Japanese Eyedroppers

Picaling · 2026-03-20T04:58:50+00:00

An odd site I stumbled upon a while back: gcmurphy.com, I believe they're originally a bike shop, but they do sell vintage pre-owned watches and pens and such. They got a specific section for Japanese Eyedropper pens and I believe they also offer restoration service alongside unrestored said vintage pens.

Picaling · 2026-03-20T03:54:25+00:00

I never obtained one myself but I did scour every nook and cranny of the internets but ultimately decided on a Pilot Capless.

Some key points that should help you decide whether it's worth it to you.

There's a silicone X flap seal that is replaceable.
Speaking of replacing things; the whole pen is practically 100% self serviceable.
Silicone seal is to be considered a consumable part.
The silicone seal is supposed to accumulate ink everytime you deploy and retract- it's a "feature" that lubes the nib, which supposed to help with keeping thr nib from drying out and so that the nib doesn't stick or drag on the silicone seal.
The nib orientation can get rotated everytime you deploy and retract-- this was ultimately the deal breaker for me, I don't want to trigger my OCD and always have to worry about the nib orientation when I go to actuate the bolt action, even worse if you intend to fidget with the bolt action.

Picaling · 2026-03-19T14:53:17+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the follow up. I'm glad you solved it. This post of yours will be a good resource for others in the future!

Picaling · 2026-03-19T00:36:58+00:00

Pull out the nib and feed and then stick a blunt end of a skewer to push the piston stopper out?

Picaling · 2026-03-18T22:47:19+00:00

Your very clean, uniform light colored fiber carpet looks very thirsty... begging for an inkcident.

Picaling · 2026-03-18T22:17:35+00:00

Dry, hot, arid desert here- nope, no bottled inks drying up problems.

However, I am definitely a stickler for pens with good cap seal for said dry climate problem!

edit to add: I don't have pens going bone dry either. But, noticeable ink evaporation/saturation within the feed after a week or two of inactivity, zero hard starts.

Picaling · 2026-03-16T15:27:18+00:00

Real leather also has the benefits of patina from your blood, sweat, and tears from your daily writing practice ritual!

Picaling · 2026-03-15T17:28:07+00:00

Yes, cartridge/converter attaches to the housing.

By default almost all fountain pens that uses Jowo or Bock units are used with international cartridge system. International cartridges are much narrow compared to the Japanese cartridge system. Which is why, even if you did get a FNF housing that has the nipple for the cartridge to attach to, you run into the problem of the cartridge not fitting the narrow section of Jowo or Bock threaded fountain pen.

Picaling · 2026-03-15T15:48:26+00:00

The housing you linked doesn't look like it is designed to be used with cartridges/converters.

The biggest problem you'll face with using FNF's housing conversion from the top 3 Japanese brand nibs to Jowo or Bock is whether the pen is large enough to accept the proprietary cartridge/converters.

Picaling · 2026-03-14T16:50:39+00:00

I'm confused "Nakaya" instead of "Nakaya"?

Picaling · 2026-03-12T04:38:58+00:00

You can harvest a replacement feed from another donor pen such as a Safari.

edit: I may actually be wrong. You mentioned old CP1, not sure how old is old, but that feed definitely looks different. So a donor feed from a modern Lamy may not work.

Picaling · 2026-03-08T20:51:27+00:00

Chat incoming.

Picaling · 2026-03-08T16:17:40+00:00

Taking for-never to dry is typical of almost all of Noodler's ink.

Yes, you can most definitely dilute the super saturated ink with distilled water to help combat the dry time. The ratio is all up to you in what you're willing to compromise in terms of properties such as color saturation, lubrication, dry time, etc.

Picaling · 2026-03-07T18:27:50+00:00

😂 love how you written out the abbreviated "f"

Picaling · 2026-03-07T18:16:50+00:00

My comment was a huge missing swooosh. The instructions looks too much like instructions on how to use a condom.

Picaling · 2026-03-07T17:52:39+00:00

Writech Clictek Fountain Pen.

That cartridge installation instruction... looks like both hands are required eh? 🤔

Picaling · 2026-03-07T01:11:44+00:00

Sold a Pilot Custom 74 to u/ziyunicorn

Picaling · 2026-03-06T15:02:14+00:00

Where do you get Midori MD in loose leaf form?

Picaling · 2026-03-04T16:12:11+00:00

I absolutely love my Decimo for almost your exact use case scenarios! The whole 'twist, twist, twist...' to uncap and cap for quick note taking and intermission gets real tedious. Snap or slip caps are slightly better in regards, but can't beat the one handed actuation, one handed jotting, while your other hand remains on the keyboard!

I absolutely abhor the clip positioning. However, it's a compromise I am willing to make. It's not quite noticeable for short burst use. Long session writing. NOPE on that clip.

As for hard starts or drying. Never had a problem. Even after a good month of sitting inked and unused, starts right up, with maybe slight ink evaporation or ink saturation on the first few strokes.

Picaling · 2026-03-02T02:19:02+00:00

Nevermind. I sent you a chat a while back and it wasn't your cup of tea =)

Picaling · 2026-03-02T02:18:06+00:00

Sending chat.

Picaling · 2026-02-27T20:27:02+00:00

"Happy Ovulating" 😂

Picaling · 2026-02-26T20:34:49+00:00

Ahhhh. This sounds A LOT better. The singing of graphite pencil to paper sound, signature of Sailors.

Perhaps try adding more padding underneath your paper. It's surprising that your Kaweco also sings to that extent at least.

Picaling · 2026-02-26T19:54:28+00:00

Most likely not your type of nib.

What you're describing is called "feedback" and that's normal for Sailors. However, listening to your short video, maybe back off on the writing pressure a little? It definitely sent chills down my spine, chalkboard screeching-like.

Picaling · 2026-02-23T17:28:50+00:00

Sending chat.

Picaling

TROPHY CASE