Problem With A Gama Pen

[om8]

I have recently bought a Gama pen from Gem & Co., Madras. It has developed an unpleasant smell such as that of burning rubber/plastic. May be due to keeping it in its plastic sleeve, certainly my other pen (a Hero 300, which was repaired by Gem and Co) doesn't have the smell. Any advice?

[fountainpagan]

A photo would be nice, but it is almost certain yours is an ebonite pen.

 

Some indian ebonite pens can present a terrible smell when new.

Take it off the plastic sleeve, yes, because it agravates the smell. If you have access to some fine sawdust, rub the closed pen with it, carefully, and lightly, but repeatedly, for some a little while. Then clean well the dust with a cloth. Leave the pen outside any box, or sleeve, or whatever.

After some days the smell will start to diminesh, until it will disappear.

[om8]

I don't have any sawdust, nor do I know where to get it. Can you suggest any alternatives? Otherwise I will leave it for a few days.

[fountainpagan]

The sawdust step is not an obligation - it is just that it helps to absorb a little some of the smell, especially if it is a quite odorant sawdust.

If you don't have any, and cannot obtain it, just leave the pen outside, and the smell will slowly disappear.

[Jamerelbe]

The sawdust step is not an obligation - it is just that it helps to absorb a little some of the smell, especially if it is a quite odorant sawdust.

If you don't have any, and cannot obtain it, just leave the pen outside, and the smell will slowly disappear.

 

Just to be clear: outside as in "not enclosed in a box or sleeve" - don't leave it outside in the sun, or it'll discolour!

[hari317]

I have recently bought a Gama pen from Gem & Co., Madras. It has developed an unpleasant smell such as that of burning rubber/plastic. May be due to keeping it in its plastic sleeve, certainly my other pen (a Hero 300, which was repaired by Gem and Co) doesn't have the smell. Any advice?

Burning rubber smell is the smell of ebonite which is actually vulcanised rubber only. Just wash the pen thoroughly with pril liquid and dry it and then store it in open. The smell will go off. You will occasionally smell the material during use as your hand rubs the pen. HTH.

[fountainpagan]

 

Just to be clear: outside as in "not enclosed in a box or sleeve" - don't leave it outside in the sun, or it'll discolour!

 

Absolutely! You did well on stressing it, Jamerelbe.

 

Hi Harry, how have you been doing?