My First Nakaya – And It Has An Architect Point!

[whichwatch]

After I first stumbled into fountain pens by attending a Columbus Pen Show a few years ago, I began to dabble with different brands and ages of pens. I finally decided Omas was the pen for me, and over the last few years I have accumulated a collection (?) of 35 or 40 Paragons. For some unknown reason, a couple of months ago I suddenly became interested in Nakaya. I usually buy pens from other collectors on the various Sales Boards, but Nakayas don't show up too often. Besides, the model names and finishes are enough to boggle one's mind. So what's a guy to do?

 

When I read various blurbs about the LA Pen Show, I thought it might be something I should try. I had been to Washington DC and enjoyed it immensely. LA was said to be almost as big. When I read that John Mottishaw and Nibs.com would be exhibiting and bringing a large selection of Nakayas, I was hooked. Off to LA I went!

 

Once John’s people had the display set up, I was met by a staggering array of shapes, colors, and finishes.

(Pictures by Ricky, aka “AltecGreen”)

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9439EBCD-CF6E-4F15-994D-7E99B5E88571%7D/origpict/jm2.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE1B2D239-7517-425C-92AF-0FA88F0E96C5%7D/origpict/jm3.jpg

I can’t remember the names of John’s two charming assistants, but they both showed extreme patience as I came back to the table time after time after time, slowly learning about these gems. John’s ladies were more than patient as I asked dumb question after dumb question in an attempt to whittle down the choices for my first Nakaya. I was as dumb as they come, but John’s people kept on smiling as they probably wondered if I would ever actually buy anything. Or maybe she was just laughing at me? Nah - they were both much too polite and helpful for that!

 

(Picture by Ricky, aka “AltecGreen”)

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3D72914A-7A81-4A57-A49F-D5E9E5045A9B%7D/origpict/jm1.jpg

Of course, that was just the start! Once I had narrowed my choice down to two different models and finishes, there was the nib thing. I thought I was in luck when a first for the show was made available - a nib testing station with 9 Nakaya desk pens, each with a different nib.

 

(Picture by Ricky, aka “AltecGreen”)

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BFC226F42-D9D9-4A1A-A75E-76A65523CB25%7D/origpict/jm4.jpg

That led to many more trips to the table over the next two days, testing, retesting, and re retesting. I’m not sure how many “re’s” one can attach to the word testing, but I must have set a record. Finally I made my choice! I made the purchase then returned home to await its arrival.

 

In very short order (surprisingly short order) the UPS guy was at the door.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BB3F9FFFD-B0B7-4D9E-974D-477D62027079%7D/origpict/DSCN7484.JPG

The shipping peanuts are in a plastic bag so they don’t get all over my desk and the floor? Cool!

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEFE17820-B5B4-4CDE-A009-4C54E76C8779%7D/origpict/DSCN7486.JPG

Yup, the box looks like the pictures I’ve seen.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B612E9D0C-6554-4CB2-AF94-D0A24FD7054A%7D/origpict/DSCN7489.JPG

It makes a nice package

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE4B9009B-C185-45FF-82A2-D4FAEE3557BA%7D/origpict/DSCN7490.JPG

Handsome kimono

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEABB82D2-1896-4345-8FC8-4B3384914F97%7D/origpict/DSCN7491.JPG

But here’s what I’ve been waiting for. My new Naka-ai Writer in Heki Tamenuri urushi finish with Double Braod nib ground to an Architect’s Point by John Mottishaw.

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC2B8D869-3FE5-48FB-9FB1-2D25AFC37E27%7D/origpict/DSCN7488.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B0C676AE7-69F0-4A37-9009-CE00E97844AF%7D/origpict/DSCN7492.JPG

I wish my photography skills were better so I could capture for you the great look of the green peeking out from under the brown.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B30AAB1F1-C3E0-4FB3-90E2-7A0AC3D63243%7D/origpict/DSCN7493.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC1B70AF8-BD72-4DAD-8CCC-861CDD7567C4%7D/origpict/DSCN7494.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7BCCBC5424-314E-407A-B676-E89BC340CD44%7D/origpict/DSCN7495.JPG

And I suppose the business end is pretty important, too.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BB0D8D565-C2EE-41D1-A1D6-DE865B99608D%7D/origpict/DSCN7496.JPG

I had never even heard of an Architect’s Point, and only tried it because it was in the test set at the display. What a wonderful surprise! I loved the way it made my writing look! If you are not familiar with an Architect’s point, it writes sort of like a stub turned 90 degrees. Whereas a Stub writes a broad vertical stroke and a narrow horizontal, the Architect’s Point writes a narrow vertical and a broad horizontal. Here’s a look at the nib

http://www.fototime.com/%7B951FD2A8-D7DC-4400-98B8-5EABDB88E904%7D/origpict/DSCN7498.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B5D16D148-9CC1-445E-BA6D-DEA4E04582F1%7D/origpict/DSCN7499.JPG

The more I had played with the test set, the more I liked the way my writing looked. Just so different from my usual scrawl! Here is a little comparison I drew up to try to illustrate the difference.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3C34B53E-2284-4045-A331-340F80F6F06D%7D/origpict/1r.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6BF44C9D-F4E0-4B38-92DB-F485DF0AAE0B%7D/origpict/2r.jpg

I haven’t had my new Nakaya very long. Time will tell how well we bond with each other, and how it compares with the Omas I love so much. But we’re off to a good start!

 

I hope you enjoyed my little photo essay. Thanks for reading!

 

[mikehodgman]

That is so cool!

[JonSzanto]

Nicely done. My friend purchased an arch. nib at the show as well. The asst you have pictured is the one and only, the irrepressible Jonella. It was from those very valises of pens that I, also, picked a pen at the show. I'm enjoying it a lot. Lot. Lot.

[mirosc]

Lovely documentation!

Congratulations for this nice pen.

 

Edit:

Ah, that's Jonella! I've had many nice encounters by e-mail with her, too. Nice to see her...

Edited March 1, 2014 by mirosc

[da vinci]

Great story, and thanks for pics

[ethernautrix]

Congratulations on choosing a beautiful pen!

 

I'm laughing, cos when I try to stub my nibs, I go through an "Architect's nib" phase.

 

Yes, that is Jonella, and having worked alongside her at a couple of pen shows, I can assure you that she would rather you take as much time as you need to decide which pen you want and be happy with it than choose one out of haste or whatever reason and be unhappy with it. Also, it is perfectly fine not to buy a pen at all. As long as you make the decision that makes you happy.

[Pen Nut]

Lovely pen you have there and may you enjoy it for many years in good health. Great to hear of the customer satisfaction priority that these people place on you at the shows you have attended.

[Joe in Seattle]

Awesome!

[brewsky]

Awesome story and even better pen. Thanks for the back story, it was good change of pace.

[dms525]

Congratulations! It's a beautiful pen. Enjoy it!

 

It sounds as if the "architect's nib" is similar to the "Hebrew/Arabic nib." Do you know if there is any difference, or are there just two names/applications for the same grind?

 

David

[Inkling13]

Your picture of the box is unacceptable. It's upside-down. Please resubmit a right side up picture...

An architect nib is a hebrew nib is an arabic nib.

[Earthdawn]

AWESOME !!!!

 

 

Big congrats on a beautiful pen with a very cool and not often seen nib.

[fountainpagan]

Very beautiful!!!

 

And your photos are amazing. Does the shade of the green look as in the photo: translucide aquamarine?

[Aysedasi]

Beautiful pen. Seriously envious of both pen and nib.

 

 

(But why would you buy 35-40 Omas Paragons......???? How many hands have you got???? )

[kazoolaw]

>blink< >blink<. ...still processing 35-40 Paragons.

 

Thanks for a look at the Show, and your path to your pen.

 

gary

Edited March 2, 2014 by gary

[whichwatch]

Your picture of the box is unacceptable. It's upside-down. Please resubmit a right side up picture...

An architect nib is a hebrew nib is an arabic nib.

 

 

The box is upside down??? Oh man! I told you I was new to Nakaya and dumb as they come. OK, I'll flip the box and try again. Here you go....

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BBA15B3FC-32AA-4509-8C4E-750158AA0A7B%7D/origpict/DSCN7501.JPG

[whichwatch]

Very beautiful!!!

 

And your photos are amazing. Does the shade of the green look as in the photo: translucide aquamarine?

 

 

Translucide aquamarine? I thought it was green. So I pulled out my huge deck of Sherwin Williams paint colors and I couldn't find "translucide aquamarine". Perhaps I should have tried Benjamin Moore? Oh well - Google to the rescue. And what do I find but lots of "translucide aquamarine" all over Ebay! What do you know, but that is sort of the color! However, the color on the pen, visible in only small areas, is more opaque than the color in the light enhanced photo from Ebay.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEA67D69D-1F99-4E9C-8EB0-DCFE9627E74C%7D/origpict/TA.jpg

[whichwatch]

Beautiful pen. Seriously envious of both pen and nib.

 

 

(But why would you buy 35-40 Omas Paragons......???? How many hands have you got???? )

 

 

I bought that many Paragons because that is all the different material and color variations of Paragons I have been able to find. And now that I look at them, a few are actually Milords. NOW what do I do???

[fountainpagan]

It is a beautiful green, anyhow, and pen.

Congratulations on your purchase.

[lisantica]

I love the looks of that nib! I can't believe I was at the LA show and missed going to that table. Next year I won't miss it.