Wierd Skyline Feeder Thing (Not A Tube)

[crofton99]

So I got this skyline at a antique(junk) store. Disassembled the barrel from the section and found that instead of a feeder tube there is very thin sliver or plastic that curves at the end. I've attached a couple of photos. Is this an oddity?

[Wahlnut]

It is not that big of an oddity. It is commonly called a "wick" and was used to help ink flow back and forth to the feed and nib. Because there is surface tension in all liquids, and sometimes ink surface tension would not break easily enough to let ink flow easily, the wick was an ink travel enhancer. The tail of the wick contacted the inner wall of the pen sac and the ink flowed along the wick and into or out of the section more easily than without one. It was common in the late '30s Eversharp Doric and other models. It performs differently than the breather tube (which by the way was as much a full fill mechanism as a breather tube).

 

Syd

[crofton99]

Thanks Syd!

 

Kevin

[joss]

So I got this skyline at a antique(junk) store. Disassembled the barrel from the section and found that instead of a feeder tube there is very thin sliver or plastic that curves at the end. I've attached a couple of photos. Is this an oddity?

 

I had the same question some time back, you may want to check that thread here

[Wahlnut]

If you scroll down the current topics and look through the plastic Coronet post at the pictures there you wI'll see the thingy exposed. And see how it works inside of the sac.

Syd