Do you use a fountain pen?
Discussion
BigGingerBob said:
My cheap but nice to use pen from China has started leaking like a tap.
Anything I can do to fix it? Also, standard cartridges seem a bit wide to fit nicely in the pen.
Secondly, I have three lovely Parker pens. Nothing that will set the world on fire but two IM pens and another that is similar but not the same. Any ideas on what it can be? It's the black and silver one I'm talking about. It has a larger silver cap in the lid and also a different collar at the bottom of the lid, a slightly longer part that you hold (whatever that's called) with a different collar and also a different nib. Any help would be appreciated.
Regarding the leaky pen, it might be worth giving it a good clean/soak in warm water, as dried ink may have built up causing issues. Also if standard cartridges seem a bit wide, they may not be sealing properly when installed.Anything I can do to fix it? Also, standard cartridges seem a bit wide to fit nicely in the pen.
Secondly, I have three lovely Parker pens. Nothing that will set the world on fire but two IM pens and another that is similar but not the same. Any ideas on what it can be? It's the black and silver one I'm talking about. It has a larger silver cap in the lid and also a different collar at the bottom of the lid, a slightly longer part that you hold (whatever that's called) with a different collar and also a different nib. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, did it just come with cartridges or was there an ink converter with it? If so, I'd try it out with the ink converter. The advantage of the converter is that once installed, it doesn't need to be constantly removed/refitted when filling the pen. You've also got a much wider choice of inks, it's slightly cheaper to run, and it's not producing waste plastic from the used cartridges.
Looking at the middle black/silver Parker, I think it too is a Parker IM. They made some changes to the IM design, and I believe the smaller silver ring at the base of the cap, larger silver top of the cap, and the thinner arrow/clip would point towards a 2009 model. See here for more info on Parkers.
BigGingerBob said:
My cheap but nice to use pen from China has started leaking like a tap.
Anything I can do to fix it? Also, standard cartridges seem a bit wide to fit nicely in the pen.
Secondly, I have three lovely Parker pens. Nothing that will set the world on fire but two IM pens and another that is similar but not the same. Any ideas on what it can be? It's the black and silver one I'm talking about. It has a larger silver cap in the lid and also a different collar at the bottom of the lid, a slightly longer part that you hold (whatever that's called) with a different collar and also a different nib. Any help would be appreciated.
Leaking Chinese pen, it all depends on where the leak is coming from. As long as the cartridge is properly seated, you should hear a proper click as it goes home, then you can probably rule the supply side out, unless you are using Waterman cartridges, they do not grip so well, or didn't, there may be some around. If they are waterman throw them away. Something to try, fit two cartridges, pointed end goes in the barrel and two cartridges go back to back, this ensures that they seat properly.Anything I can do to fix it? Also, standard cartridges seem a bit wide to fit nicely in the pen.
Secondly, I have three lovely Parker pens. Nothing that will set the world on fire but two IM pens and another that is similar but not the same. Any ideas on what it can be? It's the black and silver one I'm talking about. It has a larger silver cap in the lid and also a different collar at the bottom of the lid, a slightly longer part that you hold (whatever that's called) with a different collar and also a different nib. Any help would be appreciated.
Terms to use are barrel, section (where you hold) nib and feed, (the black plastic reservoir under the nib)
If the leak is from around the nib, take a tissue wrap it around the nib and feed and see if its loose. If it is pull it out with a twist and a gentle pull. I will come back to this. Take note as to how far the nib sits out of the section and the relationship under the nib, how far does the feed come up the nib.
If it isn't loose, push it home a fraction more twisting slightly, use minimal force, perhaps effort would be a better word. look at the gap between the nib and the section, there should be no gap, if there is a gap, try squeezing together just with your finger and thumb.
Back to the loose nib. you have a nib and feed out of the pen, wash them, dry them. Fit them together and see how they fit, they should be snug.
Put them back in the barrel, twisting and pushing as you go, it should be a tight fit, If it isn't you are stuffed basically, it will always leak. You could try and push and twist a bit more and see if you can make it seat a bit better.
The three Parkers, I think that the all black pen is called a Stealth.
blueg33 said:
My Pelikan limited edition had an issue with the piston which meant that the piston mounting was pulling away from the barrel.
The pen is 18 years old and has been used daily for much of that time. I contacted Pelikan and following their instructions shipped the pen off to Pelikans UK agent. The agent contacted me and said that they wpuld send the pen to Pelikan, it would take 8 weeks and they word charge me one the pen was returned and fixed. They couldn't say the cost of the repair.
I was apprehensive, an independent had quoted £80 to repair, the factory was likely to me more, especially with international postage.
Pen came back on friday (8 weeks), fully refurbished, working beautifully, charge - £20 including all of the postage etc. It was sent back to me by insured courier.
Great service IMO. Similarly when I bought the pen and wanted the nib changing for a medium, Pelikan just sent me a new nib FOC, they are normally about £200
That is really good service, I have a Montblanc in for service at the moment, minimum £100 charge and they will take 3 months to do any work.The pen is 18 years old and has been used daily for much of that time. I contacted Pelikan and following their instructions shipped the pen off to Pelikans UK agent. The agent contacted me and said that they wpuld send the pen to Pelikan, it would take 8 weeks and they word charge me one the pen was returned and fixed. They couldn't say the cost of the repair.
I was apprehensive, an independent had quoted £80 to repair, the factory was likely to me more, especially with international postage.
Pen came back on friday (8 weeks), fully refurbished, working beautifully, charge - £20 including all of the postage etc. It was sent back to me by insured courier.
Great service IMO. Similarly when I bought the pen and wanted the nib changing for a medium, Pelikan just sent me a new nib FOC, they are normally about £200
I like Pelikan, even more than MB, daily user is an M800 Broad, I bought a Cafe Creme when I had part ownership of a coffee shop but didnt want to use it!
K87 said:
That is really good service, I have a Montblanc in for service at the moment, minimum £100 charge and they will take 3 months to do any work.
I like Pelikan, even more than MB, daily user is an M800 Broad, I bought a Cafe Creme when I had part ownership of a coffee shop but didnt want to use it!
I am a Pelikan fan. The Cafe Creme is quite unusualI like Pelikan, even more than MB, daily user is an M800 Broad, I bought a Cafe Creme when I had part ownership of a coffee shop but didnt want to use it!
K87 said:
Better pic, the colour doesn't show up that well, dark brown and cream. There are not many pens that go up in price after you have bought them, this one is 200% of cost price.
Its enough to stop me taking it on the train every day.
What I really want is an 805 Ocean Swirl, they are now about £1000
Edited by blueg33 on Monday 20th May 16:49
If you are in the UK or Europe then Lamy are near unbeatable on all counts except slow. Free repairs. I dropped my Dialog 3, denting the barrel. Sent it in even saying it was entirely my fault. Took a while, but on return my only cost was tracked postage to German.
Edited by dapprman on Tuesday 21st May 15:57
Edited by dapprman on Tuesday 21st May 15:58
Edited by dapprman on Tuesday 21st May 15:58
Are you telling me I don't have to take the converter out to refill?! What a revelation, haha!
Thank you K87 & CnC for your helpful replies, I am soaking two pens at the moment as the Parker I was talking about has no ink flowing either. I will try your recommendations this afternoon and let you know how it goes.
Thank you K87 & CnC for your helpful replies, I am soaking two pens at the moment as the Parker I was talking about has no ink flowing either. I will try your recommendations this afternoon and let you know how it goes.
blueg33 said:
I take converters out and refill them with a syringe, you get them more full and much less air in the ink
What a faff for only a tiny gain! The extra time spent doing that would negate any time saved by filling less often, to my mind. Filling with a syringe is what you do when you have a pen that you can't get a converter for, and where cartridges are hard to come by. Then you refill cartridges with a syringe. I've never heard of anyone using a perfectly good converter like an empty cartridge.
Still, if that works for you then go for it.
BigGingerBob said:
Are you telling me I don't have to take the converter out to refill?! What a revelation, haha!
Thank you K87 & CnC for your helpful replies, I am soaking two pens at the moment as the Parker I was talking about has no ink flowing either. I will try your recommendations this afternoon and let you know how it goes.
Leaving the converter in place and sucking up the ink is a good thing to do, it has the benefit of flushing the nib and feed, reduces the chances of you getting messy and it just creates wear and tear on the converter plastic.Thank you K87 & CnC for your helpful replies, I am soaking two pens at the moment as the Parker I was talking about has no ink flowing either. I will try your recommendations this afternoon and let you know how it goes.
If you want to hurry the process of cleaning the Parker, there are Parker converters, just cycle through filling and emptying with warm water. Or, this frightens children, hold the threads of the section between your lips and suck clean water through it. there are other techniques such as rubber ear pumps, I even know of someone who uses a salad spinner after soaking the section.
Are you using a simple ink such as Parker or Waterman?
Clockwork Cupcake said:
blueg33 said:
I take converters out and refill them with a syringe, you get them more full and much less air in the ink
What a faff for only a tiny gain! The extra time spent doing that would negate any time saved by filling less often, to my mind. Filling with a syringe is what you do when you have a pen that you can't get a converter for, and where cartridges are hard to come by. Then you refill cartridges with a syringe. I've never heard of anyone using a perfectly good converter like an empty cartridge.
Still, if that works for you then go for it.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
What delightfully old-school shop frontages.
I wonder if they were always pen shops, or if they were originally tobacconists?
The one in Lucca may well have been a tobacconist, perfumery, jewellers etc. Many of the shops still have their original original Art Nouveau frontages and signage, though they are today home to a different sort of business.I wonder if they were always pen shops, or if they were originally tobacconists?
Louis Balfour said:
Clockwork Cupcake said:
What delightfully old-school shop frontages.
I wonder if they were always pen shops, or if they were originally tobacconists?
The one in Lucca may well have been a tobacconist, perfumery, jewellers etc. Many of the shops still have their original original Art Nouveau frontages and signage, though they are today home to a different sort of business.I wonder if they were always pen shops, or if they were originally tobacconists?
Penfriend was also overpriced, Yard O'Led pencils for example at £250 and Mabie Todd pens selling for twice their value. This was matched with the rudest employees.
Penfriend are still around. Amaya bought out the original owners and the new stuff became more regularly priced, plus she was not rude. Burlington Arcade owners basically ramped the rent up to extreme levels (she did tell me how much) meaning the independents could not longer afford to stay there, hence why the shops there now are just branches of luxury item makers and almost certainly for marketing only as they are unlikely to make profit at them.
Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
dapprman said:
Penfriend are still around. Amaya bought out the original owners and the new stuff became more regularly priced, plus she was not rude. Burlington Arcade owners basically ramped the rent up to extreme levels (she did tell me how much) meaning the independents could not longer afford to stay there, hence why the shops there now are just branches of luxury item makers and almost certainly for marketing only as they are unlikely to make profit at them.
Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
Get your facts right. The employee at Burlington arcade was rude and objectionable to me, I didn't say this was Amaya did I? The blonde sales staff was terrible, and to other people I know, I bought some goods and she couldn't even be bothered to speak. The staff at Penfriend on Fleet Street were no better, nor at the previous location in Bush House come to that back in 2007.Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
Suggest that you don't comment on situations where you were not present, frankly I was talking about the situation at Penfriend Burlington Arcade, 10+ years ago, not whatever the staff or owners are doing now.
Edited by K87 on Tuesday 21st May 20:02
K87 said:
dapprman said:
Penfriend are still around. Amaya bought out the original owners and the new stuff became more regularly priced, plus she was not rude. Burlington Arcade owners basically ramped the rent up to extreme levels (she did tell me how much) meaning the independents could not longer afford to stay there, hence why the shops there now are just branches of luxury item makers and almost certainly for marketing only as they are unlikely to make profit at them.
Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
Get your facts right. The employee at Burlington arcade was rude and objectionable to me, I didn't say this was Amaya did I? The blonde sales staff was terrible, and to other people I know, I bought some goods and she couldn't even be bothered to speak. The staff at Penfriend on Fleet Street were no better, nor at the previous location in Bush House come to that back in 2007.Amaya now sells from her website, by appointment, and at pen shows.
Suggest that you don't comment on situations where you were not present, frankly I was talking about the situation at Penfriend Burlington Arcade, 10+ years ago, not whatever the staff or owners are doing now.
Edited by K87 on Tuesday 21st May 20:02
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