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I received an Onoto 1822 today. It has a couple of problems, of which one can not be blamed on the restorer (who was not the seller) although it may have influenced the other issues. These two photos of the shank or plunger cap show a manufacturing fault. The first picture shows the end of the rod pin, front left of centre. Note how closely it lies to the end of the cap, closer than I have seen for any other Onoto. The second (sorry about the blurriness) shows a line running to the other edge. You can see it at the back of the first photo as well. It is the pin lying at the surface past the rod, hence my analogy of a splinter under the skin. My problem will be to remove the pin without shattering the thin layer of ebonite on one half, or where it partially encloses the pin at the other end. This is necessary because the rod in this pen is too short so not only does ink cut-off not close but the plunge-fill mechanism barely functions until you screw down the shank, after which the cup washer barely clears the internal barrel lip. Basically, I intend to use heat, a staking tool, and such care and patience as I can muster. Other bright ideas will be welcomed. For example, would you think it would make a difference which end of the pin I pushed, which end emerged, the open end or the thinly covered?