My first two pens I bought 6 years ago before I knew anything about fountain pens. I was in NYC and decided to visit the Fountain Pen Hospital so I could get hands on experience and advice. They sold me a Lamy Safari in charcoal and a Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice. The Lamy is a great writer as I've come to know is the norm. But I have to say, as much as I absolutely love my Conklin visually, it's been a skippy and inconsistent pen forever. I only own around 10 pens, and when you look at my pen case, the Conklin still stands out as a cool looking pen. And you're absolutely right.....when I look at your website for the Jowo replacement nib, EVERYTHING about it looks the same except the cursive "Conklin" stamped on my Conklin nib is within a gold colored oval. So thanks for this video, because now I know I can buy your Jowo replacement nib unit for my Duragraph, confident it's truly a Jowo nib. I'm incredibly excited to (I hope) have solved the issue around my beautiful Conklin Duragraph!!! It's an amazing business decision they've made. I can only hope they reap the rewards of making this decision. And thanks for the informative review. Great job!
Faz duas semanas que comprei uma Conklin Duragraph stub 1.1, tem uma escrita macia, mas quando começo a escrever, a fluidez da tinta é interrompida. Tenho que desenroscar a caneta e girar o alimentador para forçar a tinta para baixo fazendo que flua novamente.
I bought a Duragraph a couple years before this video came out, and my only complaint was that the nib didn't feel right. It was inconsistent and felt strange, and I had the same issue with another Conklin pen I bought later on. I swapped it out for a Goulet medium nib and the Duragraph instantly became my favorite pen - I think Goulet's branded nibs were Jowo at the time, but I can't remember. Still use it to this day and I love it, and I'm glad Conklin switched over to Jowo for their nibs, because the old nibs were their weakest point (in my experience) despite making really nice pens.
Just some feedback from a customer -- I concur that the fact that these VERY nice-quality JoWo nibs are found across several brands of pen is HUGE! For me, the writing experience is the BIGGEST thing -- hands down. (Being able to mix and match nibs is also huge for me!) So when I can know in advance that a pen uses a JoWo nib, I already pretty much know what the writing experience is going to be like. That leaves the remainder of the decision hinging on the other features the pen offers, and I find this VERY comforting, because if there is anything I NEVER want to experience (if I can help it) is purchase a pen and discover that the writing experience is so disappointing that I will be unhappy with it and never use it. I commend Yafa for making it go right to do a 100% switch-over!
I purchased a new Conklin Duragraph Limited Edition Elements Fire with a medium Conklin/JoWo nib. I've noticed that it is noticeably more fine and dry than the medium Goulet/Jowo nib I have on another Duragraph. The Conklin/JoWo nib eventually dries out to the point of stalling and I've had to re-prime the feed with the converter to get it flowing again. Has this been your experience when comparing the new medium Conklin nibs to the medium Goulets? I would have thought they would write the same but they are quite different in my case.
There's really not a huge difference. In my experience, I've found Bock nibs to offer slight feedback, especially with the finer nibs. Gives you traction on smooth paper. JoWo tends to write a bit smoother and wetter. - Colin
@@Gouletpens Thanks, Colin. I was hoping for a clear delineation such as a maker's stamp, rather than something extremely subjective (and inconsistent at least as far as Bocks are concerned) that also depends upon the ink and paper for its feel, but I didn't expect any better description than what you gave. I have found nothing on the nib or feed to help. Any chance that "pride in their work" will drive either of them to mark their nibs - I ask skeptically? Thanks a bunch for responding --- and Happy New Year to you>
I just bought my first Conklin.... and im extremely excited and very nervous.. its the most I have spent on a pen ever my first pen was a Jinhoa x750 that was a gift.... then I got a Esterbrook j series of ebay for under $20... I love my Esterbrook and let my daughter use my jinhoa... and now my conklin... im so nervous but I can't wait!!!
I bought a Conklin Duragraph Purple Nights from you last year. It had a Bock nib. It's the best steel nib I've used. If these are better I'm going to have to try another. I'm in the UK but my best mate is in the US for the next 3 weeks and can bring it back for me.
Different rather than better in my experience. For me, Bock tends to have a hint of feedback and toothiness, while JoWo is smoother and wetter writing. I guess it depends on what you're looking for! - Colin
I haven't had much luck with Conklin. I recently got myself a Herringbone in blue and the feed housing has a hairline fracture which leaks ink onto the grip, which gets very messy as you can imagine. The nib is smooth and the feed is fine as well, just the feed housing is causing me problems. I think I'll have to buy a whole nib/feed/housing assembly to fix this problem. I really want to hold onto this pen because it looks so damn nice. I was looking at Bock #6, do you guys know if their housing is compatible with Conklin Herringbone?
I think writing consistency is the biggest thing. I've run into flow issues (skipping, hard starts) with the previous Conklin nibs. JoWo is usually much more consistent. - Colin
Replacement nib units for Conklin are all out of stock or just haven't come in yet? I am on the waiting list but just wondered if there was an estimate on them being in stock.
That was the Conklin All American Raven Black (www.gouletpens.com/products/conklin-all-american-fountain-pen-raven-black?variant=14200490524715 ) - Colin
Goulet should do a factory tour at Bock and JoWo. Curious to see all the stamps they do for all the companies they work for.
That would be really cool, not sure anyone has had that level of insight yet! - Colin
You learn something new every day: JoWo comes from Johann and Wolfgang. I've been wondering about the origin of the name.
Learned that as well! - Colin
My first two pens I bought 6 years ago before I knew anything about fountain pens. I was in NYC and decided to visit the Fountain Pen Hospital so I could get hands on experience and advice. They sold me a Lamy Safari in charcoal and a Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice. The Lamy is a great writer as I've come to know is the norm. But I have to say, as much as I absolutely love my Conklin visually, it's been a skippy and inconsistent pen forever. I only own around 10 pens, and when you look at my pen case, the Conklin still stands out as a cool looking pen. And you're absolutely right.....when I look at your website for the Jowo replacement nib, EVERYTHING about it looks the same except the cursive "Conklin" stamped on my Conklin nib is within a gold colored oval. So thanks for this video, because now I know I can buy your Jowo replacement nib unit for my Duragraph, confident it's truly a Jowo nib. I'm incredibly excited to (I hope) have solved the issue around my beautiful Conklin Duragraph!!! It's an amazing business decision they've made. I can only hope they reap the rewards of making this decision. And thanks for the informative review. Great job!
Thank you. I have some older Conklin pens that I am looking forward to switching out the nib.
So excited. My All American is arriving tomorrow.
Faz duas semanas que comprei uma Conklin Duragraph stub 1.1, tem uma escrita macia, mas quando começo a escrever, a fluidez da tinta é interrompida. Tenho que desenroscar a caneta e girar o alimentador para forçar a tinta para baixo fazendo que flua novamente.
Thank you, Brian and Drew.
I usually like a 1.1 stub but I have a mighty need for that broad nib.
Q: Did they change the feed, too? Or is it still the same?
I bought a Duragraph a couple years before this video came out, and my only complaint was that the nib didn't feel right. It was inconsistent and felt strange, and I had the same issue with another Conklin pen I bought later on. I swapped it out for a Goulet medium nib and the Duragraph instantly became my favorite pen - I think Goulet's branded nibs were Jowo at the time, but I can't remember. Still use it to this day and I love it, and I'm glad Conklin switched over to Jowo for their nibs, because the old nibs were their weakest point (in my experience) despite making really nice pens.
Conklin pens will finally write now!
Rohit Beniwal har har I like the pun too
Great to know! Definitely will be looking into a Conklin in the future from you guys
This is good news, I have always wanted to love Monteverde and Conklin... well you know the story, but maybe it’s time to give them another shot.
Just some feedback from a customer -- I concur that the fact that these VERY nice-quality JoWo nibs are found across several brands of pen is HUGE! For me, the writing experience is the BIGGEST thing -- hands down. (Being able to mix and match nibs is also huge for me!) So when I can know in advance that a pen uses a JoWo nib, I already pretty much know what the writing experience is going to be like. That leaves the remainder of the decision hinging on the other features the pen offers, and I find this VERY comforting, because if there is anything I NEVER want to experience (if I can help it) is purchase a pen and discover that the writing experience is so disappointing that I will be unhappy with it and never use it. I commend Yafa for making it go right to do a 100% switch-over!
I purchased a new Conklin Duragraph Limited Edition Elements Fire with a medium Conklin/JoWo nib. I've noticed that it is noticeably more fine and dry than the medium Goulet/Jowo nib I have on another Duragraph. The Conklin/JoWo nib eventually dries out to the point of stalling and I've had to re-prime the feed with the converter to get it flowing again.
Has this been your experience when comparing the new medium Conklin nibs to the medium Goulets? I would have thought they would write the same but they are quite different in my case.
Q: How do we, the users, distinguish JoWo from Bock -- unless you guys tell us each time?
There's really not a huge difference. In my experience, I've found Bock nibs to offer slight feedback, especially with the finer nibs. Gives you traction on smooth paper. JoWo tends to write a bit smoother and wetter. - Colin
@@Gouletpens Thanks, Colin. I was hoping for a clear delineation such as a maker's stamp, rather than something extremely subjective (and inconsistent at least as far as Bocks are concerned) that also depends upon the ink and paper for its feel, but I didn't expect any better description than what you gave. I have found nothing on the nib or feed to help.
Any chance that "pride in their work" will drive either of them to mark their nibs - I ask skeptically?
Thanks a bunch for responding --- and Happy New Year to you>
I just bought my first Conklin.... and im extremely excited and very nervous.. its the most I have spent on a pen ever my first pen was a Jinhoa x750 that was a gift.... then I got a Esterbrook j series of ebay for under $20... I love my Esterbrook and let my daughter use my jinhoa... and now my conklin... im so nervous but I can't wait!!!
I bought a Conklin Duragraph Purple Nights from you last year. It had a Bock nib. It's the best steel nib I've used. If these are better I'm going to have to try another. I'm in the UK but my best mate is in the US for the next 3 weeks and can bring it back for me.
Different rather than better in my experience. For me, Bock tends to have a hint of feedback and toothiness, while JoWo is smoother and wetter writing. I guess it depends on what you're looking for! - Colin
I am thrilled you are carrying these pens in Broad!!!
I've found the Yafa pens hard to love in the past. Maybe I'll give them another shot now.
They look great! Thanks!
I haven't had much luck with Conklin. I recently got myself a Herringbone in blue and the feed housing has a hairline fracture which leaks ink onto the grip, which gets very messy as you can imagine. The nib is smooth and the feed is fine as well, just the feed housing is causing me problems. I think I'll have to buy a whole nib/feed/housing assembly to fix this problem. I really want to hold onto this pen because it looks so damn nice. I was looking at Bock #6, do you guys know if their housing is compatible with Conklin Herringbone?
Is there a big difference because I have the Conklin tip versus the Jowo
I think writing consistency is the biggest thing. I've run into flow issues (skipping, hard starts) with the previous Conklin nibs. JoWo is usually much more consistent. - Colin
Does that mean the Omniflex nib will also be made by JoWo?
No, those are still from a different nib manufacturer. Just the standard nib sizes are by JoWo. - Colin
I was going to ask the same thing. I was hoping JoWo would be making the Omniflex as well.
9months later the answer is: YES! JoWo Omniflex is now official.
Replacement nib units for Conklin are all out of stock or just haven't come in yet? I am on the waiting list but just wondered if there was an estimate on them being in stock.
what about the omniflex nibs?
Those still use a different manufacturer than JoWo. - Colin
great news! I put Goulet nibs on my Duragraphs from the start. What was that last pen that Drew wrote with in the video?
Monteverde First Step LE
What about Pnieder? Is Yafa moving Pnieder to Jowo as well?
We've recently purchased a Monteverde Monza 3. Do those have JoWo nibs? Those are #5 right?
nicodoggie I had the same question.
what was that first conklin pen he wrote with? (all black)
That was the Conklin All American Raven Black (www.gouletpens.com/products/conklin-all-american-fountain-pen-raven-black?variant=14200490524715 ) - Colin
Do the Monteverde nibs fit the Giant Sequoia? It doesn't say so on your website.
Yes, it also fits the Giant Sequoia! We just don't sell that particular pen anymore, that's why it wasn't included in the description. - Colin
@@Gouletpens Thanks for answering my question. I took a chance and placed the order anyway but now I'll sleep better 😎👍
Do you think the German nib manufacturers would consider making the size equivalent of Japanese Extra Fines or crazily Ultra Extra Fines?
I don't see it being a standard offering. Custom nib work is probably the route to go when it comes to a German-nib/pen. - Colin
Is there an ETA for Innova?
Hoping for late-January! - Colin
Are nemosine nibs made by JoWo?
I don't believe so, at least not when we carried them. The Singularity was #6 sized though and still very good. - Colin
New decade starts Jan 1 2021 ;) yes. I’m that guy.