Why Did Universal Use Glass Cartridges?

[PDW]

Just finished realigning the nib on my Universal Dyna-flow glass cartridge pen, and I can’t help wondering why, so long after Eagle designed pens with glass cartridges. Considering all the fuss involved with filling a narrow-necked cartridge which will break if you drop it, why did Universal would design a pen with this filling mechanism so long after less messy arragements were in use, including by Universal themselves with their lever fillers

 

 

 

Any ideas?

Edited August 27, 2013 by PDW

[ravantra]

Not sure. Never heard of glass cartridges but now I want some!

[ethernautrix]

Yes, glass cartridges sound cool!

[sumgaikid]

In the late 40's Waterman Jif(French)created a torpedo-shaped

pen with a streamlined clip utilizing either a lever or a glass car-

tridge(I have one with the lever;Richard Binder has one with an

actual glass cartridge). AFAIK,those were the earliest fountain

pens using glass cartridges. I suspect that at that time the know-

ledge to make the softer plastic used in today's ink cartridges

was still unknown.

 

 

John

[Vintagepens]

Might want to read up a bit more on glass cartridges here and here.

 

best

 

David

[sumgaikid]

Thanks for the info,David. I wasn't sure and stand corrected.

 

 

John

[konis]

There were two sizes of glass cartridges.

Bigger for top model - Waterman S, and smaller for other models galss cartidge pens. For example Waterman Standard.

Flyer from 40's

http://images53.fotosik.pl/46/76bf04e95363fe92.jpg

Waterman Standard and Waterman S.

http://images54.fotosik.pl/47/436a754d32378619.jpg

Glass cartridges for Waterman Standard and special etui for glass cartridge.

http://images55.fotosik.pl/46/a72725c9213d20ab.jpg

http://images54.fotosik.pl/47/c0662c431064a913.jpg

Comparison of size.

http://images55.fotosik.pl/46/8f8cc42b2ca7a1ff.jpg

regards

[PDW]

Thanks for all the information, but I'm still puzzled as to why anoyone would market a pen demanding the messy refilling of a non-disposable cartridge apparently made obsolete by cleaner/less bothersome lever, button etc. etc. fillers.

 

What was the thinking of the designers - and why buy one?

[PDW]

Thanks for all the information, but I'm still puzzled as to why anoyone would market a pen demanding the messy refilling of a non-disposable cartridge apparently made obsolete by cleaner/less bothersome lever, button etc. etc. fillers.

 

What was the thinking of the designers - and why buy one?

[Vintagepens]

The cartridges were disposable -- they most certainly were not intended to be refilled by the user.

 

Of course, now that glass cartridges are no longer commercially available, users DO refill them, but that's because they don't have any choice . . . .

 

best

 

David

[PDW]

<thud> as penny drops ...