Df Nib Questions

[christof]

Yes, Peter. Every one is different. And as long as we respect everyone's indiuiduality and everyone's independence of personality, we would be doing justice both to self as well to others.

 

Is it respectful to hijack everyones thread and flood them with always the same phrases? Nothing new, no facts and almost the same content, repeated and repeated again...

No bashing, just a question.

Just for example: in this thread, the question is about DF nibs, right?

 

Why make cruddy nibs when the company could make good ones if folks didn't bend them?

Believe it or not, but DF nibs are not "cruddy" in general. It's just a different kind of nib. Different people - different preferences, right? Messages like this are not helpful, for nobody.

No bashing, just my opinion.

C.

Edited May 12, 2016 by christof

[mitto]

Mine was a general statement meant for everyone and especially for myself. UNITY IN DIVERSITY was the theme in focus in my post without going into the the details of who said what.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a D nib...I have '30's Parker Nails. I knew what a D nib was before I got it.

It is the nailish of my nail nibs.

 

I like the semi-flex nibs that was once normal on some German and English makes.

I am disappointed that Pelikan has even retreated from a 'true' regular flex of the '80-90's, to fat boring nibs of today.

 

Many don't know that the modern 400/600 is a semi-nail like an old P-75 and think a 'true' regular flex is semi-flex.

 

Perhaps your right Cristof.....I should let the newer members spend lots of money learning.

 

Let them come upon semi-flex nibs...and think Flex means they can do Olympic splits with the nib...and spring it.

I should learn to link...but am too lazy. So I type to each post....same-o, same-o.

You are right, 'let them eat Cake'....which she never said, having dairy in her mom's joint.

[Matlock]

I think Khan's comment is very relevant. We can all get carried away with our own point of view. I know he was not having a go at christof.

[christof]

 

Perhaps your right Cristof.....I should let the newer members spend lots of money learning.

 

This is not the point. Not at all. (...and I really doubt that you ever have (or will) helped avoid wasting someone's money with your self-invented terms of flexibility. This is just confusing in my opinion.)

 

The point is, that there are lots of people out there who just prefer stiff nibs. For example me, I love flexible nibs for doing calligraphy, but for daily use I prefer a stiff and smooth nib. That's just me, and there are others who like it even different. So what I want to say is that flexiblility of a nib is NOT a benchmark of quality in general. And in my opinion it is Wrong to say that stiff nibs are cruddy and it is not of interest under this topic of DF nibs. That's all.

 

And no, you should not learn to link, you should learn to differentiate when your comments are suitable to the OP's topic and when not.

 

C.

 

PS: And please stop telling that there is a 400NN with friction fit nib. Such a pen does not exist and writing this is confusing as well. What you have is a pen with a stuck collar. Nothing uncommon.

I posted several times pictures of a true 1950 friction fit nib unit here on this board ta make this clear and to show people how this looks, and I asked you to post a picture of yours as well. I have not seen this picture so far...

Edited May 12, 2016 by christof

[Bo Bo Olson]

Fine, my 400NN looks like a friction nib to me...next time I take the nib out....don't see why I will, I'll take a closer look with a bright flashlight. But I had read that there were '56 400nn friction fit nibs, before I got mine. Just like there were some early friction feed 400's. My live auction lot also had the '56 BP&MP with the etui....so I date it from there. I had so wanted that nib for my '90's Tortoise.

 

As for my invented, flex chart....works fine...someone had to invent something simple way to show flex stages..

 

Of course in super-flex there are more variation.. There is even variation in maxi-semi-flex but the lack tine spread keeps a Rupp nib out of super-flex + it didn't quite make it with ease of flex. I had super-flex, first stage Easy Full Flex nibs that work in my chart to check it against.

 

I was once so OCD to try to get more complicated...but took that back. F-1 and F-1 1/4 being about were all my maxi-semi-flex nibs but my F- 1 1/2 Rupp nib were.

 

Do you limit semi-flex to 3 X tine when you think about that, or not? I do, in I don't want to spring a nib. I mention the danger of over stressing a nib always....not that I have done so, but have read many sad stories of them that have. They appear to me to be maxing at 3X.

 

I have a Pelikan 100n, superflex....'easy full flex' that can go 5 X, but I keep it at 4 X, because I don't want to stress the nib. My Waterman goes from too light from me to do XXF to BBB. I keep it at BB.

 

 

I do not have a world of super flex....some 7 pens in the first stage of superflex....Easy Full Flex, and some twenty Degussa nibs of that stage of super-flex. Those I'll some day give away...not sell.

 

I only have two Wet Noodles....one is a bit half and half as I have explained, that Mauricio sent me. The Waterman 52 starts out Easy Full Flex and then goes to an easier flex of Wet Noodle. I have a Soennecken Wet Noodle too. I don't chase wet noodles in my Hand is not good enough for them.

 

I do say all the time, Mauricio don't agree with my simplistic approximation of two of the three stages of Super-flex. I recommend him always.

My system works for someone just getting into semi-flex and super-flex. Off the same system of 1/2's which is an easy subjunctive way to grade flex.

 

I do not have a John Swabota's Weak Kneed Wet Noodles except in dip pens.

 

There I have nibs that make Wet Noodles look uncooked. I really liked that description Weak Kneed Wet Noodle, so include it for those who have a wet noodle that really has ease of flex.

 

In that I don't chase Super-flex, I will never have one. I do have Hunt 99-100-101's that make my wet noodles look uncooked. I have a Soennecken dip pen nib that makes my wet noodles look semi-flex and it is no where near as flexible as the Hunts.

 

 

From my experience, most semi-flex clump together. I only have 25 to your 200+. Your collection of pens is superb.

 

There is some variance in maxi-semi-flex (as in super-flex)....see the F-1..F- 1 1/4th and F-1 1/2 listed above.

 

An Osmia Supra nib is maxi-semi-flex and some Pelikans, Geha's and MB's are too. Others of that era from those and other companies are semi-flex.

 

There is enough difference between regular semi-flex and Maxi-semi-flex to have a difference in definition. When something is 1/2 easier to 'flex' it surely is a major difference.

 

I have some 16 maxi-semi-flex nibs....you don't have any....you have said so, in you clump semi-flex and maxi-semi-flex in the same pot.

 

It's real simple, mash a 'true' regular flex nib to 3 X a light down stroke...semi is half of that, maxi half of semi or 1/4th of a well mashed 'true' regular flex. (Yes, I have to say 'true' to regular flex, in many have only modern pens with semi-nails and think because it came with the pen...it is regular flex.)

 

Sorry you won't comprehend it in you didn't come up with it.

You know where my turn off button is. Unfortunately I can't use that with you.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Bo Bo Olson

[christof]

 

You know where my turn off button is.

 

the button seems not to work...

 

(I give up, you won.)

Edited May 12, 2016 by christof

[mitto]

I can see you both are winners. Let every one stick to his stance without imposing her/his views on the other. That is the beauty of a sound, puposeful and constructive discussion/debate.

[mitto]

...and let us realise:

 

1) no one is infallible

 

2) no one's knowledge is absolute (except Almighty's if in case one believes in God, ofcourse).

[fplover01]

everyone has a right to express an opinion so long as they do not offend someone else. That said, I agree with christof. I fail to see why every discussion on a Pelikan pen should be hijacked by rigid nib bashing, and lecture on how a flex nib is better for everything coupled with self invented confusing terms of what flexibility is or should be. It is simply off topic and has nothing to do with the matter at hand. Did the poster even wanted to know about flexible nibs? or should every poster be lectured about them. A pen is more than having a flex nib and this is just a crusade to impose a self determined pen ideal.

 

There are many kinds of writers and have different preferences. I respect all of them. I too have pens for different purposes. I fail to see why a pen with a rigid nib is useless and for barbarians. I have great respect for people who have the patience and the talent to practice and can do amazing calligrphy with a flex nib, but other than that, I dont see much use for a very flexible nib in daily writing. I might be a ball point barbarian, but I have stopped using ballpoints 10 years ago...

Edited May 12, 2016 by fplover01

[aeba]

Yep...works just fine....so you explain it better if you can.

Why make cruddy nibs when the company could make good ones if folks didn't bend them?

I happen to like my modern m600 with the BB nib it came with. Would I like it to be springier? Possibly. Would I want it to be flex? Nope. In other words: the nib isn't "cruddy", it just isn't vintage.

 

Besides "if people didn't bend them" is pretty much a moot point as people will bend them. Making new flex nibs would almost certainly cause manufacturer x, in this case Pelikan, financial loss. Either because of un-ending repairs, or because of bad reputation from "Pelikan didn't repair my pen (which I abused)! Boycott Pelikan!". That is if they could pull a small miracle in the first place and some how make flex pens with pricing as low as what ever vintage there is in Ebay.

 

 

Maybe flex manufacturing could work in a country with out consumer protection, or where warranties can be easily written off with a TOS / EULA...

 

I can see you both are winners. Let every one stick to his stance without imposing her/his views on the other. That is the beauty of a sound, puposeful and constructive discussion/debate.

This is something I try to live up to. Some one wants flex nibs, sure ok. Some other people, like me, wants a springy nib without flex. That goes on and on with different tools suitable to something.

[Mannyonpil]

I happen to really like BOTH flex nibs and stiff nibs, although I will admit that I do not know how to really take advantage of flexible nibs.

 

The DF I have now is quite stiff but also very smooth and wet. I am really enjoying it. And since it appears to have been worn down by use, it has a very slight italic quality so there is subtle variation in line width. I love it.

 

The regular EF nib that came with the pen is also lovely, smooth, and semi-flex in such a way as to provide, as Bo Bo, said, a bit of flair. I like both these nibs and imagine I will at some point take the DF out and put the EF back in. No doubt I will alternate between the two over time.

 

As for modern Pelikan nibs, I have a M400 EF nib in an M200. It is really nice, actually, but it writes more like an M than an EF. My handwriting is relatively small so it gets hard to write with this so-called EF nib. I just wish that modern Pelikan nibs could be as narrow as the older nibs. The flexibility is not that big of an issue for me (gasp); the line width is the thing.

[mitto]

Different strokes for different folks.

[biancitwo]

I have a Pelikan 100N with a DEF nib. It was very dry. Rick Propas performed a partial restoration, including adjusting the nib. He made it about as wet as he could. It is wonderful. With an Akkerman green ink, it writes a very fine line immediately and well on every paper. I love my wide italic nibs and my semi-flexible nibs on my vintage Pelikans, but keep returning to my DEF. I have a variety of Pelikan nibs and love them all. If the newer ones aren't great when first received, I send them to Pendleton Brown and they are great thereafter.