are clearly marked M The rest are what I would class as around Medium.

Anyone like to join in with their scans.

Paul

[RuiFromUK]

Great question Paul.

Jeph and I were talking about this topic last week if I recall correctly. On my side if I need to I use a micrometer to measure the width of the line.

Before everyone rushes out to buy a micrometer please bear in mind that this is probably an expensive way to do the exeercise as they are not cheap. The only reason why I use one is because I inherited one from my late father.

Next time I do this exercise I'll be happy to post pictures as I find that the same type of nib from the same manufacturer can vary from sample to sample.

[Jeph]

Well, actually I said that I was trying to use a micrometer and was not having acceptable accuracy.
Tony Rex or Jar (Sorry, I can't rember which one) suggested that I scan at high resolution and then measure directly from the scan.
I have been doing that with great success at 1200 dpi using Adobe Photoshop.
The amount of variation even within the same brands I found somewhat disturbing.
I have a 12X optical comparator on the way from Edmund Optics but Ron Zorn sells a cheap one for $12 I think.

Some random scan measurements that I have already done using various Diamine inks on Rhodia with negligible pressure in order of written line width:

Pilot VP EF (Binderized) .36 mm
Pilot Precise V5 EF (Rollerball) .40 mm (REF)
Pilot Prera F .40 mm
TWSBI 580 EF .40 mm
M100 M .47 mm (??)
Sheaffer Prelude M .51 mm
Sheaffer PFM I (unk) .55 mm
Sheaffer 300 F .57 mm
M200 B .55 mm (yup I redid this one also)
M150 M .59 mm
M200 EF (Binderized) .64 mm (!!! Yup, I re-did it 4 times to be sure)
M250 M .64 mm
M600 M .76 mm
M200 .7mm CI (Binder) .78 mm x .23 mm

[kaisnowbird]

[IMG][/IMG]

Hiya Paul, great idea!

Based on that picture, Would I be right to suppose that the 'Parker Duofold' refers to the vintage line, not the revived modern line? It might be helpful if you could indicate the era or model of this Duofold in particular, just for reference.

[Paul-H]

Hi

The Duofold is an English made International so yes it is one of the modern line ish Being English not French made or wherever they are really made now (France, China, India).

The Montblanc 146 is the 14kt Nib version probably from the early 1990's

The Montegrappa is New as is the Kaigelu

The Snorkel is obviously from the 60's

The Conway Stewart is from early 2000's

Don't know when the Pelikan was made but I guess also from the early 2000's as well

The Parker 51 Vac was obviously late 40's and an English made version with the expected silky smooth and wet nib.


Paul