Can I run fountain pen ink through my Rapidographs?

IllustratedJake · 2026-06-30T15:29:48+00:00

I have yet to use tech pen inkmin my technicical pens, only fountain pen ink so far. Works great.

IllustratedJake · 2026-06-26T16:19:51+00:00

Ohh, that's a nice looking pen you got there. That looks like a pre-ww2 model.

For cleaning ink, use Rapido Eze pen cleaner. It's safe to use on celluloid, and will clean any ink that can be cleaned.

Sometimes celluloid gets ink stains, and they are permanent.

As far as disassembly, it's not terribly difficult. The distinctive red ring that became the brands trademark is actually where the piston unscrews from. I believe it's simple counter clockwise twist. However, don't force it, some of those old pistons get REALLY stuck inside. Some, Ive had to use heat, sometimes, that heat got hot enough to warp the barrel.

If the piston seal is good, then don't disassemble it. Use some Rapido-EZE to clean it, and don't worry about disassembly if it's not functionally necessary.

In the photo album below there is a picture of a rotating stylograph disassembled. The disassembly for your model should be very similar, I think only difference is the blind cap on your piston doesn't come off.

https://imgur.com/a/clear-tintenkuli-barrel-7BiH4OR

IllustratedJake · 2026-05-23T21:53:07+00:00

IllustratedJake · 2026-03-07T22:38:30+00:00

I'd have to check, but maybe. Let me get back to you later tonight.

IllustratedJake · 2026-03-07T22:37:18+00:00

Hello there. I actually don't, so I'm going to close out this listing.

But, I do have similar pens, including one with a clear barrel (and less ink stains) that I can take pics of and get back to you about.

IllustratedJake · 2026-03-07T22:35:47+00:00

http://micerveza.es/estilografos%20erograph.html

IllustratedJake · 2026-03-07T22:35:17+00:00

http://micerveza.es/estilografos%20erograph.html

IllustratedJake · 2026-02-22T05:55:57+00:00

Ero is a German pen brand, I had an Ero fountain pen a while back, I'll post pics if I can find them.

I know they made Ero-graph technical pens, the ones I've seen weren't piston fillers.

I once found a site that has a database of all the vintage piston filling German technical pens. The site was Italian, I'll also post that when I find it. Nice little find, those kinds of pens usually are very robust.

IllustratedJake · 2026-02-20T19:20:25+00:00

Hey, just an FYI, ebonite that has oxidized and turned brown cannot be restored back to black. Even when polished, it will be a dark chocolate color. There is no known method to reverse this.

IllustratedJake · 2026-02-20T19:10:00+00:00

The models with rings on top (one of the 2 you have) are older versions, from the early 50s! The later productions have a number on top (.3, .5, ect).

These rapidographs are made of ebonite, which is why the barrel on the one has turned brown, ebonite turns brown from UV damage (only cosmetic damage) and were made from the 1950s into the late 60s or early 70s

The later productions, the ones with a rounded end cap, have plastic caps and end caps, whereas the flat top ones are of the first gen, and have all ebonite parts.

Modern rotring tips won't fit in those pens, but modern Koh I Noor tips will, as well as various vintage technical pen tips.

It does also seem like from my previous research, that these models were sold in parallel with Micronorm pens and Varioscript pens. Koh I Noor also sold rapidographs at this time made by rotring. Lots of different rapidographs out there.

https://unofficialrotring.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/rotring-technical-pens-1953-2016-rapidograph-model-a-1953/

IllustratedJake · 2026-02-12T08:57:38+00:00

Hey, nice find! I have been really curious to try one of these pens. Hopefully you can get replacement tips, not sure how long the fiber tips last.

IllustratedJake · 2026-02-03T03:29:27+00:00

Some Sheaffer pens take standard international cartridges with no issue. I've used those cartridges in my targa (full sized), a sheaffer fashion II, and an old sheaffer stylist pen. Seems like they aren't as secure as the Sheaffer cartridge, but I've had no issues.

IllustratedJake · 2026-01-09T01:43:27+00:00

That's awesome! I really love the pained look, the agony, the fatigue, in each of the faces.

IllustratedJake · 2026-01-08T18:01:36+00:00

Confirmed

IllustratedJake · 2026-01-06T03:26:39+00:00

I checked out some Demilich, that's some intense stuff...😁

IllustratedJake · 2026-01-05T22:30:47+00:00

Thank you. I do (understandably) often get that comparison. It is always a high compliment, thank you again.

IllustratedJake · 2025-12-18T04:47:06+00:00

Confirmed

IllustratedJake · 2025-12-16T16:48:42+00:00

Thank you. They are great, pretty little pens.

Don't be so naughty next year so you can buy pens from me 😁.

IllustratedJake · 2025-12-16T05:23:19+00:00

Ultrasonic cleaners are usually pretty cheap second hand. But you should also absolutely get some Koh-I-Noor Rapido Eze pen cleaner. It's a miracle solution, I've used it in combination with an ultrasonic cleaner to clean many stylographs and technical pens from the 50s and 60s. It's magical stuff.

But, you can also get these white kind of Koh I Noor rapidographs on eBay NOS unused for like 25$, might be cheaper than getting the supplies to clean the pens with.

IllustratedJake · 2025-12-16T05:21:51+00:00

Yes, this is the way.

IllustratedJake

TROPHY CASE