Iridium Nib
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 ND02 Duke 911 Black Shark Fountain Pen Medium Iridium Pair Point $17.50 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 49m Buy It Now for only: $17.50 |
 PENATIA LEXINGTON CHROME FOUNTAIN PEN NEW IN BOX IRIDIUM POINT NIB $13.99 Time Remaining: 2h 29m |
 HERO 9038 Black Gold Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $12.00 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 3m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 NP59 Green Shark Celluloid Duke Fountain Pen Medium Iridium Point $24.50 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 16m Buy It Now for only: $24.50 |
 AND32 Duke Red checked Carbon Fiber fountain pen Germany Iridium M Nib $7.50 Time Remaining: 11d 12h Buy It Now for only: $7.50 |
 Fountain Pen Amber Marble Acrylic Fine Iridium Nib Renaissance $16.99 Time Remaining: 25d 5h 21m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 Vintage Epenco Green Marbleized Fountain Pen Iridium Nib $4.99 Time Remaining: 5h |
 P59 Green Shark Celluloid Duke Fountain Pen Iridium Nib $32.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 38m Buy It Now for only: $32.00 |
 DUKE Supreme Series Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen Gold Black $21.99 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 43m Buy It Now for only: $21.99 |
 B31 CELLULOID 18KGP IRIDIUM MEDIUM FOUNTAIN PEN $8.90 Time Remaining: 28d 18h 43m Buy It Now for only: $8.90 |
 TERZETTI CIGAR FOUNTAIN PEN W GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB ROSEWOOD GIFT BOX $12.95 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 4m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 DUKE Fountain Pen With Iridium Point Face Beijing Opera $26.00 Time Remaining: 7d 5h 50m Buy It Now for only: $26.00 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 HERO 7006 Black Chrome Fine Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $8.50 Time Remaining: 19d 20h 58m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 |
 TERZETTI EXPERT GOLD FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB $7.95 Time Remaining: 18d 3h 26m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 D02 Black Shark Celluloid Duke Fountain Pen Iridium Poi $25.85 Time Remaining: 17h 34m Buy It Now for only: $25.85 |
 Tiger Eye Celluloid Cap Iridium Medium Pair Point Fountain Pen U001 $6.99 Time Remaining: 20d 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 Picasso 903 Fountain Pen M Iridium Nib Choice of 3 Colors Shipping w tracking $9.99 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 7h 33m |
 LAUREL BLACK FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB+CONVERTER $8.95 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 52m Buy It Now for only: $8.95 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 17m Buy It Now for only: $7.90 |
 CROCODILE 218 SILVER GOLD MESH 22K GP IRIDIUM M FOUNTAIN PEN $25.99 Time Remaining: 26d 7h 30m Buy It Now for only: $25.99 |
 HERO 758 Fountain Pen iridium tipped nib CT VINTAGE Pen $16.90 Time Remaining: 18d 6h 36m Buy It Now for only: $16.90 |
 D154 Duke 933 Scholar Black Iridium M Point Paris Fountain Pen $17.50 Time Remaining: 22d 23h 42m Buy It Now for only: $17.50 |
 Antique Fountain Pen Eagle Herringbone Style Green Body Iridium Tipped Nib $9.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 8h 7m |
 HERO 1027 SIlver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen in gift box $25.00 Time Remaining: 5d 22h Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 AH02 HERO SILVER FLOWER EMBOSSMENT IRIDIUM FOUNTAIN PEN $22.95 Time Remaining: 8d 23h 18m Buy It Now for only: $22.95 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 46m Buy It Now for only: $7.90 |
 Vintage Reform 1745 Green Black Piston Filler Fountain Pen Iridium Nib $18.00 Time Remaining: 27d 4h 6m Buy It Now for only: $18.00 |
 Mens Hero 22KGP Broad Iridium Nib Fountain Pen Black $1.30 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 12h 49m |
 CROWN GREY FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB+CONVERTER++ $8.95 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 47m Buy It Now for only: $8.95 |
 VINTAGE IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY MONTEVERDE FOUNTAIN PEN LARGE PEN $99.95 Time Remaining: 14d 12h 22m Buy It Now for only: $99.95 |
 Danitrio Phantas I Snake Fountain Pen Iridium M Nib $199.99 Time Remaining: 20d 21h 41m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 GORGEOUS LAMY ARTUS 93 IRIDIUM M NIB NICE $50.00 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 46m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Iridium Tip 3 Gold Plated Nib new Old Stock $6.99 Time Remaining: 25d 6h 28m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 10m |
 Hero 2A Fountain Pen Iridium Tipped Nib M GT RETIRED $16.90 Time Remaining: 29d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $16.90 |
 UR10 URANUS 966 MORNING DEW FOUNTAIN PEN IRIDIUM M NIB $17.88 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 4m Buy It Now for only: $17.88 |
 RARE ESTERBROOK FOUNTAIN PENTWIN CARTRIDGE SAFARIDOVE GREYIRIDIUM NIB9550 $79.99 Time Remaining: 25d 9h 33m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
 NEW IN BOX GRAY BLACK Calligraphy Pen IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY ON TIP WRITER PEN $23.95 Time Remaining: 21d 12h 2m Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 H02 HERO SILVER FLOWER EMBOSSMENT IRIDIUM FOUNTAIN PEN $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 10h 19m |
 D155 Duke 933 Scholar Dark Blue Iridium M Point Paris Fountain Pen $17.50 Time Remaining: 22d 23h 48m Buy It Now for only: $17.50 |
 ND29 Duke turquoise Carbon Fiber fountain pen MEDIUM IRIDIUM POINT $16.50 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 2m Buy It Now for only: $16.50 |
 TERZETTI EXPERT BLUE FOUNTAIN PEN W GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB $7.95 Time Remaining: 18d 11h 42m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 DUKE Fountain Pen Red Barrel Iridium Tipped Nib Fine GT $25.00 Time Remaining: 15d 17h 53m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 D81 BLUE Shark Shape Duke Fountain Pen Iridium Nib M $27.00 Time Remaining: 17d 14h 4m Buy It Now for only: $27.00 |
 Mens Hero 22KGP Broad Iridium Nib Fountain Pen Black $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 12h 27m |
 DIKAWEN BLACK FINE NIB Gold Iridium Fountain Pen 109 $5.19 Time Remaining: 9d 13h 4m Buy It Now for only: $5.19 |
 P57 Duke White Crane Flying Fountain Pen w Iridium nib $35.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 35m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 H02 HERO SILVER FLOWER EMBOSSMENT IRIDIUM FOUNTAIN PEN $24.99 Time Remaining: 8d 7h 7m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 HERO 7006 Black Chrome Fine Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $8.50 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 40m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 |
 DUKE LEONARDO DE VINCI SERIES 168 CARBON FIBRE RED FOUNTAIN PEN M B IRIDIUM NIB $17.99 Time Remaining: 18d 15m Buy It Now for only: $17.99 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 34m |
 D153 Duke 933 Scholar Vivid Red Iridium M Point Paris Fountain Pen $17.50 Time Remaining: 22d 23h 38m Buy It Now for only: $17.50 |
 new esterbrookmaster series nib 9668 iridium tippedwet medium writerMINT $24.00 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 26m Buy It Now for only: $24.00 |
 12 3X4 HERO 336 IRIDIUM NIP CLASSIC FOUNTAIN PEN $19.99 Time Remaining: 23d 4h 52m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 TERZETTI CIGAR FOUNTAIN PEN W GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB+ GIFT BOX $9.95 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 5m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Retro 51 Fountain Pen Iridium Nib Point NEW Germany $35.99 Time Remaining: 3d 19h 51m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 HERO 3820 Black Chrome M Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $12.00 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 43m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 CROWN CHROME FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB+CONVERTER $8.95 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 45m Buy It Now for only: $8.95 |
 TERZETTI EXPERT RED FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB $7.95 Time Remaining: 18d 3h 36m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 NEW STIPULA BRUNILLESCHI VERDE ACQUA FOUNTAIN PEN TITANIUM NIB WITH IRIDIUM TIP $349.95 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 6m Buy It Now for only: $349.95 |
 Iridium Tip 6 Gold Plated Nib new old stock $7.99 Time Remaining: 25d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Retro 1951 51 Germany Iridium Point Fountain Pen NEW In Box Silver Red $44.99 Time Remaining: 4d 8h 49m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Danitrio Multi Colors Snake Fountain Pen Iridium M Nib $199.99 Time Remaining: 20d 21h 42m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 NEW STIPULA BRUNILLESCHI TERA DI SIENA FOUNTAIN PEN TITANIUM NIB IRIDIUM TIP $349.95 Time Remaining: 2d 9h 54m Buy It Now for only: $349.95 |
 Vintage Regal Reservoir Pen Set Iridium Tip Nib 1940S $149.00 Time Remaining: 6d 6h 30m Buy It Now for only: $149.00 |
 SLENDER LJ CLASSIC ESTERBROOKIRIDIUM TIPPED9668NEW $74.99 Time Remaining: 12d 5h 29m Buy It Now for only: $74.99 |
 vintage red pink pearlized fountain pen iridium tip nib unmarked beauty pearl $5.95 Time Remaining: 4d 12h 58m |
 NEW LANCASTER FOUNTAIN PEN CHROME IRIDIUM WHITE BLANC ET ARGENT WITH BOX $33.13 Time Remaining: 7d 13h 42m Buy It Now for only: $33.13 |
 Sterling Silver Laban Fountain Pen Set Iridium Nib $189.99 Time Remaining: 24d 23h 41m Buy It Now for only: $189.99 |
 Libelle Fountain Pen Spanish Eyes Series Mustard Iridium Point New In Box UB8306 $72.87 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 51m Buy It Now for only: $72.87 |
 HERO 7030 Silver Black Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $7.90 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 49m Buy It Now for only: $7.90 |
 Danitrio Phantas I Snake Shiny Silver FP Iridium M Nib $199.99 Time Remaining: 20d 21h 46m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 D81 BLUE Shark Shape Duke Fountain Pen Iridium Nib M $9.99 Time Remaining: 5d 11h 19m |
 NEW LANCASTER Ball Point PEN CHROME IRIDIUM WITH BOX $36.15 Time Remaining: 11h 20m Buy It Now for only: $36.15 |
 Vintage EUROPEAN FOUNTAIN PEN w very unique Ink Window Iridium Point Nib RARE $24.95 Time Remaining: 25d 9h 2m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 TERZETTI FILIGRE WHITE CROWN FOUNTAIN PEN IRIDIUM NIB $9.95 Time Remaining: 18d 9h 9m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 NEW IN BOX BLUE BLACK CALLIGRAPHY PEN IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY WRITER SCRIBE $23.95 Time Remaining: 21d 12h Buy It Now for only: $23.95 |
 SENATOR PRESIDENT PISTON FILL IRIDIUM NIB FOUNTAIN PEN W CASE NEVER USED $24.99 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 58m |
 Hero 389 Fountain Pen Iridium Tipped Nib M Gold Plated $14.90 Time Remaining: 29d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $14.90 |
 TERZETTI RED CROWN FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB $79.95 Time Remaining: 18d 9h 16m Buy It Now for only: $79.95 |
 CROWN WHITE FOUNTAIN PEN GERMAN IRIDIUM NIB+CONVERTER++ $8.95 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 48m Buy It Now for only: $8.95 |
 Conklin Glider Forest Green Fountain Pen Iridium Nib Fine Point Used $60.02 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 51m Buy It Now for only: $60.02 |
 D122 URANUS 621 Mother w Son Fine Iridium Nib FP $14.88 Time Remaining: 14d 12h 29m Buy It Now for only: $14.88 |
 vinatge fountain pen black 14k plated nib iridium t o z ex yu $24.00 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 40m |
 Danitrio Phantas I All Silver Snake FP Iridium M Nib $199.99 Time Remaining: 20d 21h 44m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 UR11 URANUS 966 BUTTERFLY DREAM FOUNTAIN PEN IRIDIUM M NIB $17.88 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 6m Buy It Now for only: $17.88 |
 D123 URANUS 621 Beautiful Lady Fine Iridium Nib FP $14.88 Time Remaining: 14d 12h 35m Buy It Now for only: $14.88 |
 NEW LANCASTER FOUNTAIN PEN CHROME IRIDIUM BROWN BRUN ET ARGENT WITH BOX $33.13 Time Remaining: 7d 13h 38m Buy It Now for only: $33.13 |
 vinatage Rexpen fountain pen iridium nib +Roller Ball pen $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 15m |
 Danitrio Black Lacquer Snake Fountain Pen Iridium M Nib $199.99 Time Remaining: 27d 8h 18m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 DUKE Supreme Series Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen Gold Crimson $21.99 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 43m Buy It Now for only: $21.99 |
 HERO 9038 Black Gold Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $12.00 Time Remaining: 7d 11h 53m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 1884 Mackinnon Pen Pencil New York London Iridium Point $9.99 Time Remaining: 8d 10h 6m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 UR09 URANUS 966 BUTTERFLY DREAM FOUNTAIN PEN IRIDIUM M $17.88 Time Remaining: 29d 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $17.88 |
 Watermans Fountain Pen With 14KT nib iridium tipped $29.95 Time Remaining: 8d 3h 18m Buy It Now for only: $49.95 |
 NEW Fountain Pen Rollerball Pen Set 22KGP Iridium Tip $32.99 Time Remaining: 25d 11h 17m Buy It Now for only: $32.99 |
 ++MINT ESTERBROOK 9461 MASTER IRIDIUM FIRM FINE NEW $17.50 Time Remaining: 2h 8m Buy It Now for only: $17.50 |
 HERO 3820 Black Chrome M Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $12.00 Time Remaining: 7d 11h 51m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 HERO 9038 Black Gold Medium Iridium Nib Fountain Pen $12.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 40m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
Iridium Nib
The Continued Use Of The Fountain Pen
For many people of a certain age, the memories of ink-stained fingers, blobby, ink-covered homework and school shirt pockets with a creeping blue stain in the corner are still clear ones. For those of a later generation, the words 'fountain pen' are alien in their world filled with Bic Biros, gel pens and pens where the ink smells of strawberries and the casings have fuzzy toy trolls attached to the top. But where did these traditional ink pens come from and why are they still popular?
The history of the fountain pen is the history of writing. The earliest historical record of a pen with a reservoir to hold ink dates back to the 10th Century. In 953 Ma'ad al-Mu'izz, then head of state of Egypt, demanded a pen that would not stain his hands or clothes. The resulting pen (the first, official 'fountain pen' design) held ink in a reservoir and delivered it to the nib using the combined forces of gravity and capillary action. After that initial leap forward, further development in the design remained practically unchanged for hundreds of years until the industrial age of the 19th Century. The first fountain pen with a replaceable ink cartridge appeared in 1827, designed by Romanian inventor Petrache Poenaru. Others took up the baton and during the 1850s there was a rash of patents submitted for various designs.
The key success lay in the development of three essential components ? the iridium-tipped gold nib, hard rubber and free-flowing ink. The first two ensured smooth ink delivery with no scratching and a method of producing seals and components that were not susceptible to heat, cold or the corrosive effects of the ink. The crucial development of free-flowing ink put an end to clogged nibs that suddenly spurted ink all over your pristine piece of paper or just stopped working completely. By reducing the amount of maintenance the pens had, their popularity increased and they became the staple writing instrument until the launch of the all-conquering Bic in 1950.
In today's consumer, demand for low-maintenance, throwaway society, the fountain pen is seen as an archaic design. Still, thousands are sold every year. Why do people continue to use such a seemingly outdated pen when there are far better (and completely maintenance-free) gel pens or biros available? They still use a fountain pen because it's seen as not an outdated design, but a design classic. It speaks of authority, of business acumen, and ultimately, of power. When was the last time you saw an international agreement between two countries being signed by the heads of state using a Bic? At every history-making event, be they peace accords, international trade agreements or the cessation of hostilities between two countries, the fountain pen has played its role.
Today's fountain pens are a technological world away from the Egyptian reservoir pens of the 10th Century, but the basic idea of using gravity and capillary action is still the same. Cutting edge design incorporates the latest materials into the nib and casing and pens range from the cheap and cheerful 99p Back to School specials to a diamond-encrusted, Caran d'Ache pen created in 1999 and sold in Harrods of London for a mind-boggling $265,000. Calligraphers rely on the design of the fountain pen to continue their art (despite the advent of computer graphics packages) and cheques, documents and letters the world over are still finished with a flourished signature delivered deftly from a fountain pen. They're still an absolute nightmare to use if you're left-handed, though.
About the Author
Writing implements are more important to some people than others. While some make do with a scruffy biro others can't work without a high quality fountain pen.
Different pens and other office stationary are covered in the regular consumer reviews by Mark Bartley.
Nouveau Sceptre Pen Turning Kits at Penn State Industries