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Wahl adjustable nib question?


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#1 Glenn

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Posted 29 November 2014 - 09:35 AM

In my limited time with this hobby, and having developed the obsession based on pretty pen plastics, artistic design and beautiful flexible nibs, I am trying to find out what Wahl-Eversharp offered in the range of numbered adjustable nibs, as I have seen basically only these over my year or so searching the net.

No's 3,4,5,7,9 and 10.

What happened to No's 1,2,6 and 8?

Or haven't I been looking long enough?

It just seems strange to start a range at '3' and skip a few as well, why number them at all?

 



#2 david i

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Posted 29 November 2014 - 07:34 PM

Not sure Wahl had any "1" nib.  Unlike Sheaffer, which put "1" nibs in some tiny pens, the plastic Wahls with tiny nibs (Bantam) have a #0 nibs. The smallest metal pens too.  Nib size had grown a bit odd with Wahl by mid 1930s, at least per my imperfect exposure to that zone. Wahl's stalwart large flat-top nib, #6 gave way to the un-numbered Gold Seal, which in turn yielded to adjustable nibs, but to my recollection, the #7 Adjustable was smaller than the old #6 and Gold Seal. And so forth.

 

regards

 

d


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#3 Glenn

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Posted 29 November 2014 - 10:33 PM

Hmm, so, it's possible that there never was a # 1,2,6 and 8 adjustable nib? That is odd, as, from what you are saying, the adjustable nib range started on its own after the gold seal nibs. If one doesn't include the later un numbered adjustable nibs withe fully covered slider, then they existed as a stand alone range for several years. I wonder if there is any documentation on these nibs anywhere?

Just speculating, but, is it possible that the missing numbered nibs could be broads or special nibs? As I have not seen (not yet at least) any example of a broad version of these nibs, medium yes, but no larger.

The un numbered sliding nibs are also of interest as I am curious to know if they had much size variation and how this was this determined.

On another note, it appears that the level of flex in the range did vary as the nibs I have display slightly different levels of flexibility and this may have to do with the shape of the nib, which does vary across the range as well as the thickness of the nib material itself. For instance, the most flexible nib in the range I have is a 3 fine. So, smallest of the range but thinner and less metal to bend so more flexible perhaps.



#4 marcshiman

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Posted 02 December 2014 - 12:03 AM

I once had a Doric with an adjustable #6 nib - it was 18k made for the French Market. So maybe a 4 and 8 exist too.


Please join the Mabie Todd Swan project where I am trying to sort out the undocumented mess that is American Mabie Todd's from the 1930's. The last pens that MT seemed to advertise were the "Eternal" pens, and then the company put out a wide range of different styles, shapes, sizes and filling systems before eventually closing up shop. I invite you to post your pictures of your American pens

 

The Mabie Todd Swan Project


#5 Wahlnut

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Posted 02 December 2014 - 06:09 AM

Numbered Adjustable nibs were
3,5,6,7,9,10. No 0,1,2,4,or 8 made. There were physical construction issues that make snything smaller than a 3 problematic. Nib Shan size defines section bore or vice versa. Too many shank sizes cause expensive production issues. You will find that #6 and #9 adjustables have necked down shanks. All Adjustable nibs were designed to go from very fine or fine to broad. They were part and parcel to the idea that one nib could satisfy many writers. That was a developmental trend at WAHL and Ecersharp ever since the Personal Point. If you search here and on FON etc for discussions about these concepts you'll find a lot of information in the virtual pen library.
Syd "the Wahlnut" Saperstein
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The WAHL-EVERSHARP PEN COMPANY
and Home of Pensbury Manor Black Hard Rubber Pen Potion No.9
and GREAT KNOBS! for cars

#6 Glenn

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Posted 02 December 2014 - 01:21 PM

Thanks for the input Syd, much appreciated. Clears up a few things, though it still poses a  question or two.

ie, why not just start at 1 rather than implying that there were smaller nibs than 3? It just seems odd to me that if a business were to introduce a new range of nibs it would work out what it was going to produce well before it came to manufacture them and number them accordingly as a complete set, not leave some missing. I appreciate it happened a long time ago and there is probably no direct evidence left to support whatever manufacturing/creative decision that brought this about but its the king of puzzle my mind likes to think about.

Also an apology, I originally mixed up my numbers, 4 and 6. 



#7 marcshiman

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Posted 02 December 2014 - 01:25 PM

Glenn,

 

Have you tried measuring the nibs to see if there's some sort of relationship between the length of the nib and the number? Would each increasing number represent a fixed length interval?

 

Alternatively it could be a measure of weight of gold


Please join the Mabie Todd Swan project where I am trying to sort out the undocumented mess that is American Mabie Todd's from the 1930's. The last pens that MT seemed to advertise were the "Eternal" pens, and then the company put out a wide range of different styles, shapes, sizes and filling systems before eventually closing up shop. I invite you to post your pictures of your American pens

 

The Mabie Todd Swan Project


#8 Glenn

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Posted 03 December 2014 - 12:07 PM

I would love to but I don't yet have a full collection of the nibs, maybe one day, but its going to take a while especially as the #9 and 10 nibs are usually attached to a premium price a little out of my reach as yet, unless I get lucky and no ones looking :)

You are right tho, its possible that there could be a relationship there somewhere. I Guess there is reason for the nib range being so strange but whether we ever find out what it was............who knows. I hope so, I don't like 'cos it is' as an answer, its a cop out. But sometimes that's all there is.



#9 marcshiman

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Posted 03 December 2014 - 12:32 PM

Glenn, not to be argumentative, but why does Mercedes have A, C, E, G, M, and S class vehicles? What happened to the other letters in the alphabet? Why did BMW wait so long to create a 2 series and 4 series?

 

To take things a step farther with Wahl, they had barrel lengths of 4, 6, and 7. What happened to 5? With Mabie Todd, a 4 was the long barrel and the 5 was the vest pocket size. How does that make sense? Where's the MontBlanc 148?

 

I'm not sure marketers share your need for order.


Please join the Mabie Todd Swan project where I am trying to sort out the undocumented mess that is American Mabie Todd's from the 1930's. The last pens that MT seemed to advertise were the "Eternal" pens, and then the company put out a wide range of different styles, shapes, sizes and filling systems before eventually closing up shop. I invite you to post your pictures of your American pens

 

The Mabie Todd Swan Project


#10 david i

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Posted 03 December 2014 - 10:27 PM

Glenn, not to be argumentative, but why does Mercedes have A, C, E, G, M, and S class vehicles? What happened to the other letters in the alphabet? Why did BMW wait so long to create a 2 series and 4 series?

 

To take things a step farther with Wahl, they had barrel lengths of 4, 6, and 7. What happened to 5? With Mabie Todd, a 4 was the long barrel and the 5 was the vest pocket size. How does that make sense? Where's the MontBlanc 148?

 

I'm not sure marketers share your need for order.

 

Well, in all fairness, Wahl did offer a "5" nib during the flat-top era.

 

regards

 

d


David R. Isaacson MD. Website: VACUMANIA.com for quality old pens with full warranty.
Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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