Best Way To Store Vintage Pens

[TheDutchGuy]

Now that my little collection has reached a plateau of about 20 pens, I plan to "temporarily decommission" certain pens to prevent that I use all of them a mere five minutes each week. Some questions:

1. How best to store an old 1948 Onto 5601 piston filler with cork piston? Dry/empty, or filled with some water, or completely full of water? Or in a different way?
2. Same question for an old ca 1946 button filler with a rubber sac?
3. Same question, for ca 1960s - 1990s piston fillers with synthetic pistons (such as the MB 146 or 342).

Thanks!

[CraigR]

I have owned a variety of vintage pens over the years. It has been my practice to store them clean and empty. I have no knowledge of cork pistons so I can't help there. I have been collecting and using fountain pens for over 50 years and my storage practice has served nicely.

[TheDutchGuy]

Thanks!

[praxim]

1. an old 1948 Onto 5601 piston filler with cork piston?!

 

??

 

The Onoto 5601 is a plunge filler with rubber cup washer or some facsimile thereof. A cork basically would not work unless you are pushing a lot of air out of the shaft when you draw up the plunger, in which case it probably leaks there.

 

Anyway. I store mine dry, in principle, except each has previously had the piston or plunger very lightly greased with pure silicone grease. MB sources seem to prefer Vaseline for synthetic piston seals.

[siamackz]

I am worried about keeping water in there as it might encourage mould to grow

[TheDutchGuy]

The Onoto 5601 is a plunge filler with rubber cup washer or some facsimile thereof.

My mistake. Thanks!

[siamackz]

I have owned a variety of vintage pens over the years. It has been my practice to store them clean and empty. I have no knowledge of cork pistons so I can't help there. I have been collecting and using fountain pens for over 50 years and my storage practice has served nicely.

Your experience over time is very valuable. I am curious to k ownif you have stored these pens in a closed space or ventilated area? And how humid is the weather in your part of the world? Thanks!

[CraigR]

Your experience over time is very valuable. I am curious to k ownif you have stored these pens in a closed space or ventilated area? And how humid is the weather in your part of the world? Thanks!

I lived in Southern California for 37 years and now am in Western North Carolina. We traveled all over the US for about 5 years in our motorhome and the pens came with us.The west was much warmer and drier and the east is more wet and humid, on average. I did not notice that it made any difference since my pens have been stored indoors where the climate is controlled. I have a old Levenger pen case that holds 20 pens that is like a museum case - it is wood with glass front and back (vertical). The inner rack lifts up and pulls out of the case to access the pens. When closed it is pretty much sealed from dust etc. The other storage devices are horizontal cases with hinged glass tops that hold 10 pens each. On my desk top, there are usually 3-4 inked pens resting nib end up in an old coffee mug. Hope that helps.

Edited December 4, 2018 by CraigR

[siamackz]

I lived in Southern California for 37 years and now am in Western North Carolina. We traveled all over the US for about 5 years in our motorhome and the pens came with us.The west was much warmer and drier and the east is more wet and humid, on average. I did not notice that it made any difference since my pens have been stored indoors where the climate is controlled. I have a old Levenger pen case that holds 20 pens that is like a museum case - it is wood with glass front and back (vertical). The inner rack lifts up and pulls out of the case to access the pens. When closed it is pretty much sealed from dust etc. The other storage devices are horizontal cases with hinged glass tops that hold 10 pens each. On my desk top, there are usually 3-4 inked pens resting nib end up in an old coffee mug. Hope that helps.

Thanks Craig, I appreciate the details

[Carrau]

A recent newsletter from Richard Binder at Richardspens had a link about storage from his reference library that might be useful:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/care/dos_donts.htm

[CraigR]

A recent newsletter from Richard Binder at Richardspens had a link about storage from his reference library that might be useful:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/care/dos_donts.htm

Excellent. Thanks!

[siamackz]

A recent newsletter from Richard Binder at Richardspens had a link about storage from his reference library that might be useful:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/care/dos_donts.htm

Very helpful, thank you!

[siamackz]

I have created a display for my pens https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1517590727__img_1534.jpg

 

It is not in direct sunlight, but I wonder if putting the pens away in a drawer might be better for their conservation. It will be less fun, but if it is better for their conservation then I could do it. I have micro fans put in at the side of each shelf, and I have lined the roof of each shelf with micro chamber paper. But I wonder about the indirect sunlight (its quite low but its not the same as a dark drawer). Plus summers get quite hot and so I wonder if a darker place hidden inside a cupboard might be better

[CraigR]

I have created a display for my pens https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1517590727__img_1534.jpg

 

It is not in direct sunlight, but I wonder if putting the pens away in a drawer might be better for their conservation. It will be less fun, but if it is better for their conservation then I could do it. I have micro fans put in at the side of each shelf, and I have lined the roof of each shelf with micro chamber paper. But I wonder about the indirect sunlight (its quite low but its not the same as a dark drawer). Plus summers get quite hot and so I wonder if a darker place hidden inside a cupboard might be better

That is a nice display set-up.

[siamackz]

That is a nice display set-up.

Thanks Craig, it has changed quite a lot since the pic - with old advertisement and many books related to the collections added in there. But, this pic gives a general idea of the space

[BrandonP]

Thank

 

I lived in Southern California for 37 years and now am in Western North Carolina. We traveled all over the US for about 5 years in our motorhome and the pens came with us.The west was much warmer and drier and the east is more wet and humid, on average. I did not notice that it made any difference since my pens have been stored indoors where the climate is controlled. I have a old Levenger pen case that holds 20 pens that is like a museum case - it is wood with glass front and back (vertical). The inner rack lifts up and pulls out of the case to access the pens. When closed it is pretty much sealed from dust etc. The other storage devices are horizontal cases with hinged glass tops that hold 10 pens each. On my desk top, there are usually 3-4 inked pens resting nib end up in an old coffee mug. Hope that helps.

Thank you for useful tips and your experience!

[BrandonP]

A recent newsletter from Richard Binder at Richardspens had a link about storage from his reference library that might be useful:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/care/dos_donts.htm

Thank you a lot! Very helpful!

[TheDutchGuy]

A recent newsletter from Richard Binder at Richardspens had a link about storage from his reference library that might be useful:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/care/dos_donts.htm

 

 

It can't get more thorough than that. Thanks!

[fabri00]

I have created a display for my pens https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1517590727__img_1534.jpg

 

It is not in direct sunlight, but I wonder if putting the pens away in a drawer might be better for their conservation. It will be less fun, but if it is better for their conservation then I could do it. I have micro fans put in at the side of each shelf, and I have lined the roof of each shelf with micro chamber paper. But I wonder about the indirect sunlight (its quite low but its not the same as a dark drawer). Plus summers get quite hot and so I wonder if a darker place hidden inside a cupboard might be better

I believe it is more safe to store pens in the dark.

I do that keeping 10/15 pens in my desk, or pockets, and all the other in the dark.

[siamackz]

I believe it is more safe to store pens in the dark.

I do that keeping 10/15 pens in my desk, or pockets, and all the other in the dark.

Im starting to think that too