Most people don't get to see the ugly side of a 51. Once in a while you encounter a 51 in which the filler has corroded. Usually the first clue that you have a problem is when you see the white dust on the blind cap nipple threads, and/or the filler won't budge. Not common, but it happens. I thought that some of the folks who restore their own pens might want to see the inside of a really nasty one...... (may you never see it in person!)

This particular pen had stress marks on the outside of the barrel in the area of the filler, as you can see in this picture. Note that the stress marks were there before I started, which gave me the opportunity to caution the owner that the pen might break.


I did manage to get the filler out without breaking the barrel, and found that the inside if the barrel was coated with a white powder - the oxidized and corroded aluminum of the cone and filler unit. Caused by ink (most likely the 51 ink) getting where it ain't supposed to go when the diaphragm failed.


The filler is a real mess though. The cone frozen into the blind cap nipple, spring stretched, and the inside of the blind cap nipple a mess too. Most likely the barrel will be replaced (cracks are likely to go all of the way through), maybe the filler.

Wow. I just about threw up on my keyboard.

Ewwww.

(I suppose, as a 51-non fan, this is time for the old Star Wars line:

"I thought they looked bad...on the outside!")

Thanks for showing us Ron Z. Fingers crossed that I never see a 51 like that!

The stress marks are unsightly, but really aren't an issue when it comes to leakage. They always seem to form just over the diaphragm seat, without extending far enough down the barrel to cause any problems.

There's also the secret fluid that makes removal of corroded fillers much easier . . . .

You mean gasoline, right David?

I've got a match if you've got the gas!


Cheers,
Tom

Gadzooks! That looks horrible!

Usually, but not always the case David. I have another one in the shop where the cracks do indeed go all of the way through - the ink on my hands being proof enough.

I used the secret fluid to get the filler out.

Zippo Lighter Fluid, Perhaps?

Actually, there are a couple of secret fluids to be used. Kerosene is the standard corrosion-breaker for metals (insert standard warnings about dangers here), but the less well-known alternative here is Coca-Cola. You'll have to soak the filler for a good long time to allow the very dilute phosphoric acid to work, and you may wish to zap it with an ultrasonic every now and then to keep things moving along.

You should start out with "The following scenes may be unsuitable for children and are graphic in nature. Adult discretion is advised."


Wow, thanks for sharing your experience with that horrid 51, Ron. It looks like you've masterfully given the pen a new life, though. I think I may bring a vac or two for you to have a go at during the next pen show.

Good heavens! There's actually a USE for that stuff?!

I should add that this is one of the worst that I've ever seen. When there is some corrosion, it's rarely even this close. I did end up replacing the filler because the spring was not only stretched, but bent so that the plunger would not retract.

Yep, you can even clean your windscreen (windshield) with it!

Wow! Maybe I'll rethink looking into vintage pens, or maybe I'll need to learn how to use secret liquids.

be aware that cavitation chews and disintegrates aluminum. Ultrasonic cleaners work by this principle (cavitation)

This aluminum white corrosion occurs when something gets to the bare aluminum (thru the diaphragm, maybe ink, etc) and attacks it. The black collar is black because it's anodized so chances are if that piece wich is protected is corroded, you'll have a lot of "good times" (that is if your idea of "good times" is cursing like a sailor and sweat like a cotton picker). Sometimes this is bad enough to weld the seating tapered part along with the threaded collar. Heat is advised in disassembling the pen. A good really penetrating corrosion cracker oil is really good here too.

Kerosene is a premium lubricant for cutting bars of aluminum in the lathe (it prevents the tools from dulling and the material from sticking to the attacking edge of the tool) but is not really good breaking corrosion wich presents in the form of glassy crystals.

Reminds me of the old days when we'd combat corrosion around our car battery terminals with good old Coke.

John

Wow - I've been away for a few days and that's an ugly pen to come back to. I do hope I never see one quite that bad. Thanks for sharing.

Don't know about the cola...maybe someone tried "coke" to de-corrode...or they were using the 51 to snort right through the nib. I'm glad I never thought of that back in the 70s.

Crackin' smiles but not rocks ~
pb2

Ew.