14 replies to this topic

[Richard]

So I stumbled into a box of parts with three or four complete restorable pens in it. Lots of Rider parts, missing mostly nibs and feeds. The larger of the two pens in this photo was the prize.



I'm wondering about the nib. This pen and another giant in the box (the other lacks a feed and has a mismatched cap) both have Mabie Todd No. 8 nibs. I wonder if Rider bought nibs for these giants instead of making his own.

[david i]

So I stumbled into a box of parts with three or four complete restorable pens in it. Lots of Rider parts, missing mostly nibs and feeds. The larger of the two pens in this photo was the prize.



I'm wondering about the nib. This pen and another giant in the box (the other lacks a feed and has a mismatched cap) both have Mabie Todd No. 8 nibs. I wonder if Rider bought nibs for these giants instead of making his own.

Hi Richard,

I don't have context for a Rider Giant per se. Are we talking Parker Black Giant, Waterman 20 scale? I have vague recollection of seeing an OS Rider with #8 nib. If the black pen is Giant (not OS) size, that nib in image seems bigger than a typical Big-4 #8.

Great pen. Great find.

regards

david

[david i]

Thinking further on the Mabies, #6 size pens are about "OS", Duofold Sr size, etc.


I've handled a couple #8 Mabies but it has been quite awhile. The #8 nib might fit a somewhat "giant" pen.

regards

david

[Jim B]

I know, everybody goes for the monster sized pens but...

The mottled RHR is no slouch either.

[Richard]

David, we are talking a legitimate giant, albeit a short one. Here's the pen again, in scale with a Waterman 418. (Sorry, I don't have a photo of a 20.)

[George]

That Mabie nib in the Rider looks a whole lot bigger than a standard 48 Eternal #8 nib. The #8 Eternal nib is comparable to a Waterman 8 nib in size. This is an interesting pen for sure.

Regards,
George

[vintage penman]

That Mabie nib in the Rider looks a whole lot bigger than a standard 48 Eternal #8 nib. The #8 Eternal nib is comparable to a Waterman 8 nib in size. This is an interesting pen for sure.

Regards,
George

I have an older English Mabie with a #5 nib that is actually bigger than the later #6 and far closer in size to the #8. Perhaps older #8 nibs were actually larger ?

[Josephine]

So I stumbled into a box of parts with three or four complete restorable pens in it. Lots of Rider parts, missing mostly nibs and feeds. The larger of the two pens in this photo was the prize.



I'm wondering about the nib. This pen and another giant in the box (the other lacks a feed and has a mismatched cap) both have Mabie Todd No. 8 nibs. I wonder if Rider bought nibs for these giants instead of making his own.

I don't know, the little one is just beautiful! I love dainty pens and that one makes my ears perk up!

[BrianMcQueen]

Wow, Richard. That is a legitimate Giant. I love Rider pens and would love to have one someday, but I can't imagine such a giant as this!

[david i]

This is pretty special. While I'm not pro at Rider, I've photographed some 6000 old pens from some premier collections and have seen and handled tens of thousands of old pens. I never before saw a Rider giant. Of course, I have a Carey Giant, but that is a chat for another day.

regards

david

[Rick Krantz]

I'm going to make a ruling on this... by sheer girth, that thing is a giant. amen.

maybe being a black pen.... we need the pube to rule on this one?

we might need to summons him.

[david i]

I'm going to make a ruling on this... by sheer girth, that thing is a giant. amen.

maybe being a black pen.... we need the pube to rule on this one?

we might need to summons him.

That's.. Pewb. As in His Pewbes, for Grand Pewbah...

-d

[Rick Krantz]

mines "funnier"

admit it

[BrianMcQueen]

I think this Rider Giant is indeed a grand find, and would stand among the best of the best that the Black Pen Society has to offer in comparison.

I don't know, the little one is just beautiful! I love dainty pens and that one makes my ears perk up!

Josephine, I don't think that the smaller Rider in the picture is really a dainty little one. It's probably about the size of a Waterman 12 or 12 1/2.

Edited by BrianMcQueen, 08 October 2013 - 06:25 PM.

[David Nishimura]

Very interesting.
Rider nibs are hard to find, especially the smaller sizes. In a reversal of the usual situation with most makers, the most common Riders are the oversize mottled hard rubber pens. It is clear, however, that Richard's examples are considerably larger, true giants.
Considering that giant pens were typically made as attention-getters, it would seem counterproductive to put in another rival makers' nib. Stranger things have happened, though, so an open question for now.

David