This is what my set looked like
Remember Rapidograph? I wasn’t a technical draftsman, but I worked in the cubicle next to them. Although I think there was a period of time when Rapidograph pens had a cultural cachet among people who weren’t artists. Like, people who kept poncey diaries.
Anyway, I had a hankering for one and went into my local art shop today. He said oh, I stopped carrying those when they went up to £30(!). They’re about £40(!!) now, he says.
Well, I found them cheaper online, but new ones not by much. And it’s a real risk buying used ones.
They draw such fine lines because the ‘nib’ is a tiny steel cylinder. Inside it is a fine wire attached to a weight. Periodically, you shook the pen so the fine wire bobbed up and down, which cleared the cylinder and kept the ink moving. A studio full of draftsman made the clack-clackity-clack sound at scale.
But the fine wire wore out eventually. And if you let india ink dry hard (and everyone did from time to time), rehabilitating the nibs became a chore. Sometimes impossible. The smaller the nib, the harder to resurrect.
I can’t for the life of me find my set of Rapidographs. Most people these days use fancy felt tips instead, but I’m kinda stubborn. The real thing has a feel to it.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
p.s. I thought my server was down for hours, but it looks like my VPN was to blame.
February 27, 2026 — 7:00 pm
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