Who Make Their Own Nibs

[terminal]

There's Wancher who... often (always?) uses Platinum nibs

[hari317]

There's Wancher who... often (always?) uses Platinum nibs

only some of them, not all, as far as my observation goes... and when the nib is Platinum so is the other hardware, basically full pens are made by Platinum in "non stock" materials for this Wancher. There is no wancher branding on the pens made by Platinum for wancher. HTH.

Edited June 14, 2013 by hari317

[Harlequin]

Yeah. I thought Wancher was the "house brand" for Engeika, anyway?

[max dog]

 

As an engineer, you set up functional specifications for a device and then look to see who can best meet those specifications. If outsourcing a part is the best solution instead of keeping manufacture of the part in-house do you outsource?

I would agree with you Jar. As long as you can find a supplier you can trust to meet your exacting standards consistently. Looking at the company of brands Bock and Jowo continues to serve like Conway Stewart, Visconti, Omas, Yard O Lead etc, it seems they are producing very high standard nibs.

 

On the flip side to this coin though, I think there is something to be said about a company that has gone out and acquired the expertise to produce their own nibs in-house with pride and full control of their own quality control like Montblanc, Pelikan, Pilot, Sailor etc. That certainly doesn't guarantee superiority over outsourcing given Bock and Jowo are (and Pilot too) the predominant outsource nib suppliers.

[Blade Runner]

At least in the case of Pelikan, a major reason for bringing nibs back in house was to improve quality control of problematic Bock nibs.

[rabiosocorazon]

Also, the k nib from Romillopens is handmade by an artisan.

[Blade Runner]

At least in the case of Pelikan, a major reason for bringing nibs back in house was to improve quality control of problematic Bock nibs.

Here's the thread discussing the return to in house nibs by Pelikan.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/102443-some-good-news-about-pelikan-nibs/?hl=bock&do=findComment&comment=1008500

[Blade Runner]

So i wonder how many brands that use outsourced nibs simply attatch them to the barrels and hope for the best? On the other hand there are brands like Sailor for example that make their own nibs and test each.

[Kaweco]

At least in the case of Pelikan, a major reason for bringing nibs back in house was to improve quality control of problematic Bock nibs.

Hello Blade Runner

It would be good to read the thread you have linked below very carefully

quote Rick: .........they have had some quality control problems with their nibs.............../ quote

It reads "with their nibs", I cannot find: ..."with foreign nibs"....

Kind Regards

Thomas

[Blade Runner]

Hello Blade Runner

It would be good to read the thread you have linked below very carefully

quote Rick: .........they have had some quality control problems with their nibs.............../ quote

It reads "with their nibs", I cannot find: ..."with foreign nibs"....

Kind Regards

Thomas

Hello Thomas,

This link may help: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/112096-how-to-tell-if-your-nib-is-made-by-pelikan/?hl=bock&do=findComment&comment=1105632

 

I think the comment: "What matters is how they (nibs) are adjusted and fitted" is the key to improving quality control, whoever makes the nib.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Blade Runner

[max dog]

Here is the summary so far taking everyones input. I tried my best to capture all the input, but my apologies if I missed any. Feel free to edit/add to this list as this is a group effort here.

 

As for Cross, I wasn't sure how to categorize it. From my understanding they no longer out source their nibs and brought it in house to their plant(s) in China, but given they shut down their Rhode Island manufacturing plant while maintaining their head quarters there, it would not be accurate to call it in-house, so I left it oursourced to supplier(s) in China. If anyone has any info regarding Cross to enlighten us please let us know.

 

Brands who make nibs in-house (in no particular order):

• Waterman / Parker
• Dupont
• Platinum / Nakaya
• Aurora
• Ancora
• Lamy
• Sailor
• Pilot / Namiki
• Montblanc / Cartier
• Pelikan
• Visconti - select models
• Wality
• Guider - gold units
• Romillo
• Inoxcrom
• Ratnamson - gold units
• Delta – select models
• Hero

Brands that outsource to Peter Bock:

Astoria

Bexley

Classic Pens

Cleo Skribent

Conway Stewart

David Oscarson

Delta

Dns-Drechselstube Neckarsteinach

Faber Castell

Kart Meisenbach

Kaweko

Norbert Zeplien

Sheaffer

Starbound Europa

Stefan Fink

Visconti

Waldmann

Krone

Signe Audiard

Lepine

Elie Bleue

Omas

Graye Tighson

Cleo

Taccia

Dupont – select models

Caran D’Ache

 

Brands that outsource to Jowo of Berlin

Monteverde

Dani Trio

Conklin

Marlen

Waterford

Tibaldi

Signum

Libelle

Montegrappa

Stipula

Lominchay

TWSBI

 

Brands outsourced to other:

Hakase – Pilot

Cross – supplier(s) in China

Edited June 15, 2013 by max dog

[hari317]

Many will fall into the category "brands that outsource to others" including some premium brands unfortunately. There are at least two major nib manufacturers and exporters in India who are fabricating atleast the nibs for a few of the pens discussed regularly on FPN and for several other foreign pen assemblers, a story for another time and place. Then there are the nib and component manufacturers in Taiwan like the famous Aquarry.

 

http://www.aquarry.com.tw/products/components/nm.htm

[Kaweco]

I found some nib stamps which indicates (partially) outsourcing

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/stamps_zpsb7263074.jpg

[Harlequin]

Noodler's more than likely uses Indian nibs, since the pens are also Indian-made (as hari317 alluded to).

[UK Mike]

I believe it was Jar who made the point, but it is worth repeating that the output from a nib manufacturer will vary depending on what the pen manufacturer is wiling to pay.

 

In other words, a Bock nib on a Graf von Faber Castell is of much superior quality to the nib fitted to your TWSBI Mini. Also each pen manufacturer may also employ final nib finishing to maximise the performance of the nib. It seems obvious, but some of the previous comments seem to have lost this point in their arguments.

[Blade Runner]

 

Also each pen manufacturer may also employ final nib finishing to maximise the performance of the nib.

Brands that make nibs have this resource, in other words, experienced nibmeisters. Are you certain that all brands who outsource nib production also have this resource? Edited June 16, 2013 by Blade Runner

[jar]

Brands that make nibs have this resource, in other words, experienced nibmeisters. Are you certain that all brands who outsource nib production also have this resource?

 

No one claimed "that all brands who outsource nib production also have this resource" so that is irrelevant.

[enchiridion]

Remember, not all Bock nibs are the same.

All Bock nibs may be equal but some are more equal than others.

funny

OEM is always according to specs given in the call.

[enchiridion]

JoWo proves to be founded in 1995 bij Joachim and Jan Hildebrand, so what is the story of 1852. I googled and I did not find one single fact to proof that claim.

[Harlequin]

I agree that a nib is made entirely to the specs from the customer (be it TWSBI, Sheaffer, FC, et al), so the "a nib on a FC will be much better than the one on a TWSBI mini" sentiment is, imo, complete rubbish.