Does anyone know what kind of nib this is?

[SaraL]

This is an old fountain pen I got passed down from my mother, unknown make, there is no text or branding anywhere on the pen or nib. It leaks like crazy so it rarely gets used but I actually quite like the nib. It doesn't look like a regular round tip nib, and I was wondering if anyone here knew what kind of nib it is. The only thing I can think of would be an architect nib because of the flattened sides, but the bottom angle is very rounded on this one, which doesn't match examples of architect nibs I've seen. Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

I donno what to call the grind. It looks pretty normal to me

 

But that nib is definitely damaged.  Looks like it was dropped and then only partially straightened.  
 

I’m surprised it works at all. 
 

 

[SaraL]

To be fair that's probably exactly what happened to it. It came to me with that weird bend that means it's not touching the feed properly - probably one of the reasons it leaks so bad... But yeah I was just curious about the grind, whether it was just a kind of round tip or not.

[I-am-not-really-here]

It looks like it is set up for arabic calligraphy or hebrew perhaps.

[OCArt]

I thought it was a folded nib; an inexpensive way to get a writing surface and vary line width.

[SaraL]

29 minutes ago, OCArt said:

I thought it was a folded nib; an inexpensive way to get a writing surface and vary line width.

I'd never heard of a folded fountain pen nib but I've looked it up and found some pictures of old Platignum School pens and I think you're right, the nib looks very similar! 

 

1 hour ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

It looks like it is set up for arabic calligraphy or hebrew perhaps

That would have been really interesting, and I do see what you mean after having looked up those type of nibs. I think OCArt suggestion is more likely here since my grandma probably bought this as a cheap school pen for her kid. 

 

Thanks for helping out folks 😊

[Licue]

51 minutes ago, OCArt said:

I thought it was a folded nib; an inexpensive way to get a writing surface and vary line width.

I think the architect-y line variation was more or less an unintended side effect.

The main purpose probably was to avoid the costs of iridium tipping.

[inkstainedruth]

The 1xxx series nibs for vintage Esterbrook are folded.  That being said, my first Estie was an SJ with a 1555 Gregg shorthand nib and it actually wrote pretty well for what it was -- a budget/student-grade nib.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[dipper]

Folded nibs can look a bit wonky, even when they are not...

This is a cheap "no-name" pen I bought new around 1990.

Much used since then, as it writes so well.

 

The side profile of the folded tip was a smooth arc when new. It has worn to a flat since then...

There are a few more years to go before it wears into a moderate "architect" nib tip shape.