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Parker Duofold Jr. (Late 1920S) Ink Flow (Very Wet)


vandersluys

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I inherited from my father a ca. 1920s Parker Duofold Jr. (orange, with black ends). I did some aesthetic damage to the pen trying to clean it and restore it. I quickly realized I'd better not carry on. So Stef at Grandmia Pens did a wonderful job of restoring it for me. It looks good as new, as far as I'm concerned. And it writes like a dream....

...except that it is exceptionally wet. Ink seems to gush from the nib as I write. It's doesn't leave blots of ink -- the writing remains distinct -- but the ink literally forms a bump or ridge along the line as I write, like it's raised text. It took more than 5 minutes for the pictured text to dry.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/10830939466_1af6c4e0f2_z.jpg

 

Not a sharp shot, but if you look at the large version, you can see that the text is raised from the paper.

 

Anyway, when I asked Stef about the ink flow he wisely suggested I leave it alone. But I'm not sure I made it clear to him how much ink actually comes out as I write. It's really quite ridiculous. Or is this normal for vintage fountain pens?

I don't want to tamper too much with the pen -- it's fragile and has sentimental value -- but if there's a relatively simple fix I could try (e.g. nib adjustments), I would appreciate hearing suggestions.

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Every Duofold I own--Junior and Senior--are very wet writers. Thirteen Duofolds so far, with six still in my possession, and everyone using Quink Black was a wet writer. Personally, I like them just for that fact.

 

From what I understand it's an issue of the Xmas tree feeds. The later feeds with fins were better at controlling flow, as seen on the Vacumatics.

 

All I can suggest is a heavier bond paper, Rhodia for example, and a dryer ink. Pelikan Black is suppose to be a bit drier.

Edited by Paul Raposo

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--William Makepeace Thackeray

 

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I can only echo Paul - all of the Parkers with Christmas Tree feeds that I have are very wet - too wet for me, so they don't get much use.

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If you don't mind feeling old fashioned (I guess not since you are here :lol:) you can buy a blotter and some blotting paper. That's what people used back in the day rather than waiting for the ink to dry on its own, which would be messy in an office environment.

 

Also, you could do what others have suggested and find a dry-writing black ink. Try searching in the Inky Thoughts sub-forum.

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

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A dryer ink only help to a limited degree.

If the pen is TOO WET it will still be WET with Pelikan ink.

I have a Parker 51 that was WET with Waterman ink, switching to Cross/Pelikan slowed down the flow a tad, but it is still wet.

You either need a real dry ink or it is a nib/feed adjustment to choke down the ink flow.

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