Sterling Silver Fountain Pen

[Bo Bo Olson]

Each company had it's very own standards..........Parker made wider nibs than Sheaffer...once back in the day of One Man One Pen. They made what their customers wanted...or what they trained their customers to want, when they went looking for a new up to date pen every 7-10 years.

Parker did not make nibs exactly the same width as Sheaffer.....for a good reason, some customer of theirs could make a horrible mistake, and buy a Sheaffer if the nibs were 'the same'.

 

There was tolerance/slop in every batch of nibs. One pen made to the same company size would be slightly different than the next. In the nibs were put into a gage that was approximate only....same today.

 

Ron Zorn visited the Sheaffer factory in the US just as it closed down to move to Indonesia.

 

Ron Zorn tolerance

Sheaffer used a dial indicator nib gauge for measuring nib sizes. The nib was inserted into the gauge, and the size read off of the dial. A given size being nibs that fell within a given range. What is listed below were the ranges given on a gauge that I saw in the Sheaffer service center prior to being closed in March 2008.

Measurements are in thousandths of an inch.

XXF = 0.010 - 0.013
XF = 0.013 - 0.018
F = 0.018 - 0.025
M = 0.025 - 0.031
Broad* = 0.031 - 0.050
Stub = 0.038 - 0.050

*there was some overlap on the gauge. May be 0.035 - 0.050.

As you can see a 'fat' F can = exactly a 'skinny' M....or if it's 0.01 inside of tolerance you'd not be able to tell that either.

 

Nib sizes are never exact...with in the company, and each company has it's own standards.

The numeric nibs will suffer the same problem....there must be tolerance or you can't afford the nib.

Then what paper and ink and how hard you press the nib will make a nib fatter or skinnier.

 

I'd not get crazy worrying about exact nib width, in each will be 'within' a company tolerance, which differs from company to company and era to era.

Outside the Pelikan 200, modern Pelikan 400/600's are wider than 18 years ago.

 

Just think very skinny..EF, skinny..F, medium..M, broad..B and very broad...BB....which is close enough for horseshoes. The main thing is the pen writes well....not splitting hairs, company X's EF is company Y's F......will not really be true.......because there will be overlap of the nib widths due to tolerance with in the standards. One's F may be a slight tad wider or narrower....but not enough to matter. One can use a dryer ink, a slicker paper if too wide, or wetter ink and different paper.

 

If your husband has Japanese pens as his main assortment, he will be use to nibs that are marked narrower than the west........so you would need vintage Parker or Sheaffer nibs.

 

I'd look to F and M nibs unless your husband wants a very skinny nib, or a fat one.

If one is using shading inks, I find F&M to do quite well.

B or BB could be a bit too wet, and EF too narrow to shade well.

 

The newest information is supersaturated inks are not good for rubber sac pens....killing them rapidly. The old and good P-75 has a rubber sack areomatic pressing device to fill it, when not using a cartridge or converter. .

So check if your husband uses only supersaturated inks like Noodlers or not.

 

 

He could use a cartridge or a converter for those inks. Cartridges can be loaded at home with a needle syringe, One can buy a rubber one for fountain pens.

He could use the areomatic device for other safer inks.

 

The P-75 has a semi-nail nib, so won't bend too much if your husband has heavy hands with a pen.

Edited June 26, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[sandy101]

Besides the all silver pen, Cross had a Century II, with a black laquer body, sterling silver cap, and gold nib. It is a nice looking pen

 

​I think Dutchpen has one for sale in the classifieds. I'm not sure if it has a gold nib, or a gold plated one (Cross do both - the gold ones have a stamp with the no of karats on it).

 

[jar]

Don't worry about modern pens like the Sheaffer Targa or Parker "75". They are as close to bullet proof designs as were ever built.

[Sasha Royale]

I think the Parker 75 is superior to the Sonnet. I have a P75. It was presented to a sailor, who helped shipmates write letters home to family, and, especially, girlfriends.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Sasha Royale

[fullfederhalter]

 

PS: Do not let the prices quoted in the video spook you... my Tuscany was only $180.

 

I have to admit, I am unfamiliar with Waldmann, but I checked their website, and I liked what I saw. However, I couldn't find any dealers offering your pen for $180. May I ask where you bought it?

[natsw]

Don't worry about modern pens like the Sheaffer Targa or Parker "75". They are as close to bullet proof designs as were ever built.

 

Would you say that goes for the Sheaffer Imperial 826/835 too? I prefer the styling (he may not but I'm buying it so I'll just go with my gut!) and I don't have a clue about which nib he needs. My instinct is that he goes pretty heavy with pens...

[natsw]

I think the Parker 75 is superior to the Sonnet. I have a P75. It was presented to a sailor, who helped shipmates write letters home to family, and, especially, girlfriends.

How lovely. I can see why you'd love that.

[natsw]

Wife wants to drive to the Waldmann factory some hour to hour and a half away and and pick and chose a pen for me....what my wife wants, I usually let her have her way.

 

I'd expect a butter smooth nib. Good steel is as good as good gold nibs, accent on good.....and it's the tipping that's wrote with.

 

That's good to know. Thanks.

[natsw]

I have just bought a Sheaffer Legacy in sterling silver too. It's a fabulous pen, but I'm not sure if you would get one for £250. Maybe you would just about get a Sheaffer Legacy Heritage.

 

 

 

 

That is really beautiful. I do love the styling on those Sheaffers...

[natsw]

What a lovely thought. I think a sterling silver fountain pen is a fabulous gift idea. I'd personally choose the Sheaffer but only because I love Sheaffers. Good luck with your choice and congratulations on your anniversary.

 

I'm partial to them too! I've decided there are just too many gorgeous pens out there!

[natsw]

Do not be afraid of steel nibs.

There is much talk about gold being "better" than stainless steel, and it can get quite personal with some people.

AFAIC it is talk, a good stainless steel nib is as good as a good gold nib. At least for how I write.

To me, a gold nib is about looks, nothing else. And that is what sells, so the manufacturer makes it.

And what is funny is they have some gold nibs that are plated with a silver colored metal. So you have a gold nib that looks like a polished stainless steel nib

 

The real important place is the tipping, as that is where the nib contacts the paper.

A gold nib could have a poor quality or shaped tipping than a stainless nib, and as a result will write poorly (in comparison).

So the tipping is very important.

 

The gold flex nibs are in the past. Though there are a couple companies making gold flex nibs today. But the jury is still out on them, as to how they compare to vintage flex.

 

Thanks. That's really helpful.

[rdh]

I am a big fan of the P75. Never thought I would like a metal pen, but trying one at a show changed that. After that, I also got a silver Targa, which I like a lot.

 

If you want to stick to new ones, I suggest you also look at the Pilots. They are probably out of your price range, but really nice with inlaid nibs. Someday, maybe I'll get one.

 

There are a lot of pictures at nibs.com.

 

Dave

[natsw]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. I have gone for a NOS Sheaffer Imperial 826 in Barleycorn. I really fell for the look of those old Sheaffers, and I think it'll be my husbands cup of tea too. Well I hope so anyway! I really do appreciate how helpful everyone is around here. Maybe I'll start thinking about something, a little more basic, for myself soon too. I'd always discounted a FP because I'm a leftie that tends to smudge. I feel another thread coming on!

[ParkerDuofold]

 

I have to admit, I am unfamiliar with Waldmann, but I checked their website, and I liked what I saw. However, I couldn't find any dealers offering your pen for $180. May I ask where you bought it?

Hi F.,

 

JetPens in California.

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. I have gone for a NOS Sheaffer Imperial 826 in Barleycorn. I really fell for the look of those old Sheaffers, and I think it'll be my husbands cup of tea too. Well I hope so anyway! I really do appreciate how helpful everyone is around here. Maybe I'll start thinking about something, a little more basic, for myself soon too. I'd always discounted a FP because I'm a leftie that tends to smudge. I feel another thread coming on!

Hi Natsw,

 

Excellent choice and a beautiful pen.

 

Be well... and enjoy.

 

- Anthony

[Ron Z]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. I have gone for a NOS Sheaffer Imperial 826 in Barleycorn. I really fell for the look of those old Sheaffers, and I think it'll be my husbands cup of tea too. Well I hope so anyway! I really do appreciate how helpful everyone is around here. Maybe I'll start thinking about something, a little more basic, for myself soon too. I'd always discounted a FP because I'm a leftie that tends to smudge. I feel another thread coming on!

 

I was scrolling through the thread and came across your last post. I think you made a good choice. I have either owned or repaired all of the pens you listed except for the Pilot, and think that the Sheaffer will be the most reliable, and repairable should it need to be serviced. I found the Cross to be too skinny, and the Sonnet to be a disappointment. The plastic cap clutches wear out and the cap gets loose, requiring replacement of the inner cap IF the manufacturer has them. The OTOH Sheaffer uses metal pressure tabs on the section to hold the cap on. They're tough, and easily replaced down the road, IF it needs to be replaced. They still hold on pens that are 40 years old....

[pajaro]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. I have gone for a NOS Sheaffer Imperial 826 in Barleycorn. I really fell for the look of those old Sheaffers, and I think it'll be my husbands cup of tea too. Well I hope so anyway! I really do appreciate how helpful everyone is around here. Maybe I'll start thinking about something, a little more basic, for myself soon too. I'd always discounted a FP because I'm a leftie that tends to smudge. I feel another thread coming on!

 

I am a lefty and I have been smudging along for decades. There is an indefinable essence with Sheaffer pens that makes them feel like exquisite writers. I have found that the easiest ink to get off of my hand is Sailor Jentle ink. I also have Lava soap on hand.

[Dutchpen]

 

Besides the all silver pen, Cross had a Century II, with a black laquer body, sterling silver cap, and gold nib. It is a nice looking pen

 

​I think Dutchpen has one for sale in the classifieds. I'm not sure if it has a gold nib, or a gold plated one (Cross do both - the gold ones have a stamp with the no of karats on it).

 

 

 

Yep, This pen is hallmarked silver with a black cap and gold plated trims.

They come from a retired Cross representative and were produced for only a short time.

[corgicoupe]

I am a lefty and I have been smudging along for decades. There is an indefinable essence with Sheaffer pens that makes them feel like exquisite writers. I have found that the easiest ink to get off of my hand is Sailor Jentle ink. I also have Lava soap on hand.

Yep...The Lava soap is an absolute "must have" for cleaning inky fingers.

[Chrissy]

 

I am a lefty and I have been smudging along for decades. There is an indefinable essence with Sheaffer pens that makes them feel like exquisite writers. I have found that the easiest ink to get off of my hand is Sailor Jentle ink. I also have Lava soap on hand.

 

I bought some from Amazon while I was in the US.