This pen came from an ebay lot that I got some time ago. It sat neglected while I played with other nicer looking, shinier pens... until one day while fumbling with my "box 'o pen stuff," I spotted it resting right next to an unopened bottle of Pelikan turqoise ink. The pen and ink just called out to each other. I thought: Everyone knows that pastel green and turqoise aren't manly colours, right? Right?!? I can't possibly be seen in public using this pen with turqoise ink! We are talking about a shade of green that would look right at home in a 70s/80s home with all-avocado/taupe home furnishings...




I know not what got hold of me then and there, but I went ahead and cleaned out the pen with the dinky looking cartridge it came with, laid it out to dry, and then filled it up with the turqoise ink. And what a wonderful combination it's been! I wasn't expecting anything much, but talk about smooth! The nib (marked Venus medium, made in USA) compares favorably to the Sailor 1911 broad that I tried at the local store a while ago. I've only experienced plain vanilla nibs until now, mostly in the F and M varieties, but I do think that this is a medium nib with a mild stub. Very, very smooth. In fact, it's my favourite medium-sized nib right now.

The pen is far from perfect: the clip is starting to rust on the side at the top where it's joined to the cap; the section leaks just a little now and then, but perhaps that's because it gets jostled about quite a bit in my backpack; the ink stains on the section; the cartridge is falling apart; and finally the colour of the pen.

Added to this list is the fact that it's inked with a colour that I usually wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, it's really surprising how often I've reached for this pen when I needed to put something on paper. And it's the very first pen that's gotten me excited enough to actually post a picture of it on FPN. 9 9 9

It's amazing how well this pen has held up over the years. And to think that I was about to junk it! :doh:

Edited to add the last few lines. Didn't get pasted the first time around.

Very nice! I've bid on (and lost) a few CA101s on eBay but haven't seen that color before.

Did you just fill the old cartridge with an eyedropper or such?

Yep, I refill the really beat up cartridge with a syringe outfitted with a blunt-tipped needle. Got it from one of those inkjet refill kits.

Just a question, does the CA101 stand for highway 101 (aka The 101) in California?
Go NorCal!

If your ca101 is leaking, the hole your cartridge might be expanding slightly, causing the leak. Keep your eye open for the A101 aerometric version. They are nearly bomb-proof, and what I usually take If I have to fly, since they completely screw apart and can't be manhandled by airport security personnel.

I love the green too, nice pen.

Best-
Brian

Thanks for the note, Brian. That same thought about the cartridge occured to me as I was cleaning out the pen a few days ago. I guess I'll need to get off my rear end and get a Sheaffer Skrip cartridge and test it out.

Never thought I'd say this, but this pastel green is really growing on me. And so is turqoise ink. In fact, I just got a bottle of Waterman South Seas Blue just for this pen. :bunny1: :bunny1: