I recently purchased a nearly new Bexley Americana. It's in great condition & writes well. Just one problem ... it rattles when writing, picking up, etc. This turns an expensive nice looking pen into something that feels & sounds cheap!

The rattle happens with the cap on or off. If I unscrew the section, neither the section nor the barrel rattle. I can hold the section a barrel at the same time to prevent movement & I still get the rattle.

So, my guess is the converter is hitting the barrel. Any suggestions on where to go from here (other than not using a converter!)

Dave

An idea - haven't heard it anywhere before, which means it's probably a bit off the wall and certainly not the proper way to fix it, but should work nonetheless. Stuff just a bit of tissue paper in the end of the barrel - just enough to steady the converter.

I'm sure others will have more "proper" ideas, but this should work.

Another "improper" suggestion would be to wrap a small piece of black electrical tape around the converter. If you could determine which part of the converter was hitting the barrel, you could put a small piece of tape there. You certainly wouldn't have to cover up the entire converter.

TMann

PAckage it up and send it back to Bexley for repair. I think there is a charge but they are usually very good about returns and repairs.

Kurt H

try a Pelikan converter in it, might work better or...
to go the extreme ... use a cartridge (just kidding, I am not fond of using cartridges)

This is of course the best idea and the proper way to go about it. Bexley needs to know if they have a problem and, even if it's just isolated to your pen, they need to make it right.

I've found that many of my modern converter pens have that rattle about the converter (including 2 Bexleys, couple of Deltas, and a Parker Duofold).

It seemed to me that the part where you twist the piston converter doesn't fit very tightly and can rattle against the side of the barrel.

I've always cut a small piece of rubber band and dropped it down the bottom of barrel.

However I know that isn't the technically correct approach, it seems to work.

FWIW, YMMV

Cheers,

Tom Scott

I would refrain from rubber bands since they disintegrate within months and may stick to the inside of the barrel.

This will make it hard to remove the hardened substance and cause discoloration because they might stick to the inside of the resin.

If there needs to have some "buffer", I would go for soft tissue paper.

My 2 cents.

Thanks for the illumination. I had not thought of that.

I am taking the rubber band out of my Submariner Grand as we speak.

At least I don't have that problem with the Parker 61 capillary filler in my pocket (it has it's own set of issues, but no rattling converter )

Thanks,

Tom Scott

I will second or third the idea of sending the pen back to Bexley. Howard Levy is a really good guy who is in business to make the customer happy!!! I had to send him a few pens for repair and he did a wonderful job with them. Did I mention that he has a very quick turn around? If you are the first owner of the pen and you have filled out the regristration card that came along with your pen, they will honor a lifetime guarantee on that pen.

here is Howard Levy's email address

bexlevy@aol.com

TNS

Thanks for your suggestions everybody. It sounds like sending the pen back to Bexley is the overwhelming choice! I hate to go through all the trouble, but that's what I'm leaning towards.

Something occurred to me, which could definitely make sending it back the winner. Does anybody know what their nib exchange policy is? Has anybody tried their Broad Stub nib? I'm thinking how much I've begun to prefer cursive italics & stubs over standard Medium nibs (which is what I have on it now).

Dave

Got one on my Submariner Grande. You can read the review at the link below:

Bexley Submariner Grande Review (w/ stub)

I sent an email to Howard Levy. He said unfortunately there's nothing he can do, since the pen was designed with tolerances that let this occur. But he did suggest putting tape around the converter to fill the space in the barrel. Any suggestions for the kind of tape to use? I'd be afraid to use electrical or duct tape, since they can leave a residue on the barrel, and scotch tape doesn't seem right.

He also said a nib exchange is $7 shipping if the nib hasn't seen any ink, and $25 + $7 if it has seen ink. So it would cost me $32 to swap for the stub. I'll probably do it, but I want to think about it first. The Bexley Submariner Grande Review does make the nib sound great!

Dave

So, Howard is implying that all Americanas have the converter rattle, eh Dave? I have liked the looks of that pen, but I wouldn't touch it now, with that input. Appreciate the thread, but sorry you had to be the test platform.

Can't get over the fact that they would continue to sell that pen knowing that the rattle exists. How did it ever get out of pre-production testing? No such problem with the Submariner Grande that I have, and obviously their piston fillers won't have the problem. Mumble, mumble.

Have you tried a different converter? That might be a good start. I know that I had a few that used to rattle and a new converter that fit well fixed the issue. As for tolerances, All pen manufactures do the same. As much as I wish that ALL PENS WOULD BE TESTED AND MADE PERFECT BEFORE LEAVING THE FACTORY!! Unfortunately that is not the case because it is not cost effective. I think I was having a conversation with Wimg about the problem with quality control of Stipula Pens. I think the rattling of the converter is a minor issue compared to the feed isues of the Stipula 22's. I do not want to marginalize this problem because if you spend that much money on a pen, you want it to perform flawlessly. I have been in your shoes before with other brands of pens.

TNS

The funny thing is I've read some glowing reviews of this pen, without any complaints of a rattle.

Good idea about trying a different converter. If the Americana takes the standard size I should be able to find one around here !

Dave

yeah, it does take a standard converter. To be quite honest, I do not like the conveters that some with the bexley pens. I would try a waterman converter, they seem to work well and they are made well too. I wouldnt get your dobber down, Bexley are fantastic pens and I am sure you will getr this problem solved and you will be a happy camper!!!

TNS