Before and After Nib Repairs

Nib Repairs: Before & After

RE-TIPPING

Before		After
	Although these two pictures do not show the nib before work began, they show the progress of the repair. This Waterman Ideal 14K Music nib had one tine partly broken off, shortening the tip. We had to shorten the other tines and make it into a wider music point. The process involved a splint and spacers in order to keep all three tines in alignment. Then a piece of iridium wire was welded to the tines. This restored nib is now a very broad and wet writer.

Before

After

The Parker Black Giant is one of the landmarks of fountain pens. It was produced in very small numbers by Parker as a show model, attracting attention to other more affordable and practical models at the sales counter.

This nib as seen on the left, was un useable, with a slit that had been destroyed and tines that were so thin as to be unworkable. So this re-tip started back two-thirds of the way to the heart shaped vent hole. It was necessary to cut back the tines and start over with a new front end. An early Parker Duofold senior nib was cut up into pieces so that it could be used as the front end. The tines were fused on to the #12 first using electro welding and then with gold solder. It was then necessary to re-tip the nib to a medium. One can just see the line of the joint, at 45 degrees to the nib slit. This was done to preserve as much of the original nib as possible while removing the damaged area.

Although this nib is delicate, it writes well.

STRAIGHTENING

This Aurora Leonardo Da Vinci took a nose dive. The softer 18K metal responded well to straightening.

Before

After

Before

After

This Extra Fine Sailor nib as seen from above had seen better days. The Extra Fine is Sailor's most delicate tip especially in the soft 21K gold.
Before		After
	This Pilot inlayed nib had a very bad day. The left tine was bent under and twisted. The right tine was bent to the left just below the tipping. This is the same nib three hours later after being straightened, polished, and reset. We were able to preserve the original tipping. It writes well.

Before

After

Above: This is a customer's Senior Parker Lucky Curve nib from a circa 1925 jade pen. The customer informed us that it had been dropped on its tip. The crossed tines presented several challenges: they had to be straightened and realigned, and good ink flow had to be reestablished.


Before		After

Above: This Montblanc 146 nib suffered collision with something firmer than itself. We don't know how it happened but partly because it is an eighteen karat nib it straightened without fatigue to the metal. The feed was slightly deformed and had to be returned to proper alignment under the nib.

Before			After
		This Sailor 21K gold nib went through the wash with the cap off. In the left image, notice how the tines are lightly hammered through repeated and consistent blows. 21K gold is soft and pliable, and more easily returned to its correct shape than nibs with lower gold content. After straightening, this Medium-Fine size Sailor nib is ready for smooth sailing again.
Before	After	Before	After

Above: Straightening of the body and the tines of the nib.		Above: We straightened this super flex nib after the tine got caught on rough paper.

CRACK REPAIRS

Before
This Moore's Maniflex nib was cracked all the way through the imprint and into the tail.
After


Before		After
	Through the whole crack repair, and straightening process, we were able to save the original tipping on this Waterman's Patrician nib. Note the typical Waterman's bevel on each side of the tipping.

RE-TIP

Before	The iridium was missing from one tine of this Grieshaber #6. We've tipped it to a medium, duplicating the original grind.	After

Before

After

With the multiple imprints as well as being in three separate pieces, this nib was a challenge to assemble, re-engrave and fit into the section.

Before

After

TINE REBUILD
We were asked to rebuild the tines on this Azura. Although fragile, this pen can write again.

SMALLEST NIB WE'VE EVER WORKED ON...

Before

After

This is one of the smallest nibs we've ever worked on. (That's a real penny next to it.)

The Zero size Montblanc Simplo was worth working on.

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