Stub O' The Day

[amberleadavis]

Very Nice, Misfit!

[dms525]

I love Leonardo steel stubs right out of the box. I am less fond of their gold stubs. They are less crisp than I prefer for Italic handwriting and a bit broad for everyday use.

 

I sent three Leonardo pens with gold stubs off to Michael Masuyama and got them back yesterday. The red Art Deco (Guilloche ebonite) was left at 1.3mm and just made crisper. The other two pens I had ground to write a 0.75mm line.

 

 

 

 

David

[Misfit]

Very Nice, Misfit!

Thank you. I had given up on getting it after I got the Eco-T in mint blue. Happily my brother asked what I wanted, and he got the Mini in Mint Blue for me. I really, really like it. All my TWSBI pens have either the TWSBI stub nib, or the one that I put a Nemosine 1.1 mm nib on.

[dcpritch]

On 9/27/2020 at 2:07 PM, cougarking said:

 

 

 

Very Nice pen.

 

As a matter of interest, of all the stubs in your collection, do you have a top three?

 

What would be your recommendation for a first time stub pen?

 

 

Cheers

 

I'm so sorry to have missed your questions. 

 

I have a top three, and it changes on a regular basis - every time I change pens and inks!  This is true, actually, and though there are a number I tend to gravitate toward, every stub is (to me) wonderful to use.  Today I have the following:

 

Platinum Kamakura - Shonan Coast LE, 14k Music nib, inked with Sailor tokiwa-matsu

Watermans piston filler, (c. 1940s), 14k factory BB stub, inked with Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses

Francis Goossens MB 139 Replica, MB BBB stub, inked with Sailor yama-dori

Stipula Duetto, 14k 1.1mm stub, inked with J. Herbin Terre de Feu

 

You ask a good question about a first time stub pen.  The answer depends entirely on what you are willing to spend.  At an entry level would be a TWSBI with their steel 1.1mm nib - I've found them to be reliable, smooth and affordable.  Pelikans in the 200 series can also be found for reasonable prices, I think, and occasionally with gold stub nibs which I prefer over steel.  I'm sure others will have better ideas.

 

Here's a list of some stub pens with dates showing when I have featured them on this thread, in case that helps.  I have many, many more to show (yes, I am a stub nib hoarder, below are a few of my stubs), and hopefully years left to get it done!

 

Aikin Lambert “Kynosura” safety pen, 14k No. 1 flexible ALCo stub nib 6/19/14
Aurora Optima in green with gold trim, 18k B stub by Minuskin 4/12/13
Aurora Afrika LE No. 3150, 18k Stub 8/19/20
Bexley Poseidon Magnum, 18K stub nib (2007) 1/24/13    
Bexley 10th Anniv. 1993-2003 L.E. in lemon acrylic, 18k stub nib (2003) 5/20/13
Bexley Corona, blueberry cream, steel M stub nib by Dillon Ang (2012) 3/8/13
Burnham No. 44, GP M stub nib, burgundy marble plastic with black veins (c. 1950s)
Classic Pens Legend LM1 in Flame Red acrylic, 18k BI nib (2007) 5/11/15
Conklin Imperial Endura, 14k factory stub nib (c. 1929) 5/21/14
Conid Fountainbel FPR Bulkfiller, Ti M stub nib by Francis Goossens (2012) 2/27/13
Conway Stewart for W.H. Smith, “The Seal Pen”, RWHR, 14k OM nib (c. 1920s) 1/17/17
Conway Stewart 85L in blue herringbone celluloid, 14k stub/italic nib  (c. 1956) 12/29/14
Delta 500 for Fountainpen.it Forum, Fusion stub nib (2012) 10/8/13, 4/27/15
Esterbrook J, steel 2284 stub nib (c. 1948-1960) 7/2/14
Franklin~Christoph Model 02 Intrinsic, 18k B stub nib by Pendleton Brown (c. 2010) 1/17/17
Francis Goossens 139, Tibaldi Impero, MB 18k O3B stubbed (2019) 4/19/19, 8/19/20
Fred Faggionato Le Geb briarwood flattop, flexible 14k M stub by Dillon Ang (2011) 7/1/13
Ferrari da Varese Yesterday, 18k two-toned B stub nib by Pendleton Brown (c. 2005) 1/28/13
Goldfink, semi-flex 14k OB nib (c. 1940s) 2/8/13
Italstilo, flexible 14k 1.1mm nib by Minuskin, silverray celluloid (c. early 1940s) 5/11/15
Lamy 2000, Rhodium plated 18C BB nib ground to stub by Pendleton Brown (c. 1966) 2/4/13
Matador 334 ½, steel OB nib (c. 1940s) 7/1/13
Montblanc 25 BHR Safety pen with MB accommodation clip, 18k OBB nib (c. 1920s) 4/12/13
Montblanc 138, black celluloid with long striped ink window, steel BB nib (c. 1938) 5/5/13
Montblanc  Meisterstück 136 Transitional, two-toned alloy B nib (1947)
Montblanc 32, 14k OBB nib (c. 1960s) 9/3/13
Montblanc Meisterstück 149, 18C BBB Minuskin nib (1960s nib; 1970s body) 8/5/13, 1/31/17
Montblanc Meisterstück 146, 14k B stub nib by Dillon Ang (c. 1970s) 3/16/13
Nakaya Portable Writer, polished shu, 14k BB stub nib by Mottishaw (2010) 12/29/14
Nakaya Neo Standard, Heki-tamenuri urushi, 14k BB stub nib by Mottishaw (2012)   11/1/13
Newton Pens N-E-W ebonite/urushi, 18k M800 OB stub by Shawn Newton (2013) 3/18/13
Nettuno Idra (by Stipula) L.E., No. 54 of 511, 18k stub nib by Minuskin (1996) 3/18/14
OMAS Extra Ogiva, 18k B stub nib by Mike Masuyama, red vegetal resin (c. 1997) 12/10/13
OMAS Arte Italiana Milord (old style), HT 18k 1.1 mm stub B nib by Minuskin (2003) 4/3/13
OMAS Ogiva Guilloche, black with GFT, 18k B stub nib by Dillon Ang (c. 2003) 3/16/13
OMAS Revelations L.E., blue royale celluloid, gold trim, 18k stub nib (2007) 2/1/13
Parker Duofold Senior in red Permanite, 14k factory stub nib (c. 1930-1932) 9/26/14, 6/24/19
Parker Vacumatic Standard, Emerald Pearl, flexy 14k two-tone BB nib (Q1 1937) 11/21/13
Parker Vacumatic Major, Golden Pearl, 14k 1.3mm stub by Greg Minuskin (Q2 1945) 6/1/15
Parker “51” vacumatic, cedar blue, Ralph Prather sterling cap, 14k stub nib (c. 1942) 2/22/13
Parker Victory MKII in dark blue, 14k BB nib (c. 1945) 10/8/13
Parker Ti 75, 18k #95 stub nib (c. 1972) 2/26/17
Pelikan 100N, green marbled binde, flexible 14k BB nib (c. 1949 - 1954) 2/11/13
Pelikan M20 Silvexa, 14k BB nib (c. 1960s) 7/9/13
Pelikan Souverän M400, brown tortoise, 18C B stub nib by Masuyama (c. 1980s) 10/28/13
Pelikan Souverän M800 Blue O’ Blue, two-tone 18C B nib (2010) 2/23/15, 2/20/17
Pelikan Souverän M800, black, two-tone 18C O3B nib (c. ?) 1/28/20
Pelikan Souverän M1000, green striated, two-tone 18C BB stub nib by Oxonian (2004) 6/24/14
Perdice Bradford L.E., Edison 18k B 1.1 mm stub by Brian Gray (2010) 4/15/14
Radius Superior in burgundy arco celluloid, flexible 14k stub nib by Minuskin (c. 1930s) 9/3/13
Sailor Profit 1911 large, 21k Music nib stubbed by Masuyama (2009) 5/5/13
Sailor Naginata Togi Ribbed, canary yellow, 21k music stub by Minuskin (2009) 3/20/15
Sailor Sapporo Mini, 14k Music nib (c. 2010) 2/12/13
Sheaffer OS Flattop, jade green celluloid, “Lifetime” 14k B stub nib (c. 1928) 3/18/14
Sheaffer OS Lifetime Balance, grey striated, 14k M stub nib (c. 1930s)  3/20/13
Sheaffer Balance 500, military clip, 14k Feathertouch stub by Danny Fudge (c. 1940s)  3/4/13
Sheaffer Saratoga, 14k No. 5 music nib by Nathan Tardiff (c. 1952-1959) 1/25/13
Sheaffer Imperial 834 sterling silver diamond pattern, inlaid 14k 1.2 mm nib (c. 1970s) 7/25/13
Soennecken 307, flexible 14k OBB nib (c. 1950s) 5/5/13
Stipula Isola Lipari, W.E.S. LE, 18k 1.1mm stub nib by John Sorowka (2003)  3/5/13
Stipula Etruria FPN L.E., “Notte di Stelle”, silver trim, 14k 1.1 mm CI nib (2011) 12/5/13
Stipula/Chatterley Etruria Cracked Ice Revival LE, 18k 1.1mm stub nib (2012) 4/18/13
Stipula Duetto in stacked Cognac acrylic, 18k 1.1 Stub  8/19/20
Strand, flexy Warranted 14k “1st Quality” B stub nib (c. 1930s) 1/23/13
Summit S100, black with nickel trim, 14k B nib (c. late 1940s) 5/31/13
Tibaldi Modello 60, 18k B stub nib by Minuskin, yellow/blue celluloid (1995) 7/1/13
*TWSBI Diamond 530, 14k 1.1 mm stub nib by Pendleton Brown (2011) 10/2/14
TWSBI Mini, steel 1.5mm stub nib (2013) 1/30/13
Wahl-Eversharp Doric Junior, bronze & green celluloid, 14k stub nib (c. 1930s) 6/23/14
Waterman’s 12, clipless design, BCHR, Ideal 14k 4B nib (c. 1910s) 2/20/13
Waterman’s 24, taper cap, BCHR, gold repousse bands, 14k Ideal NY nib (c. 1910s) 2/17/15
Waterman’s 42 Safety, 18k overlay, flexible 14k 0.9mm stub by Minuskin (c. 1920s) 7/8/14
Waterman’s Deluxe Ink-Vue in Emerald Ray, #7 14k Blue Keyhole nib (c. 1937) 7/26/13
Waterman’s 5116 Ink-Vue in “Blue Streak”, 14k BB nib (c. 1939) 10/2/14
Waterman’s piston filler, flexible 14k stub nib (c. late 1940s) 5/22/13
Wirt BCHR eyedroper, 14k B nib (c. 1903) 7/25/13
Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Lined, 18k B stub by Masuyama (1998) 5/11/15

 

[Manofadventure]

On 10/24/2019 at 9:09 PM, cougarking said:

As a newbie, recommendation for a broad/wide stub nib pen please.

Looking for buttery feel

 

I like the 1.5 Lammy width but happy to look at wider.

 

I have the following pens

 

Lammy studio, SAfari.

 

Waterman carene

 

Parker sonnet

 

Mb Jonathan swift

 

Italix churchman perscriptor

 

Happy to consider different brand or just new nib suggestion

 

Thanks for your help

If you like your Waterman Carene, just get a another with a stub nib for it or have your nibmeister grind a broad nib into a stub. Waterman always writes wet and gives good shading and that is what you need in a stub.

[Misfit]

Wow, what a comprehensive, informative list from @dcpritch.  Thank you for the time you spent compiling that. 
 

I can speak up for Franklin-Christoph’s factory steel cursive calligraphy nibs. I have a 1.1mm and love it. 
 

Edison pens have a nice pair of stub nibs in 1.1 and 1.5. You can buy them unbranded for a little less money at meisternibs.com. I got one for an Italix pen, and use it in an Opus 88 as well. The 1.1mm #5 nib seemed more italic to me.  Since I love line variation, I like the italic nibs. 
 

Every time I write with a pen I had to get with a F, M, B, coming back to the stub and italic nibs reinforces my preference for them.

[Man O War]

Perhaps I missed it in this thread, but what are the general thoughts on the ~1.0mm stub that Pilot released in their Vanishing Points?  

 

I should dig mine out.

[dms525]

7 hours ago, roloughlin said:

Perhaps I missed it in this thread, but what are the general thoughts on the ~1.0mm stub that Pilot released in their Vanishing Points?  

 

I have two. One of them has been ground to a cursive italic, so it has a bit more line variation. Both are nice writers. Note that I use them for italic handwriting.

 

David

[Ted A]

I enjoy mine. It might lean just a bit toward a cursive compared to a JoWo 1.1 stub. But it isn’t what I would consider a CI

 

Mine is a little bit finicky about what inks it accepts. It takes some experimenting 

[ArchiMark]

Great list, dcpritch !

 

Would be very helpful if you could sort them in order of preference......

 

🙃

 

Happy Holidays & New Year!

 

Mark

[Man O War]

On 12/18/2020 at 10:30 PM, dms525 said:

 

I have two. One of them has been ground to a cursive italic, so it has a bit more line variation. Both are nice writers. Note that I use them for italic handwriting.

 

David

 

Thanks.  I have one coated in black that I ordered with the black/white "stormtrooper" VP.  I've used primarily Iroshizuku take-sumi and like Tad A stated (don't know how to do multiple quotes), results vary.  It can be very wet and then turn dry, causing the take-sumi to shade (only time I've seen that ink shade!).  When she's running wet, line variation: forget about it. Slant strokes are the same as down with only a cross stroke being thinner - and not by much.

 

It also is a little more "crisp," closer to an italic (though I don't own one and have never written with one, only comparing based on what I've read/watched) than a stub in the vein of Lamy,TWSBI, Goblet, etc. 

 

I really wanted to love it, but so far, only finding myself liking it somewhat.  Are there any success stories out there?

 

Ryan

 

[mitto]

Still resting at my dropbox in London. Hope it will soon arrive in Islamabad. It is a English nib on a English P51. 

[KaB]

10 hours ago, mitto said:

Still resting at my dropbox in London. Hope it will soon arrive in Islamabad. It is a English nib on a English P51. 

 

 

That looks pretty spectacular. Hope to see some writing samples once you've received it.

[Misfit]

I got this pen impulsively before Christmas.

 

 

[twigletzone]

New pen day here!

 

[dcpritch]

On 12/27/2020 at 11:15 PM, mitto said:

Still resting at my dropbox in London. Hope it will soon arrive in Islamabad. It is a English nib on a English P51. 

That looks like an impressive oblique, I bet you can't wait to get it in your hands!

 

On 1/2/2021 at 1:46 AM, Misfit said:

I got this pen impulsively before Christmas.

 

 

What's more fun, and what more characterizes the FPN crew, than impulsive buys?!

 

43 minutes ago, twigletzone said:

New pen day here!

 

That Medium stub has a wider line than I would have expected, which isn't at all bad: wider is always better in my book.  And by the way, your handwriting is legible and distinctive, I like it!

[twigletzone]

3 hours ago, dcpritch said:

That Medium stub has a wider line than I would have expected, which isn't at all bad: wider is always better in my book.  And by the way, your handwriting is legible and distinctive, I like it!

Thank you - that isn't one of my worst examples, it really does sometimes start looking like someone grabbed both ends of the word with pliers and pulled them away from each other, and even I have trouble reading it back in that state. One reason I'm sticking with fountain pens - they discourage the skate'n'slide ballpoint scrawl that most often ends up incomprehensible.

 

The stub is fascinating me. I actually bought two Italix pens (test purchase to try out the nibs before I invest in an engraved Parson's Essential): that stub (it's the medium cursive italic) and a Freshman's Notator in medium italic, and I swear I'm getting more line variation out of the stub. I've been arguing with myself over whether it's just the angle is wrong or I'm using a washed-out ink that doesn't show it crisply, but we're talking Italix here, these nibs are all custom ground - I suppose it's possible I just got a very fat medium stub!

[Misfit]

Here is a new pen that came with a F nib. I swapped a nib from a Pilot Plumix, and now it’s a happy pen for me. 

[Misfit]

Here are 5 italic nibs’ writing. 
 

 

[tartuffo]

It writes more like a stub ...