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#1
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Namiki Falcon
Hi acpp,
I finally got my hands on a Namiki Falcon today. UK suppliers seemed extortionate; I got mine from the US at a very decent price. It's a beauty: classical black and gold, and not much bigger than a Pelly 400. I didn't even give it the traditional de-greasing flush, just stuck the cartridge in, and it wrote. Properly. No skippng, wet and smooth. Wow! If only a few other brands worked straight out of the box. It has the B nib, and (just as everyone said) it was more like a European medium. It reminded me of my sweetly run-in Phileas M, as much as anything. I could feel that there was a lot of "give" in the nib, and if I pressed, I could see it splaying. Since it wrote so easily though, I just let it glide over the paper with zero pressure. So much for the vaunted "flex". Am I missing the point? Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? -- Moira (probably a Phileastine about fancier pens) |
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#2
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Namiki Falcon
"Moira Perkins" wrote in message ... Hi acpp, I finally got my hands on a Namiki Falcon today. UK suppliers seemed extortionate; I got mine from the US at a very decent price. Good for you. It's a beauty: classical black and gold, and not much bigger than a Pelly 400. I didn't even give it the traditional de-greasing flush, just stuck the cartridge in, and it wrote. Properly. No skippng, wet and smooth. Wow! If only a few other brands worked straight out of the box. Yup. I've never had a problem with my Falcons or Ecrinos or ATXs, or Phileases or Cores or Pel Future or... It has the B nib, and (just as everyone said) it was more like a European medium. It reminded me of my sweetly run-in Phileas M, as much as anything. I could feel that there was a lot of "give" in the nib, and if I pressed, I could see it splaying. Since it wrote so easily though, I just let it glide over the paper with zero pressure. Good. So much for the vaunted "flex". Am I missing the point? Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? If you want. It's your pen, your choice, but generally, no. The only pressure you're supposed to apply to a fountain pen on paper is only the weight of the pen itself. Since my Fines show more line variation than my Mediums, I expect your Bold to display even less than my Mediums. Therefore, if you want the line variation without the effort, I suggest getting a Fine. Please note, however, that my Fines don't glide like my Mediums. The Fines emit a "scritch-scritch" sound that's pleasant to my ears and deeply satisfying to my soul. HTH. -- ~~Bluesea~~ Spam is great in musubi but not in email. Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply. |
#3
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Namiki Falcon
Moira Perkins wrote: So much for the vaunted "flex". Am I missing the point? Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? Hi Moira -- First, modern pens, including the Falcon, can't come close to the flexiness of the flexier pens of yore. There is simply no comparison. Second, the line-width variation you see with really beautiful Spencerian and Copperplate styles of writing require the writer to hold the pen a certain way and vary pressure on the pen tip at precise points during formation of letters. It takes lots of practice. Most people who write with really flexible nibs prefer extra fine and fine points which enables them to create lines that vary from extra fine or fine and triple broad by varying the amount of pressure they exert to the point. If you want line-width variation (with no shading though) without having to vary the pressure you apply to the point, try an italic nib. Here's another page on John's site. Scroll down to Ed Weyman's name and click on the pic of the bird to the right of the paragraph about him. http://www.nibs.com/contributions%20...%20writers.htm The other stuff on that page is way kewl too. -- B |
#4
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Namiki Falcon//More info for Moira
Hello Moira,
Here are two more pages you might find interesting. http://www.nibs.com/writing_samples.htm http://www.nibs.com/calligraphicwriting.htm Have fun... B |
#5
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Namiki Falcon
Am 24 Mar 2007, BL schrieb:
Moira Perkins wrote: So much for the vaunted "flex". Am I missing the point? Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? Hi Moira -- First, modern pens, including the Falcon, can't come close to the flexiness of the flexier pens of yore. There is simply no comparison. Second, the line-width variation you see with really beautiful Spencerian and Copperplate styles of writing require the writer to hold the pen a certain way and vary pressure on the pen tip at precise points during formation of letters. It takes lots of practice. It's not that hard. One only applies pressure on the downstrokes. That's the only way it would work anyway, so in effect, one does what comes naturally. To an FP user, that is. I've had a flex nibbed pen ruined by someone who borrowed it without asking. -- |
#6
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Namiki Falcon
Barutan Seijin wrote:
It's not that hard. One only applies pressure on the downstrokes. That's the only way it would work anyway, so in effect, one does what comes naturally. To an FP user, that is. Are you saying Spencerian and Copperplate aren't that hard to learn? If so, I'll have to disagree with you. Anyone with a light touch can write with a flexible- nibbed fountain pen. However, being able to write with a flexible-nibbed fountain pen and actually producing beautiful writing with one are two entirely different things. Anna Lawson wrote a nice explanation of this on her web site, but I can't remember the URL. I've had a flex nibbed pen ruined by someone who borrowed it without asking. For sure. -- B |
#7
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Namiki Falcon//More on flex
Here is a link to Anna's excellent article. Anyone interested in what
flex nibs can and can't do for your writing should read this: http://www.paperpenalia.com/flex2.html (Read her Joy of Flex 1 too --- you can navigate to other articles on her page using the link above). -- B |
#8
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Namiki Falcon
"Bluesea" wrote in message
... "Moira Perkins" wrote in message ... Hi acpp, I finally got my hands on a Namiki Falcon today... snip Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? If you want. It's your pen, your choice, but generally, no. The only pressure you're supposed to apply to a fountain pen on paper is only the weight of the pen itself. Since my Fines show more line variation than my Mediums, I expect your Bold to display even less than my Mediums. Therefore, if you want the line variation without the effort, I suggest getting a Fine. Please note, however, that my Fines don't glide like my Mediums. The Fines emit a "scritch-scritch" sound that's pleasant to my ears and deeply satisfying to my soul. Hi Bluesea, My F Rotring makes a faint noise that I like, though it's as hard as a nail - the sound effects are part of the personality of the pen. I might get a Fine Falcon just to try it (if temptation wins), but this B seems to suit me remarkably well, after only a day. Pens usually "get better" (which really means I get used to them) over a week or two - it'll be fun to see how this one develops. -- Moira |
#9
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Namiki Falcon
"Moira Perkins" wrote in message ... "Bluesea" wrote in message ... "Moira Perkins" wrote in message ... Hi acpp, I finally got my hands on a Namiki Falcon today... snip Are you expected to make these nibs flex all the time? If you want. It's your pen, your choice, but generally, no. The only pressure you're supposed to apply to a fountain pen on paper is only the weight of the pen itself. Since my Fines show more line variation than my Mediums, I expect your Bold to display even less than my Mediums. Therefore, if you want the line variation without the effort, I suggest getting a Fine. Please note, however, that my Fines don't glide like my Mediums. The Fines emit a "scritch-scritch" sound that's pleasant to my ears and deeply satisfying to my soul. Hi Bluesea, My F Rotring makes a faint noise that I like, though it's as hard as a nail - the sound effects are part of the personality of the pen. I might get a Fine Falcon just to try it (if temptation wins), but this B seems to suit me remarkably well, after only a day. Pens usually "get better" (which really means I get used to them) over a week or two - it'll be fun to see how this one develops. Enjoy! -- ~~Bluesea~~ Spam is great in musubi but not in email. Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply. |
#10
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Namiki Falcon
Am 24 Mar 2007, BL schrieb:
Barutan Seijin wrote: It's not that hard. One only applies pressure on the downstrokes. That's the only way it would work anyway, so in effect, one does what comes naturally. To an FP user, that is. Are you saying Spencerian and Copperplate aren't that hard to learn? They weren't for me. I will agree that it's harder & more time consuming to write in such a hand. -- |
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