This thread prompted me to go digging through my pens to look for different versions of Pilot's converters. I found a bunch and I thought this information might be useful...

Click to view attachment

1. Modern Pilot ink cartridge - these have been available since the early 70's and fit almost any pen from that time forward.

2. "Old" CON-20 - squeeze converter with long black plastic connector, the body is a bit wider than the cartridge toward the press-bar so this one can have issues fitting in some small-bodied pens

3. "Middle-aged" CON-20 - squeeze converter with short white plastic connector, same size as #2

4. "Middle-aged" tapered CON-20 - squeeze converter with short white plastic connector, tapered toward the press bar to fit more pens, same size as modern CON-20

5. "Middle-aged" oversized CON-20 - squeeze converter with white short plastic connector, extra long version with approximately 15% greater capacity

6. Modern CON-20 - squeeze converter with blue plastic connector, common and currently available

7. CON-50 - twist / piston converter, currently available

8. CON-70 - monster pump converter, currently available but seems to only fit some larger modern Pilot pens

9. W-spares ink cartridge - made during the mid-to-late 60's, small capacity. The idea was that you could keep a spare in the barrel and change to the reserve if you ran out.

10. W-spares cartridges with coupler - this little metal gadget let you connect two W-spares cartridges to keep the extra from rattling around inside your pen

11. Old CON-W - squeeze converter with black plastic connector, made to fit pens compatible with W-spares cartridges

12. Modern CON-W - squeeze converter with blue plastic connector, fits W-spares pens and seems to still be available if you look hard enough

I am not sure of the model numbers for the older converters. Feel free to add or correct if you have additional information. I know there is a mini converter and maybe cartridges out there that fit the small pens like the Birdie and Penko.... and maybe others.

It would be nice to create a compatibility chart but I am not even sure where to begin.

/Woody

Excellent information - Many thanks !

Best wishes

HK

Very useful !!! Thanks for the effort Woody, well done!

Nikolaos

Thanks for posting this reference, Woody. Here's another one that came with my Pilot Ecrino. It's the top one in the pic, next to a current CON-20 for comparison. It's simply the sac with a metal band looped around it. Simple and cheap, and works fine. I have no idea what the model number is etc.



Doug

This is great!

Woody, thank you very much for the very useful info and the nice photos

Great reference info here, Woody -- thanks a lot for going to the trouble (I'm glad I prompted you ). This is very useful to have, as it is easy to forget Pilot converter specifics. Saved and stowed for future reference. I think it's a good candidate for a sticky.

~Gary

Nice! There was also a Con-20 that was made in Korea. It had a dark blue sac. I have the shell and sac here, but the blue plastic connector on all of mine were broken.

Dillon