Parker Converter Differences

[James]

I have two types of Parker brand cartridge converters. One is a screw type and the other is a plunger type. The screw type is a pretty standard design compared to all the other brands of cartridge converters that I've seen, but the plunger type has a steel ball (like a ball bearing) contained within the ink reservoir. What is the reason for the steel ball?

 

I can think a several possible reasons, such as:

 

1. You can hear the ball rolling around in the converter when the ink supply is low.

2. Helps to eliminate any potential precipitates in the ink, by the agitation action of the ball.

3. Prevent ink from unduly adhering to the walls of the reservoir.

 

However, I was never very good at fluid dynamics, so I think I may be missing something more obvious.

 

Jim

[JohnS-MI]

My theory: One has glass walls, the other plastic. The two materials have different surface tension interactions with the ink. In my screw converters (glass) the ink seems to run better when it is rotated upright/inverted. In the slide one (plastic) it looks like there is more adhesion to walls. My slide converter has a small spring coil open in center so it can't plug the hole.

[James]

In the slide one (plastic) it looks like there is more adhesion to walls.

Your description of the slide mechanism is a more accurate representation of the fill mechanism used in the Parker converter that is not the screw type. I called it a "plunger", but of course both types of converters have a plunger in the reservoir section.

 

Jim

[Taki]

I believe the ball is to break the surface tension. Platinum casrtridge has it, too.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

The Slide converter is made from a cheaper material that has surface-tension problems, so the ball or spring is used to keep the ink from sticking. The twist converter is made of a different material that has fewer problems with ink sticking.

 

Dillon

[James]

Thank you for the informative responses. The Parker slide converter is definitely more cheaply made than the screw converter - but I find its simplicity attractive. The slide converter was originally sent to me by a friend in Hong Kong, so I'm not sure if this particular model is readily available in North America.

 

Jim

[JohnS-MI]

A slide converter comes with the Parker Frontier, a screw pistin with Sonnet. Not sure where in between the break point is.

[mr T.]

Thank you for the informative responses. The Parker slide converter is definitely more cheaply made than the screw converter - but I find its simplicity attractive. The slide converter was originally sent to me by a friend in Hong Kong, so I'm not sure if this particular model is readily available in North America.

 

Jim

 

The slide converter is much worse than the screw one. The main problem with it I had was the use of the steel ball in it. After a while the steel ball did prevent taking any ink because it sticks on to the plastic construction on the place where the converter takes the ink from the pen. The only thing you can do with it, when this happens, is throw it into the dustbin. The slide converter also takes less ink than the screw one (but the difference is not that great). What suprises me however is that the poor en cheaply constructed slide convertor is more expensive than the screw one at my local Parker dealer.

[rezonatix3]

However, according to The Writing Desk, the twist converter does does not fit the Vector, Reflex or Jotter pens due to barrel width restrictions.

[rezonatix3]

However, according to The Writing Desk, the twist converter does does not fit the Vector, Reflex or Jotter pens due to barrel width restrictions.

Update: Well, I don't find this holds true for any of my Parker Vector calligraphy nibs. If anything, the twist converter is a better fit than the slide converter. I don't have a round nib to check with (I bought a calligraphy set rather than the Vector pen proper) - but unless the round nibs are different from the italic nibs in terms of barrel width, I would, like everyone else here, recommend the twist converter.

[Lord Nincompoop]

A slide converter comes with the Parker Frontier, a screw pistin with Sonnet. Not sure where in between the break point is.

I have to disagree. My Sonnet came in a disappointingly cheap, paper box with a slide converter (duty free, reatail, so it shoulda been better).