Unknown Sheaffer-Cleaning

[PaganArcher]

This morning, my mother handed me a Sheaffer that was her paternal grandmother's at one point. It has a converter, looks to be in good shape, but I've been flushing it with water for half an hour and I'm still getting blue ink in the water.

 

My question is can I leave the section sitting in water for a few hours to break down any residual ink in the feed with no ill effect?

[SkylarKnight]

As far as I know, that's usually what people do with older pens. Leave the section in warm water for a couple hours and try to flush again.

If you want a better answer wait a bit, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will come around!

[dali3464]

A picture is worth a thousand words! It'll help others to identify the pen and most importantly, the material it's made out of it. Some materials (most notoriously casein) react very badly to prolonged exposure to water, and will either disintegrate or severely discolour. For the vast majority of pens (stuff made out of acrylic, etc.) will do fine, but again, if it's a fairly old pen, it's a good idea to upload a picture or two so others can take a look at it.

 

You mentioned it has a converter, so one would assume it's a pen made within the past 50 years and is probably made out of a relatively durable material. But you also pointed out that it belonged to your mother's paternal grandmother, so that makes my semi-educated guess at age (and consequently the material) a bit too vague.

[Ernst Bitterman]

If it's a Targa or an Imperial, the clutch studs won't enjoy a soak. Leave the section on the barrel, fill the converter, stand the pen in water just shallow enough to avoid the studs, and that should serve.

[PaganArcher]

Finally got some pictures. Hopefully they might help identify it at least.

 

Nib and section

http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg539/Ulfgrim/Mobile%20Uploads/20140829_213522_zpsf17ee4fb.jpg

 

Converter

http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg539/Ulfgrim/Mobile%20Uploads/20140829_213547_zps9a81b2b7.jpg

 

Cab and barrel

http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg539/Ulfgrim/Mobile%20Uploads/20140829_213612_zps357d0322.jpg

[Ernst Bitterman]

Triumph/Imperial (I'm on a device and can't make out the colour of the furniture). Definitely worth the effort.

[PaganArcher]

The cap and barrel are black with silver clip and cap band. No trim on the barrel.

[FriedIceCream]

As far as I know, that's usually what people do with older pens. Leave the section in warm water for a couple hours and try to flush again.

If you want a better answer wait a bit, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will come around!

I would go cold/room temp water, not warm.

[Ernst Bitterman]

The cap and barrel are black with silver clip and cap band. No trim on the barrel.

 

Triumph 330, then.

 

I would go cold/room temp water, not warm.

Me too.