How To Open An Inkograph Pen

[TexiKan]

I recently picked up a INK-O-CATOR Mickey Mouse novelty fountain pen manufactured by the Inkograph Company of New York. It is lever set but I cannot find any information on how to open it to replace the ink sac. Would appreciate any guidance on this!

[Ron Z]

The section should be a slip fit.

[TexiKan]

Hmmm. That's what I originally thought but it is very snug and I did not want to over torque it. Maybe a little heat to encourage it. Thanks.

[lallin]

Hmmm. That's what I originally thought but it is very snug and I did not want to over torque it. Maybe a little heat to encourage it. Thanks.

Inkograph's low-end ($1 and MM) pens of this era used barrels and caps that shrink much more than their better pens. Be careful with the heat, they do not tolerate it as well as the $2 Inkographs. I usually start with a heating pad (drug store item for back pain, etc), two pair of section pliers and an abundance of patience.

[Hooker56]

Lallin,

 

Is the heating pad for you or the pen?

 

Amazing how much difference in quality dollar made back in the day.

 

Good luck and slooooow heating-

 

Clayton

[TexiKan]

Well, know it was a slip style, I managed to get it open without using heat--just a little more careful effort. I usually do not includes pens like this in my collection but it is in excellent condition, otherwise. Thanks for good recommendations.

[loudkenny]

I just bought and restored a 1940's? blue pearl Inkograph pen. I love my Parkers, but the Inkograph excels at something other fountain pen nib styles simply can't do - draw technical drawings.

 

Why is this pen cool? The Inkograph has a hemispherical point, so you can write with it in a normal hand position instead of having to hold it straight up and down like other 'technical style' pens. You can draw all you like with it, and then letter your drawing with the same pen. Also, for some reason it seems to be much more tolerant of crappy paper than my other pens too.

 

If you look at it like it's a Pilot V5 rollerball pen (same basic point configuration) that can be refilled with almost any kind of inks without issues, (including metallics and india inks), has a thicker body so it's more comfortable to hold than the Pilot, and is nice looking too, it starts to show its true beauty. I only wish it came in green pearl and had different sized points.

 

So what if it doesn't have a big flashy engraved gold nib? My 51's don't have that either.

 

Call me a fan...

 

ken

Edited December 13, 2013 by loudkenny

[ThegreatandpowerfullR]

Does anybody know the sac size of inkographs?

[lallin]

Does anybody know the sac size of inkographs?

I use an 18 for most; 19 for the large HRs.

[ThegreatandpowerfullR]

I use an 18 for most; 19 for the large HRs.

I measured the nipple and it came to be ~22 sized. I just orded two 16s, 2 18s, and 1 22 ten minutes before you replied,but I'll just use the ones that don't for future repairs (this is my first time doing this)

Edited February 8, 2015 by ThegreatandpowerfullR

[Oslowe]

Inkograph on Left, Rapidograph on right. Amazing how little has changed on the 2000's Rapidograph. Hope you can see the flatter face of the Rapidograph tip. Have not sacked or written with this, my first Inkograph, Needle is ramrod straight but looks a little long to me. Could the "force" hold it in the right position when inked?

 

 

[ThegreatandpowerfullR]

I'm not sure if my inkograph is right either but it is the same length as yours.

[lallin]

Oslowe, on 08 Feb 2015 - 19:12, said:

Inkograph on Left, Rapidograph on right. Amazing how little has changed on the 2000's Rapidograph. Hope you can see the flatter face of the Rapidograph tip. Have not sacked or written with this, my first Inkograph, Needle is ramrod straight but looks a little long to me. Could the "force" hold it in the right position when inked?

 

 

 

That looks about right. When it touches paper it should float up out of the way. Not sure what you mean about "force" holding it in the right place - gravity holds it down to cut off ink supply, not force from ink.

[Oslowe]

Sorry about my poor attempt at humor. I meant "capillary action." The weighted plunger rod functions perfectly smooth. Do people ever "tune" the rod end? Or would that inhibit it's ink stopping function? Thanks for the help. Mine has a Doctors name on it, but so far no thermometer to be found in the pen. I understand you have a very worthy stylo collection. How about some pics if convenient?

 

-Oslowe

[lallin]

Oslowe, on 08 Feb 2015 - 20:18, said:

I understand you have a very worthy stylo collection. How about some pics if convenient?

 

-Oslowe

 

You can see a teaser in the Pen History forum - topic of Inkograph Displays