Rattle In A Jack Knife Safety Eyedropper?

[brink]

Hi!

 

So, I just picked up my first Parker pen at an antique sale, and I have a question about a weird noise it's it's making.

 

I don't really know much about the pen except what I've found online, which is that it's a 20 1/2 jack knife safety pen. #2 nib. It's an eyedropper, I think it's bakelite, mainly cause it doesn't feel like ebonite to me. I don't really know. No clip on the cap, which I guess is pretty normal for these things.(?)

 

Anyway, the back screws off, to fill as an eyedropper. But what's weird is if you shake the pen there's sort of a rattle, like something is sliding back and forth in there. I can't find what that would be or what it would be called. Any ideas what that would be?

 

Also, is it safe to just flush this with something like jb's pen flush or should I just use regular old water. I'm really unfamiliar with the materials here.

 

Thanks!

 

(see attached photo with esterbrook and marker for size comparison)

Edited April 14, 2014 by brink

[Vintagepens]

Your pen is hard rubber, not Bakelite.

It is a button filler, not an eyedropper. The rattle is probably from shards of old sac and corroded remnants of the pressure bar.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Vintagepens

[brink]

Thanks! I see, so it's missing some pieces I guess? There is no "button" or anything so I assumed it was a plain old eyedropper.

[Florida Blue]

Originally there would have been a metal button underneath the blind cap.

 

You will need a new sac, pressure bar and button to get the pen working again. All of which can be found pretty cheaply and if you send it to a repairperson to have it restored they will probably have all those parts in stock.

[brink]

Thanks guys. Now that I'm looking for a button filler I'm finding all sorts of results. Cheers!