Yet Another Skyline, Resulting In A Little Inky Nib Porn.

[KBeezie]

I'm at three gold-filled skylines now. Just picked up another brown one that I got mainly for the nib, but overall it's in nicer condition than the previous brown one I have. I haven't restored the new brown one (needs some cleaning, little light polishing, new sac, section sealant on the section [which comes right out of the barrel easy] and gold overlay, and probably a new breather tube).

 

*But* I did go ahead and clean up the nib, got it aligned, and put it onto my Black Gold-Filled Skyline (the 14K Firm Extra-Fine~Fine will go on the newest brown one once I get it restored).

 

The pen was described as (with what caught my attention underline) :

Vintage Eversharp SKYLINE Fountain Pen-14K Nib-Brown in color. Cap has a minor ding. Cap is 1/10th 14K Y G R. Nib is straight and smooth, reads Eversharp, 14K. Writes Medium and has some serious flex. Barrel is nice just some minor drawer wear. Bladder is soft and it does fill. May need to add a little silicone to hold barrel to feed, its not loose, it is snug. Thanks for viewing..

Well it's not a medium, nor is it 'serious flex', but it is a pleasant soft extra-fine (western) that seems to easily spread up to around a western medium to broad without really having to press. I just had to do a couple rubs on micro-mesh to get it going with a very light hand.

 

The initial testing and write sample was done with Noodler's Blue Steel (shown at bottom), but that was a little too wet for the nib, so I decided to switch over to R&K Salix which hasn't failed me yet whenever I need something that follows well in a wetter or flex nib and tends not to bleed/feather on most papers I use even with the wetter output.

 

So, a little nib porn with the Salix:

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/flexy_banner_salix.jpg

 

The Write Sample with Salix on some Rhodia No.12 @ 300DPI (3.3x4.7in or 8.5x12cm pad) (though saying EF~B may be pushing it since I'd have to consciously give a little more for B in my opinion).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/flex_ef_salix_write.jpg

 

And the initial quick test/sample with Blue Steel @ 300DPI, same size Rhodia Pad.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/flex_ef_bsteel_write.jpg

 

Probably going to carry around the Skyline more often now with this nib, with the firm EF I didn't have much of a reason to other than the body comfort, but scoring this nib seems to be much easier or least more satisfying to write with.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Many thanks for the show and tell!

 

I really like those [older] nibs that give a mono-line when used with a light hand, and have the ability to give a much wider line when a bit of pressure is applied - what I call 'flex on demand'. Much preferred over the nibs that are inherently 'squishy', though I reckon those adept at flexi writing loove such nibs.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have the impression that the Skyline feed+collector is ebonite. (?)

 

Bye,

S1

[KBeezie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have the impression that the Skyline feed+collector is ebonite. (?)

The feed most likely as with a lot of older pens (it's not so common now days). The section is going to be resin just like the rest of the pen.

 

The black one shown here, but with the nib it had in it before.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/brown_goldfilled/goldfilled_pair.jpg

 

I prefer the celluloid caps like on my Demi here, but black suites the gold filled cap nicely.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp_skyline_demi/uncapped.jpg

 

Oh here's the nib that was in the black one before I swapped it out (which came from the other brown one, I also took the gold filled overlay from the first brown one for the black one. Basically the Black one is a culmination of all the 'best' parts I acquired so far).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/brown_goldfilled/metals_after.jpg

 

What it looked like before :

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/brown_goldfilled/disassembled_before.jpg

Edited January 11, 2015 by KBeezie

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Thanks again!

 

I have two 'basic' Standard size Skylines that were professionally restored, and I laud those who keep such impressive pens in use.

 

There is something going on with those pens - their performance, appearance and feel in the hand is most attractive.

 

Bye,

S1

[KBeezie]

Hi,

 

Thanks again!

 

I have two 'basic' Standard size Skylines that were professionally restored, and I laud those who keep such impressive pens in use.

 

There is something going on with those pens - their performance, appearance and feel in the hand is most attractive.

 

Bye,

S1

Course having them "professionally restored" helps quite a bit too. My Skyline demi above was professionally restored (Still has a warranty on it, since you get a 1 year warranty from him).

 

The rest were mostly chance auctions and self restoration. I've so far restored four standard skylines, and it's pretty fun how easy some of the ugliest ones can be to clean up. For example when I got one with a clip-less cap that had a poor inner cap, I figured I would just replace the cap with a celluloid one.

 

Not the best job (I can do better now, but I was mainly trying cleaning and polishing for the first time), but much better than it was originally.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/skyline_burgundy/before_after.jpg

 

or how this:

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/black_gf_original.jpg

 

became this (note it's the black one I'm currently using that has swapped nibs twice now, and the gold overlay once with each successive skyline I get):

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/black_gf_uncapped.jpg

[Tas]

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/eversharp/skyline/flexy_banner_salix.jpg

 

 

Cor . . . !

 

Like Sandy1 implied, these Skylines are really something else.

I only have one (brown) and use it regularly but with reverence.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Edited January 11, 2015 by Tas

[FPgal]

Beautfiul work!

[SockAddict]

The Skylines are definitely on my wish list! They are lovely all on their own, but I also see the front end of my great-grandmother's Airstream whenever I look at them, so I get a sentimental feeling, too. Just love the whole vibe.

 

Your resto work on these is gorgeous, Karl.

[swain]

Karl, great photos of the Skylines.

BTW, who did the restoration work, besides yourself?

[KBeezie]

Karl, great photos of the Skylines.

BTW, who did the restoration work, besides yourself?

Only one above that was not done myself is the Skyline Demi with the Army/Navy configuration and wide cap band. That was done by Sean Nicolson of Write on Time Restoration, he's also mentored me a bit on restoration how-to and tricks.

 

Usually if there's a pen I just don't think I can handle, or I want it perfect looking, I send it off to him. For example I haven't quite gotten the hang of something like remolding plastic to get rid of cracks, warpage or severe gouges/chew marks and such which is where his results really shine.

Edited January 12, 2015 by KBeezie

[UDog]

Great restoration. Looks professional to me.