Best Vintage Dip Pen Nibs For Regular Writing?

[amper]

Also see this PDF from IAMPETH:

 

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/tips_on_nibs/monoline.pdf

[Mickey]

I mostly lurk, but have been enjoying your posts and pictures of your lovely old pen holders!

 

I'm sure more knowledgeable folk like Mickey and jbb and such will be along shortly to answer your question, but I'll add my input anyhow.

 

I mostly use dip pens for "regular" writing--e.g. scribbling in my journal, some writing of letters, and just writing for fun. I have a variety of nibs to play with at this point, but I most commonly use plain "bank" nibs. Those I have are Eagle brand (model E40) and I think I also have a few Esterbrooks (#14) around somewhere. These have a little bit of flex, but not much compared to many nibs out there. Mostly they write a plain fine line without a lot of fuss.

 

 

I missed this thread the first time around. You're absolutely right about the Esterbrook 14 (Bankers) nib. It's fairly firm and not overly sharp; still, when pressed it will provide plenty of line variation. It's a pen well suited to correspondence and general purpose writing but with enough expressiveness in reserve for a flashy signature. The Esterbrook 453 is similarly useful.

 

Other than those nibs particularly prized by Copperplate and Spencerian practitioners, most vintage nibs are pretty useful for general use. Even some of the most highly prized nibs are 'friendly' enough for general use, like the Esterbrook 128. Also, various Japanese manga nibs (e.g., the G and Tama nibs), are good general purpose writers, as long as you stay away from 'mapping' nibs (too fine and too flexible for general use).

Edited April 3, 2013 by Mickey

[ac12]

From another dip pen newbie.

 

What is the purpose of putting the saliva on the nib?

 

When I've been looking online for nibs, they are usually sold by each. Is there some place that sells nibs in larger quantities, like by the box?

Only on eBay have I found bulk nibs; box (of 12 nibs) or something like 50 nibs in a lot.

Since they do wear out, based on some of the recommendations that I've read, I would buy at least a box at a time if not more.

[ac12]

In my short experience with dip pens, and coming from the fountain pen world.

• I followed amper's advice and got some Eagle 830 bowl tip pens, and they are nice. Very easy to write with, and just a little bit of flex to give the downstroke more width. Thanks Amper.
  I found that there are a lot of different bowl tip pens that seem quite similar. I have a couple Spencerian 42 pens that write just like the E830.

• I also used an Esterbrook 48 Falcon, stub tip, which was nice, but not as easy to use as the bowl point pen for regular writing. Maybe with a little more practice.

• I tried an Esterbrook 556 school pen, but the sharp tip is hard for me to use, right now. Coming from a fountain pen with a nice round tip, I have to learn to write with a SHARP tip, so it does not snag on the paper. I'm getting there, but it is not a pen for everyday writing, at least not right now.

[Mickey]

From another dip pen newbie.

 

What is the purpose of putting the saliva on the nib?

 

When I've been looking online for nibs, they are usually sold by each. Is there some place that sells nibs in larger quantities, like by the box?

Only on eBay have I found bulk nibs; box (of 12 nibs) or something like 50 nibs in a lot.

Since they do wear out, based on some of the recommendations that I've read, I would buy at least a box at a time if not more.

 

The coating of saliva makes the surface hydrophilic, reducing the tendency of the ink to dump off the nib in a single blob.

 

johnealbookseller.com and paperinkarts.com both offer quantity discounts, but ebay is probably the best place to buy nibs in quantity.

[ac12]

Thanks Mickey

I do have an order coming in from Paper&InkArts. I have my oblique holder and several flex nibs to try.

I am buying my bulk quantities of nibs on eBay. I just have to control myself and not get carried away, which is all to easy to do when I first get into something. I can't seem to start slow.

[ac12]

Well after only a couple of days, so it is a nice test for a newbie to using a dip pen for regular writing.

I like both the bowl (Eagle E830) and Falcon (Esterbrook 48) pens.

• The bowl pen with a bowl point is a smoother pen. The bowl point acts like a M or B tip on a fountain pen, and gives a smoother feel over the paper. I can flex the bowl pen a tiny bit, so I can see line variation on the downstroke.

• The Falcon is like a narrow stub. I can flex it just a tiny bit more than the bowl.

Which one I use depends on my mood and the paper that I will be writing on.

 

What I found out is there are a LOT of each of these types of pens made by different companies. Example, I have a Spencerian 42 bowl pen that looks and writes just like the Eagle E830. And I've seen several different Falcons on eBay. So many pens...so little money.

 

There are many other types that I have not tried, so do look around.

 

I did find that the pointed pens (like Esterbrook 556) are a bit too fussy for me to use for daily writing. I will sometimes snag the SHARP point on the paper. Pushing that sharp point on the upstroke is where I sometimes have trouble. And it would probably be worse on textured paper.

 

I recommend you get 1 or 2 of each type you are interested in and try them, then decide which one(s) you like better. Then buy a dozen or more.

I have a box of Eagle 830 bowl pens, and a box of Esterbrook 48 Falcon pens.

[DanF]

I like the Esterbrook 048 Falcon for a traditional dip pen, but for the ultimate in smooth (but no flex), try any of todays #6 replacement fountain pen nibs. Not surprisingly, they feel just like a fountain pen, and have few issues with ink flow - I think the tipping prevents the ink from dumping onto the paper, and keeps it from appearing too dark.

 

My favorite method of cleaning new dip nibs is to brush with toothbrush and toothpaste. I have never done the saliva treatment for fear of contaminating the ink leading to SITB.

 

Some inks may need a little gum arabic added to them in order to slow down the flow and improve "milage". This is not an issue using the #6 fountain pen nibs.

 

Dan

Edited April 2, 2014 by DanF

[ac12]

Dan

I have to try that with my dip pen ink.

I tried using fountain pens ink with my Esterbook fountain pen nib that I pulled, but it would start too wet and quickly dry out.