Who Are The People In The Pen World: The Nibmeister

by Galen Leather December 11, 2021 3 Comments

What is a Nibmeister?

A nibmeister, by definition, is someone who can improve or reform a nib. It is an honored tradition and the nibmeisters are like the alchemists of the pen world; they can take a nib that isn’t functioning properly or isn’t to your liking and turn it into gold (not literally, unless it is gold, but you get the picture).

How Hard is it to become a Nibmeister?

This niche position in the pen world requires lots of training and practice. Through mentorships and repetition, each nibmeister acquires their own style of grinding nibs and their work will exhibit a personality that is singular as well. Choosing one is a matter of preference and often requires researching what others say about their work and having them tune or grind a nib or two for you. Some fountain pen collectors like all of their pens to be cared for by one nibmeister, and others enjoy the variety of having many hands perfect their pens.

How Can I Get a Nibmeister to Fix My Pen?

Nibmeisters can be found tuning and grinding at pen shows or in their own studios. Nibmeisters often have websites that will let you know how long their waiting lists are (this can be months or even years, depending) and also the process for sending your pen to them. Often they will have forms to fill out and may ask you to send photos of how you hold your pen when writing to make the most optimal adjustments to your pens nibs.

Nib Grinding

Nibmeisters are often more skilled or specialize in certain kinds of nibs, like italic and architect nibs, for example. Some have their own proprietary grinds that are a combination of more traditional grinds or have created a new nib of their own. If you are lucky enough to attend a pen show, they will often have samples of their nibs to try, so that you can see if it suits you and your handwriting. If this isn’t a possibility, research can be done on pen boards and through the nibmeisters site. There should be a fair amount of writing samples available to you to at least get a sense of the capabilities and style of the nibmeister you are interested in working with.

Some nibmeister are also pen restorers, so if you require that kind of work for a pen, be sure to ask if they can assist. If they cannot, they may know a restorer that they trust and can recommend to you if they don't do this work themselves. 

It is very heartening to see the nibmeister tradition continue, with several young nibmeisters learning from masters so that this important work stays in good hands.

Nibmeister near me

Below is a list of the nibmeisters currently working around the world. If you know of someone who should be added to this list, please leave their information in the comments. We would love to hear about others in this very special profession.

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