Dip Pen Holder And Nib Compatibility

[ErrantSmudge]

To start, I know very little about dip pens.

 

I recently received a Tachikawa nib holder as part of a trade with another FPN member. And yesterday, at the LA Pen Show, I bought an assortment of dip pen nibs from the Pendemonium booth. I got about 30 nibs for $20.

 

Most if not all of them look as if they are vintage. Some of the brand names and types are:

 

• Esterbrook - Radio Pen, Oval Point, School, Inflexible, Flyer, Falcon Pen, Bank Pen, Easy Writer
• Turner & Harrison
• Hunt - Speedball, Silverine
• Spencerian - Falcon Stub
• Universal
• Kimball-Storer - Business
• Palmer Method
• United States School Pen
• L. Wholley & Son - Silverine
• C. Stillman - Falcon

 

Right now I'd just like to play around and experiment with them. My calligraphy skills are minimal, but I could see using them for drawing/illustration purposes.

 

My questions are:

 

How do I tell which nibs are compatible with my nib holder? All the ones I have tried don't seat all the way in the holder. They only go in about halfway at most before encountering resistance. I haven't wanted to force the nib for fear of damaging the nib or holder.

 

Are any/all of these nibs fits for other modern nib holders if not the Tachikawa?

 

Thanks.

[Randal6393]

A quick search of John Neal Booksellers' website (JohnNealBooks.com) turned up that Tachikawa holders usually take Brause, Speedball, Mitchell, and Tape pens. So the Hunt and Falcon Spenserian nibs should work. Many of the other nibs you have listed may work but are meant for other holders. Would advise looking at a few videos on YouTube about using dip pens, maybe talk with a local artist, go to the library for books on the subject. A bit of fun play, some study, and you should be drawing with your new nibs in no time.

 

Calligraphy? Also easy, but a whole 'nother learning curve. Again, study and practice are the keys to achieving your goals.

 

Best of luck,

[corgicoupe]

The Esterbrooks and the other two Falcons can be used for general writing; I'm not sure about the others. The nibs only go into the ferrule about 3/8", so the longer nibs do stick out quite a bit.

 

I have just started with the dip pen and found that Pelikan 4001 fountain pen ink works well.

[ErrantSmudge]

The nibs only go into the ferrule about 3/8", so the longer nibs do stick out quite a bit.

 

 

Thanks, that is helpful to know.

[AAAndrew]

The Tachikawa is a rather limited holder that fits only nibs that conform to its circumfrance. What you need is a holder with a flexible spring ferrule. What that means is that you have a metal end in the holder that contains some flat, metal springs. These hold the nib tightly against the inside wall of the ferrule. These are what I call an "inner spring" holder on my web site where I talk about holders. https://thesteelpen.com/2017/10/18/using-steel-pens-part-3-holding-your-pen/

 

You can get a basic, but decent holder for not much money at all. Here are some options. (no connection, just a regular customer).

 

Not to turn this into a promotion for my site, but part of the reason I created these pages it to avoid having to type the same information over and over. I love dip nibs and love getting people interested in them. I have some basic steel (dip) pen info gleaned from my collecting and using dip pens for some years rather obsessively.

 

Basic Supplies

Choosing the Right Pen (Nib)

Holding Your Pen

Ink and Paper

Pen Prep and Bits & Pieces

 

You have some good quality, early-20th-century pens in what you bought from Pendemonium. Now you just need a holder that will have some flexibility in what it holds, and you'll be in business. Don't forget to prep your nibs (see the Pen Prep page for my advice, or search online and you'll find plenty of options).

 

The one main piece of advice I give everyone who's starting out, is to have a very light touch. The touch you need is much lighter than what you use for a fountain pen, especially the elegant nails we tend to use these days. And you press even lighter on the upstroke than the down.

 

And, of course, have fun!

 

Andrew

[Bo Bo Olson]

If you are left handed you have it made in the shade.....if right hander, best is oblique nib holders. Your Speedball will need it's own holder.

 

In that you draw, you should buy or download a book or three on calligraphies. Copperplate, Spenserian, and stiff nib calligraphy........there are so many fine scripts in stiff nib calligraphy.

I have one for stiff nib Italic calligraphy, which is also helpful for other scripts, in it teaches the push, pull that is usable.

 

You have to draw the letters at first.....learn a new alphabet, then later others.

 

If you have Hunt 99-100-101's those are extreme flexible nibs. You may after trying them want to put them in reserve for a bit later.

 

WOG, by learning to draw letters would help your other drawing by teaching you how to use the nibs, .... brush strokes.

You should IMO, get a good oblique holder or two....if right handed, it masters the nib for you.

 

Practice.......don't do like me....that every time I have the urge, I've got to take a hammer and chisel to break the dust rust shut book open.

I have everything, dip pen inks, good writing paper, nibs, holders both straight and oblique.....I'm just lacking a bottle of will power.