Ivory Plunger Pen

[Custom Pen Parts]

I wondered if my latest project would be of interest to the pen making members at FPN.

The problem i set myself was to design and manufacture a pen based on the plunger system of filling which was to be made of ivory.

Before you freak out i must point out that the ivory concerned is about ten thousand years old and belonged to an extinct mammoth frozen in the tundra of Siberia. Before i could proceed with my project i needed to both source and most importantly verify that i would be working on genuine fossil ivory and not poached elephant ivory. Various tests were carried out on the three pieces i used, one of which identified the internal markings in the ivory known as Shrager lines which confirmed authenticity due to their specific shape and other tests including ultra violet examination convinced me i was indeed using fossil material.

You may be wondering why i wanted to use ivory at all. Well in my opinion the look and feel of this material is second to non, and being a natural product no two pieces are the same which adds to its appeal.

However, this material suffers from a potential problem namely it is porous to liquids which makes it useless as a choice for making pen barrels, as ink contained internally could seep through and ruin the pen.

My solution was to make an internal structure which was both impervious to liquid and non corrosive. My choice was to use sterling silver (another favourite material i use regularly) as this also provided a strong and fairly light construction needed to support my choice of nib which i decided had to be a Bock size 8 made out of 18ct and rhodium plated to colour match the silver section.

The filling system is a classic plunger design which incorporates a spring loaded ink shut off to ensure a leak proof seal when closed and when activated fills the pen with 3ml of ink.

A few specs of the pen:-

Total length 150.65mm

Capped 190.15mm

Barrel diameter 15.6mm

Internal bore 10mm

 

So much for detail, lets have a look:-

[Cerbervs]

That is about the coolest homemade pen I have ever seen.

[Flounder]

Hey, are you the same custompenparts that makes new Onoto parts etc? Welcome! Love this 'mammoth' pen.

[Inspector]

Beautiful pen and the construction will work with most any material from wood to stone.

 

Pete

Edited February 18, 2014 by Inspector

[Inkling13]

I would not make a habit out of using this pen. While you may think that ink won't corrode silver, there is a reason why it's not used for nibs and such. Even Parker 51 aerometric models used a sterling silver breather tube, and all of those are corroded now. I would not put it past ink to eat through the inside of this pen, and eat all the other components if used regularly.

[rhr2010]

Great pen and great filling system. I would make the section of ivory too, is the section silver?

[dougscott]

Very clean for mammoth ivory. Congratulations on a creative engineering project!

[Brian C]

Where did you get that plain Bock nib? I've been looking for a nib that isn't engraved. You said it was Bock but they don't seem to sell individual nibs.

[Custom Pen Parts]

Hey, are you the same custompenparts that makes new Onoto parts etc? Welcome! Love this 'mammoth' pen.

Yes i am the same person that makes Onoto parts, that is why i chose the plunger design to fill the pen. It works extremely well and efficiently and sucks up a load of ink.

[Custom Pen Parts]

I would not make a habit out of using this pen. While you may think that ink won't corrode silver, there is a reason why it's not used for nibs and such. Even Parker 51 aerometric models used a sterling silver breather tube, and all of those are corroded now. I would not put it past ink to eat through the inside of this pen, and eat all the other components if used regularly.

 

I take on board your comments ref corrosion of silver, however the parts that come into direct contact with ink have been given a Rhodium plating to protect the silver.

I am convinced that taking the precaution will ensure a trouble free environment

Thanks for the help

[richardandtracy]

Slightly explains the section shape too. Identical, apart from diameter, to the Onoto 2000/3000 shape that was/is so comfortable.

 

The machining is absolutely first class.

I'm personally still a bit dubious about using real Ivory regardless of whether it's certificated as being Mammoth or not, and would rather use Ivory substitutes even though they are not the real thing and don't have the same feel. Having said that, the pen does look right wearing that suit.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[crazypencollector]

Killer machining:) .75 threads?...Actually,probably finer...

Edited February 18, 2014 by crazypencollector

[Custom Pen Parts]

Where did you get that plain Bock nib? I've been looking for a nib that isn't engraved. You said it was Bock but they don't seem to sell individual nibs.

The nib is indeed made by Bock as a special order for me. It was a compromise at the time as the nib i really wanted for this pen was to be made in platinum, but having used this nib i am really happy with its performance. It writes really smoothly with just the correct amount of flex.

Just for interests sake have any makers come across platinum nibs as i could still need one for another project i have on the go

[frolland]

Congratulations it's a great pen, and nice and simple design!

How much would a pen like that cost?

FER

Edited February 18, 2014 by frolland

[ogi]

Its exactly what I am looking for ... is it for sale?

[slippery when wet]

Yes i am the same person that makes Onoto parts, that is why i chose the plunger design to fill the pen. It works extremely well and efficiently and sucks up a load of ink.

Hi Roger, nice to see you here at the FPN, thanks for all the parts you have supplied me in the past. Look forward to your future threads/postings.