Greg Minuskin is a different type of nibmaster.
There are numerous talented nib masters who hang out their shingles on the web and at pen shows, working with a perfectly functional fountain pen nib and turning it into a nib with a user-specified custom grind. Or they rebuild damaged nibs that have danced a little downward tango to the tile floor or rattled through a rough spin in the washing machine’s heavy cycle.
Greg Minuskin does grinds and reconstructions. But his preference, his expertise, and his talents are devoted to building a nib tip. He begins with an existing nib, whether damaged or intact, and constructs a perfectly wonderful nib tip, some of which have not been seen in a manufacturer’s catalog for a century or more. A nib by Minuskin may be described as extra-broad or extra-fine, but it’s wholly different from a factory-produced nib. Quite simply, he builds the greatest contemporary fountain pen nibs available.
WATCHES OR WRITING INSTRUMENTS?
As a child, Minuskin loved building things, especially models and Legos. After finishing college with a degree in commercial real estate accounting, he felt constrained by the day-to-day business.
Watch repair had been a pleasure and a passion for years. His friendship with a watch repairman led to his enrollment in the prestigious WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland, Training and Education Program) school in Neufchatel, Switzerland, in 1993—the only American accepted into his class of students from around the world. Following graduation and certification, Minuskin remained an independent repairman before becoming supervisor of the West Coast (Beverly Hills) repair facility for Rolex USA.
This story is from the August 2017 edition of PEN WORLD.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2017 edition of PEN WORLD.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
Do you like black pens? If so, you are probably already familiar with the fun, frivolity, and fellowship associated with the Black Pen Society (BPS).
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
The Italian pen company's experiment in modernism led to a revolution in late 20th century pen design. A two-part series.
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
The six-part series on dip-less (or one-dip) fountain pens garnered some major attention through its run from October 2023 through August 2024 (Vol. 36 No. 6 Vol. 37 No. 5).
David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.
