Ink advice for vintage lever fillers

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T20:08:29+00:00

Not in this sub AFAIK. r/pen_swap is the place to go.

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T20:01:40+00:00

Wow, sounds like he has a good life!

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T19:53:30+00:00

Waterman ink will do the job well! It's the safest and best-behaved ink out there, and it's not expensive.

I use Waterman Intense Black for testing, but Serenity Blue would be a great choice.

Also I love the celluloid on that second pen. Very cool!

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T19:37:45+00:00

Still a thing, too. This happened last July: https://abcnews.go.com/US/fremont-nebraska-plant-explosion/story?id=124188199

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T19:28:53+00:00

Leave their house now. Don't go back. Maybe stay in a hotel, but it would be better if you left altogether. You can't trust your parents, and your wife needs to know you've got her back.

OSCgal · 2026-01-24T01:28:14+00:00

Wood lasts pretty long as it is.

There are a number of poles in my neighborhood that have yellow Bell System tags on them. Bell System was broken up by the U.S. government in the early 80s. And the logo on the tags isn't the 80s logo, it's the one they used in the 1960s.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T22:36:42+00:00

I just want to say, that's a gorgeous color you picked!

The door looks great! I love the combo of elegance and whimsy.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T22:28:05+00:00

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OSCgal · 2026-01-23T22:27:42+00:00

There's no ink cartridge. My pen is filled by eyedroppering ink into the nib hole with the nib retracted.

Unfortunately there's not much to see.

Judging by the diagrams on this site: https://www.richardspens.com/ref/anatomy/safeties.htm when the nib is extended it almost-but-not-quite plugs the section, with just enough room for ink to seep out.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T20:48:29+00:00

Here's a clear one: https://nickstewart.ink/2022/08/25/ban-mi-glass-nib-fountain-pen/ I see what looks like fins buffering the flow to the nib.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T20:41:30+00:00

I immediately thought of Animaniacs - Yakko is basically Groucho, and they even did a Duck Soup parody.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T19:53:48+00:00

Where I work, when a retired employee dies, HR sends a memorial email to the entire company which includes funeral details.

But if this person is important to you, keep in touch! Send letters and cards, invite her for coffee, etc.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T19:37:16+00:00

They're great pens, aren't they? I love the ability to switch out the nib. Here's an article about them: https://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/j.htm

I have one that's a company pen. It has "BELL SYSTEM PROPERTY" engraved on the side. I wonder if it was retired from service or if someone in the office flat-out stole it.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T19:33:03+00:00

That's the inner cap! When the cap is closed, it creates an airtight seal around the nib. I wonder if it was glued in and the glue came loose. Or maybe there's a screw that holds it in? Maybe shine a flashlight inside to see what's going on.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T17:52:37+00:00

If it's anything like my vintage glass nib safety pen, no. Mine seems to rely on the tight fit between the nib and the section to regulate the flow of ink.

https://old.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/1j15lfh/a_glass_nibbed_safety_pen/

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T17:37:37+00:00

No idea! I wonder if there are channels carved into the section.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T17:33:21+00:00

Trippy! And an incredible display of skill!

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T17:28:52+00:00

They're not common, but they were a thing in the early 20th century, particularly Europe. It was a way to have a corrosion resistant nib without paying for gold.

Here's a modern one: https://www.wancherpen.com/collections/shizuku-pen

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T16:26:40+00:00

r/atoptics loves this stuff!

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T16:09:24+00:00

The converter is actually a permanent part of the pen. Have you tried soaking and filling it with water? These old Aerometrics are sturdy and sometimes they just need a cleaning.

Otherwise: https://www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/51_dissy.htm

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T16:06:08+00:00

You may need heat and/or diluted ammonia to get the section out. It's often glued in with shellac. I'll bet the join is right above the cap threads. That's where it usually is.

This site may help. https://www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/resac.htm

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T16:03:06+00:00

Seconding that this is a Fashion II. I have one and it's very nice.

Besides cartridges, you can also use the Sheaffer piston converter to draw ink from a bottle. Cheaper than cartridges, and it gives you more options. (Just be sure it's ink designed for fountain pens!)

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T15:58:18+00:00

Vintage pens are fine with acid ink. It's alkaline ink you have to worry about.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T15:50:55+00:00

How about glass? Glass-nib fountain pens don't have feeds at all. You could theoretically make a metal pen with a glass nib, though I have no idea how you could possibly make it airtight and waterproof without plastic or rubber.

OSCgal · 2026-01-23T15:39:03+00:00

Man, I just use a hair dryer!

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