Fountain Pen Nibs, Jim’s Fountain Pen Site
Jim’s Fountain
Pen Site
“Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life,
rather by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed.”
– Booker T. Washington –
This Page Courtesy of
John Mottishaw
P.O. Box 46723
Los Angeles, CA 90046
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Phone – 323-655-2641
Fax – 323-651-0265
eMail
John’s Website
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DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
INSTALLATION
of the nib is very important. Even if everything else about a pen in good, a poorly-set nib can yield unsatisfactory results. Even a brand-new pen may have misaligned tines, making smooth writing or good ink flow impossible. The pen charge applies to both whole pens and nibs sent in-section. It covers the cost of removing, resetting, and testing the nib for good writing qualities. Setting a nib requires skill and patience, so if you are unsure how, please allow me to do it for you.
RETIPPING
is done with top-grade tipping material. Nibs can be retipped to fine, medium, broad, stub, italic, extra-broad, extra-fine, oblique, or custom points. However, in some cases, RE-GRINDING existing iridium may be all that is necessary to make a tip finer or smoother. The following are descriptions of unusual tip styles:
Italic writing requires eitherITALICorSTUBpoints.
An italic point is similar to a stub except sharper, giving more line width variation. The sharper and narrower the point, the less smooth it will feel on paper. By contrast, a rounder, more cursive-style stub will feel smooth but not have a distinct a difference between horizontal and vertical strokes. If calligraphy is the objective, a sharp italic is in order. However, note that italic is not a vintage tip style and requires practice, skill, and patience to master.
OBLIQUE
nibs are cut at an oblique angle to the cross-cut of a stub nib—down to the left like your left foot (left oblique) or down to the right like your right foot (right oblique). The former is by far the more popular of the two, preferred by left-and right-handed writers alike. Like italics and stubs, obliques can be made either sharp or round. Also, note that a nib can be both flexible and oblique, a style favored by many Europeans.
EXTRA FINE
nibs are a special challenge. As the contact area on the paper diminishes, the “sweet spot” (where smooth writing occurs) also diminishes. Many find these tips too scratchy, whereas others are willing to overlook this “tooth” in favor of the needlepoint/accountant point. For example, many calligraphers use a flexible, needlepoint tip to create a writing style similar to our Founding Fathers’. Like italics, these nibs require a patient, practiced hand. Unless otherwise specified, I will retip in the style of the original point.
Repairs of nibs range fromSTRAIGHTENINGtines/body to restoring theIMPRINTto solderingCRACKS. The prices on these vary due to the varying degrees of damage in each case.
Certain adjustments or modifications inINK FLOW, FLEXIBILITY, andSMOOTHNESSmay be made. Increasing flexibility, for one, has both advantages and drawback. Flexible nibs can produce beautiful writing but, like a racehorse, are temperamental and delicate. Also, there are good and bad candidates for an increase in flexibility. Good ones already show some flexibility, while bad ones have short, thick tines or are made from 18K.
Some general pen repairs (i.e.BLADDER replacement) are also available.
Please be as specific as possible in communicating to me what you would like. A writing sample using a pen you favor is also very helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to telephone ore-mail me
Thank You,
John