Visconti Michelangelo (Original Version) - Help Required!

[Ciliegia]

Hello Visconti pen lovers!

 

I'm the very proud owner of a Visconti Michelangelo, but I am woefully ignorant about my beautiful pen (which I bought second hand in mint, un-inked condition from a US private collector via this site about 3 years ago, complete with certificate of authenticity, boxes, papers, stickers, ink well, dropper. )

 

However, after 3 years I am still very ignorant about the pen (and fountain pens in general, despite using them daily for the past 40 years) and I'd like your help to banish my ignorance and help me to fully understand exactly what type of pen I'm the proud owner of!

 

In particular, I'm not sure what type of filler system the pen has, and I assume that this is an important consideration given that there are different guidelines on the Visconti site re how to fill and look after the different type of fill systems. Filling properly is something of an issue for me because almost since taking possession of the pen I've dipped it rather than filling it, because of poor flow problems (I describe my problems in an entire thread that you can read here if you're interested!). Now, after much head-scratching, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm simply not filling it properly as per optimal instructions!

 

What I DO know is that it's a high vacuum power filler piston system, but I don't know if it's a standard power filler or a double reservoir power filler.

 

I've attached a photo (apologies for the poor quality, I only have my Samsung phone to hand) to show that my version has the ink window and the two-tone gold nib…does this mean that mine is the oversized model rather than the full sized standard model?

 

And from the presence of the ink window can I assume that mine is a double reservoir, or is that a wrong assumption?

 

Having just cleaned the pen properly as per the advice received on the other thread, I now wish to fill the pen properly in accordance with best practice, so any help you can give me to identify what type of system the pen has would be gratefully received!

 

Thanks in advance for your help and understanding,

 

Jane (a woeful ignoramus!)

[Nero]

Hello Jane,

 

you can try contacting Visconti directly at visconti@visconti.it . They should be able to answer your questions and to help you.

 

Regards,

 

Nelson

[efchem]

Jane,

 

You have the grande size and it has a double reservoir power filler. If you are able fill it then when you try to write I would keep the blind cap unscrewed to see if this helps. It allows ink to move from the large to small chamber while writing. Be careful not to pull it out or you will have a mess when you finally want to screw it back down.

 

When you fill it and write, how does it write before it dries out? Does it seem very dry or does the flow seem fine initially? The other thing you can try is to pull the nib and feed to thoroughly clean and inspect them. They are friction fit and there are many tutorials about pulling nibs if you are not familiar. I would only do this after you have tried to fill it and write with the blind cap unscrewed.

 

Erick

[RMN]

The Double Reservoir filler has, as the name suggests, a double reservoir.

There is a large compartment in the back, and a small one, with the ink view, in front. The front reservoir will, when full, let you write a page or two, depending on nib-size. Then it will dry up. You then screw the filler knob loose, and retract the shaft just a few mm. this opens the seal between the front and back reservoir. The front will fill up again. You can then re-fasten the filler knob.

If you write long sessions, especially with a broad, wet nib, you might take efchem's suggestion and leave the filler knob loose, so the connection between the two chambers stays open.

 

If you are flying, you can unscrew the filler knob, let the ink in the front cahmber flow back, and close the filler knob again, thus preventing possible ink spillage due to airpressure differences.

 

 

D.ick

[Ciliegia]

Jane,

 

You have the grande size and it has a double reservoir power filler. If you are able fill it then when you try to write I would keep the blind cap unscrewed to see if this helps. It allows ink to move from the large to small chamber while writing. Be careful not to pull it out or you will have a mess when you finally want to screw it back down.

 

When you fill it and write, how does it write before it dries out? Does it seem very dry or does the flow seem fine initially? The other thing you can try is to pull the nib and feed to thoroughly clean and inspect them. They are friction fit and there are many tutorials about pulling nibs if you are not familiar. I would only do this after you have tried to fill it and write with the blind cap unscrewed.

 

Erick

 

Thank you Erick! I've come to the mortifying conclusion that I've been misusing the pen and starving it of ink since I first received it.

 

After a very thorough cleaning in soapy lukewarm water and 12 hours of air drying, I filled it last night in accordance with a Visconti tutorial I found on YouTube and since then it's flowed beautifully. I filled about 2-3 sides of my A6 journal before the ink in the upper chamber started to get a little skippy, and then I simply poured a little more ink in from the main chamber...easy peasy!

 

Cleaning the pen properly certainly helped, but I think plain and simple user error was to blame for 90% of its previous flow 'problems'.

 

I'm ashamed that it took me so long to do the research and ask the questions that mean that I've finally gotten to the bottom of the issue...I feel like a total idiot!

 

Thank you for your valuable advice!

 

The Double Reservoir filler has, as the name suggests, a double reservoir.

There is a large compartment in the back, and a small one, with the ink view, in front. The front reservoir will, when full, let you write a page or two, depending on nib-size. Then it will dry up. You then screw the filler knob loose, and retract the shaft just a few mm. this opens the seal between the front and back reservoir. The front will fill up again. You can then re-fasten the filler knob.

If you write long sessions, especially with a broad, wet nib, you might take efchem's suggestion and leave the filler knob loose, so the connection between the two chambers stays open.

 

If you are flying, you can unscrew the filler knob, let the ink in the front cahmber flow back, and close the filler knob again, thus preventing possible ink spillage due to airpressure differences.

 

 

Dick

 

Thanks for the flying tip, Dick...I'm off to Rome in a fortnight and I'd been thinking that it would be better to leave the pen at home rather than have problems on the flight. Armed with my new knowledge I'm all set to go! Thank you so much!