Visconti Glass Nibs?

[ncdobson]

Every once in a while I'll see an older Visconti for sale with a glass nib. Can anyone tell me about them? Are they dip pens or regular fountain pens? Has anyone ever written with one?

 

Just curious.

 

Nick D.

[eric47]

They're fountain pens. The Classic and Replicas are C/C, while the Ragtimes (I and IIs) are piston fillers. The tip is pretty much a fine or a slightly wide fine.

 

When the flow is working properly, they write on the wettish side; they're smooth when the tip is also smooth, although it's not uncommon to have a bit of tooth on one side.

 

The biggest issue at least with the piston fillers (at least) is flow. It's either 100% coverage around the nib, 50%, or nothing. They're tricky to get full flow over the entire nib I was told by Visconti service.

[ncdobson]

Is it possible to replace the glass nib with a regular nib?

They're fountain pens. The Classic and Replicas are C/C, while the Ragtimes (I and IIs) are piston fillers. The tip is pretty much a fine or a slightly wide fine.

 

When the flow is working properly, they write on the wettish side; they're smooth when the tip is also smooth, although it's not uncommon to have a bit of tooth on one side.

 

The biggest issue at least with the piston fillers (at least) is flow. It's either 100% coverage around the nib, 50%, or nothing. They're tricky to get full flow over the entire nib I was told by Visconti service.

[eric47]

Is it possible to replace the glass nib with a regular nib?

 

On the C/C pens, which I now recall are probably only the Classics (not the Replicas), you could swap the section with a section that has a regular nib. That is, if you can find one. You might be able to do that as well as the piston fillers, but it's more involved.

 

As far as I remember, it's not just a matter of pulling the glass nib and fitting a regular nib and feed. I believe on the most basic thing that the diameter of the hole is different.

 

If you want an old Visconti with a regular nib, then it's easiest just to wait and search for one of those rather than trying to convert a glass nib one. Those pens are about 15 years out of production, so it's very unlikely that Visconti has spare parts, e.g. replacement sections, for them.

 

Not to mention the glass nib pens are actually rarer.

Edited May 10, 2011 by eric47

[Gobblecup]

I would love to see pictures.....

[bassplayrr]

I would love to see some pictures as well. I didn't even know Visconti made some glass nib pens.

[eric47]

Forgot to mention the glass nibs used by Visconti are vintage, like the celluloid used on the early pens.

[bassplayrr]

Forgot to mention the glass nibs used by Visconti are vintage, like the celluloid used on the early pens.

 

 

Now I really want to learn more about these.

[Gobblecup]

Forgot to mention the glass nibs used by Visconti are vintage, like the celluloid used on the early pens.

 

Must see pictures!!! :notworthy1:

[bassplayrr]

It's not a great picture, but I found a small image of one at the www.visonti.it museum section under Ragtime 1991.

 

http://www.visconti.it/archivioImg/ragtime-i.jpg

Edited May 11, 2011 by bassplayrr

[Gobblecup]

It's not a great picture, but I found a small image of one at the www.visonti.it museum section under Ragtime 1991.

 

http://www.visconti.it/archivioImg/ragtime-i.jpg

 

Ok, add this one the grails list...

[eric47]

It's not a great picture

 

Not sure mine are any better, no detail of the nibs. Sorry. I photoshopped some old shots together so you can see the ones with both glass and regular nibs.

 

 

Edited May 13, 2011 by eric47