Parson's Essential - What Nib?

[Darcy1978]

I am planning to buy an Italix Parson's Essential from Mr. Pen, and I am in the mood for some adventure. Yet the choice of nibs is so overwhelming, I am hoping for some advice. I only have experience with regular F, M and B nibs. For daily writing I prefer F or M, but I love the lushness of my B nib (in a TWSBI) and I am leaning towards something broader than usual.

 

I would not be using the Parson's as a daily writer, but I would like to be able to use it regularly for correspondence. I love the effect that stub nibs give, but I just wonder if a broad stub would be a good choice.

 

The list of options is too long to copy but ranges from Fine to Extra Broad Italic Oblique. The full list is here: http://www.mrpen.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d184.html

 

Also:

 

 

• Medium italic 1 mm approx on the broad stroke, Broad italic 1.3mm approx on the broad stroke. We now offer a fine italic at about 0.85 mm on the broad stroke also Extra Broad 1.75 on the broad stroke. The Fine Italic is slightly cursive as it is cut at the tip of the pellet.

 

What would be your recommendation?

[FountainPages]

Personally, and this is only due to my hand...Fine Italic would be my choice. Yeah, I know, not THAT adventurous.

[swanjun]

I could probably order twelve of these with different nibs and be quite happy, but so far I only have one, and for that one I picked... medium stub. I like it quite a lot.

[sandy101]

I find that you need a good writing position with the italic nibs - they work better at a desk. If the writing surface is not even, or at the appropriate angle the italic nib doesn't like it much - so cramped lecture theatres and scribbling on your lap/ arm rest of a chair - i's not ideal for that.

 

So, if you want an Italix that writes anywhere go for the non-italic nib - it is a lovely and is ideal for writing anywhere - I'd think you'd want a medium or broad to show off your ink colours.

 

If you are mainly writing at a desk and want to try some lovely italic style writing then go for the italic - and for that I'd suggest the broad, as you really want to be able to see some line variation.

[reicel]

I have three - all "cursive stub" - fine, medium and broad. For daily writing, I like both the fine and the medium. For expressive writing, the broad works well. These are adjusted to be pretty wet and, unless your handwriting is large and open, the broad may not work for just writing. It doesn't have the sharpness needed for an italic hand - it shows off inks beautifully, just isn't great for italic or small handwriting. I will probably get the medium italic soon - I'm learning an italic hand and I like these pens a lot.

[Blue_Moon]

I have three - all "cursive stub" - fine, medium and broad. For daily writing, I like both the fine and the medium. For expressive writing, the broad works well. These are adjusted to be pretty wet and, unless your handwriting is large and open, the broad may not work for just writing. It doesn't have the sharpness needed for an italic hand - it shows off inks beautifully, just isn't great for italic or small handwriting. I will probably get the medium italic soon - I'm learning an italic hand and I like these pens a lot.

 

I agree. I have cursive stub and cursive italic medium Parson's Essentials, and I think you may have difficulty writing if you go to a broad, unless you write very large. I'd recommend a broad italic or stub for expression and a medium or fine for letter writing for most people.

[Darcy1978]

Thank you for all your advice. I think I'll go for the medium cursive stub - imagining this may not be the last Parson's Essential makes the choice easier, also on the basis of your expert recommendations. (And it will give me the same nib as swanjun's, so we can compare the effects in our correspondence )

[swanjun]

Thank you for all your advice. I think I'll go for the medium cursive stub - imagining this may not be the last Parson's Essential makes the choice easier, also on the basis of your expert recommendations. (And it will give me the same nib as swanjun's, so we can compare the effects in our correspondence )

 

And, in fact, I just replied to your latest and included a paragraph written with mine.

[swanjun]

 

I agree. I have cursive stub and cursive italic medium Parson's Essentials, and I think you may have difficulty writing if you go to a broad, unless you write very large. I'd recommend a broad italic or stub for expression and a medium or fine for letter writing for most people.

 

As mentioned, I have the medium cursive stub, and have occasionally been tempted to try the medium cursive italic. How do you like the latter, as compared to the former? I am assuming line variation is sharper, but is it still easy to write with? (I do not have the patience to attempt fancy italic script.)

[Blue_Moon]

I can tell little difference with mine in terms of the feel of writing, e.g., gripping/tearing the paper, etc. The line variation is noticeably sharper, but not exceedingly so. Now, it may be just a fluke, but if I picked up the pens blindfolded, and wrote, I would not be able to tell which one I was writing with. Also, after taking off the blindfold, looking at what I wrote in cursive, I would not be able to tell which was which. However, I can best tell when I'm writing in block letters. That would be more distinctive.

 

I love them both. I have no difficulty with scratchiness, hard starts, skipping, etc. with either. They are both smooth writers.

 

Again, it may be a fluke with mine, and others may experience much more distinctiveness, but that's my experience.

[swanjun]

I can tell little difference with mine in terms of the feel of writing, e.g., gripping/tearing the paper, etc. The line variation is noticeably sharper, but not exceedingly so. Now, it may be just a fluke, but if I picked up the pens blindfolded, and wrote, I would not be able to tell which one I was writing with. Also, after taking off the blindfold, looking at what I wrote in cursive, I would not be able to tell which was which. However, I can best tell when I'm writing in block letters. That would be more distinctive.

 

I love them both. I have no difficulty with scratchiness, hard starts, skipping, etc. with either. They are both smooth writers.

 

Again, it may be a fluke with mine, and others may experience much more distinctiveness, but that's my experience.

 

I can tell little difference with mine in terms of the feel of writing, e.g., gripping/tearing the paper, etc. The line variation is noticeably sharper, but not exceedingly so. Now, it may be just a fluke, but if I picked up the pens blindfolded, and wrote, I would not be able to tell which one I was writing with. Also, after taking off the blindfold, looking at what I wrote in cursive, I would not be able to tell which was which. However, I can best tell when I'm writing in block letters. That would be more distinctive.

 

I love them both. I have no difficulty with scratchiness, hard starts, skipping, etc. with either. They are both smooth writers.

 

Again, it may be a fluke with mine, and others may experience much more distinctiveness, but that's my experience.

 

Thanks, that's very helpful.

[Darcy1978]

Bought it. Now we wait.

 

Edit: shipped withing 15 minutes. Wow.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Darcy1978

[Darcy1978]

It came in yesterday and I am very pleased with my choice. A stub opens up a whole range of new possibilities And what a pen - it looks like a grand piano

 

[swanjun]

Nice! I'm glad you're happy with your choice! This really has me thinking that I need a second one. Maybe a fine stub...

[Blue_Moon]

It is beautiful, isn't it. Glad you're happy with your FIRST Italix.

 

To swanjun, yes you do. What are you waiting for?

[Darcy1978]

It is beautiful, isn't it. Glad you're happy with your FIRST Italix.

 

 

It's stunning. Mr Pen also does a three-pen set I hear.

[Blue_Moon]

 

It's stunning. Mr Pen also does a three-pen set I hear.

 

Yes - Three Parson's Essentials. I bought it - a medium, medium Cursive Stub, and a medium Italic. If I had to do it all over, I'd get a Fine Cursive Stub instead of the plain medium.

[namelessone2956]

Nice handwriting

[insaecula]

My two Parson's Essential Fountain Pens arrived today. One an Italic Medium & the other Italic Broad.

The attached shows how they write.

Note that these are the 'usual' italic nibs, not cursive italic.

[bobje]

Beautiful pen, handwriting, paper texture, Darcy.