Not the usual Balance nib

[guyy]

I spotted this Balance in an antique store some years ago while visiting my mother.

https://imgur.com/a/0zcw470

The first thing that caught my eye was the size. Then i noticed the brassing and the fleabites. I asked if i could uncap it and things got a little more interesting. First, the nib is unmasked. I turned it over to look at the later style feed and noticed that the nib was much thinner than the usual Balance nib. “Hmm, this might have some flex...” i thought.

It does, although i find it behaves more like a vintage German nib than a Waterman 52. That is to say i think it’s best treated as a soft nib with some give rather than something to write Spencerian with. For that reason, i don’t usually push it as much as in the sample below. I’m content to have some extra thickness on descenders and the softer ride. It kinda looks like an old MB, too: somewhat thicker and just a smidge longer than an early 146G.

https://imgur.com/a/iViEE4O