I got this pen about two months ago from Richard Binder. It's really a beaut - the bronze pearl celluloid is something to see, with depths and changes that keep me hypnotized for hours on end. Yes, I am easily amused! And that big gold nib is just really cool.

But, four weeks or so later, it still smells! It's a weird, sharp chemical smell, and seems, oddly enough, confined to the cap. When I take the cap off and snorf the body, nothing.

It was very intense when I first got the pen - as soon as I opened the box, whoof! It has been gradually fading, but it is still very noticeable. I suspect the fumes coming off the pen are causing a third head to grow from my right shoulder. This will keep the others company, but it is somewhat alarming.

Anyone else notice anything weird coming from their new pens?

Pic borrowed from Richards' website, sorry!

I'v never had a smelly pen....perhaps you have some kind of organic growth happening?

Maybe you should wash out the cap (or wherever it smells) thoroughly with some soapy water (and make sure it gets dried thoroughly too).

That was the first thing I did! The smell is definitely not organic. It smells like, actually, superglue fumes. If it was superglue it would have been gone long since (believe me, I know - I doubt many people use as much of that stuff as I do!), so I have no idea what it is.

That is the smell of the acrylic or whatever the pen is made of. My Conway Stewart and Taccias have the same smell. It will lessen with time but you may miss the scent.

Ben

Hi Mikelip-

I have the exact same situation with a Romet Asia- When I took it out for the first time, the chrome ring at the bottom of the cap came loose so I added a dab of super glue and that was that- I thought somehow the glue (or its fumes) had seeped into the cap- but no, it is a smell that lingers to this day (almost 3 months)- Maybe we will get lucky and someone will have an answer.

Tony

Thanks Mr McFerret- I believe the Romet's body is genuine plastic- but I have never smelled such a scent before related to anything plastic I own or use (including credit cards).

You are smelling the acrylic resin of which the pen is made.

I've had that problem with other plastic objects, but not with pens. I've found that exposing the object to sunlight for a day or two takes care of it.

Use indirect sunlight, of course, indoors where it isn't too hot or cold, and I would check with Richard or someone knowledgeable to make sure this particular pen won't be damaged by the exposure first. My guess is any modern plastic pen could handle it, but I could be wrong.

Also, if the cap smells, maybe the plastic on the inside of the cap hasn't had a chance to air out as much as the other bits? Try leaving the cap off for a few days.

(Clean out the ink first. I'm full of dangerous ideas today.)

Superglue is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture.
IT will eventually fail and often leaves behind a damaged surface.
Use shellac to secure loose trim.

You are smelling the plastic the solvent(s) in it (like the new car smell). Unless you stick the cap into your nose I dont think it is a problem

Sticking the pen cap in one's nose is a problem?

Only if you try to sell it here. I sure won't want it!

So I received my new Simplicity a few days ago. I've filled it, written with it. Really beautiful pen, good writer. But it wasn't until today that I uncapped it to scribble a note with, and all the sudden I smelled something! I swear, something in my head told me that something in my computer was burning: it smelled like heated plastic or rubber! Then I glanced at my pen, and faintly remembered a thread about stinky pens, and I laughed! Sure enough, my pen is a smelly one. Just thought I'd give this thread a bump.

Please, please do not start a poll about stinky pens........

Maybe you should lick your pen clean. Or the pen took on the smell of your hands. In tht case I recommend that you wash your hands more often.

Okay...bringing this one back from the dead...

I want to throw out an idea here and see what y'all think.

I've got a Simplicity, and like the rest of you, it's rather "pungent", shall we say?

What about putting it in a sealed container (empty...no converter) with some baking soda in it? Would that help draw the odor out?

Bexley Stinkplicity eh?

The smell was overpowering when I first got my Simplicity, to the point of distraction. I did like Griz said. I uncapped the pen and laid it on a cloth on top of my bookshelf, letting the uninked nib air out for 3-4 days. This greatly decreased the smell, to the point where it is actually quite pleasant.

Weird I know, smelling my pens, but I love the smell of my Simplicity now.

This Bexley is not made of celluloid but of a synthetic plastic, an acrylic I assume.
I had the same problem with my Visconti Opera Club and my Conway Stewart Duro. Both are acrylics. They both stank for a while. Real celluloid doesn't have a chemical smell but smells of camphor, a natural solvent.

I realized that this has become a marketing gag to name any plastic "celluloid" because it sounds better. On worldlux.com they still list the Visconti Opera Club as "celluoid" although every man or woman of common sense could tell you that how the pen smells is not the way celluloid smells. I called them to inquire because I was unsure myself before I got the pen. But they would insist that it is cellluloid. Well, no real knowledge with most sales representatives.

Suddenly an image of Phoebe from "Friends" popped in my head, singing "Smelly pen, smelly pen, who's been filling you? Smelly pen, smelly pen, it's not your fault!"

Sorry... just couldn't resist.

Well add me to the list of smelly Simplicity pens.

I have another question for you Simplicity owners. The cap is kind of hard to twist on and off. It is almost as though the plastic needs a bit of lubrication. Do any of you find the same thing with your Bexley Simplicity?

Just as an FYI:

Antique/vintage pens or anything made from real Bakelite will smell if you run hot water over it. A trick my Mom taught me. It won't smell like acrylic but will smell "rotten". That's the only description I can come up with. The smell goes away after it cools back down.

I noticed the same smell theis thread is talking about when I first received my Bexley red pearl Submariner which I believe is the same material as the Simplicity but in a different color. Could'nt believe how strong it was - but after being out on my desk for a few days the smell went away.

I have a Simplicity in Cracked Ice on the way - I'll get ready to air out the house!