The quality of ebobite feeds.

[Bisquitlips]

Here are several personal thoughts about ebonite in comparison to plastic feeds:

Ebonite used for feeds has the excellent characteristic that it will not absorb the ink being fed to the nib. The pigments and other chemicals and elements in inks do not impact ebonite. Some plastics used for feeds are changed by some inks and their compositions. Some plastics can be softened especially by inks that are considered "bullet proof" or permanent or with high astringent values. In my younger years, I had pens with plastic feeds that were lovely writers for years and then I would try another ink and afterward they would be completely lacking. I haven't had this experience with pens with ebonite feeds.

Ebonite feeds need to be hand cut and finished while the plastic feeds are molded. Even though some of the more expensive pens (like Montblanc) are using plastic feeds in most of their lines, most of the hand crafted pens like Omas (defunct), Montegrappa and others use ebonite. The real problem that I have had with molded / plastic nibs is when they are right they are good. But many of the plastic nibs just are not good performers out of the door. Heat and cold can change them. Ebonite is stable.

Typically an ebonite feed will be tuned to the nib being place on it. Again, that is why hand crafted fountain pens are usually great performers out of the box. Not always, but in my experience they are a vast majority of the time. And also why they will maintain their excellence.

Also, plastic feeds cannot be modified. Ebonite can be sanded, cut, and routinely repaired whereas a plastic feed does not stand up to sanding and other modifications. Better to replace the plastic feed and start from scratch. Not so with the ebonite.

When possible I try to acquire pens with ebonite feeds, but plastic really doesn't put me off if I truly want a pen. The best thing is to just enjoy them, use them, and all that goes along with this great hobby.

Just a few thoughts...

[Juantxo]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Here are several personal thoughts about ebonite in comparison to plastic feeds:

Ebonite used for feeds has the excellent characteristic that it will not absorb the ink being fed to the nib. The pigments and other chemicals and elements in inks do not impact ebonite. Some plastics used for feeds are changed by some inks and their compositions. Some plastics can be softened especially by inks that are considered "bullet proof" or permanent or with high astringent values. In my younger years, I had pens with plastic feeds that were lovely writers for years and then I would try another ink and afterward they would be completely lacking. I haven't had this experience with pens with ebonite feeds.

Ebonite feeds need to be hand cut and finished while the plastic feeds are molded. Even though some of the more expensive pens (like Montblanc) are using plastic feeds in most of their lines, most of the hand crafted pens like Omas (defunct), Montegrappa and others use ebonite. The real problem that I have had with molded / plastic nibs is when they are right they are good. But many of the plastic nibs just are not good performers out of the door. Heat and cold can change them. Ebonite is stable.

Typically an ebonite feed will be tuned to the nib being place on it. Again, that is why hand crafted fountain pens are usually great performers out of the box. Not always, but in my experience they are a vast majority of the time. And also why they will maintain their excellence.

Also, plastic feeds cannot be modified. Ebonite can be sanded, cut, and routinely repaired whereas a plastic feed does not stand up to sanding and other modifications. Better to replace the plastic feed and start from scratch. Not so with the ebonite.

When possible I try to acquire pens with ebonite feeds, but plastic really doesn't put me off if I truly want a pen. The best thing is to just enjoy them, use them, and all that goes along with this great hobby.

Just a few thoughts...

Which would be the pens with ebonite nibs...? Mostly Japanese...? How about Pelikan...?

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Juantxo

Which would be the pens with ebonite nibs...? Mostly Japanese...? How about Pelikan...?

You will need to research each pen you want to acquire.

It used to be that every quality pen manufacturer used ebonite, but today even vendors like Montblanc and Pelikan use plastic.

It takes some work, but as I said plastic doesn't put me off on a pen that I really want.

Dig into it. And don't let it defer you from purchasing something you would like to add to your collection.

[jar]

Lots of OMAS, Montegrappa, older Montblancs, bunches of pens used ebonite feeds.

But I have never been able to find much performance difference between well made feeds regardless of the material used.

[Formulansx]

The ebonite feeds don't freak me out as much to heat set but I have been worried when working with plastic feeds. I've never messed up a plastic feed but they do worry me. I have noticed Omas ebonite feeds do have some flashing on the fins but these are on later pens 2004+ or so. I don't see any performance issues though. I only have one Montegrappa ebonite feed and it has been nice. No flashing on the fins.

[Bisquitlips]

Ebonite is just hardened rubber.

I believe Omas exclusively used ebonite, but I also don't believe I ever saw an Omas that was considered one of their "lesser" lines. Omas had normal fountain pens and then it was off to the stratosphere as far as quality, price, and custom pens.

I miss Omas!

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Ebonite is just hardened rubber.

I believe Omas exclusively used ebonite, but I also don't believe I ever saw an Omas that was considered one of their "lesser" lines. Omas had normal fountain pens and then it was off to the stratosphere as far as quality, price, and custom pens.

I miss Omas!

So do I! I insist they will be back in some form or another.