Hi All,

I picked up a user-grade Waterman Jif glass cartridge pen, and, as one might expect, the rubber collar that seals the cartridge to the nipple is disintegrating.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a homemade workaround or retrofit? Could a replacement collar be made from a pen sac of the appropriate diameter? (It would lack the lip that engages the cartridge mouth.)

Alternatively, are there current-production plastic cartridges that might be made to work? The Lamy cartridge looks like it may have some promise - the cartridge mouth seems to be a pretty good fit, and the length of the cartridge seems "close enough" to work successfully with the barrel spring. I was wondering about fitting a quarter-inch or so of latex pen sac around the "shoulder" of the cartridge, in an effort to keep it snug within the section. Are there other cartridges that might work?

I assume, naively, that the collar can be professionally restored; but I'd love to know if anyone has come up with a workable "hack" solution.

Thanks,

Jon

A sketch or drawing might help those of us who have never seen one. I can't figure out why an O-ring or seal might not work for the seal end and then 'machine' a converter of acrylic, adapt to converter ... There may even be a market for a short run of such things.

Ron

Hi Ron,

You're absolutely right - I was hoping that someone might have a ready-made solution. But I'll get some photos up shortly.

Thanks,

Jon

Hi Jon,
I've already repaired several Waterman Jif glass cartridge pens, and the repair is rather straight forward;
One removes the remains of the rubber seal using a drill of 7.0mm (by hand ) and installs a standard O ring seal - inner diameter 4.7 x 1.42mm section- in the groove of the glass cartridge; This makes a perfect seal;
In case you can't find this Oring in the US ,I'm willing to send you an O ring free of charge if you give me your address.
Regards, Francis

This method gives a seal a bit closer to the original in construction:

Disassemble the section and feed assembly, using a small spanner (there is a screw-on ring which attaches the skirt seal to the threaded tail of the feed). Take a #19 sac, trim it to length to match the original seal. Take a hole punch and make an axial opening in the sac just big enough to fit around the tail of the feed. Assemble, and you are done. I usually put a very thin coat of silicone grease on the skirt of the seal.

This seal isn't as stiff as the original, so you do want to be careful in inserting the glass cartridge.

Francis, your extraordinary kindness is greatly appreciated!

David, thanks so much for the detailed explanation.

I feel like I have an embarrassment of riches: two alternative ways to get this pen up and running. I wouldn't even be going to all this trouble, except for the fact that the pen (dip tested) is a spectacular writer, with a wonderfully flexy 18K (18ct, actually) nib.

I think I owe everyone a review, once it's writing again.

Cheers,

Jon