Thanks for your continuing comments. We have been talking to Bock amongst others for the last few weeks, and it is probably Bock who would be making them for us if we went down that road. However, as has been pointed out, in having them produced in our own name we may be trying to re-invent the wheel.
The advantage of having our own name on them would be that we would have access to a greater choice of nibs, whereas perversely, Bock only make a very very limited number with their own name on, which they will only supply complete with feed and housing, which does not fit the majority of kits that pen turners buy. Great for the kitless makers but not for the kit makers. So we would need to throw away the housing and supply them from another source if they were required. Or just throw away the housing and supply the nib on its own.
They could also have no name at all, which would also improve flexibility of choice, but then there would be nothing to justify of prove that it isn't just another chinese import.
Bock seems to be the way to go judging by all the comments here, but the price we buy them for, and therefore the price we can sell them for is likely to be based on a housing which you can't use unless your pen is kitless. How does that change your opinions?
You can begin to see where some of my questions have come from. Needless to say, we are still talking to them, trying to resolve the compatibility issue.
What point sizes are of interest by the way. The more or less universal kit standard is 0.7mm which would be classed as medium. Fine, extra fine, broad, calligraphy, double line calligraphy?? How much do you think a steel nib would be called for?
Phil
