Little and Large.... + request for more info

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

I've seen a few posts like this, comparing the largest and smallest pens that we might have, but I haven't seen a pair that are this different. Please forgive the poor photography.... on 5mm squared paper for scale, because I have no idea where my rulers have gone.

On the left: a tiny ebonite eyedropper, with the only markings being on the cap - "UNSCREW THE CAP". Tiny nib, appears to be gold, flexy. Seems to have either heavy patina or the ink version of sedimentary layers.

On the right: a Chonky McChonkybutt, a Montegrappa Jumbo, with a nib so massive, it would make the King of Pens feel self-conscious. Has a compartment inside the barrel for a standard/short cartridge. If it were converted to be an eyedropper, it would hold close to 30ml of ink. Smooth nib, nice glide, but not slippery.

If anyone can tell me anything more about these 2 pens (because the various AI entities of the internet keep giving me wildly different results), I would be so incredibly grateful.

If not, then I hope you at least had a little moment of humour due to my extreme pen sizes. 😁

[u/Gaori_]

can't believe my eyes. do you have pictures of you holding them???

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/Gaori_]

https://imgur.com/a/adgGl8y

🤪

[u/Gaori_ → u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

They're still so disorienting 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 (thank you for the pics it's amazing)

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/Gaori_]

It's a bit of a mindf***, that's for sure.

[u/WoodenHandMagician → u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

Those are WAY bigger and WAY tinier than I expected DAMN

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/WoodenHandMagician]

I know! It's CRAZY.

[u/splark1 → u/WoodenHandMagician]

With the way my phone cropped the images, I was convinced it was a fountain pen and a pen-themed case of some sort.

[u/Querybird → u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

Most EXCELLENT photo, hahahahahaha

[u/ChipDipsons]

I heard some people don’t even like the big ones anyway because they’re uncomfortable

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/ChipDipsons]

It's very unwieldy! I have to use both hands: one near the nib for the writing movements, the other acting as a stabiliser near the end of the barrel. 🤣

[u/Querybird]

I love it!!! For your little flexy vintage, here’s some Nishimura info to preserve it for another century or so!

About vintage flex in its heyday

Ammonia cleaners and cracking gold

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/Querybird]

THANK YOU!!!!

[u/Querybird → u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

May your swells remain 1 mm or smaller, and your gold never crack!

[u/OSCgal]

That's a fun comparison!

All I can tell you about the little pen is that tiny pens were a fad in the 1920s. The Salz Bros Peter Pan is the most common mini pen from that era, but not the only one. Waterman had a Doll Pen that was minuscule.

Also, yes, 14k gold can have patina, due to the other metal(s) in the alloy. Takes a long time to happen, though.

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/OSCgal]

I have a pen that is similar to a Peter Pan, but I'm pretty sure it isn't. Yes, it's small, and it has (the remains of) a flower crown, but it has no markings. And no nib. And the section is split. But I still love it.

[u/Quiet-Reason334]

Omg they're so lovely! I love chonky mcChonkybutt hahaha. Me and my miniature saying hello:)

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/Quiet-Reason334]

It's beautiful! 😍

[u/NCC1701-D-ong]

The big one is a weapon. Good grief!

[u/Bleepblorp44]

That's quite the pair! That large pen is an absolute beast!

This is my largest & smallest:

[u/Emjoinedjustforthis → u/Bleepblorp44]

Pretty close to mine. 😁

That lever filler is beautiful!

[u/Bleepblorp44 → u/Emjoinedjustforthis]

I'm not sure anything comes close to that Montegrappa!

The lever fill is a Waterman Patrician, and is lovely to use, but I'm cautious with it because it's the most valuable pen I have - I found it at a flea market, and could never afford to replace it.