Moore 94A Cap Stuck

[Ed333]

A few years back I purchased a '40s Moore 94A, a very pretty striped pen, which I have enjoyed. I hadn't inked it in quite a while, took it out of the drawer today, and found that the cap did not want to unscrew. I applied some turning force, and the body started to turn, but then I found that the body was unscrewing from the section, which remained firmly in the cap, and finally. as the body came free in my right hand, I was staring at the ink sac protruding from the cap in my left hand. I carefully screwed the body back in, and put the pen away.

I figure there may have been some ink or something on the cap threads, which hardened up with time. ??? It has not been in a super-heated environment, I keep my pens in a Gerstner oak machinists tool chest, the kind with many shallow drawers for machinist tools. Should be a pretty stable environment.

Any tips on how I might proceed to loosen that cap thread up? Or would I be better off sending it to a qualified pen restorer? I do not want to risk messing it up, I really like it, just haven't used it enough.

[tmenyc]

If you did nothing to jam the cap on, there are three things I would try. I've used all with variable success.

1) lay the pen on a hard surface (but with a cloth cover to prevent scratching it) and, if you have a lightweight hammer or screwdriver with a decently weighted handle, tap it several times around the thread area of the cap. Tap with a little force, don't smash the pen.

2) stick it in the freezer for a couple of hours, then try the hammer again.

3) failing that, a nice run through the ultrasonic cleaner, cap down, and add a few drops of dish detergent to the water. But not when the water in the cleaner is warm or hot. If you do this and it works, be sure to dry the cap out thoroughly.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Tim

 

PS: if one of those works, I'll take your Gerstner cabinet in exchange.

Edited June 25, 2018 by tmenyc

[siamackz]

If you did nothing to jam the cap on, there are three things I would try. I've used all with variable success.

1) lay the pen on a hard surface (but with a cloth cover to prevent scratching it) and, if you have a lightweight hammer or screwdriver with a decently weighted handle, tap it several times around the thread area of the cap. Tap with a little force, don't smash the pen.

2) stick it in the freezer for a couple of hours, then try the hammer again.

3) failing that, a nice run through the ultrasonic cleaner, cap down, and add a few drops of dish detergent to the water. But not when the water in the cleaner is warm or hot. If you do this and it works, be sure to dry the cap out thoroughly.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Tim

 

PS: if one of those works, I'll take your Gerstner cabinet in exchange.

Tim, wont the water in the ultra sonic cleaner cause the hard rubber to oxidise? Id be worried about taking the pen near water. Or is it celluloid? Edited June 25, 2018 by siamackz

[tmenyc]

It's a good question, but I'm pretty certain Moore was all in celluloid by the 40s, even the 30s, except for the Tuscans, and I don't think they were striped. If it's not a Tuscan, a three minute cycle wouldn't discolor the section. If, of course, it is a Tuscan, those were RHR, so shouldn't be put through the ultrasonic. That's why I had it as third choice...thinking that 1 and 2 would do the job.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

Tim

[siamackz]

It's a good question, but I'm pretty certain Moore was all in celluloid by the 40s, even the 30s, except for the Tuscans, and I don't think they were striped. If it's not a Tuscan, a three minute cycle wouldn't discolor the section. If, of course, it is a Tuscan, those were RHR, so shouldn't be put through the ultrasonic. That's why I had it as third choice...thinking that 1 and 2 would do the job.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

Tim

I think youre right about it not being hard rubber - OP said striped and a quick search brought up celluloid (I think) pen pics