QUESTION : What nib sizes were available for the Sheaffer 330/440/444 ?

[VillersCotterets]

I dove down the rabbit hole of 1970s inlaid nibs. To my knowledge, only three sizes were available, fine, medium and broad, on Sheaffer 330s, 440s and 444s. Sometimes the nib size is indicated on the nib unit (printed in yellow or moulded into the plastic), but more often there is no indication other than a sticker on the body that the original owner removed when they bought the pen decades ago. So far, so good. But recently I acquired two 444s, one unmarked but sold as a fine, and the other clearly marked as a B. They don't match my preconceived nib sizes. The fine is closer to what I consider an extra fine (0.4mm), but that's fine with me. However, the B is what I consider a double broad (BB), or even a triple broad stub (BBB), with 1.0mm downstrokes and 0.7mm side strokes. I was very surprised. I was expecting something more like :

 

• Fine (~0.4 mm)
• Medium (~0.5 mm)
• Broad (~0.7 mm)
   

Maybe I'm wrong and there were more than 3 nib sizes:
 

• Extra fine (~0.4mm)
• Fine (~0.4 mm)
• Medium (~0.5 mm)
• Broad (~0.7 mm)
• Stub (1.0 mm)

 

Where can I find a reference that lists the nib sizes that were originally offered on these pens?

[joss]

Hi, good question.

It is X-Fine, Fine, Medium and Broad for the 330, 440 and 444, as per the 1976 Sheaffer International Service Manual.

This manual was provided by a friendly FPN member, see here.

[VillersCotterets]

1 hour ago, joss said:

[the 1976 Sheaffer International Service Manual.]

This manual was provided by a friendly FPN member, see here.

Wow! It's more than I expected. Thank you very much.