[Repair] Newb To Repair - Wahl Pen Circa 1900

[Diggy]

Hi everyone,

 

I hope I have started in the right place. I'm looking to restore a circa 1900 "Wahl Pen - Made in Chicago". It's what I would classify as a secretary pen, it has a hole in the head of the cap for what used to have been a neck loop or thread for easy access for a secretary. This metal loop is gone but the metal head piece is still intact. The cap and body sport a weaving rectangular design and what looks like a bladder fill mechanism. I've just dipped it briefly in some pen flush to see if I can clean the nib and get a judgement as to what condition it is in.

 

From what I understand to replace the bladder in something like this takes a bit of work but isn't tremendously hard. I was wondering if there were any ideas that I could use to start me off down this road, or should I use another pen to start my repair work on. I have 5 more pens from the same person's collection all circa 1900 with most being unidentifiable or unknown.

 

thanks for the tips in advance!

 

[Roger W.]

Anything marked Wahl Pen is circa 1920 at the earliest (they would be Wahl Tempoints from 1917 until 1921). Ringtops are not Secretary pens but, women's and vest pocket pens. It is easy to replace sacs but, you do have to be careful that you don't crack the barrel threads in getting the section out. Using some heat usually helps.

 

Roger W.

[Diggy]

Hi Roger,

 

Thanks for the help on this. I didn't know that information about them being called Wahl Tempoints. They have been in the family since new and they are really worn, but I wanted to get it working for the sake of getting it working. Here is a picture of it after getting a heavy fushing.

 

So what do you suggest my next step would be? I'm really not sure what type of bladder or what size to use for this pen. It's almost a purse pen or a mini from what I can see. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated!

 

Thanks

Nathan

 

 

[beanbag]

If you look carefully, there should be a gap right between the section and the threads. Apply some heat (not hot water) and while pulling on the section, wriggle it back and forth. It should slowly work itself out. I think I have a similar pen to yours, and the section is press fit in. Or else it might be (reverse?) threaded in.

[Roger W.]

It will be a friction fit section.

 

Roger W.

[Diggy]

I have a heat gun that I can put on very low heat, but first I wanted to buy the supplies to really get this done. Would you have recommendation as to where to get the replacement bladder as well as any glues that might be required for reassembly?

 

Thanks so much for all the great information

 

Nathan

[Greenie]

How to:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/repair/sac_replacement.htm

 

Supplies

 

http://pendemonium.com/

http://pentooling.com/suppliesmatls.html

http://www.fountainpensacs.com/index.html

http://www.pensacs.com/

[Ron Z]

I would buy the pens sacs from the Pen Sac Company. They are the most reliable.

 

If you really want to learn how to do pen repair, and avoid breaking a pen, I recommend the Marshall and Oldfield book. It isn't cheap, but do a couple of repairs and it's paid for itself. Break a pen, and you'll pay more than the price of a book to replace it.