| The True Mettle of Japanese Pens |
First published in "mono" magazine in the Spring of 2008, read this article in English and see the Japanese original. It reveals how important fountain pens are in Japan. |
|
Why Use Gold Nibs?
|
Think "ink". Click on the title of the article
to find out why..
|
| Smoothing
Scratchy Nibs |
If a person enjoys writing with a fountain pen, it is
probably for several reasons. High on the list is the
feel of pen on paper, as it glides effortlessly across
the surface. |
| The Anatomy of a Nib |
The nib is an elegant answer
to a question of aesthetics and function. It has a characteristic
shape that, with a few notable exceptions, has remained
very much unchanged for one hundred years.... |
Nibs
In Germany
by Jack Leone
|
One key variable is how
stiff or flexible the nib is to be. We learned that, contrary
to conventional wisdom, 18 carat nibs are not inherently
more flexible than 14 carat nibs. It depends more on how
the gold has been tempered, and the shape of the nib,
than the gold content. |
| Left-hand Writers |
Left-handed writers have
special problems with fountain pens (as well as other
challenges). While just over ten percent
of Americans are left handed, they represent a disproportionate
number of fountain pen users. |
| The Quest |
The middle of America is
lush at this time of year, and as I roll towards Fort
Madison past prosperous Victorian farm houses, I am inspired
to hope the question which has nagged me for so long will
shortly be answered.... |
| Nibs in New Haven |
The driver
from Parker Pen Co. is pressing the doorbell of the 16th
century farm house where I have just finished the breakfast
part of "bed and breakfast".....
navigating the rush hour lanes and motorways to New Haven,
the center of Parker Pen Co.... |
| Where's the Iridium? |
"There is no
iridium in the iridium", Kurt Montgomery said to
me as we looked over the print out from the EDAX. We were
looking at the material analysis of a Waterman's Green
#7 nib tip from the 1930's. |
| How Can We Talk About Iridium? |
My
technical accomplice Kurt Montgomery and I have laid to
rest the idea that fountain pens are tipped with iridium.
No nib manufacturer that we have found is using iridium
for the tipping of fountain pens ..... |
