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I need to figure out what all my pens are still but I inked up an old rear end lil Parker with some monteverde napa burgundy it fills with the pump button on the back under the screw off finial
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Nov 11, 2025 22:53
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| # ? Jan 14, 2026 13:21 |
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TEMPLE GRANDIN OS posted:I need to figure out what all my pens are still but I inked up an old rear end lil Parker with some monteverde napa burgundy it fills with the pump button on the back under the screw off finial It could be one of a number of models-- the push button filler is pretty common for Parker from the 1910s and into at least the late 1940s. The most common examples are the various Jack Knife types, the Duofolds, Challengers and then the various models equipped with Vacumatic fillers (Vacumatics, Vacufolds and early 51s, mainly). There are other, less common models out there as well (Pastels, Geometrics, etc).
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Nov 11, 2025 23:24
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Just wanted to share some new acquisitions that I got within the past few days. I've been getting really interested in affordable, inexpensive pens lately. From left to right: 1970's Parker Duofold ballpoint pen, a Sheaffer cartridge pen of some type in this really nice cocoa/light pink color, and a Sheaffer Stylist 202 fountain pen and pencil set.  The pen and pencil set are printed with the name of a business on them and I'm pretty sure were never used. They stank like cigarettes though, so I had to throw away the original box and give them a real good wash. I'm not sure the exact year these were made, but the logo on the clip dates it to sometime between 1966 and 1968. They did away with the logo in 1969.  Love the design of these nibs, though. Just a triangular wedge of steel between two pieces of plastic. Made this way so you could write with either side of the nib. 
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Nov 15, 2025 05:30
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that is so strange it loops back to cool
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Nov 15, 2025 15:23
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I've seen variations on those types of nibs and I'm surprised they're not more common. There was a Chinese pen of some flavor I was looking at on Amazon some years ago that had a similar design but I never bit on one. Can't remember the brand.
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Nov 15, 2025 16:02
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That's a really neat idea, I kinda want one
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Nov 15, 2025 16:57
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but... you already can write with both sides of the nib...
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Nov 15, 2025 18:56
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You're in luck as they're pretty inexpensive. A 202 pen and pencil set usually goes for around $15 to $30. There is a slightly fancier version that used a metal barrel called the 404 that usually start at around $40. The stylist had a couple different iterations throughout the years: some came with a semi-hooded nib, others came with a triumph nib, so just check that before you buy if you want the two sided nib. I dont have any proof of this, but it definitely feels like the two sided nib version was meant to be a direct competitor to the Parker 45. They were both relatively inexpensive pens at the time they were introduced, the nib units were separate pieces that screwed in and could be easily swapped, and came in a variety of colors. Edit: HolePisser1982 posted:but... you already can write with both sides of the nib... Yeah, usually its not a problem to write reverse with any fountain pen. Manufacturers (especially back then) don't usually polish the top of the tipping as well as the bottom which can lead to a rougher writing experience when writing reverse, so the idea with this nib is that it's designed to feel the same smoothness regardless of orientation. Chip McFuck fucked around with this message at 04:49 on Nov 16, 2025 |
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Nov 15, 2025 19:14
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Parker very commonly smoothed and adjusted their nibs to write in reverse.
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Nov 16, 2025 18:46
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grack posted:Parker very commonly smoothed and adjusted their nibs to write in reverse. Heck, they had a model designed to do that very thing.
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Nov 16, 2025 19:40
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I ordered some Rohrer & Klinger ink through Amazon and it arrived in what is a clearly damaged Iroshizuku box. Super weird to open the shipping box to find that. At least the colors sort of matched?
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Nov 16, 2025 23:22
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that is strange I decided not to wait to finish the ink in my Safari's cart before changing the EF to the 1.5mm since its easy enough to do (and I have nalgene gloves) and it went quick. My god do I LOVE this stub, and does it ever make Ama-Iro pop
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Nov 17, 2025 00:25
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Fearless posted:Heck, they had a model designed to do that very thing. Two, actually, though the Classic didn't have nearly as much advertising devoted to that aspect as the 180.
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Nov 17, 2025 02:27
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Every so often I get a hankerin to use a stub and then I get my fill of it and switch back to my EF
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Nov 17, 2025 04:15
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my natural handwriting is tiny so I like EF too but it’s fun to stub around or get flexy too I should just have the discipline to write bigger without getting sloppy
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Nov 17, 2025 04:23
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I still have 3 F and one SF inked too so that itch can be scratched too still. (plus two M, one 1.1mm, and the 1.5) ((I might have a problem))
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Nov 17, 2025 16:19
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My handwriting is barely legible with an F or EF nib, stubs are absolutely out of the question for me.
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Nov 17, 2025 17:21
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Pictured, me writing with anything larger than a F:
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Nov 17, 2025 22:39
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It's funny as I seem to have the opposite experience: started with fines and extra fines but now almost exclusively write with broad nibs. Gimme that easy ink shading all day 
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Nov 18, 2025 00:43
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Chip McFuck posted:It's funny as I seem to have the opposite experience: started with fines and extra fines but now almost exclusively write with broad nibs. Gimme that easy ink shading all day Did I write this? Currently rocking a BB nib atm and the shading is just gorgeous
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Nov 18, 2025 02:03
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Chip McFuck posted:It's funny as I seem to have the opposite experience: started with fines and extra fines but now almost exclusively write with broad nibs. Gimme that easy ink shading all day  Broad nibs let me use all those expensive bottles of ink I bought with relative speed and look really nice with my normally kinda bad handwriting.
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Nov 18, 2025 02:27
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Safety Dance posted:Drink the forbidden grape juice it could poison me, or it could be the immortality juice from Death Becomes Her 50/50 shot
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Nov 18, 2025 20:03
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Chip McFuck posted:It's funny as I seem to have the opposite experience: started with fines and extra fines but now almost exclusively write with broad nibs. Gimme that easy ink shading all day It's me! Except it was from EF/F nibs to stubs.
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Nov 19, 2025 04:08
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I don't generally like F or especially EF nibs but I got a 1920s Atkin Lambert that has an F with remarkable flex that is a real joy to write with and has made me revise my opinion a bit.
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Nov 19, 2025 04:54
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Did something stupid and bid on a pen at an estate sale auction sight unseen but it actually worked out?? I was walking by an estate sale today when I heard the auctioneer announce the next lot which was a vintage Sheaffer pen. That piqued my interest as I love Sheaffers. The auctioneer said they weren't sure what it is, but they think its from the 1990's. 'Ok,' I thought, 'I wish it was something older but I'll put in a bid.' The minimum bid was $25, so I raised my hand and bid that. Turns out I must have been the only pen person there because no one else bid. When they gave me the pen, it turns out to be something much older than the 90's as it has a snorkel! I'm thinking it may be a Clipper as the triumph nib looks to be palladium and the two-tone cap looks about right. I'm going to post some pictures once I get it cleaned up!
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Nov 19, 2025 20:17
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Love my broad nib Metro, but suddenly it's become kinda scratchy. Definitely not pressing down on it--what am I doing wrong, I wonder?
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Nov 19, 2025 20:36
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Eric the Mauve posted:Love my broad nib Metro, but suddenly it's become kinda scratchy. Definitely not pressing down on it--what am I doing wrong, I wonder? Has it been dropped at all? If you can, get a magnifying glass or loupe and look at the tipping-- does it look like the two sides are out of alignment and one is sitting higher than the other? The zoom function on your cellphone camera can also be really helpful for this if you don't have a loupe or whatever.
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Nov 19, 2025 20:41
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Sometimes paper fibers get trapped in the tines and can cause the nib to feel different. Try rinsing it off and see if that improves it any?
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Nov 19, 2025 20:45
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Yeah should've mentioned, nope it hasn't been roughly handled in any way and I just rinsed it out last night. Will check with a magnifying glass, good idea.
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Nov 19, 2025 20:49
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felt really jealous of my dentist's super expensive magnifying glasses the other day, lol. should have asked him if i could borrow em to peep my nibs real quick
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Nov 19, 2025 22:01
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"I said NIBS! And I will not be taking off my shirt."
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Nov 19, 2025 23:25
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Bilirubin posted:"I said NIBS! And I will not be taking off my shirt." If we hadn't just gotten a good new title...
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Nov 19, 2025 23:31
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Pixelante posted:If we hadn't just gotten a good new title... In matters concerning fountain pens, "new" is very much relative.
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Nov 20, 2025 00:39
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grack posted:If you ever have issues with a nib, just remember the golden rule: Alcohol, fire and excessive force fixes everything. Btw I wanted to ask about the fire thing. Should I be using a heat gun or flames on the metal if I'm doing nib bending? Obviously watching out for the feed. I've just been doing it with the steel at room temp but I'm assuming heating it up will make the bending way easier. I need to bend a freaking needle sized tine and really don't want to crack it, so it's been on my mind
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Nov 25, 2025 20:30
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Not a good idea. You're pretty much guaranteed to screw up the heat treatment of the entire nib, instead of just have stress at the bend site. If you want to try it, try it on some cheap pens that you don't care about first.
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Nov 25, 2025 20:47
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grack posted:Not a good idea. You're pretty much guaranteed to screw up the heat treatment of the entire nib, instead of just have stress at the bend site.  thanks!
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Nov 25, 2025 21:06
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Got a couple new pens in my inexpensive vintage pen collection. Sheaffer 530 in a brown stripe celluloid, Esterbrook J (I think an SJ?), and what I think is a Sheaffer Clipper. The Clipper was auctioned to me as a "1990's Crest", but is much older as it has a snorkel. It definitely needs the most work as the snorkel isnt aligned correctly. Each pen was $25 or under, so if you're willing to do your own repair work you can still find some deals out there.
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Nov 26, 2025 02:03
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Platinum's super duper black Chou Kuro pigment ink is inexplicably half off at the Blick art supply stores so I grabbed a bottle, and I freaking love it! It's noticeably blacker and more matte than any other pigment ink available, with the only downside being that it's not perfectly waterproof, maybe like 95%, which can be noticeable under watercolor washes. but still, cool stuff!
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Dec 1, 2025 22:23
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illustration of three levels of black pigment: lightest/glossiest is Pentel pigment black, middle dark is Platinum Chou Kuro, darkest is Faber Castell Musou Black (acrylic). the pentel pigment black is a totally good ink! but it's funny how quickly it can look like a midtone when placed against these super dark ones
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Dec 3, 2025 16:36
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| # ? Jan 14, 2026 13:21 |
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HolePisser1982 posted:illustration of three levels of black pigment: lightest/glossiest is Pentel pigment black, middle dark is Platinum Chou Kuro, darkest is Faber Castell Musou Black (acrylic). the pentel pigment black is a totally good ink! but it's funny how quickly it can look like a midtone when placed against these super dark ones Is that a goku
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Dec 3, 2025 16:41
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