Handwriting Samples From Esterbrook Nibs

[punchy71]

Anyone happen to have any samples of handwriting from a broad range of the Esterbrook nibs that they can upload for viewing? I was wanting to compare the lines that they leave side by side in normal handwriting use (especially cursive and semi-cursive). I saw the Esterbrook nib chart from the 1950's but it doesn't show a very good illustration on some of letters that the nibs leave and so I was hoping for possibly a current high resolution picture.

[skysora]

This is by no means a "broad range," as I only have three nibs, but here you go. I threw in a VP M for comparison.

 

[Harlequin]

Maybe my eye is just not trained enough, but the line width of the top two Esterbrook samples looks essentially the same to me. The bottom is slightly (and I mean slightly) more noticeable as a medium nib. The top two are XF and F, right?

[dragos.mocanu]

You are quite right...the first two are fine and extra-fine (in this order)

[skysora]

D'oh

 

I should've been more considerate -- I ordered the samples by nib number and not nib width. On top of that I somehow thought that both were F. Sorry about that.

 

The 2556 being F and 9550 being XF makes a lot of sense to me. Here's a close up, this time using a macro lens (the previous image was scanned). There's more shading in the 9550 and the joinders (?) are thinner in the 9550. THe 9550 grabs the paper a bit more than the 2556.

 

[Harlequin]

I guess if it needs a macro lens to really even tell a little bit of difference, then I'm betting the two nibs are pretty much interchangeable for size and would really depend more on the feel of the individual nib. Like you mentioned the 9550 grabbing th paper slightly more than the 2556.

[Scrawler]

You will find 2xxx nibs become broader with time as they develop a foot with wear. They can also become surprisingly smooth.

[skysora]

Scrawler, I got the 2556 at the Philly Pen Show this year and I was instantly hooked by the smooth writing experience. I'll be looking out for the 'foot.'

 

Harlequin, As you say, though, there is definitely a difference in the feel of the nib. I wrote above that there is more shading with the 9550, but when I tried the same exercise on Clairefontaine paper, there was way more shading with the 2556. Pen, paper, ink, nib... the combos are endless...

 

punchy71, hope others will jump in with more samples!

[EKE]

You will find 2xxx nibs become broader with time as they develop a foot with wear. They can also become surprisingly smooth.

 

I have certainly noticed this. I have a couple of 2314-M stubs and they seem to get smoother the more I use them, and broader. I'll probably just wear them out with use, but they are such good writers.

 

Here's a sample of the 2314-M

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu188/ErikEvens/photo-28.jpg