The last two retips for 2008 happen to be a medium stub for a Parker Duofold and a fine retip to a #4 Conklin. Nicely faceted on the sides, just like the original tipping. Clean lines too with a smooth transition between tipping material and the nib itself.
Happy New Year and wish everyone a prosperous and happy 2009!Thank you for all your business in 2008 and I look forward to your business in 2009!
Greg,
I wanted to let you know that the Sheaffer Flattop arrived safely yesterday.
Today I tried it out and I must say that you hit a home run with the
regrind! The nib is perfect–excellent variation, smooth as silk. Thanks
again, Maestro, for a great job.
Have a Happy New Year.
Frank
Well, here is a pair of pen “screwdrivers.” Actually, they are victim of rolling off a desk and meeting head first with a tile floor. Careful and precise straightening using various, custom tools, and a lot of patience, and these pens are back in business. Remember to click on each picture for a “closer” look.
I just received this pen in the mail today with tipping that was, well, rather gone. The before pictures sure show what was left on the end; more like a pair of “bug” eyes then anything else. So, after the magic of retipping, this nib is back in business!
So, this is a fine?
Bug Eyes!
Much better now!
Ready for years of fine writing!
Its so smooth, it writes under its own weight
Here is another satisfied client, a new client too! Tom is a left-handed overwriter, which presents certain challenges. After receiving a picture of Tom in the act of writing, I was able to modify his nib to make the pen that was once a nasty, dry writer for him, into a nice smooth broad. His comments below testify to his happiness:
Hey Greg,
The Bexley Gemstone showed up yesterday in the mail. What a nice difference in writing, you made it super smooth, improved the flow to a nice wet flow. It works really well with the Pelikan blue-black ink formula.
This one is my broadest nib so I will be getting used to it.
Thanks again! I will drop by the LA Pen Show and say hi.
Best Regards and Happy Holidays!
Tom
Left Handed Overwriter in Action!
Just received this email below from a prospective new client.
Hello Greg,
I have been talking with a couple of folks here in Ontario and we all
have some nibs that need re-tipping. I was wondering if it would be
possible to do a group shipment to you.
I would be more than happy to look after the payment to you and
collect from the people here so that it wouldn’t turn into an
adventure for you.
If international shipping is an issue I also have a US address that
could be shipped to as a last resort.
Thank you so much for your time with this.
All the best
Philip
What impressed me about “Philip” is that he was well informed about shipping from out of country, along with the procedures for payment. It is sometimes difficult to receive packages from another country, or send them for that matter. What has worked for me with 100% delivery is using the U.S. Registered Mail system which affords the best possible safety as well as tracking for packages. Sure, it may take a bit longer, but in the end the package arrives safely without issues.
I suggest that when you nibs and pens from outside the U.S. to me, it is best to send it as a registered package, in the manner that your country allows. During non-holiday times the longest I have had a package from overseas come to me (I am referring to a Montblanc 149 from Croatia!) the mailing took only 10 days.
I welcome all overseas clients to send me their work with the full assurance that using the U.S. Registered Mail system, that their pens/nibs will be going back to them in the best and most secure form of transport.
Dear Greg,
I just picked up the Omas from the PO, brought it home and filled it with Omas blue ink. I am pleased with the way the pen writes. If I am careful, I can write the alphabet and all of my numbers inside the squares on Rhodia graph paper. The ink flow is as good as I could ask for as well. All in all, an excellent job.
Thanks again Greg.
Merry Christmas and happy New year to you and your wife from Marta and I.
Ken
It is with great pleasure that I announce the introduction of Janet Takahashi. Janet is an expert illustrator, calligrapher, bookbinder, signer painter, and gilder. Her background in botany and zoology is appraent in the detail art and illustrations she creates, including her recent book “Artful Journals” (available at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Artful-Journals-Making-Embellishing-Diaries/dp/1600590691) which has sold out in its first printing in just 2-1/2 months!
Janet just came out with a new, limited edition print called “River Trout” Printed on Arches paper, acid free Ink “Fed” into paper, not just laid on top. Machine is an Iris 3047, 600 lb. Not many machines around. Printer prints the best color gamut Other machines must use synthetic papers that are coated, not true color reproduction We welcome you to enjoy this print, and the other prints that Janet has for sale, as part of your collection to enjoy and cherish for years to come.
Janet also has other prints available; please go to her website: www.janettakahashi.com. I will be assisting Janet in the sales of these other limited edition prints as well.
Janet has specialized in rare antique signs restoration for celebrities, upscale shopping centers, and major banking institutions. Currently Janet teaches calligraphy and art at Santa Monica College/Emeritus College and continues to do private commissions and calligraphy for Crane & Co., Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as workshops on journaling with art in Cambria, California, The Rand Corporation, The San Diego Society for Calligraphy, and at the Paige Museum/LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art.)
I welcome her to my website for she brings with her her vast experience with ultra flex nibs, creating some amazing Spencerian writing with my custom extra fine “needlepoint” flex nibs. Janet will be available to test nibs on a daily basis, making sure that they perform to expectations.
Sample of Janet's hand with one of my nibs
Dear Greg
I can not say more than this is a work of a great master!
Very pleased with this outstanding work.
Y.
This is a nice Soennecken nib now sporting a new broad retip. Not many Soennecken nibs out there, so getting one for a retip is a real treat.
