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Interchangeable sections: FP's and RB's


TMann

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I just thought I'd share this tip with some of you who are collectors of "modern-ish" fountain pens: There are at least a few models of pen out there, in which the rollerball and fountain pen models share the same barrel and cap. Thus, you can exchange the fountain pen section of one pen with the rollerball section of another pen, and get yourself a whole new pen.

 

For example, I have a Parker Sonnet Cisele rollerball. I just acquired via a trade a black Parker Sonnet fountain pen. Both pens have the same gold trim, and have the same caps and barrels. I decided that I'd rather have a Cisele fountain pen and a black rollerball...so after a quick swap, it was so! Similarly, I found an inexpensive all-stainless steel Sheaffer Imperial rollerball pen on eBay. I didn't need another rollerball, but I was happy to have an all-stainless Imperial fountain pen. As far as I can tell there isn't any difference from the original stainless Imperial FP.

 

Now I realize that this "frankenpen" approach is not going to fly with any serious collector, and I wouldn't recommend it for anything that has some collectible value. And obviously, this parts swapping will only work with C/C fountain pens. But if you happen to come across a recent-vintage rollerball pen in good shape on eBay or in an antique store, keep it in mind. :D

 

TMann

Edited by TMann
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Tmann,

That's good to know.

 

The Townsend is another such pen. I had a beautiful green lacquer roller ball that wasn't getting used, so i bought a 14 kt nib/feed section and swapped out the roller ball section.

 

I imagine the Sheaffer Targa roller ball & fp is another, but would wait for a Targa expert to corroborate this.

 

Regards,

J

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I practice this regularly within different brands, like Parker, Dupont, Caran D'Ache etc., where I have RBs and FPs. RBs are cheaper to aquire, so one can ad a new look without the full cost of an FP.

 

Sometimes the RBs and FPs have different inner barrel dephts, like in the Parker 75 and Premier models, where RB refills need an additional spacer. The 75 and the Premier share similar sections, too. At other brands other tricks may be necessary.

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Yes, Targa RB and FP barrels are interechangable.

 

Likewise for the Balance II pens, which also take the nibs from the old-style (pre-rubberized grip) No Nonsense pens and Caligraphy sets.

 

And NN rollerballs can become FPs easy enough too.

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Ooh, I like this thread! Thanks, Ted....

I'll have to try that with a nice hunter green Sheaffer rollerball I have :)

 

randyholhut already mentioned the Sheaffer Balance II fountain pens but I'd like to add the (old) Sheaffer "No Nonsense" ballpoints to the list. They can be made into fountain pens by removing the BP section and putting in the FP pen nib-section unit. There is a spring inside the ballpoint model which can be removed with tweezers.

Edited by Maja
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Hi,

 

I believe that Lamy Safari rollerballs and fountain pens can do that. :)

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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Hi,

 

I believe that Lamy Safari rollerballs and fountain pens can do that. :)

 

Dillon

Hi Dillon,

 

Yes, they can. You just have to be sure to use the ring on the fp sections, rather than the ones on the rollerball sections, otherwise the caps won't fit.

 

I have put RB bodies on my Lamy Joy italic pens that way, so that they are easier to carry around. Those long tapered barrels are a little awkward if you want to put them into a small pen case :D.

 

An additional advantage is that they are easily recognized as such: the RBs have a - (minus) sign on the cap top, the FPs a + (plus) sign.

 

Warm regards, Wim

the Mad Dutchman
laugh a little, love a little, live a lot; laugh a lot, love a lot, live forever

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I've mentioned my Parker 75 FP a few times; I also have a Parker 75 that started life as a felt tip pen; I've used Rollerball refills in it without difficulty.

George

 

Pelikan Convert and User

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I have put RB bodies on my Lamy Joy italic pens that way, so that they are easier to carry around. Those long tapered barrels are a little awkward if you want to put them into a small pen case :D.

Lamy standard steel nibs, even those Italics, can be purchased for little money (in Germany 4,30 €) and you can upgrade easily any decent Lamy FP (except 2000 and those with Gold nibs). E.g. you may just ripp the nib off the Joy and put it on a Studio.

I upgraded my cp1 FP.

Edited by saintsimon
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Hi,

 

Wim does keep the loose nibs floating around in his bag for his experiments. :)

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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  • 8 years later...

Hi I realize that this is a really old discussion. However my question is can you use a Lamy RB top to replace FP top?

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