I will appreciate your help in finding converters for these ca. 1970-80 pens. Failing that, a brand of converters that I could use.

I have unearthed an Osmiroid pen with Rolatip nibs and two Platignum pens with italic nibs. There is a black rubber converter for the Platignums that never drew ink well.

I do not remember what type of cartridges came with any of the pens. The instructions say "short" cartridges, but were these proprietary?

Since I don't know the diameter of the feed part that goes into a cartridge or converter, or the ID of the barrels, what would you suggest I do?

Thank you.

I cannot (yet) provide a reply to your inquiry, but am wondering how you like your Osmiroid. I recently acquired a stunning pearl, mint green one from the 1950's and am excited to get to know it better. And you must be a dancer, with a name like that?! Moi aussi.

Thanks,
Fontaine

I've run a load of ink through an 1983ish Osmiroid using the converter that came with a Manuscript italic medium. I think I paid less for the whole package (incl. 2 Int'l Shorts, which are quasi-generic rather than proprietary carts, as well as the convertor) than one might pay for a lone converter. I expect others will encourage you to use the cartridges and then refill them with a syringe, so I'll mention that as a possibility as well.

edit-- ...and just to be as helpful as possible; I got the Manuscript at Michaels hugebox crafts store, about six months ago. It's not at all an esoteric object.

As Ernst says, the Manuscript convertors work perfectly with Osmiroid pens. I have a full set of Osmiroids which I still use frequently. Also, the Manuscript cartridges fit not only Osmiroid but RotringArtpens as well. I use them all the time and they're so cheap, I buy them by the bagfull. You should be able to get Manuscript cartridges and convertors easily, but if you have any trouble, you'll find them at http://www.calligraphy.co.uk

Thank you for your answers.

I am making a concerted effort to get along with the Osmiroids and Platignums, but they've been tetchy. I'm a lefty with a hooked wrist, and there may be no way for me to use italic nibs. I've been looking into reverse obliques, but the Rolatips had worked well once upon a time. The pens I own were all parts of calligraphy sets, and were fairly inexpensive. They are basic plastic.

Now that you've pointed me to Manuscript cartridges (and the crafts megabox*), that may be a very good solution to using Osmiroids as dip pens. The blobs are incredible.

- edited to add:
* I live in the U.S., Caliken.

I think that there are at least two Manuscript distributors in the U.S. on the site http://www.calligraphy.co.uk

If you look at the top of the Penmanship forum, you will find "Chancery Italic Script Instructions" by Ann Finley, who leads the forum.
Ann is left handed and her excellent examples with italic nibs are worth studying.

Reporting back: Michael's does carry the Manuscript cartridges. Now it's just a matter of putting a better color in them.

I had not gone all the way to the end of the pinned topic before, so I hadn't seen the picture of Ann's grip. There is hope yet that I may learn Chancery.

A couple of weeks ago, I was lending pens to folks at a venue where things needed writing down. I had inked up several of my less delicate pens, to subvert introduce the unaccustomed to FPs, and found two of my victims friends were lefties. Both worked from below the text, in the manner of a right-handed writer, and held their hand clear of the paper, in the manner of a monk working on a writing slope-- without a word of suggestion from me. In both cases, elegant writing without smudges. It might be a posture to adopt.

I have a bunch of ink packs for Osmiroid mens which are international size and can be used on all Osmiroid pen except 65 and 95

........ and of course the 75 piston filler

Sorry couldn't resist it.