http://typophile.com/node/66795

...and http://typophile.com/node/36802 (though in less depth)

Thanks, though the topics seemed more philosophical than technical. Any thoughts on that sketch posted?

Wow, I just came across this new video from master lefty John DeCollibus. That shows some technique. That's one oddly shaped nib he's holding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtiupZ2L_U8

Also:
http://typophile.com/node/48843

hhp

I'm sure you've already used these...but they are pretty sharp and clean, you've got to watch the paper your using though. You want some super shiny stuff, and very little pressure. http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/edding_1255_Calligraphy_Pen.html

I've never managed to get a swelling nib (spencerian style) effect through a marker pen, you can cheat, draw a skeleton and then swell out at the right places with a fatter pen. It worked pretty good in my graffiti days.
A southpaw nib will definitely help, or my oblique holder can reverse? i presume that has the same effect with non angled nibs. Also, reverse the angle you approach the paper at (as opposed to the way they show you for orthodox).

With regards to the sketch, my hunch is a marker pen.
I think the caps are freestyled, and the lowercase is constructed form built on top of a sketch.

I like those Eddings, but if you want something a lot sharper, try one of the Pilot Parallel pens. Even if doesn't work for your calligraphy they are great as ruling pens.

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Pilot_Parallel_Pen.html

I hadn't seen those! Want.

Thanks for the finds Justin and Leigh. I just ordered myself the parallel pen.

This is probably the only useful thing I'll be able to share about calligraphic tools here, but we used the Parallel Pen too in the calligraphy classes I took, and one thing to know about it is that it uses a *lot* of ink, and the cartridges are rather expensive. You can just keep buying those all the time, or you can use a syringe to refill the cartridge you have from a larger ink bottle, which will yield almost the same quality and will save you lots of $ over the long run. (In my case the run wasn't all that long but still. :-)

I couldn't resist either, got two to see how it goes.
Good to know Nina, would just have to watch the consistency of the replacement ink. I'm always sticking edding T100 in anything that'll hold it.

I grew up using old school flat pens and tried a Parallel" pen this summer at TypeCon. It was certainly easy but very frustrating because the pressure needed was totally different than Hunt or Speedball or any of the geezer tools I am accustomed to ;-)

Also, Arnold Bank, my old calligraphy teach jokingly said that left-handed calligraphers were more rare than liquor on Sunday in Lancaster.