Do you use a fountain pen?

[Robbo 27]

Desiato said:

Many thanks Robbo,

In my searching I had found the same thing. Great options if you need a bound notebook. The paper that Filofax has always been great to write on but I can’t even find exactly what grade etc. that is.
I am hoping that a Ryman’s or similar may have some open packs I can try.
Cheers,
Mick

Hi Mick

I have just received the importers name who brings in Clairfontaine, they make it in reams but I havent seen it, the contact is


https://exaclairlimited.com/company/contact/

[dapprman]

I can back up what Robbo said - I use the HP Premium 90 gsm paper at home - got a great deal on a box of 5 500 sheet packs from Costco. It is thicker paper with a smoother more luxurious feel and works extremely well.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

dapprman said:

I can back up what Robbo said - I use the HP Premium 90 gsm paper at home - got a great deal on a box of 5 500 sheet packs from Costco. It is thicker paper with a smoother more luxurious feel and works extremely well.

Yes, I bought a few boxes of that years ago and it still hasn't run out yet.

[Desiato]

Robbo 27 said:

Hi Mick

I have just received the importers name who brings in Clairfontaine, they make it in reams but I havent seen it, the contact is


https://exaclairlimited.com/company/contact/

That’s great, cheers Robbo

Thanks to CC and Dapprman for confirming the HP paper.
Will try a tram of both and report back.

Cheers,

Mick

Edited by Desiato on Saturday 30th November 18:32

[BigGingerBob]

Got my pot of i k today, both pens work as they should!
Do i have to clean the lever fill straight away? Again, pics tomorrow as the pics on my phone are 6mb, way too big to attach here.

[Robbo 27]

BigGingerBob said:

Got my pot of i k today, both pens work as they should!
Do i have to clean the lever fill straight away? Again, pics tomorrow as the pics on my phone are 6mb, way too big to attach here.

If the pens are working perfectly, they fill as they should and write correctly then you are good to go. As a general rule, old pens have been put away with ink inside them which has then dried and blocked the small channels inside the pen, if that isnt a problem then no need to flush, it is a good idea to flush them through using warm water. perhaps every other fill or if you change the ink colour.

Take care of you want to shine up the outside, suggest thats a subject when we see the pics.

[BigGingerBob]

Sadly not the Parker or Swan I was promised, they are still somewhere else but I was given these.

Waterman:




Sheaffer:





And they both work! Haven't improved my writing though.
My GF:

Top Sheaffer, bottom Waterman
Me:


And as a fun extra, the leather pouch was made by someone on a ship my grandfather served on.

[C&C]

Both are nice quality pens.

I'm sure CC will be along shortly with a bit more information on the Sheaffer (I can never remember the models, but believe it may be one of their Targa variants).

Robbo will no doubt be able to shed a bit more light on the Waterman.

Edited by C&C on Tuesday 3rd December 10:08

[Clockwork Cupcake]

C+C said:

I'm sure CC will be along shortly with a bit more information on the Sheaffer (I can never remember the models, but believe it may be one of their Targa variants).

Hmmm. Not a Targa as the cap and barrel are totally different on the Targa.

The cap suggests a Triumph 3xx/4xx but they have the short inlay nib and the pen pictured has a long inlay.

It could be a PFM but I thought they were fatter. But it's definitely an Imperial of some sort due to the long inlay nib (which is my favourite shape, incidentally).

(Currently posting from my phone at the moment. When I am back at my PC I will look into it further and post a follow up.)


Update: I'm going with a PFM Touchdown
http://penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferPFM...

One of the few Sheaffer inlaid nib pens that I don't yet own.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 3rd December 10:41

[C&C]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Update: I'm going with a PFM Touchdown
http://penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferPFM...

One of the few Sheaffer inlaid nib pens that I don't yet own.

Excellent - if it is a PFM Touchdown, I understand that to be one of the most desirable Sheaffer models.

So question to BigGingerBob - when filling it, does a tube come out of the nib to dip in the ink (the "snorkel" filling system)?

[BigGingerBob]

[quote=C&C]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Update: I'm going with a PFM Touchdown
http://penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferPFM...

One of the few Sheaffer inlaid nib pens that I don't yet own.

Excellent - if it is a PFM Touchdown, I understand that to be one of the most desirable Sheaffer models.

So question to BigGingerBob - when filling it, does a tube come out of the nib to dip in the ink (the "snorkel" filling system)?

No snorkel, just the 'pump' out the top of the pen

[Robbo 27]

First of all, they all look in great condition, a very kind gift.

The Sheaffer is a touchdown model, one of the cleverest filling systems made, ideal for filling a pen with one hand. There are a number of little seals inside though so I wouldnt be tempted to take it apart, but if it fills and writes you shouldnt nead to, very nice inlaid nib, looks like a fine to medium nib. Not sure that it is a PFM - Pens for men - which is a bit more butch, a bit bigger in the beam than this one, but not easy to tell from a pic, if I had to put money on it I would say it is an Imperial.

This is a gold PFM, you will see that it looks just a little wider in the section, as suggested by CC.



The Waterman looks good too, they had some odd names in the past and the Waterman history hasnt been documented, it could be called a W5 perhaps,

I dont think that the silver clip is orginal in that it might have been gold plated when new. Waterman gold plating is really thin, I have worn it through just using a yellow duster. I dont know if you have tried to fill the Waterman but if the lever feels stiff to move it is because the rubber sac has gone hard with age, dont try and force the lever. Replacing the rubber sac is an easy job, replacing a bent lever on a 50 year old pen is a pain.

I think you will find a very different writing experience between the two nibs, The Waterman will have some flex and produce some very attractive handwriting, especially on lower case long tail letters.

These are a lovely pair, particularly as they have come from parents. They look like they need little or no work, I would be tempted to flush them through and if they need a shine up just use some none abrasive spray polish.

If you are carrying them around I would get yourself a small case, there are many purpose made cases you can buy but even a mobile phone case will do, just helps to protect the pens a little. The handmade leather case is a nice addition.

I wont talk about values as they have been given to you, but both these pens are sought after by collectors.

Edited by Robbo 27 on Tuesday 3rd December 12:41

[Snails]

One of my Sheaffer targas was in my notebook uncapped in between taking notes. I opened the notebook, out slid the pen on to the floor. I now have tip bent down by 20 degrees. Fortunately, it appears to have landed straight on the tip as both splines have stayed together and have not separated, nor have they buckled midway up. If you didn't know it was supposed to be straight you could be forgiven for thinking it was normal.

Any suggestions on how best to straighten it?

Edited by Snails on Tuesday 3rd December 12:55

[BigGingerBob]

Thanks for the nice words, I wasn't sure if the Sheaffer had the correct lid but yours looks similar. I will see if I can buff them up a bit but they don't really need it so I may just leave them be.

As for cleaning them out, I will get some tutorials up and learn about them. The lever action on the Waterman is superb and free, no stiffness at all.

[Robbo 27]

BigGingerBob said:

Thanks for the nice words, I wasn't sure if the Sheaffer had the correct lid but yours looks similar. I will see if I can buff them up a bit but they don't really need it so I may just leave them be.

As for cleaning them out, I will get some tutorials up and learn about them. The lever action on the Waterman is superb and free, no stiffness at all.

In terms of a clean, if nothing else just try a waxy furniture polish and a soft microfibre cloth, be really gently.

The flush through is just warm water, filled and emptied a few times until the water runs clear, if by the third time it is still inky put a drop of washing up liquid in the water.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Snails said:

One of my Sheaffer targas was in my notebook uncapped in between taking notes. I opened the notebook, out slid the pen on to the floor. I now have tip bent down by 20 degrees. Fortunately, it appears to have landed straight on the tip as both splines have stayed together and have not separated, nor have they buckled midway up. If you didn't know it was supposed to be straight you could be forgiven for thinking it was normal.

I'm not at home right now in order to check my collection of Targas but I'm pretty sure that the nibs are not straight and actually have a slight up-curve. It's quite possible that you got away with it.

How does it write?

[Robbo 27]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

I'm not at home right now in order to check my collection of Targas but I'm pretty sure that the nibs are not straight and actually have a slight up-curve. It's quite possible that you got away with it.

How does it write?

Good advice, if it writes go with it.

There is a you tube vid on correctling a very bent nib but yours doesnt sound that bad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_KSfptiVhs

If you want to remove the curve find two round pencils or something of a similar shape, put the bent part over one pencil over and rub the upper surface with the other pencil, use gentle pressure and you should be ok.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

I've been looking through my Sheaffers, and I think BigGingerBob's could be an Imperial Touchdown. Here's some pics of the example that I own.





Note: This has the touchdown filling system but does NOT have a snorkel.

However, it has a plastic cap not a metal one, so I am not 100% sure. It's definitely an Imperial of some sort (because of the long inlay nib) and definitely a Touchdown filling system.

Although similar, I don't think it is an Imperial Triumph because that was a cartridge / converter



As for the bent nib on Snails' pen, here is the nib on a Targa Tortoiseshell that I own:



You'll notice that the nib is not straight but has a slight up-curve. However, it is not damaged and writes fine.

My other Targa (the black & bronze one with the lovely patination that you may remember from earlier in the thread) is the same:

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 3rd December 15:48

[Clockwork Cupcake]

That brass fountain pen that several of us bought on eBay a while back for under £4...

I showed it to the pen guy at this month's Farnham Monthly Maltings fair and he identified it as a copy of the Kaweco Brass Sport

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/KW43592/kaweco-brass-...

Just thought you might be interested to know.

[Robbo 27]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

That brass fountain pen that several of us bought on eBay a while back for under £4...

I showed it to the pen guy at this month's Farnham Monthly Maltings fair and he identified it as a copy of the Kaweco Brass Sport

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/KW43592/kaweco-brass-...

Just thought you might be interested to know.

The brass pen is very similar to the Kaweco Brass Sport and has taken inspiration from it






Big difference in price fortunately. I have never had much luck with Kaweco pens, I have owned three and all of them have had the same problem, they write very well for a minute and then dry up, stand them nib down for an hour and the pen recovers sufficiently to write for another minute. Kaweco accepted that it was a batch of bad feeds but by that time I had taken my bat home and never bought another, despite wanting one.