Just to say hello...
I am a new collector in Liverpool, England.

My collection currently stands at:

Mont Blanc 149
Parker Senior Duofold c.1954
Parker 51 c.1950s
Conway Stewart 85L c.1957


:bunny1:

Welcome to FPN Guy.

I'm guessing your collection will grow if your'e anything like most of us.

I'm glad to see a trusty 51 in your collection and I'm delighted you've got a Conway Stewart. I collect vintage CS's and love the many models and colours available. You'll have to post a pic of them at some stage.

If you need info on anything pen related you've come to the right place.

Welcome aboard.

Gary

Welcome to FPN, guy.

Good selection of pens you have. In particular, the Duofolds of that period have a wonderful "hewn from solid" feel that inspires confidence. I have a few but my favourite is a c.1948 Duofold AF in burgundy. Built like a brick "out" house .

Martin

PS: did you know you have Diamine just down the road?

Hi Guy,

Welcome to FPN. As Gary said, you collection is at risk to grow if you sail around these waters

And to match with your location, I could say :

All you need is more, all you need is more,
All you need is more, more, more is all you need.



Denis.

Welcome!

You definetly will get more pens. I did.

Welcome to the FPNuthouse! Already off to a very interesting collection, and rest assured, this place will cause it to expand . . . . likely exponentially! Enjoy and see you around.

Welcome to the forum from just down the East Lancs Do be careful, this place is totally addictive and you'll soon find that your collections grows.

Welcome, Guy. I'm betting that collection will just grow and grow.

Ray

Ah yes Guy, a man of taste I see, two Parkers one of which is a "51", my collecting focus err obsession

I keep meaning to buy other pens, but then this sweet "51" comes on the radar and the twitches start and before you know it, the Postie is at the door with a package to sign for!

Enjoy it here

Jim

Thanks for all the nice hello's...

When looking for some ink for my new CS 85L (incorrectly typed 84 in my original post) I came across Diamine and saw they manufacture in Liverpool. Don't know where though - I presume their ink is okay then?

The pens I listed before are in general use, in the drawer I also have some other Parkers (45 etc) and a frankenpen.

The frakenpen is a Mabie-Todd Swan self filler of some vintage with a Duro CS 58 nib. This pen was my Grandads and was given to me a few years ago by my Mother.

This pen has been completely jammed until I managed to clean it reasonably successfully last week. People will cringe when I describe attacking it with WD40 !!!

Anyway thanks for the nice welcome...

G

Guy,

I wondered if you meant 85L, I have a near mint blue herringbone version, very nice pen.

The Frankenpen, no problems with that. You have a very classy nib in it. Not sure what you meant by "jammed" though. If you mean clogged just use water only to clean the nib, feed etc...A good soak overnight usually loosens everything up nicely.

Gary

My 85L is blue marble with gold veins... great writer with Waterman Black ink.

Sorry, the frankenpen was jammed as I couldn't move the lever for filling. It was jammed with lots of dry blue ink and some rust. The WD40 was useful in getting into the corners and loosening things. That said although everything moves I can't fill it with ink.

Welcome aboard ^_^
Nice pens you have there. What inks do you currently use on them?
Regards,

maia

Maia

Currently I am using...

Private Reserve Lake Placid Blue in the Parker 51
Private Reserve Plum in the Parker Senior Duofold
Waterman Black in the CS 85L

The Mont Blanc was a present from my parents 12 years ago in completing my university degree. In reality, it is too big for me so sits in my drawer in a single leather pen case.

Only came across Diamine the other day, coincidently finding out they are in my city.

G

Guy,

The Mabie Todd Franken pen has a perished sac. The lever wouldn't move because the sac had basically fosillised. All the WD40 has done is lubricate and soften it. The section (grip bit which holds the nib and feed) is a press fit and will pull out with some effort, be carefull if you want to do this yourself as you could crack the barrel if you wiggle it too much.. Behind this will be the remains. You will need to fit or get someone to fit a new sac. The feed and nib also will need to come out of the section for cleaning. The feed has grooves in the top to allow the air to flow back into the sac, the ink runs out using cappilliary action. Often these grooves will clog with ink particles etc...
Basically any lever filler you get that's old will probably need re-saccing and if the lever is stiff or doesn't move, don't force it. Once the old sac is removed the lever will work easily.

Gary

Sounds like a bigger job than I thought...
If nothing else the pen looks nice and shiny now.

I can see some glue around some edges so I suspect my Grandad did the work himself. Hey it was just an experiment, I think I will keep the pen in the drawer for now... thanks for the info but it doesn't sound like a job for me.

G

Hello Guy,

It would be nice to get your grandfathers pen working though. Shame I live so far away, I'd fix it for you.

Gary

Good to have you aboard Guy - good luck on your grandfather's pen!

Welcome!

Hi Guy;
Welcome. Here is a link that you may find helpful.You don't always need all the tools that are mentioned in the article.Use your judgement.

How to Replace an Ink Sac
Good luck,
Harry

Thanks for all of the information. I must restrain myself from hacking away at my inherited pen - as a man who is fine with computers but totally clumsy.

It's an okay pen, but I really cannot see it replacing my regular CS 85L and P51. The only way this is going to change is when my Pelikan M250 arrives (I WISH!)

Hi,

Welcome!!

Dillon