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The Myth of the Wet Noodle


LoveBigPensAndCannotLie

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So, I've been collecting vintage pens for a bit now and I have all sorts, including a fair amount of pens and nibs from the era where "wet noodle" type nibs were made. I have a few very flexible nibs, some medium flex, some closer to semi-flex, and one observation I've made is that the few nibs in my collection that I could call "wet noodle" (the ones that open up at literally the lightest touch, as soon as you touch the paper) are ones that are damaged.

 

Meaning, they were splayed at some point and repaired but they never really went back to their original tightly coiled springiness, making them easier to open (hence the wet noodle) and easier to "re-splay." Of course this could be a chicken and the egg type of problem where the nib was originally very flexible and delicate and this made it more likely that people damaged them. But I am leaning towards my initial observation that most of these wet noodle nibs are simply damaged/splayed nibs.

 

For people who have more extensive knowledge of antique nibs, am I totally off? Are there nibs that are "wet noodle" that are as designed (and not super flexible as a result of being splayed)? I suppose this also depends on one's definition of a "wet noodle" nib.

 

 

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I've watched 'tube videos of someone writing with wet noodles.  This is a thing of beauty to behold.  The nib dances in the master's hand, leaving a series of elegant letters, spreading and springing back with each stroke.

 

They existed.  For certain.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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Do you have a link? I'd be curious to see. I've seen some videos that were posted several years ago (by people selling the pens) and they seemed freshly inked/dipped rather than writing you'd get with normal everyday performance.

 

I have several pens that open very wide with great snapback, but they take a bit of pressure. When I hear wet noodle, my impression is of a pen that opens up with almost a feather touch on paper. And I have a few nibs like this, but all of these nibs that I have are slightly splayed or damaged in some way that makes them more flexible.

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  On 12/12/2022 at 12:40 AM, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

Do you have a link? I'd be curious to see. I've seen some videos that were posted several years ago (by people selling the pens) and they seemed freshly inked/dipped rather than writing you'd get with normal everyday performance.

 

I have several pens that open very wide with great snapback, but they take a bit of pressure. When I hear wet noodle, my impression is of a pen that opens up with almost a feather touch on paper. And I have a few nibs like this, but all of these nibs that I have are slightly splayed or damaged in some way that makes them more flexible.

Expand  

 

I wish I did have a link.  It was several years ago, and really something.  And the pens were NOT for sale.  

 

A wet noodle should indeed open at a feather touch.  I have one I bought a lonnng time ago at a pen show for ten bucks, and it's a mis-matched nib on an old eyedropper pen. 

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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  On 12/12/2022 at 12:54 AM, Sailor Kenshin said:

I have one I bought a lonnng time ago at a pen show for ten bucks, and it's a mis-matched nib on an old eyedropper pen. 

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Wow, that seems like a killer deal. Definitely something you'd have to buy in person, it's really hard to tell from a listing how flexible a pen is because everyone has a different definition of what flexible is. And wet noodle too, a nib could be super flexible and not be a wet noodle. 

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Just for curiosity's sake, I looked for the video, couldn't find it.  The man who filmed it was or is a member here, and there was no fifteen minutes of his face on-camera wasting time.  Just the hand, and the pen.

 

I see what you mean about the modern videos.  Yuck.  And a modern pen isn't really flex either, unless you are Thor.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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  On 12/12/2022 at 2:31 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

And a modern pen isn't really flex either, unless you are Thor.

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I forgot where I saw this saying but I think it's hilarious - every nib is a flex nib, once.

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  On 12/12/2022 at 2:37 PM, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

I forgot where I saw this saying but I think it's hilarious - every nib is a flex nib, once.

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😜 👍🏻

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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Most of my superflex nibs are 5-6 X tine spread.,,,,Easy Full Flex, much lighter than semi-flex.

 

I rate superflex as 'easy full flex', then wet noodle and finally the scarcer than hen's teeth 'weak kneed wet noodle'. .

I have three 'wet noodles'. one is a two stage 7x Nib, the other a single stage 6 X, both of them are from a Waterman 52. My best wet noodle is a Soennecken one, on a 'no name' pen, with I think is a Soenecken cap..............those are middle third at best in the dip pen nibs.

 

 

The term weak kneed wet noodle was invented by the English nib grinder John Swoboda(sp?) It took me well over half a decade after I heard the term to run into my first one.

 

I saw and felt a '20's MB Safety Pen at a live auction near a decade ago. It had a tine that was missing tipping. But when put to my thumb nail, it made my wet noodles look uncooked.

 

My wife lucked into a free one at a street flea market....for spare parts. Francis cleaned it up and put a new gasket on it.

It is in the middle of the dip pen nib range..................the far end of flex where an Earthquake in California makes the nib flex is the Hunt 99-100-101 which I have,  the renown Gillette 303/404 and Leonard nibs I don't have.

 

cj3yiXw.jpgtC9B2B4.jpg?1

0vcaAsk.jpg# 6 Simplo nib.

lnHrQjX.jpg

I don't do spread the nib pictures and you'd not know how much pressure I used.

 

A Regular flex nib/=Japanese 'soft' when well mashed will spread it's tines 3X a light down stroke. One can not right with one of those nibs mashed out to 3 X.

Semi-flex takes half of that pressure to reach 3 X & the ham fisted....:blush: can write with it maxed. It took me some 3-6 weeks to get so I wasn't maxing the nib all the time.

Maxi-semi-flex half of that or 1/4th the pressure needed to max a regular flex.

 

This superflex rating is mostly for noobies to superflex. Mauricio disagrees with my system. :thumbup: but he deals in superflex pens. The more superflex pens one has the more the borders blur.

This at least lets you know the difference between horseshoe and hand grenades.

 

Superflex... 4x some as in few, mostly 5-6 X....very seldom 7 X ..... unless someone is doing nib abuse and is trying to sell a sprung nib on you Tube or Ebay. I'd guess I have 10-12 superflex nibbed pens of all three flex rates. (gathered haphazardly on the whole by sheer luck....out side the two Waterman 52's...and not all 52's are wet noodles or even superflex.) Well I don't do spread sheets so could be off a pen or two.

For me I lucked out and my superflex nibs are not mushy. One respectable poster has mushy wet noodles and that was part of his description of the term wet noodle.

 

Those who can write....not me....are more interested in fast snapback to a thin line than how fat they can make the nib write.

 

Easy Full Flex needs half the pressure of a maxi....or 1/8th the pressure of a regular flex.

 

Wet Noodle half of that pressure  of an Easy Full Flex or 1/16th the pressure of maxing a regular flex.

 

I've not decided if my Weak Kneed Wet Noodle is 1/32 or 1/64th the pressure needed to max a regular flex.  But it makes my wet noodles look uncooked.

I've threatened to learn how to write with my wet noodles, even before i lucked into my Weak Kneed Wet Noodle....lying to oneself can become a habit, when one is lazy.

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

Ransom Bucket cost me many of my pictures taken by a poor camera that was finally tossed. Luckily, the Chicken Scratch pictures also vanished.

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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  On 12/18/2022 at 10:38 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Most of my superflex nibs are 5-6 X tine spread.,,,,Easy Full Flex, much lighter than semi-flex.

 

I rate superflex as 'easy full flex', then wet noodle and finally the scarcer than hen's teeth 'weak kneed wet noodle'. .

I have three 'wet noodles'. one is a two stage 7x Nib, the other a single stage 6 X, both of them are from a Waterman 52. My best wet noodle is a Soennecken one, on a 'no name' pen, with I think is a Soenecken cap..............those are middle third at best in the dip pen nibs.

 

 

The term weak kneed wet noodle was invented by the English nib grinder John Swoboda(sp?) It took me well over half a decade after I heard the term to run into my first one.

 

I saw and felt a '20's MB Safety Pen at a live auction near a decade ago. It had a tine that was missing tipping. But when put to my thumb nail, it made my wet noodles look uncooked.

 

My wife lucked into a free one at a street flea market....for spare parts. Francis cleaned it up and put a new gasket on it.

It is in the middle of the dip pen nib range..................the far end of flex where an Earthquake in California makes the nib flex is the Hunt 99-100-101 which I have,  the renown Gillette 303/404 and Leonard nibs I don't have.

 

cj3yiXw.jpgtC9B2B4.jpg?1

0vcaAsk.jpg# 6 Simplo nib.

lnHrQjX.jpg

I don't do spread the nib pictures and you'd not know how much pressure I used.

 

A Regular flex nib/=Japanese 'soft' when well mashed will spread it's tines 3X a light down stroke. One can not right with one of those nibs mashed out to 3 X.

Semi-flex takes half of that pressure to reach 3 X & the ham fisted....:blush: can write with it maxed. It took me some 3-6 weeks to get so I wasn't maxing the nib all the time.

Maxi-semi-flex half of that or 1/4th the pressure needed to max a regular flex.

 

This superflex rating is mostly for noobies to superflex. Mauricio disagrees with my system. :thumbup: but he deals in superflex pens. The more superflex pens one has the more the borders blur.

This at least lets you know the difference between horseshoe and hand grenades.

 

Superflex... 4x some as in few, mostly 5-6 X....very seldom 7 X ..... unless someone is doing nib abuse and is trying to sell a sprung nib on you Tube or Ebay. I'd guess I have 10-12 superflex nibbed pens of all three flex rates. (gathered haphazardly on the whole by sheer luck....out side the two Waterman 52's...and not all 52's are wet noodles or even superflex.) Well I don't do spread sheets so could be off a pen or two.

For me I lucked out and my superflex nibs are not mushy. One respectable poster has mushy wet noodles and that was part of his description of the term wet noodle.

 

Those who can write....not me....are more interested in fast snapback to a thin line than how fat they can make the nib write.

 

Easy Full Flex needs half the pressure of a maxi....or 1/8th the pressure of a regular flex.

 

Wet Noodle half of that pressure  of an Easy Full Flex or 1/16th the pressure of maxing a regular flex.

 

I've not decided if my Weak Kneed Wet Noodle is 1/32 or 1/64th the pressure needed to max a regular flex.  But it makes my wet noodles look uncooked.

I've threatened to learn how to write with my wet noodles, even before i lucked into my Weak Kneed Wet Noodle....lying to oneself can become a habit, when one is lazy.

Expand  

Here we would need to be careful to grade the specific pressure that is being used to induce flex in the nib.  To go with a grading system like this one would have to have a scientifically reproducible methodology to measure the pressure to induce the degree of flex indicated.  One needs to bear in mind that when you are measuring something as delicate as this one individual to another there is no real way to standardize other than to use a mechanistic approach which allows precise assessment of specific pressures. Absent that everything is completely subjective. Writing with a fountain pen is most definitely a subjective experience. To the author, do you really belive it can be compartmentalized in the manner you put forward?

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  On 12/21/2022 at 3:43 PM, DiveDr said:

Absent that everything is completely subjective. Writing with a fountain pen is most definitely a subjective experience. To the author, do you really belive it can be compartmentalized in the manner you put forward?

Expand  

 

This is my biggest problem with buying "flex" pens online. One person's semi-flex is another's flex, another's wet noodle is someone's "normal" flex. And even if you have similar ideas of what "flexible" means, everyone has a slightly different idea of how hard these nibs should be pushed. Makes buying these very tricky if it's not in person.

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There was a suggestion years ago about using a balance to measure the pressure as "weight" applied and I seem to remember also of a way to ensure pens were at the same angle during the measure.

 

I also seem to remember the original suggestion started at a Spanish, Italian or French fountain pen forum.

 

Still, again from recollections, there were several confounding variables that would need to be taken care of, but as a starter, that seems to me a not too bad initial approximation.

 

But one would need first to standardize the procedure in a simple enough way to be easily reproducible, and then ask sellers to give their measure in that scale. I would bet most would ignore it, but with persistence and in due time, I would also bet many might end up using it if they perceive it as a way to get more customers.

 

One can only dream... maybe one day even the big makers would join :D

If you are to be ephemeral, leave a good scent.

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  On 12/21/2022 at 7:12 PM, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

 

This is my biggest problem with buying "flex" pens online. One person's semi-flex is another's flex, another's wet noodle is someone's "normal" flex. And even if you have similar ideas of what "flexible" means, everyone has a slightly different idea of how hard these nibs should be pushed. Makes buying these very tricky if it's not in person.

Expand  


I MIGHT have found one of those older flex writing videos (with pens no one is selling).  I'll have to see if I can get it to link here.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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  On 12/21/2022 at 11:16 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

One person's semi-flex is another's flex, another's wet noodle is someone's "normal" flex.

Expand  

Unless someone uses only dip pens, no wet noodle is anyone's 'normal' flex.

 

Not really...........if one reads there are a couple of folks with systems.....me,:rolleyes: and for superflex...Mauricio has a great blog.

 

My superflex rating is for those new to superflex....more so than than those having 10 or so of the three superflex rates detailed..

 

Mauricio thinks my system for superflex a bit lacking in it defines in harder borders, and he's right.** But he deals in superflex; so sees much bluring of borders. My system is 'set' to let the noobies know the difference between Easy Full Flex and Wet Noodles. (regular flex, semi-flex and maxi-semi-flex, works up to it.)

 

In I've only seen two Weak Kneed Wet Noodles (The term was invented by the English nib grinder John Swoboda(sp)); both early MB Safety pen nibs (one a decade ago in a live auction....& have one (pre'23 Simplo nibbed pens), it is nothing to worry about.

 

** I have a couple nibs that are almost wet noodles..........with a bit more ease of flex in the Easy Full flex rating than most of the others.............but when one of the three wet noodles are bought out, it/they don't quite make the jump to wet noodle. 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The main thing one has to have to understand any flex rates is a regular flex nib is needed as the base....like some Esterbrooks; most/all Wearevers, some '50-70's Shaffers, Pelikan 200/ semi-vintage 400.........Japanese 'soft' is the other equivalent.

From there my system goes down half less pressure to max the nib in each flex rate....but if you don't have a regular flex/Japanese Soft.....then you have to find some other fella's system to find out if you have a semi-flex.....maxi-semi-flex or even Easy Full Flex (first stage of superflex).

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

Ransom Bucket cost me many of my pictures taken by a poor camera that was finally tossed. Luckily, the Chicken Scratch pictures also vanished.

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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  On 12/21/2022 at 8:01 PM, txomsy said:

There was a suggestion years ago about using a balance to measure the pressure as "weight" applied and I seem to remember also of a way to ensure pens were at the same angle during the measure.

 

I also seem to remember the original suggestion started at a Spanish, Italian or French fountain pen forum.

 

Still, again from recollections, there were several confounding variables that would need to be taken care of, but as a starter, that seems to me a not too bad initial approximation.

 

But one would need first to standardize the procedure in a simple enough way to be easily reproducible, and then ask sellers to give their measure in that scale. I would bet most would ignore it, but with persistence and in due time, I would also bet many might end up using it if they perceive it as a way to get more customers.

 

One can only dream... maybe one day even the big makers would join :D

Expand  

The only way that I can figure to do it correctly is similar to the way that we measure floor reaction forces for people walking with prosthetic limbs, amputees. It's called a floor reaction plate. One would have to fabricate something like this that can measure very small forces, tare it so that the paper would not influence the measurement and then measure the force of writing against line width. This would give a very accurate assessment of how much pressure was required to flex a nib to produce what line width.  It would not be an inexpensive experiment!😁🤣😁

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  On 12/21/2022 at 11:45 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Unless someone uses only dip pens, no wet noodle is anyone's 'normal' flex.

 

Not really...........if one reads there are a couple of folks with systems.....me,:rolleyes: and for superflex...Mauricio has a great blog.

 

My superflex rating is for those new to superflex....more so than than those having 10 or so of the three superflex rates detailed..

 

Mauricio thinks my system for superflex a bit lacking in it defines in harder borders, and he's right.** But he deals in superflex; so sees much bluring of borders. My system is 'set' to let the noobies know the difference between Easy Full Flex and Wet Noodles. (regular flex, semi-flex and maxi-semi-flex, works up to it.)

 

In I've only seen two Weak Kneed Wet Noodles (The term was invented by the English nib grinder John Swoboda(sp)); both early MB Safety pen nibs (one a decade ago in a live auction....& have one (pre'23 Simplo nibbed pens), it is nothing to worry about.

 

** I have a couple nibs that are almost wet noodles..........with a bit more ease of flex in the Easy Full flex rating than most of the others.............but when one of the three wet noodles are bought out, it/they don't quite make the jump to wet noodle. 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The main thing one has to have to understand any flex rates is a regular flex nib is needed as the base....like some Esterbrooks; most/all Wearevers, some '50-70's Shaffers, Pelikan 200/ semi-vintage 400.........Japanese 'soft' is the other equivalent.

From there my system goes down half less pressure to max the nib in each flex rate....but if you don't have a regular flex/Japanese Soft.....then you have to find some other fella's system to find out if you have a semi-flex.....maxi-semi-flex or even Easy Full Flex (first stage of superflex).

Expand  


I didn't post what you quoted.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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I think he quoted the wrong person, I said that and I stand by it. I've seen some people post videos of nibs they claim are "super flex" or "wet noodle" and it looks like ordinary flex to me, often with a primed feed. At the end of the day, superflex, wet noodle, semi-flex, "easy full flex," and maxi-semi-flex are not at all scientific terms and don't have definitive measures.

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  On 12/21/2022 at 7:12 PM, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

 

This is my biggest problem with buying "flex" pens online. One person's semi-flex is another's flex, another's wet noodle is someone's "normal" flex. And even if you have similar ideas of what "flexible" means, everyone has a slightly different idea of how hard these nibs should be pushed. Makes buying these very tricky if it's not in person.

Expand  
  On 12/22/2022 at 1:03 AM, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

I think he quoted the wrong person, I said that and I stand by it. I've seen some people post videos of nibs they claim are "super flex" or "wet noodle" and it looks like ordinary flex to me, often with a primed feed. At the end of the day, superflex, wet noodle, semi-flex, "easy full flex," and maxi-semi-flex are not at all scientific terms and don't have definitive measures.

Expand  

 

 

not only flex nibs has this 'problem'.  I always see when people review their pen, "the nib is a bit bouncy", "the nib is slightly springly", "it had a little bit of flex".  When I got chance to try those pen, I don't feel particularly different in terms of 'softness' / 'flexness'.  To me they just don't flex at all.

 

So I conclude that this must be because everyone's different writing pressure.  I think of myself as writing with very light pressure.  The people who says that so and so nib is springy, must have heavier writing pressure than me.  Unless there's a reliable way to tell how much newtons are being pressed, at what angle, etc, there's just no way to tell.  Everyone's idea of 'light pressure', 'slightly', are just gonna be different.  

 

The same applies to nib smoothness and feedback.

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  On 12/22/2022 at 1:49 AM, AceNinja said:

I think of myself as writing with very light pressure.  The people who says that so and so nib is springy, must have heavier writing pressure than me.  Unless there's a reliable way to tell how much newtons are being pressed, at what angle, etc, there's just no way to tell. 

Expand  

 

It wouldn't matter — or wouldn't be sufficient — anyway even if they showed a static snapshot of curvature of the tines (for ‘soft’ or ‘bouncy’), or how far the tines splayed laterally (for ‘flex’), complete with a numeric figure for the force applied to achieve it. Nobody is going to model the dynamic response of the nib to varying pressure (by amount, as well as the rate of change) and present it as a table of figures, curve on a graph, or mathematical equations; and, even if they did, the meaning and significance of such would be lost on the majority of readers/viewers perusing or browsing the freely-offered ‘amateur’ material online. I'd even contend that a lot of ‘interested’ folk would find such a precise and/or comprehensive description, as opposed to loose use of language, to be a turn-off, because it isn't for idle curiosity, effortless entertainment, or the faint of heart.

 

I endeavour to be frank and truthful in what I write, show or otherwise present, when I relate my first-hand experiences that are not independently verifiable; and link to third-party content where I can, when I make a claim or refute a statement of fact in a thread. If there is something you can verify for yourself, I entreat you to do so, and judge for yourself what is right, correct, and valid. I may be wrong, and my position or say-so is no more authoritative and carries no more weight than anyone else's here.

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  On 12/22/2022 at 3:28 AM, A Smug Dill said:

 

It wouldn't matter — or wouldn't be sufficient — anyway even if they showed up a static snapshot of curvature of the tines (for ‘soft’ or ‘bouncy’), or how far the tines splayed laterally (for ‘flex’), complete with a numeric figure for the force applied to achieve that anyway. Nobody is going to model the dynamic response of the nib to varying pressure (by amount, as well as the rate of change) and present it as a table of figures, curve on a graph, or mathematical equations; and, even if they did, the meaning and significance of such would be lost on the majority of readers/viewers perusing or browsing the freely-offered ‘amateur’ material online. I'd even contend that a lot of ‘interested’ folk would find such a precise and/or comprehensive description, as opposed to loose use of language, to be a turn-off, because it isn't for idle curiosity, effortless entertainment, or the faint of heart.

 

Expand  

Lovely comments!  Completely agree, way too much mathematic gymnastics for the casual mind.  It could be done with a force reaction plate however, what purpose would it serve?  Who would use or profit in any way from the exercise.  Writing is an art in both crafting the language and putting it to paper.  The subjective experience of writing with a fountain pen is unique to the individual holding the pen at that moment in time.  I have hundreds of pens, two copies of the same pen may feel different to my hand.  Beauty, as they say, is after all, in the eye of the beholder...

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    • Emes 25 Nov 23:31
      jew
    • Misfit 9 Nov 2:38
      lantanagal, I’ve only seen that happen when you put someone on the ignore list. I doubt a friend would do that.
    • lantanagal 7 Nov 19:01
      UPDATE - FIXED NOW Exact message is: Requested page not available! Dear Visitor of the Fountain Pen Nuthouse The page you are requesting to visit is not available to you. You are not authorised to access the requested page. Regards, The FPN Admin Team November 7, 2024
    • lantanagal 7 Nov 18:59
      UPDATE - FIXED NOW Trying to send a pen friend a reply to a message, keep getting an error message to say I don't have access. Anyone any ideas? (tried logging our and back in to no avail)
    • Dr.R 2 Nov 16:58
      Raina’s
    • fireant 2 Nov 1:36
      Fine-have you had a nibmeister look at it?
    • carlos.q 29 Oct 15:19
      @FineFinerFinest: have you seen this thread? https://www.fountainpennetwor...nging-pelikan-nibs/#comments
    • FineFinerFinest 24 Oct 8:52
      No replies required to my complaints about the Pelikan. A friend came to the rescue with some very magnification equipment - with the images thrown to a latge high res screen. Technology is a wonderful thing. Thanks to Mercian for the reply. I had been using the same paper & ink for sometime when the "singing" started. I have a theory but no proof that nibs get damaged when capping the pen. 👍
    • Mercian 22 Oct 22:28
      @FineFinerFinest: sometimes nib-'singing' can be lessened - or even cured - by changing the ink that one is putting through the pen, or the paper that one is using. N.b. *sometimes*. Good luck
    • Bluetaco 22 Oct 22:04
      howdy
    • FineFinerFinest 21 Oct 5:23
      I'm not expecting any replies to my question about the singing Pelikan nib. It seems, from reading the background, that I am not alone. It's a nice pen. It's such a pity Pelikan can't make decent nibs. I have occasionally met users who tell me how wonderful their Pelikan nib is. I've spent enough money to know that not everyone has this experience. I've worked on nibs occasionally over forty years with great success. This one has me beaten. I won't be buying any more Pelikan pens. 👎
    • FineFinerFinest 21 Oct 4:27
      I've had a Pelikan M805 for a couple of years now and cannot get the nib to write without singing. I've worked on dozens of nibs with great success. Ny suggestion about what's going wrong? 😑
    • Bhakt 12 Oct 5:45
      Any feedback in 100th anniversary Mont Blanc green pens?
    • Glens pens 8 Oct 15:08
      @jordierocks94 i happen to have platinum preppy that has wrote like (bleep) since i bought it my second pen....is that something you would wish to practice on?
    • jordierocks94 4 Oct 6:26
      Hello all - New here. My Art studies have spilled me into the ft pen world where I am happily submerged and floating! I'm looking to repair some cheap pens that are starving for ink yet filled, and eventually get new nibs; and development of repair skills (an even longer learning curve than my art studies - lol). Every hobby needs a hobby, eh ...
    • The_Beginner 18 Sept 23:35
      horse notebooks if you search the title should still appear though it wont show you in your proflie
    • Jayme Brener 16 Sept 22:21
      Hi, guys. I wonder if somebody knows who manufactured the Coro fountain pens.
    • TheHorseNotebooks 16 Sept 13:11
      Hello, it's been ages for me since I was here last time. I had a post (http://www.fountainpennetwork...-notebooks/?view=getnewpost) but I see that it is no longer accessible. Is there anyway to retrieve that one?
    • Refujio Rodriguez 16 Sept 5:39
      I have a match stick simplomatic with a weidlich nib. Does anyone know anything about this pen?
    • The_Beginner 15 Sept 16:11
      dusty yes, glen welcome
    • Glens pens 11 Sept 1:22
      Hello, Im new to FPN I'm so happy to find other foutain penattics. collecting almost one year ,thought I would say hello to everyone.
    • DustyBin 8 Sept 14:34
      I haven't been here for ages... do I take it that private sales are no longer allowed? Also used to be a great place to sell and buy some great pens
    • Sailor Kenshin 1 Sept 12:37
      Lol…
    • JungleJim 1 Sept 1:55
      Perhaps it's like saying Beetlejuice 3 times to get that person to appear, though with @Sailor Kenshin you only have to say it twice?
    • Sailor Kenshin 31 Aug 21:06
      ?
    • Duffy 29 Aug 19:31
      @Sailor Kenshin @Sailor Kenshin
    • Seney724 26 Aug 22:07
    • Diablo 26 Aug 22:05
      Thank you so much, Seney724. I really appreciate your help!
    • Seney724 26 Aug 21:43
      I have no ties or relationship. Just a very happy customer. He is a very experienced Montblanc expert.
    • Seney724 26 Aug 21:42
      I strongly recommend Kirk Speer at https://www.penrealm.com/
    • Diablo 26 Aug 21:35
      @Seney724. The pen was recently disassembled and cleaned, but the nib and feed were not properly inserted into the holder. I'm in Maryland.
    • Diablo 26 Aug 21:32
      @Seney724. The nib section needs to be adjusted properly.
    • Seney724 26 Aug 18:16
      @Diablo. Where are you? What does it need?
    • Diablo 26 Aug 16:58
      Seeking EXPERIENCED, REPUTABLE service/repair for my 149. PLEASE help!!!
    • Penguincollector 19 Aug 19:42
      @Marta Val, reach out to @terim, who runs Peyton Street Pens and is very knowledgeable about Sheaffer pens
    • Marta Val 19 Aug 14:35
      Hello, could someone recommend a reliable venue: on line or brick and mortar in Fairfax, VA or Long Island, NY to purchase the soft parts and a converter to restore my dad's Sheaffer Legacy? please. Thanks a mill.
    • The_Beginner 18 Aug 2:49
      is there a guy who we can message to find a part for us with a given timelimit if so please let me know his name!
    • virtuoso 16 Aug 15:15
      what happene to the new Shaeffer inks?
    • Scribs 14 Aug 17:09
      fatehbajwa, in Writing Instruments, "Fountain Pens + Dip Pens First Stop" ?
    • fatehbajwa 14 Aug 12:17
      Back to FPN after 14 years. First thing I noticed is that I could not see a FS forum. What has changed? 🤔
    • Kika 5 Aug 10:22
      Are there any fountain pen collectors in Qatar?
    • T.D. Rabbit 31 July 18:58
      Ahh okay, thanks!
    • Scribs 29 July 18:51
      @ TDRabbit, even better would be in Creative Expressions area, subform The Write Stuff
    • T.D. Rabbit 29 July 11:40
      Okay, thanks!
    • JungleJim 29 July 0:46
      @T.D. Rabbit Try posting it in the "Chatter Forum". You have to be logged in to see it.
    • T.D. Rabbit 28 July 17:54
      Hello! Is there a thread anywhere 'round here where one can post self-composed poetry? If not, would it be alright if I made one? I searched on google, but to no avail...
    • OldFatDog 26 July 19:41
      I have several Parker Roller Ball & Fiber Tip refills in the original packaging. Where and how do I sell them? The couple that I've opened the ink still flowed when put to paper. Also if a pen would take the foller ball refill then it should take the fiber tip as well? Anyway it's been awhile and I'm want to take my message collection beyond the few pieces that I have... Meaning I don't have a Parker these refills will fit in 🙄
    • RegDiggins 23 July 12:40
      Recently was lucky enough to buy a pristine example of the CF crocodile ball with the gold plating. Then of course I faced the same problem we all have over the years ,of trying to find e refill. Fortunately I discovered one here in the U.K. I wonder if there are other sources which exist in other countries, by the way they were not cheap pen
    • The_Beginner 20 July 20:35
      Hows it going guys i have a code from pen chalet that i wont use for 10% off and it ends aug 31st RC10AUG its 10% off have at it fellas
    • T.D. Rabbit 19 July 9:33
      Somewhat confusing and off-putting ones, as said to me by my very honest friends. I don't have an X account though :<
    • piano 19 July 8:41
      @The Devil Rabbit what kind of? Let’s go to X (twitter) with #inkdoodle #inkdoodleFP
    • Mort639 17 July 1:03
      I have a Conway Stewart Trafalgar set. It was previously owned by actor Russell Crowe and includes a letter from him. Can anyone help me with assessing its value?
    • Sailor Kenshin 15 July 17:41
      There must be a couple of places here to share artworks.
    • T.D. Rabbit 15 July 12:45
      Hullo! I really like making ink doodles, and I'd like to share a few. Anywhere on the site I can do so? Thanks in advance!
    • Sailor Kenshin 6 July 17:58
      Pay It Forward.
    • AndWhoDisguisedAs 6 July 16:59
      where would I post wanting to trade bottle of ink straight up?
    • JungleJim 3 July 16:14
      @Bill Wood-- just look at the message below you that was posted by @PAKMAN. He is a moderator here on the forums.
    • Bill Wood 2 July 14:24
      Just checking on a classified section and where we are with that. Many thanks. Bill
    • PAKMAN 29 June 1:57
      @inky1 The software for the classified stopped working with the forum. So no we don't have a sales section anymore at FPN
    • inky1 28 June 16:49
      I am not sure which is the classifieds section
    • inky1 28 June 16:46
      IIs there a Fountain Pen Sales board anywhere on here?
    • dave c 25 June 19:01
      Hi. Anybody ever heard about a Royal Puck Pen. Very small but good looking.
    • Eppie_Matts 23 June 19:25
      Thanks! I've just ordered some #6's to experiment with.
    • Al-fresco 21 June 12:11
      @Eppie_Matts Shouldn't be a problem - I've just put a Bock #6 Titanium into a La Grande Bellezza section. Went straight in without any problem.
    • Curiousone11 21 June 4:35
      Any recommendations on anyone who specializes in original pen patents?
    • Eppie_Matts 20 June 1:32
      Hi all - I'm new to experimenting with pens and nibs. Can I put a bock 6 on a Pineider? Thanks!
    • penned in 16 June 17:33
      Hi, I'm new to this forum and was wondering where is the best place to sell a Montblanc ballpoint pen? Are ballpoints allowed here? It's a beautiful pen that deserves a great listing. Thanks.
    • ChrisUrbane 9 June 3:16
      I havent logged in here for a while. I have moved and when I try to change my location on my profile, when I go to save it, it sais 'page not found' and that I do not have authority to change that.
    • Dlj 6 June 20:19
      I am looking for someone who can repair a Waterman Preface ballpoint that won’t stay together
    • Penguincollector 30 May 14:59
      I just noticed that the oppsing team of the game I watched last night had a player named Biro in their lineup. He must be part of Marsell the oily magician’s cadre
    • Penguincollector 30 May 14:57
      Oof @beechwood, that’s awful.
    • Beechwood 30 May 1:28
      @Penguincollector I spilled a bottle of ink, picked it up by the cap and the bottle fell to the floor, ruined a carpet and took hours to clean up. Back to pencils FTTB.
    • Penguincollector 26 May 23:26
      I spilled shimmer ink on my lap, and worse, on my floor. It cleaned up with no trace, but I lost about 1/4 of the 15 mL bottle 🥲
    • 2ouvenir 26 May 3:34
      @1000BC maybe you will have more luck in the Pelikan subforum: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/forum/42-pelikan/
    • 1000BC 18 May 17:45
      Hello, could somebody tell some price estimation from Pelikan pens? I got an offer from 3 pcs of used pens, 14k original Pelikan nibs and they all have Gunter Wagner texts. Size are Pelikan 400 one is gold plated and tortoise, another tortoise and the last is black
    • 1000BC 18 May 17:37
      pelikan
    • CRKDraws 18 May 12:06
      Hello, new here and in the market for opus 88 demo pens, any of the limited/special/collab ones, but any really. Where would you advise searching?
    • inky1 18 May 10:16
      hello everyone, new to this site. May have been born with a fountain pen in my hand
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