Nibs

[Mike S.]

I am aware that many pens source their nibs from Bock -- Pelikan, Omas, Bexley, Conway Stewart, Stipula, Visconti, Dani Trio, Delta, Krone, Perchin, Oscarson, Marlen, Conklin, Grayson-Tighe . . . I believe Signum and Cleo Skribent source their nibs from Schmidt in Germany, as does any pen with a steel nib that says "Iridium Point Germany" on it.

 

I was trying to figure out which modern pen companies still make their own nibs. I assume (though I don't know for sure) that Sailor, Pilot, and Platinum/Nakaya do not source their nibs from Bock. (I believe Dunhill pens use Pilot/Namiki-sourced nibs, too.) Do these companies make their own nibs, or is there a Japanese supplier like Bock that makes nibs for these companies?

 

I have heard that Aurora still makes its own nibs, but I have had a couple of bad experiences with Aurora nibs (corroborated by bad things others on this site have said about their quality control recently) and would not buy an Aurora anymore, even if they do make their own nibs.

 

What about Waterman and Parker (both owned by Sanford)? Do they source their nibs from Bock or Schmidt or do they make their own?

 

What about Lamy? Their nibs don't look like anyone else's.

 

What about Montblanc? DuPont? Montegrappa?

 

If anyone knows -- in particular, if anyone knows about the last three -- please share.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

First, let me say that I don't have an answer to a single one of your questions .

 

I am aware that many pens source their nibs from Bock -- Pelikan, Omas, Bexley, Conway Stewart, Stipula, Visconti, Dani Trio, Delta, Krone, Perchin, Oscarson, Marlen, Conklin, Grayson-Tighe . . . I believe Signum and Cleo Skribent source their nibs from Schmidt in Germany, as does any pen with a steel nib that says "Iridium Point Germany" on it.

I have been suspecting for a while now that some of those are being stamped out in China, the better to provide cheap look alikes. It's only a suspicion, I have no hard evidence, nor am I likely to invest heavily in finding out.

 

I was trying to figure out which modern pen companies still make their own nibs.

Given the way things work these days, if you find out who makes their own nibs on Monday they may end up outsourcing them by Wednesday .

[Bayes]

Cross still makes some of their own nibs.

 

For example the Apogee nibs:

link

 

and the Paul Smith pens:

link

 

and the ATX:

link

Edited May 19, 2007 by Bayes

[mr T.]

What about Waterman and Parker (both owned by Sanford)? Do they source their nibs from Bock or Schmidt or do they make their own?

 

Waterman does make their own nibs according to this article. Parker probably make their own too. On this they say that it costs them at least a week to create a nib.

 

 

What about Lamy? Their nibs don't look like anyone else's.

 

According to this article from 2001, Lamy makes most of it's own nibs. Only specialty nibs are made by Bock.