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Celluloid-Fest: Conklin All American Plunger-Fillers

gmberg

By gmberg
in USA - North America

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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Here are some Conklin All Americans I recently restored. They fill very much like Sheaffer plunger-fillers though the mechanism differs. Their main attraction to me is the celluloid and the barrel transparency.

 

The colors are from top to bottom: Red Pearl, Gray Reptilian Pearl, and Gray Perl (hat tip Jim Mamoulides).

fpn_1513282318__img_0002.jpg

 

Here's the cap of the Reptilian Gray Pearl:

fpn_1513282442__img_0003.jpg

 

Here's the barrel of the Red Pearl:

fpn_1513282556__img_0006.jpg

 

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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What absolute beauties! Are they tricky to restore?

On one hand, they're easier to restore than Sheaffers because Conklin packing units are threaded into the barrel end (like the early Sheaffer "Vacuum-fil") and open out quite easily. On the other hand, the parts that make up the packing unit (as well as the hard backing washer of the plunger) are made of BHR. They are brittle and often cracked or completely broken. For all three All Americans you see here, I lathe turned new parts made of Delrin. Also, the original plunger rods differ in size and thread from the Sheaffer rods. So if the coated Conklin rod is cracked and/or corroded, one cannot simply insert a Sheaffer rod. On the Pearl Gray pen (bottom), the original rod needed replacement so I turned a new one from 304 stainless steel.

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DasKaltblut Rare

DasKaltblut

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On one hand, they're easier to restore than Sheaffers because Conklin packing units are threaded into the barrel end (like the early Sheaffer "Vacuum-fil") and open out quite easily. On the other hand, the parts that make up the packing unit (as well as the hard backing washer of the plunger) are made of BHR. They are brittle and often cracked or completely broken. For all three All Americans you see here, I lathe turned new parts made of Delrin. Also, the original plunger rods differ in size and thread from the Sheaffer rods. So if the coated Conklin rod is cracked and/or corroded, one cannot simply insert a Sheaffer rod. On the Pearl Gray pen (bottom), the original rod needed replacement so I turned a new one from 304 stainless steel.

 

Wow great work and beautiful pens.! I'm envious that you have the skills (and tools) to make your own parts. Very cool.

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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Wow great work and beautiful pens.! I'm envious that you have the skills (and tools) to make your own parts. Very cool.

Thanks, Kaltblut!

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amk Collectors Item

amk

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Thanks for the info, Gerry. Having skill with a lathe is a real bonus. I've just got a load of nice celluloid pens mostly without sections - so I shall be doing a bit of turning fairly soon. But turning ebonite is a doddle compared with steel!

Edited by amk

Too many pens, too little time!

http://fountainpenlove.blogspot.fr/

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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Thanks for the info, Gerry. Having skill with a lathe is a real bonus. I've just got a load of nice celluloid pens mostly without sections - so I shall be doing a bit of turning fairly soon. But turning ebonite is a doddle compared with steel!

Go slow on the RPM! BTW: I found a great source of BHR rod. Apparently the biting end of a tobacco pipe was made from it. There's a supplier in this country who restores old pipes and sells BHR rod (there must be dozens in the UK)! They're great for sections as you note. Delrin is a nice substitute because it's not as brittle and finishes very nicely. Great "machinability".

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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Gerry,

 

Nice pens, indeed. Will we see these at the Baltimore Pen Show?

 

Regards,

Craig

Hi Craig: I'll certainly have them there for show and tell, but not for sale :D

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CraigN Rare

CraigN

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Gerry,

 

Thank you for showing these pens at the DC Supershow. They looked so good in person.

 

I hope you had a great show.

 

Regards,

Craig

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gmberg Extremely Rare

gmberg

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Gerry,

 

Nice pens, indeed. Will we see these at the Baltimore Pen Show?

 

Regards,

Craig

Thanks, Craig, for stopping by. We had a terrific show.

Gerry

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