First off...I know that a lot of people have been itching for the Herald as an eyedropper.

Good news. It will happen within a month, maybe earlier. I'm still prototyping everything involved. I have many versions that have succeeded as an eyedropper, but I need consistency before I will commit to a production version of the pen.

I will be eliminating the centerband, and the trim ring on the barrel. That has always been a mild issue and the feedback that I get from customers is to eliminate them...so they are gone. No centerband, and the threads will be integral to the body material.

Also, I have plans for the Herald as a bulb filler. This will be super cool. Unscrew the back half of the barrel to reveal a bulb. Give me more than a month on this one.




In the meantime...here are the new prototypes coming out of the shop....

First is an admitted and blatant copy of the Nakaya Piccolo. I own a Piccolo, and it is my personal favorite, and daily writer. I do sales full time, and I need a compact pen to put in my pocket briefcase on the run. The Piccolo is perfect, but is a little short for my hand, so I made this as my new daily writer.

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It's a little longer than the Piccolo. It's now perfect in my hand. I designed the section so that the threads are fine enough that it can be a CC or eyedropper. If I want the convenience of cartridges/converters, than I have it. But at the same time, the section threads are tight enough that they will not allow ink to escape as an eyedropper, and I get much more ink capacity.

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Next up is a really neat pen idea that I had, and I'm glad that it worked (inadvertantly).

I wanted to make an eyedropper that would fill from a blind cap on the butt of the barrel.

A penmaking friend of mine said that it wouldn't work....if you are filling a pen with an eyedropper from the rear of the pen, then the nib is pointing downward. So because there is no vacuum, the ink will simply drip out of the pen as quick as you can fill it.

I honestly thought that surface tension would be sufficient to hold in the ink during filling.

Well, I made the pen, just to find out. I made it with a removable section and blind cap...just in case the blind cap concept wouldn't work.

Guess what? The pen will leak if you fill it from the back! I was very wrong. Not a gush, but a good drip, drip, drip...

However, this led me to a neat discovery.

I now fill this pen like a conventional eyedropper.....from the section end with an eyedropper.

Then when it's time to prime the pen, simply hold the nib over the inkwell, and unscrew the blind cap. Unscrewing the blind cap will eventually release the vacuum, allowing ink to drip out. Once you get a couple of drops to come out, then the pen is primed. Tighten the blind cap to secure the vacuum, and stop the ink from dripping out.

This will prime the pen without the nib creep involved with dipping the pen into the inkwell.

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Last up is a simple eyedropper. Nothing special, just a nice material, and a nice pen, however...

When creating the internal bore for the cap threads, I accidently made the bore about .025" too wide.

This diameter dictates what the barrel threads will be. Because the barrel threads have to accomodate the cap threads, this made the barrel thicker than what I wanted. This leads to the barrel having an awkward transition from barrel threads to the section.

I'll ask the forum...are you OK with the transition from barrel threads to the section?

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Keep in mind that these are prototypes...you certainly wont hurt my feelings with comments on any of these pens.

Thanks...keep your eyes peeled...these ideas, along with changes to the Herald are around the corner.

Brian at Edison.

All beautiful pens Brian.................the transition from barrel threads to the section seems OK to me............in fact I kind off like the change.

HOTT (yep...two Ts for this one). Any plans for clips on these?

Hey, here's a weirdo request/perspective. For the second one (which is my personal favorite, especially with the translucent material), how hard would it be to cut threads all the way up the inside of the barrel? If it was possible to do it, I think it would make for an awesome visual effect that would really remind me of the first-gen Vacumatics. Coupled with the short blind cap, I think it makes for a REALLY cool look!

Well done, Brian...you've already got us salivating!

I have Marlens with similar transitions, and they don't bother me, especially since there isn't a HUGE step between the threads and the body of the barrel.

Thanks for the feedback on the transition.

I'll make a new section, and slope the rear of it to meet the threads...I'll see how it looks.

Right or wrong, I can't picture it until I do it.

Oh... I love these!

The overall form, and particularly the transition from barrel to threads to gripping section is very graceful on these. The pens look absolutely perfect. And I am so glad to see that these designs lack the thin metal ring above the threads which all the pens on your website have.

My favourite is the Piccolo imitation, which I think has merit of its own and does not look quite the same. I have a Nakaya Piccolo, and also wish there was a longer version of the same design. I think the domed cap looks particularly elegant, and you've captured that extremely well. This design also puts me in mind of the early Conway Stewart clipless BHR pens, which I love. Out of all the prototypes you've showed, I want to see this produced the most, and I think it would be a great success.

Have you ever made, or considered making, pens with an internal filling system -- lever, piston, button?..

//Have you ever made, or considered making, pens with an internal filling system -- lever, piston, button?..//

Yes, I have. A button filler is probably the easiest of the three (and it's VERY complex)....then the lever, then the piston.

With the new Herald redesign happening, and the pens above happening, there's little room for other stuff...but rest assured...I'm always looking for new avenues.

Buttons, levers, and pistons will not happen anytime soon, but trust me, my business will not expand with the same old stuff....and I want my business to expand.

Wouldn't the ED be the easiest?

Do we have to wait for the others to come first?

BTW, even a bulb filler? Would totally rock.

I wonder if something like Stipula's sleeve fillers would be easily obtainable.

Yes...ED is easiest...but above, I was doing a comparison of buttons, levers, and pistons. I wasn't putting ED into the equation.

OK...here's a sneak peek....

Here's my idea for a bulb filler Herald.

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Still only a sketch....but it will work. Give me at least a month to get this past the prototype stage.

If you want threads to show all the way through...throughout the entire pen cap...then I'm afraid that it's impossible. Threading tools will never reach that far.

Congratulations Brian, very nice.
I really like the minimalistic & sleek look of your closed pens !
One question : is the diameter transition between section & barrel not influencing the gripping , hence ergomonic writing comfort of the pen ?

I think that is the question...and a difficult one to answer without the pen in your hand, IMO, although others seem happy with pens which have quite a big 'step' (for example the Bamboo....and I have a Montegrappa which has a similar shape, but causes me no problems).

More power to you, Brian ....

A matchstick filler would be the easiest as it would be sack and bar with a hole in hte barrel.

These are wonderful! Very, very nice stuff.

Brian, Bravo! You have done wonderful transitions from your earlier design. I am now convinced!! Please announce when you ready.
I have been waiting for a year almost to get those rings out!
Wish you a success!
Keep it up.
Abhik.

Actually, yes...you are right. And do have matchstick plans.

And that's my plan for the Glenmont. There will be a blind cap with a small and thin sterling silver rod that comes out of the blind cap. Remove the blind cap, and use it to push the pressure bar with the attached silver rod.

i like the top pen quite a bit.

Absolutely! I *love* that Piccolo-esque model.

You should call your Piccolo homage the Edison "Flute" - little bigger than a piccolo

Awesome pens Brian!

Kudos on the work. I love the integrated threads. I would go with the first pen with a clip in a heartbeat.

Personally, I would prefer the section be flush, so I am anxiuos to see the revised section. The other step "above" the cap threads that keep the barrel and cap flush are just fine.

Will these pens accomodate converters? I do not have much eyedropper experience.

Thanks.

The plan is to have an option of CC or eyedropper on most pens. The sections that I'm making will have tight and fine enough threads along with an O ring so you could do it either way.

Or if you see a pen that is advertised only as an eyedropper, I can custom make it to fill however you want.

Sometimes, however, the shorter barrels will not accomodate a converter. In this case, you could use a cartridge, and refill it with a syringe. Or I have aerometric converters that are shorter, and should fit the shorter barrels.

(by the way...that's a killer nib in your avatar...)

Hi Brian!
Nice work! Pens are shaping up well and I look forward to the unveiling of the updated Herald. With regard to the depth of the step, my preference is for a smaller step, more taper.

Gorgeous pens, but I definitely prefer as fat a section as possible. Tapering down as needed is preferable to the stepping down.

Regards, greg

Beautiful!

I just discovered the Herald and have pushed it to the top of my list for next "beautiful" pen purchase. I will wait to see what is next for the Herald before ordering.

However, I am very much taken by the Herald's smooth form and would like to see the joint between cap and barrel "hidden" (i.e., no bands). In fact, I would like to see no clip either.

I'm wondering if the bulb filler now would require yet another break in the flow (besides the cap to barrel joint)?

Also, I too like the fat section (in matching ebonite).

These are offered as personal tastes, and I reckon they could be made in a custom order. So, just MHO.

In any case, excellent looking pens and I can't wait to get my hands on one of them!

First let me say I admire your work enormously and in the interest of (potential) customer feed back I would add the following comments

All the pens I like using the most have a smooth transition from barrel to section. Any with a stepped profile I avoid & especially if the step is exaggerated.

I am also keen to see the cap threads cut as fine as possible particularly if they are likely to be placed where I hold the pen. ~ this happens to be what puts me off a Pelikan 200 as the threads are cut deep & are widely spaced.

Although I have only tried a few pens, the one that appears to be a perfect shape, diameter & length for me is the pelikan 3000 / 2000 - a cartridge only pen. Thanks to this thread I am giving it a water test to see how well it works as an eye dropper. Provided there are no water leaks I will then test with ink. The only other drawback with this particular pen is the exchange of nibs on the pen

I just wonder if it would be possible to commission a pen from you that is close to the profile shape & length of this particular pen & has a section that will accept a variety of interchangeable nibs?

No problem with clipless.

With the bulb filler...the goal will be a totally seamless joint. As invisible as possible...my goal would be to emulate the seam on a Dantirio Densho eyedropper.

I have one, and the twist that controlls the plunger is totally invisible. You wouldn't know that it's there unless someone told you.

Thanks.

Absolutely. I really kind of prefer custom work more than production work, actually.

COuld you do the 2nd pen with something wild for the blind cap- maybe bright red orjust a wild celluloid! that would be great.

As for a eyedropper filling frm the back end, Take a look around for the Thomas Jeferson pen and how that is filler. IF I remember you make sure the cap is on the pen so that it seals nib closed then yoyu can fill the penfrom other end. Tightening the blind cap then lets you turn the pen over and write.

Nice pens. How far off are you from being able to offer a piston model?

As far as a wild blind cap...anything is possible.

I like your idea of sealing up the cap to fill the pen. I'll try it when I get home.

Thanks!

Pistons are difficult to find. Schmidt lists them in their catalog, but last time I checked, they didn't have any.

Gorgeous pens, Brian! I especially like the Piccolo homage, too.

Brian, per your intial psot regarding the elimination of the centreband a barrel trim ring, is it possible to retro-fit one of your existing pens this way? I was thinking of the Glenmont.

Wow! That bigger Piccolo (flute?) with a clip & a blindcap for eyedrop-priming would be a dream.

No, I'm afraid not. Once a pen is made, there wouldn't be enough material to completely change how it is threaded. Sorry.

Alright Bryan, tht Piccolo is calling me. Very nice. I will be watching that one.

On the step, I have a number of pens with one and as long as the pen has good length it is not a problem.

Keep coming up with these geat ideas.

By the way, if these prototypes are just being discarded after they're improved upon, feel free to send them my way for further testing.

Brian, having held one of your pens, I need to say that I am very impressed with the craftsmanship. Now seeing the Nakaya Piccolo pen that you have made, I am seriously considering placing an order for one. Very nice design, clean and well executed.

I have been missing my Raw Ebonite Densho for a long time, should never have sold it. This pen might fit the bill.


BUT, can you do it with a matte finish instead of the highly polished?

Cheers,
Sean

Not really a problem; I was just wondering. When do you plan to offer the Piccolo and in what material?

Sir, the "Grand Piccolo" is outstanding. I think you had better stock up on rod stock for that one top speed. I cannot express how much I wish to own one. Gorgeous!! well done.

Stubnut.

Thanks for the comments!

No problem on the matt finish.

Brian,

Have you given any thought/consideration to attending the Dallas Pen Show this fall? Since there is no admission charge to attend, the crowds are likely larger than if there were. Table prices, I think, are very reasonable. And there are a LOT of people in the Dallas Fort Worth area who would love to fondle and drool over your pens, and maybe even purchase a few. On second thought, maybe you should not attend -- I don't know if I could resist if I actually held one in my hand and (gasp) had opportunity to actually write with one.

Donnie

Excellent designs! Looks like I will have to consider ordering a new buddy for my existing Herald

This year, I'll be in Columbus, and possibly Detroit. But that's probably it.

Next year, I'll try to expand to more shows.

Thanks.

Would turning pistons from rod stock of some kind not be cost effective (cost ineffective maybe?)? Seems like it would be cool, if nothing else.

Tim

Actually, Francis (fountainbel) has done that.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...;hl=fountainbel

That's over my head....I'm pretty sure that Francis may be one of the only penmakers around who has manufactured his own plunger and/or piston.

I'd be better off buying the filling mechanism, and building a pen around it.

love the Grande Piccolo. My herald may need company

Are you able to post it???

Please say yes