Is there anywhere to purchase a complete nib/feed/section? Gold (not steel) nibs and ebonite (not plastic) feeds would be great.
If the only answer is "Bock' or 'Schmidt', does anyone know what the minimum quantities are like from those companies?
thanks much,
Chris
Looks like a broad search so let me add my 2 pennies worth since I've been going through this for three years myself with little success.
Finding a new "off the shelf" ebonite section with a gold nib is going to be close to impossible to find. You might luck out and find a vintage pen that has an ebonite section and gold nib but
be careful when putting it in a pen for sale, some companies really frown on using THEIR branded items in YOUR pen even if it's just a nib!
Say you DID stumble onto an old ebonite section with a gold nib, your customer wants a broad nib and the one you have is an extra fine then what.... Back to the drawing board!
If memory serves from talking with Bock a few years ago, their minimum for gold nibs was 250 pieces for EACH tip size, (no mixing and matching to get 75 of each tip) and let's say with a ballpark price of $100 apiece, that's $25,000
for just one nib size.... WAY outta my league and not the best approach.
Here is what I would do........ visit Anthony Trachetta's website and pick up the gold nibs you want THEN visit Roy Ribaldos website and pick up the matching feed/housings to fit the gold nibs THEN buy an ebonite rod and make your own sections to fit the feed housings you now have.
Notice I said buy the feed and feed housings first, that's because different makes use different threads and you need to know what tap to buy to thread your sections.
Let us know if you find any sources, many here would love to know!