Dip pen questions

**dcobranchi** · 05-28-2012, 08:19 AM

I am apparently travelling backward in time (regressing?). Since joining B&B my shaving gear has consistently lost about a decade or more each month. Now I'm wanting to write with vintage pens. I own a few modern FP but the dip pens are my personal Sirens, calling me probably to founder on inky shores. I know nothing about these pens, and I'm ready to learn. I've used Google site search and found a few threads here on dip pens, but none seemed quite what I was looking for. I need some help. What's good, bad, or ugly? What should I look for? Is there a reference book I should pick up? Are the dip pens/inkwell combination sets available on eBay worth pursuing? Or are they mostly for collectors?

I don't do a whole lot of writing at work, but when I need to put ink to paper it's with the FP. I think I'd enjoy using a dip pen. My colleagues already think I'm a bit crazy with the FP. I imagine the dip pen will convince them.

Suggestions?

Thanks, guys.

**brianw** · 05-28-2012, 08:26 AM

I am a great lover of dip pens. such a wide variety of nibs.

**Brian Anderson** · 05-28-2012, 08:32 AM

Depends greatly on what you hope to accomplish. You can purchase wood "holders" for next to nothing on ebay and boxes of steel dip pens for even less. Steel can have some flex, but are generally speaking fairly rigid. Or, if you really want the experience, you can venture down the road of gold nibbed dip pens by Grieshaber, John Holland, Leroy Fairchild, Aikin Lambert, Mabie Todd, and many, many others and really experience a flexible and beautiful writing instrument. Expect the latter to cost upwards of $100-150 or more, although you could get lucky.

Some holders are just holders, some are combos (have a pencil on the other side), some are retractable. Lots of variations.

It's a slippery slope, I know because I have acquired a few of them and want more!

Cheers!
Brian

**dcobranchi** · 05-28-2012, 09:31 AM

I honestly don't know enough about these to even make an intelligent choice. Do the steel nibs typically write smoothly? The feel of a scratchy nib on paper gives me goosebumps. I don't even like the feel of pencil lead on paper. Like fingernails on a chalkboard.

**oc_in_fw** · 05-28-2012, 09:53 AM

I will resist this subset of fine writing. Really, I will

**Brian Anderson** · 05-28-2012, 10:09 AM

Yes, steel nibs will write smoothly, and if you don't find one that does, they are soooo inexpensive you can go fish for some more. These were made in the millions and it is quite common to find unopened or new boxes of 1 gross of any particular nib. Just last week there was a large box of two dozen 1 gross boxes in an original dealer box on ebay. Esterbrook was still making them into the 1950's even.

If flex is what you are after, well, it's not as good with the steel nibs. Start with steel and an inexpensive holder. I'd bet for $20 you'd get more different nibs that you could shake a stick at and it'd keep you busy for days, if not weeks.

Good Luck!
Brian

**Doc4** · 05-28-2012, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by dcobranchi

I am apparently travelling backward in time (regressing?). ... Now I'm wanting to write with vintage pens.

Dip pens will just be a stop-gap halfway measure.

The cheapest way to go is just use your hands ...

**dcobranchi** · 05-28-2012, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

I will resist this subset of fine writing. Really, I will

I'll bet you a nickel that you're perusing eBay for these by the end of the day.

**Doc4** · 05-28-2012, 12:37 PM

Random enabling act of linkage ...

**oc_in_fw** · 05-28-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by dcobranchi

I'll bet you a nickel that you're perusing eBay for these by the end of the day.

Ha- I am at work and the firewall blocks eBay. Oh, wait- I brought my iPad, and eBay isn't blocked on the wireless. Damn.

**dcobranchi** · 05-29-2012, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by Doc4

Random enabling act of linkage ...

Well, if I lose a decade per month in my choice of writing implements I'll need to order those sometime around 2033.

**duokun** · 05-29-2012, 02:18 PM

I got interested in dip pens myself, though i haven't had a lot of chances to experiment with them yet. I picked up a holder from dippens.net and i really like it. i feel i need to pick up a bunch of nibs and and inkwell and then the fun will begin.