the following photo shows the size of different current Pilot/Namiki nibs,
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here is a old photo without the #30 nib
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Namiki #20 nib is the same size as Pilot #15, but with different shape and
feed. Namiki nibs usually carry the PP-F hallmark as follows,
![]()
Most Pilot/Namiki nibs have date code stamped in the format of "XMMYY", "XMYY", "MMYY" or "MYY"
X is a alphabet, e.g. "A", "B", "a", "b", "H", "T" ...
"H" was the Hiratsuka factory 平塚工場, and "T", Tokyo factory 志村工場 (opened Dec 1935, renamed to Tokyo factory May 1966, moved Nov 1978), was closed for some time. these two alphabets are no longer use today. "A" and "B" mark the different welding machines in the Hiratsuka factory.
MM or M is single or double digit denotes the month.
YY is the year, e.g. 09 is 2009.
some older nibs would also has the old JIS mark.
more info:
Bruno Taut: Datation of Japanese Pens. II. Pilot Nibs
Bruno Taut: Datation of Japanese Pens. III. Pilot’s Pen Bodies
http://taka215.blog63.fc2.com/blog-entry-65.html,
http://www.lionandpen.com/Dutcher/JIS.html
since 2010, the first alphabet is omitted.
from the catalog of Namiki, there are several varieties of Namiki nibs,
Two tone 18k #50: for Emperor collection and Chinkin collection (large size)
Two tone 18k #20: for Yukari Royale collection and Chinkin collection (medium size)
Two tone 18k #10: for Yukari collection
Single tone 18k #50: for Urushi collection (large size)
Single tone 18k #20: for Urushi collection (medium size)
Single tone 14k #10: for Nippon Art collection (FN-5M)
Single tone 14k #5: for Nippon Art collection (FN-35SM)
here is a old photo without the #30 nib
| Size | Weight |
|---|---|
| 3 | 0.38g |
| 5 | 0.53g |
| 10 | 0.62g |
| 15 | 0.70g |
| 20 | 0.78g |
| 50 | 2.03g |
Namiki #20 nib is the same size as Pilot #15, but with different shape and
feed. Namiki nibs usually carry the PP-F hallmark as follows,
Most Pilot/Namiki nibs have date code stamped in the format of "XMMYY", "XMYY", "MMYY" or "MYY"
X is a alphabet, e.g. "A", "B", "a", "b", "H", "T" ...
"H" was the Hiratsuka factory 平塚工場, and "T", Tokyo factory 志村工場 (opened Dec 1935, renamed to Tokyo factory May 1966, moved Nov 1978), was closed for some time. these two alphabets are no longer use today. "A" and "B" mark the different welding machines in the Hiratsuka factory.
MM or M is single or double digit denotes the month.
YY is the year, e.g. 09 is 2009.
some older nibs would also has the old JIS mark.
more info:
Bruno Taut: Datation of Japanese Pens. II. Pilot Nibs
Bruno Taut: Datation of Japanese Pens. III. Pilot’s Pen Bodies
http://taka215.blog63.fc2.com/blog-entry-65.html,
http://www.lionandpen.com/Dutcher/JIS.html
since 2010, the first alphabet is omitted.
from the catalog of Namiki, there are several varieties of Namiki nibs,
Two tone 18k #50: for Emperor collection and Chinkin collection (large size)
Two tone 18k #20: for Yukari Royale collection and Chinkin collection (medium size)
Two tone 18k #10: for Yukari collection
Single tone 18k #50: for Urushi collection (large size)
Single tone 18k #20: for Urushi collection (medium size)
Single tone 14k #10: for Nippon Art collection (FN-5M)
Single tone 14k #5: for Nippon Art collection (FN-35SM)