Is My Osmiroid Dead?

[typothecary]

Hi, I'm very new here. You all seem very knowledgeable and I haven't a clue. (I have dug around in the FAQs a bit but didn't find an answer).

 

I found my old Osmiroid in a drawer where it sat for a number of years. I cannot get any ink to flow at all. I've soaked it overnight in water, squeezed the cartridge (don't laugh, it's just a cartridge pen) etc. but nothing seems to help.

 

Do I have to bin it? To be honest, it was never that reliable - I put it away because it used to leak in my pocket, but it does have a lovely feel and I was hoping to resurrect it.

 

cheers

Typo.

[Scrawler]

Hi typo,

we have all squeezed cartridges, so do not feel embarrassed. There is a good chance that the channels in the feed have ink deposits clogging them up. Depending on the ink that was in that cartridge originally there could be all sorts of particulate matter. Osmiroids are tough. If you have access to an ultra-sonic cleaner, it will break up the deposits in the feed. However it is likely that such a cleaner would cost more than your pen is worth, unless it has sentimental value. Which model do you have. You may have one of those that has the feed and nib in an assembly that can be unscrewed. If so gently grip the nib and feed assembly and unscrew it. When you have removed the assembly wash it carefully separately. Use a bit of dish washing detergent and get it as clean as possible. Clean the threads on the assembly by gently brushing. Use a Q-tip to clean the threads inside the barrel, then flush away all detergent residue and reassemble it. Then let us know how you got on.

[viclip]

Bulbous ear syringes make great cleaning devices for cartridge pens. They fit nicely onto the piercing unit & can be used to swoosh cleaning solution in & out of the front section, thereby cleansing the ink channel area under concentrated mild pressure. A 10% ammonia overnight soak followed by a swooshing binge often does the trick (I presume your pen is plastic i.e. ammonia safe).

[pathobby]

Osmiroids are great pens to work on. Really good for learning repair techniques. There are tons of nibs to buy and the pens are usually robust enough for new enthusiasts to work on.

 

Give it a go and you will probably become addicted like the rest of us.

 

PH

Edited June 3, 2011 by pathobby

[gregamckinney]

I would think there's a chance that drawing ink was used in this pen, which won't dissolve easily in water.

You might soak the nib and section in a solution of water and technical pen cleaner (e.g. Rapid-o-eze.)

 

Regards, greg

[typothecary]

Thank you, everyone, for the kind reponses. I've tried soaking it in liquid detergent and window cleaner (someone told me that gets dried ink out of inkjet printer nozzles). A lot of particles came out and for a little while thought I'd solved the problem, but to no avail.

 

I will try ammonia and/or Rapid-o-eze and a good cleaning before attempting to dismantle the pen. It is plastic but the nib looks pretty solidly stuck in there - i.e., not obviously unscrewable. No idea what model it is - had it for years. It seemed quite expensive to me (at the time), but on reflection it was probably only £10 or so. The nib just says 'Osmiroid Italic Medium, England'. It may have come as part of a beginner's calligraphy kit.

[Scrawler]

typo, knowing what an Osmiroid nib unit looks like may help. The Osmiroid nib unit is interchangeable with Esterbrooks.

See this old thread about Osmiroid nibs for sale to see some good pictures and get an idea of how they should unscrew.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/38165-fs-osmiroid-nibs-for-esterbrook-pens/

 

If it will not unscrew easily it could mean that Indian ink or other resin containing substance has glued the threads.

[typothecary]

Aha, thanks for that Scribbler. I think my little old dear's nib isn't nearly as posh as yours

 

Here's what mine looks like. (Update: These are actual photos of my pen).

 

I'm starting to think maybe I should just buy a new nib?

Edited June 6, 2011 by typothecary

[Scrawler]

I am not familiar with this entire nib/section design for Osmiroids. It must be an innovation that post dates my pens. I use my Osmiroid nibs in a Chartham pen. They just screw in in the manner of Esterbrooks. We need to find an expert in that particular nib/section design to find out how to remove the nib and feed from the section for internal cleaning. Is this a photograph of your actual section, or is it a generic photo of the type? It would be a shame to dispose of it, because even though Osmiroid are not rare or expensive, they are not made anymore. Put a message on the "Writing Instruments" forum and ask if anyone is familiar with this particular design. I am sorry I cannot help anymore.

[pathobby]

I am not familiar with this entire nib/section design for Osmiroids. It must be an innovation that post dates my pens. I use my Osmiroid nibs in a Chartham pen. They just screw in in the manner of Esterbrooks. We need to find an expert in that particular nib/section design to find out how to remove the nib and feed from the section for internal cleaning. Is this a photograph of your actual section, or is it a generic photo of the type? It would be a shame to dispose of it, because even though Osmiroid are not rare or expensive, they are not made anymore. Put a message on the "Writing Instruments" forum and ask if anyone is familiar with this particular design. I am sorry I cannot help anymore.

 

This is an Osmiroid 'Caligraphy' pen. There are many nib units available for these pens. They are easily found on auction sites and quite cheap.

 

PH

Edited June 11, 2011 by pathobby

[Ernst Bitterman]

After letting it soak for a bit, you may be able to draw point and feed from the section, thus:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/takematsu/DSCN1865.jpg

This allows you to go at the feed with direct means, like a tooth brush or finger-nail, which the plastic feed in these pens can deal with. To get them out, you just grasp the point and feed between thumb and fore-finger and pull (not quite what I'd recommend with other pens, but it works with these critters and doesn't present too much danger).

 

New points are an option, but beware if buying one that it's not a slightly older version as in my picture-- the ring that holds on the cap in that style will crack the cap in yours (guess how I know that...). After a lot of wrestling with Osmiroids, both in the past when I was largely without clue and in my current somewhat-clued state, I have trouble entirely recommending them, because even at the top of their game they're not great at moving ink from inside to out. On the other hand, I understand completely an irrational attachment to them, and would not suggest that you not try to bring it back into service.

[typothecary]

UPDATE: having exhausted the capabilities of conventional detergent & been shocked at the price of Rapido-eze (in the UK anyway) vs an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner, I've decided to go for the ultrasonic. It's an expensive option just to fix a silly old pen, but apparently it doesn't only clean pen nibs. It seems you can also clean jewellery with it. (ha).

 

(and too scared to disengage the nib from the casing. Yeah, I know it's already broken so what's the problem? I guess I'm afraid it'll never go back in if I do that. This one leaked anyway, can't imagine disassociating it from its holder would improve that.)

Edited June 15, 2011 by typothecary

[typothecary]

Success! My old Osmiroid calligraphy pen has arisen like a phoenix from its warm ultrasonic bath.

 

As per a recommendation elsewhere, I didn't put the nib directly into the ultrasonic cleaner. I first put the nib into a small jar full of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing detergent, and then put the whole jar into the machine (also full of warm water). This kept the machine itself clean. It took 4 cycles @ 280 seconds for ink to stop dirtying the water in the little jar. It also removed some of the 'gold' colouring on the tip of the nib but it otherwise seems unscathed. And writes!

 

(My spectacles and various other small, formerly-grubby objects are now also remarkably clean. What a great toy! It will apparently even clean dentures. I'll bear that in mind for the future.)

 

Thanks again, everyone, for your helpful suggestions.

[pathobby]

Success! My old Osmiroid calligraphy pen has arisen like a phoenix from its warm ultrasonic bath.

 

As per a recommendation elsewhere, I didn't put the nib directly into the ultrasonic cleaner. I first put the nib into a small jar full of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing detergent, and then put the whole jar into the machine (also full of warm water). This kept the machine itself clean. It took 4 cycles @ 280 seconds for ink to stop dirtying the water in the little jar. It also removed some of the 'gold' colouring on the tip of the nib but it otherwise seems unscathed. And writes!

 

(My spectacles and various other small, formerly-grubby objects are now also remarkably clean. What a great toy! It will apparently even clean dentures. I'll bear that in mind for the future.)

 

Thanks again, everyone, for your helpful suggestions.

 

 

Good story... and great writing!

 

Osmiroids are fun!

PH