Various variants of vintage calligraphy nibs have been patented, to suit different styles of calligraphy. The special feature of the fine point is the flexibility provided by the shape and the slit. This, together with the variation in pressure on the sheet in the downstroke, makes it possible to obtain the particular characteristic of chiaroscuro visible in English italics. By the end of the 1800s, feather factories had multiplied to the point where they were processing 10 tonnes of steel a week. The main British nib companies were Mitchell, Perry, Mason, and Gillot, while the main Italian brands after 1920 were Presbitero, Ruspi, Locati, and Legnani. The shape of calligraphy nibs derives from the way quill pens were worked here in ancient times. Its structure is still characterized by two basic cuts. A vertical cut takes account of the ink reserve and a horizontal cut to determine the shape of the nib. The grid pattern of the calligraphy nib is of fundamental importance, as it is this that gives very different characteristics to the writing strokes. Calligraphy nibs with truncated tips are used for many types of writing, particularly Gothic calligraphy. Soft-tipped calligraphy nibs are used in particular for writing in English, and the more pressure exerted on the nib, the wider the line. When first used, the calligraphy nib should be heated over a flame to remove the protective varnish. One of the special features of the calligraphy nib is its flexibility: thanks to its shape and slit, it can be used to vary the pressure on the page. In downstrokes, the nib widens, producing the chiaroscuro effect typical of handwriting. Writing by hand and calligraphy with elegance, for example with a calligraphy nib, means adhering to the rules of beauty and harmony. It is no longer just text and words, but elegant calligraphy as a true expression of art.