Model 100 Discoloration

[DnzUlc]

Recently bought and old material 100 green marble and when it arrived it was perfect, just like the sale photos no discoloration, after i just washed it with drinking water for 3-4 minutes the result was the cap and the piston turned orange, and didn't change after it dreid for 1 day, i know that it can't be undone, just wanna know the reason, because of my washing? or the material? or another reason?

[joss]

The cap and twist knob of the oldest Pelikan 100 pens are made from hard rubber and contact with water results in oxidation of these hard rubber parts with colour shift from black to brown.

 

It is irreversible indeed. If you would have stored the black pen for a few months in a mildly humid place, you would have gotten the same effect.

Edited October 1, 2017 by joss

[sargetalon]

Exposure to water, even briefly, can instantly fade the exterior of hard rubber. Sorry you had to learn the hard way. Nothing can reverse the process.

 

I have heard of products that some sell which cover up the discoloration trying to restore it back to black. I have no personal experience and I dont know how well they work. Its important to note that if you do use one, you make that plainly known if you ever try to sell the pen.

Edited October 1, 2017 by sargetalon

[scratchofapen]

As the discolouration is irreversible the only thing you could try is to polish the hard rubber parts. In some mixtures the rubber gets kind of brittle or "flocky" when the chemical process that causes the discolourstion happens. If the reaction does not go too deep you can polish the upper surface off until the pen is not black, but very dark brownish. The downside is that you wipe off imprints and maybe the plating on the rings that way.

Edited October 1, 2017 by scratchofapen

[Bo Bo Olson]

You will have to look but there is at least two different processes to re-black old rubber pens.

 

I have a cap jewel and piston cap that needs it (A Mercedes)....but being retired decided $$$ I can live with one pen now olive green instead of black in parts.

It is not a got to live with it. You do have to find the posts and make decisions which is best. I don't remember in it was a couple of years ago I read up on it.

 

I would not try polishing it with black shoe polish.....

 

 

Nice set of 100/100n's.

Edited October 1, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[joss]

interesting thoughts from pen experts on re-blackening black hard rubber pens:

www.vintagepens.com/FAQrepair/reblackening.shtml

www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/175791-reblackening-hard-rubber/

[Tweel]

I tracked down a product (which I have not tried) recently, after noticing an oblique reference to it here on FPN, which is supposed to chemically remove the discoloration:

 

Mark Hoover's Fountain Pen Deoxidizer

 

Here's a review of it, by someone using it on hard rubber pipe stems:

 

rebornpipes blog

 

As I mentioned, I haven't tried it, but I've successfully done something similar with Rawn Re-grip, which did remove the brown from a Waterman 456 that I managed to get wet. I've tried the Rawn product on older, already-existing "oxidation", but it couldn't remove very much -- it had probably gotten too deep in the surface.

[kawuska]

Mark Hoover's reblackening stuff is a magic wand for oxidized ebonite, you should try it.Some pens react better to it some, strongly yellowed , not but that's the only .."solution".Next time you will be more careful washing ebonite pens.Trust me, we all did this some time in the past..

[chromantic]

While not the result you were expecting, it doesn't look absolutely horrible. Small consolation, though.

[DnzUlc]

Thanks for all the replies, i am trying to love it as it is now, if i can't then i will turn a little experimental

[DnzUlc]

I sent the pen to my local pen repair shop, and here is the magic

 

 

 

[chromantic]

They did an excellent job, grats!

[joss]

did you ask what they have done with the pen (shoe polish treatment)?