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jor412 · Vintage

I can only buy one

DWL · ***

Hmmm this is different from the garden variety 'this or that' post. Ok here's my 2 bits.

"1) Choose the nib that's right for you. - I wouldn't know yet. I only have experience with stiff nibs. I don't think I have a heavy hand or a particularly light one. But I want some line variation. "

�

If this is your first foray into the world of flex, take small steps. Start off with a semiflex nib to get a feel for what the extra hand pressure is like, when your comfortable there, step up to a full flex. The line variation you'll get from a semiflex will be a jump from the basic stiff nib line & you'll see a change right away.

�

"2) Go flex. Italics won't do."

�Have you tried Italics & stubs yet? You can get some seriously sweet variation with either.

�

"3) Flex are great but I wouldn't want them to be my only option."

Falling back to #2 for this one as well. Other options, are music nibs, stylographs, glass nibs, stubs/obliques. There are quite litterally dozens of nib styles to explore. Stick with it & over time you'll nail down the nib style your most comfortable with.�

�

"4) Parker Vacs are harder to come by. You can always get the Pelikan later. "

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I mildly disagree with this statement. Vacs were made from 1933-48 in (3 or 4 countries, USA, Canada, UK and South America. I dont know for 100% if the UK or SA factories produced them or not.) �This is just a guess, but being made for 15 years, I'm willing to bet there are a couple of million of them out there.

Take a look in ebay and you'll see hundreds. �"Harder to come by"...technically yes, but not really IMHO.

�

"5) The Pelikan is more practical in terms of maintenance and switching out nibs."
This is true, if you want nib options, this is a solid way to go. Buy the pen & start a nib collection. Your looking for flex, it IS possible to custom fit a vintage flex nib into an M200 nib collar.

�

Yes the M200 is easier to clean & maintain, but in my eyes it doesn't come close to the sweet vintage character the Vacs have.�

In your situation, I'd start with the m200, build up a nib collection & see where your tastes take you.

jor412 · Vintage

Thanks. I bought a cheap Pilot 78G broad stub and a Sheaffer No Nonsense Italic which I'm waiting for in the mail. I figured I should try them out and since they were both under $20, that felt quite safe. I also found a decent deal on a Mabie Todd Swan 2 medium flexible nib. But the Vac and Pelikan will cost more so I'm getting wishy-washy. Plus, I promised myself, just one more pen and I'll stop for a month. biggrin

The Vacs cost $80 upwards -- though the one I'm really considering costs around $100. And the M205 w/ a Binder nib will cost about $143 w/ shipping.

About the Vacs: I absolutely agree with you on their vintage character. The filling mechanism is fascinating. While the Pelikan does sound like the practical choice, the Parker is just gorgeous.�

DWL · ***

Something to keep in mind with the vac is, is it restored and in write ready condition? If not, be prepared to add another $30-50 depending on it's restoration needs.

If my past experience is anything to go on, the MTS �will be a deliscious flexi nib. I can't recall a swan nib that I didn't just 100% love.

Sounds like you have the basic bases covered. I'd go with the m200, leave off the custom Binder work, try a few different nibs & save a few bucks.

Chthulhu · Rawr.

The two broad 78Gs I have are untipped cursive italics, quite smooth; the Sheaffer is more likely to be a crisp italic nib from a calligraphy set.

jor412 · Vintage

DWL wrote:
Something to keep in mind with the vac is, is it restored and in write ready condition? If not, be prepared to add another $30-50 depending on it's restoration needs.

If my past experience is anything to go on, the MTS �will be a deliscious flexi nib. I can't recall a swan nib that I didn't just 100% love.
Sounds like you have the basic bases covered. I'd go with the m200, leave off the custom Binder work, try a few different nibs & save a few bucks.

�

So far I've only been looking at restored Vacs because one of our local Vac collectors told me there isn't anyone here who can properly restore a Vac. The price range I've been considering is from $80-$145. The M205 minus the Binder work costs $101 with shipping to a US address. (I've someone handling shipping to the Philippines for me. It saves on total shipping costs and it's safer.) If the Vacs are readily available, then that definitely makes the M205 more practical for now.

jor412 · Vintage

Chthulhu wrote:
The two broad 78Gs I have are untipped cursive italics, quite smooth; the Sheaffer is more likely to be a crisp italic nib from a calligraphy set.

�I didn't know the italic might be a crisp italic from a calligraphy set. Will that make it more difficult to use?

DWL · ***

"So far I've only been looking at restored Vacs because one of our local Vac collectors told me there isn't anyone here who can properly restore a Vac."

Then it's time to learn to handle vac repair. (not difficult at all, just have to know the steps and order) When you get the process down, 1) you'll save serious $$. 2) you can take on local repairs & earn some extra cash for your pen budget.

Sounds like a win all around to me.

Chthulhu · Rawr.

jor412 wrote:
I didn't know the italic might be a crisp italic from a calligraphy set. Will that make it more difficult to use?

A bit: it's not meant for daily writing, but for slow, decorative work. I don't *think* the NN was ever offered with a smooth italic, but I could be mistaken.

jor412 · Vintage

Chthulhu wrote:
jor412 wrote:
I didn't know the italic might be a crisp italic from a calligraphy set. Will that make it more difficult to use?
A bit: it's not meant for daily writing, but for slow, decorative work. I don't *think* the NN was ever offered with a smooth italic, but I could be mistaken.

�oh blankstare �hmm.. well, I guess I'll just have to play with it then and make the most of nib experience.�

Chthulhu · Rawr.

On the plus side, you can find F, M, and B monoline nib+section units that will fit the pen fairly easily, and it makes a great eyedropper pen with a little silicone grease to seal the barrel threads.

DWL · ***

IIRC. the Seas models that Sheaffer made for Levenger have 14K nibs and also fit the NN pens.

jor412 · Vintage

DWL wrote:
"So far I've only been looking at restored Vacs because one of our local Vac collectors told me there isn't anyone here who can properly restore a Vac."

Then it's time to learn to handle vac repair. (not difficult at all, just have to know the steps and order) When you get the process down, 1) you'll save serious $$. 2) you can take on local repairs & earn some extra cash for your pen budget.

Sounds like a win all around to me.

�I was just thinking about doing something likes this.� smile �

DWL · ***

Well, when your ready to learn, we'll be glad to teach. Over in the Workbench forum, I posted a how to video on inverting the vac diaphram before re assembly.

Frank · Admin

I agree with Dennis! Go with the Pel M2xx series pens (M200, M205, M250).
They are great daily writers, and nib swapping is easy! Buy one pen (The 250 nibs are 14k, the rest are stainless), and buy nibs that would suit your preference (F,M,B). The nibs unscrew from the section easily, which also makes cleaning demos easy! :)

Pelikan also sells Italic nibs with new pens. So, if that is what you wish to have in the pen, an authorized dealer should be able to fit one with the pen. You can always experiment with custom nibs from someone like Richard in the future!

Frank

jor412 · Vintage

I like the idea that nib swapping is easy. :)

jor412 · Vintage

From surfing around the net, I found a lot of sheaffer no nonsense pens with italic nibs of varying sizes, so perhaps what I got may not be from a calligraphy set. Although, much to my dismay, it's selling cheaper elsewhere. Oh well.