April 22, 2025

Dip pens

I started looking into dip pens. I bought a Sailor Hocoro, mostly with the idea of being able to try different inks without needing to clean out and load up a fountain pen. Then I discovered that artists use dip pens. Often they use Speedball nibs in a holder. I bought a Speedball 101, and also a box of vintage Esterbrook 048 Falcon "pens". I was pleased that both fit into a handle I already have.

Speedball sells a set (SB2964) with two handles and six nibs. The Amazon price is $10, so it is hard to go wrong.

Here is a list of 6 favorite nibs from Chloe Gendron's video "what I wish I had known about dip pens".

Speedball 101 Hunt Imperial
Speedball 102 Hunt Crowquill
Speedball Hunt 512 Bowl
Brause 361 Steno "blue pumpkin"
Tachikawa #77 soft Maru Manga
Tachikawa Manga G
I am enjoying the videos by Chloe Gendron:
Feedback? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's Pen Info / tom@mmto.org