Which Ink Cartridge?

[BrunoBL]

Hello guys,

 

I have what seems to be a Pilot Birdie pen and for the life of me just could not find replacement cartridges for it. I've visited quite a few local Stationery shops, none of them were helpful in determining the cartridge type for this pen, so I'll have to procure it from the web.

 

Will any Pilot cartridge fit this pen or should I look for specific, "Pilot XYZ" cartridges? For what it's worth, I have found "Pilot Namiki" and "Pilot Parallel" cartridges at Amazon, but I don't know if they will fit or work with this pen.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Please bear with me if this is not the right place to post, or if image attachments are not welcome. New user here.

 

TIA,

Bruno

 

http://uploads.im/U127t.jpg

[LizEF]

Can't say for certain as I don't know the pen, but it sure looks like it takes the standard Pilot cartridge / converter:

 

 

The spot where you attach the cartridge looks like what's inside the grip section of above Metropolitan - but the Metro has a protective plastic cylinder around the bits which are exposed in your pen. Without measurements, it's impossible to be certain. If you have calipers and want to measure the outer diameter of the bit below the threads and above that curved "tab" on your pen, someone could then measure the inner diameter of a Pilot cartridge.

[LizEF]

Ah, this image looks useful (you'll have to follow the link, hopefully it works):

 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54b5ce39e4b0b0eaa0f2fa38/t/55f4cdc5e4b0df1a8331d4d0/1442106854882/

[Algester]

Birdie uses classic Pilot carts easy to find else use a CON-40 as a CON-50 wont fit it

[tamiya]

Love the Pilot Birdie... gee, it's nearly been 40yrs!! Wonder why they've discontinued the FP yet still keep making the mech pencil & ballpoint Birdie today.

 

Birdie FP uses today's std Pilot cartridges nothing special.

 

They came with a squeezebulb converter like the Cleaning Convertor now supplied with Parallel pens, also early Metropolitan & Kakuno. Haven't tried any twisty Convertor in Birdie yet.

[BrunoBL]

LizEF, Algester, tamiya,

 

Many thanks, guys,

 

The measured nipple diameter is 5.56mm, I am guessing it is 7/32" actually, as I think Japan hadn't yet gone metric when this pen was made. Anyway the specific diameter is kind of moot now that there seems to be a consensus among you that most Pilot cartridges will fit, so Ill try those (will try and steer away from CON-50 when ordering online).

 

 

I no longer have the squeezebulb converter. It stopped working decades ago and sadly, I lost track of it, that's why I've been searching for cartridges.

 

 

 

gee, it's nearly been 40yrs!!

 

Yes! I bought it back in 1984. I wasn't even shopping for a pen, but the sharp contrast of its clean, modern lines on a fountain pen, of all things, made me fall in love with it the moment I saw it - and It has been a conversation starter whenever anyone realizes it is a fountain pen. IMO It still looks as sleek and modern as it did back in the day!

 

Again, thanks, guys.

Edited September 22, 2017 by BrunoBL

[LizEF]

LizEF, Algester, tamiya,

 

Many thanks, guys,

 

The measured nipple diameter is 5.56mm, I am guessing it is 7/32" actually, as I think Japan hadn't yet gone metric when this pen was made. Anyway the specific diameter is kind of moot now that there seems to be a consensus among you that most Pilot cartridges will fit, so Ill try those (will try and steer away from CON-50 when ordering online).

 

Not that we need this confirmation anymore, but according to my calipers, the ID of a Pilot ink cartridge is 5.56mm (or 7/32") - well within tolerance of your measurement. My CON-50 was 5.67.

 

Glad to have helped. Hope you get it inked soon.

[BrunoBL]

That's good news:

 

 

 

according to my calipers, the ID of a Pilot ink cartridge is 5.56mm (or 7/32") - well within tolerance of your measurement. My CON-50 was 5.67.

 

Many thanks for sparing you time to mesure, LizEF. You guys rock!

 

It make take a while until I get a hold of cartridges, but I'll post the results here.

[BrunoBL]

Ooops..

 

That's good news:

 

 

Many thanks for sparing you time to mesure

 

I meant, of course, sparing YOUR time to measure.

[LizEF]

Ooops..

 

 

I meant, of course, sparing YOUR time to measure.

 

I understood. Glad to help.

[Algester]

ohh the birdie is still in production not sure where but South East Asian markets still get shipments of it though the pen is too small for my liking

[BrunoBL]

ohh the birdie is still in production not sure where but South East Asian markets still get shipments of it though the pen is too small for my liking

Nice to know it's still being produced. It's a small pen indeed, but I just love its looks. I also have a Lamy Safari, it is gigantic by comparison.

Edited September 26, 2017 by BrunoBL