Jump to content

Help! How Does One Clean A Conklin Crescent Demonstrator?


Dcribbs

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone. I've been a lurking member for a number of months now and have really enjoyed reading all of the posts. Frankly, the sense of camaraderie among fountain pen owners is great to see. So with that said, I now present my problem for some help from all of you.

 

I picked up a Conklin LE Crescent Demonstrator in black a few months ago. Now that I've used the ink, I want to clean it and refill with a different color. Easy enough, right? Wrong.

 

The section is "flooded" with blue ink. I'd like to clean it out but I'm spooked about taking it all apart to clean it and then try to put it back together. Now, the Yafa repair offices are relatively close to go to them, but I think this is something that I should know how to do. I've looked everywhere for a video, YouTube or otherwise, on how to clean the crescent and get into the section with absolutely no luck.

 

So, my compatriots, does anyone have any insight on how I can clean the section without destroying the pen or having to just take it into Yafa?

 

Thank you all for your help in advance.

 

Dan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 8
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Dcribbs

    3

  • Algester

    2

  • Robert Alan

    1

  • Joe in Seattle

    1

Cleaning the sac is easy, just flush it out and I've been able to do that. The ink is trapped in the section itself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, I decided to call Yafa and just ask them. As it turns out, its a defect with the pen and has been reported with other ones. So I'm dropping it off with them to be replaced. Thanks for your efforts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

For later reference, all modern re-issued Conklin Crescent-Fillers are easily serviceable. The first models had aerometric sacs that were held in place with a rubber O-ring, but for later models the sacs are glued to the feed nipple and there is less of a chance for leaks or filling problems.

 

These pens can be dismantled and I have used a pair of section pliers and rubber gripping material sold by Richard Binder to unscrew the barrel from the nib section. The barrel and outer nib section unscrew between the metal ring on the nib section and the barrel. Sometimes, heat may need to be applied at the point where the barrel and section meet. Hot water can help loosen the seal. Be sure the crescent filler button is locked in place. I hold the barrel with gripping material and rotate the section with the section pliers.

 

There is an inner section holding the nib and feed, but it is a little tricky to unscrew. The Endura model has the same arrangement and seems to unscrew easily. The nib and feed are friction fit and it is easier to simply pull them straight out for thorough cleaning or adjustment. Notice the registration guide, in the inner section, for lining up the nib and feed for reinsertion into the section.

 

The sac, according to a White Rubber Company gauge, is a number 17 (.266 inch diameter/ 73 mm), and it is 2 7/8 inches long. The nibs are a number 6 and are interchangeable with Goulet JoWo number 6 nibs.

 

The new, re-issued Conklin Crescent Fillers (aerometric-filled) pens are simple to maintain and they are terrific, classic-style fountain pens. If the seal for the sac at the feed nipple is secure, leaks will not occur and the section should remain relatively clean.

 

When re-attaching the barrel to nib section, the nib and crescent filler should line up, just as the crescent filler lines

up with the clip when the cap is screwed on. That is a nice touch and I appreciate Conklin's attention to detail.

 

Regards, Robert

No matter where you go, there you are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Valuable info, much appreciated.

"how do I know what I think until I write it down?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for telling us.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 years later...

Boy am I glad to find this old article. I just cleaned my Crescent fill demonstrator and just had this happen to me. I purchased mine from a much loved, reputable, authorized Conklin seller from Ebay so I emailed him for how to proceed with my situation. It was the first time I'd cleaned it thoroughly since I got it and I got it maybe about a month ago. 

 

I wanna give this community a big hug. I've never had a pen issue to have to take to the seller/ manufacturer so this info helped me see that it more than likely wasn't my goof.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...