New "caiso" Bulkfiller Revealed !

[fountainbel]

Hi fountain pen friends !

We are evaluating the use of the "transparent tortoise" celluloid for the FPR- LE Caiso Kingsize bulk filler. (see link below)

What do you think , is this a material you would like?

Thanks in advance for your valued input !

Regards, Francis

 

http://www.americana..._Tortoise.shtml

[pavoni]

Given the scale of the Kingsize Francis, I think transparent tortoise would suit it perfectly in both flat top and streamline forms.

 

Really starting to get quite excited. Please keep the updates coming.

 

Pavoni.

[zaddick]

I'd better vote yes here too. I am waiting for a kingsize pen with this new system and I'd love to be able to see it.

[Flounder]

i love reading your posts Francis! Conid is a hotbed of innovation. I have long thought the concept of filler knob actuated shutoffs on modern buffered-feed pens a little cumbersome.

 

Is there any issue with feed priming, given the shut off is cycling with every use of the cap, or does the release of the spring valve provide some sort of mild priming pump action?

Edited March 12, 2015 by Flounder

[rpsyed]

The transparent tortoise would be beautiful! Would there be a separate ink reservoir made of acrylic lining the inside of the tortoise celluloid, to prevent the celluloid from staining?

[fountainbel]

i love reading your posts Francis! Conid is a hotbed of innovation. I have long thought the concept of filler knob actuated shutoffs on modern buffered-feed pens a little cumbersome.

 

Is there any issue with feed priming, given the shut off is cycling with every use of the cap, or does the release of the spring valve provide some sort of mild priming pump action?

Thanks for the compliment Flounder !

The axial displacement of the ink shut-off plunger being only 2.5mm, we did not experience any feed priming problems at all during our profound long term evaluation.

Francis

[fountainbel]

The transparent tortoise would be beautiful! Would there be a separate ink reservoir made of acrylic lining the inside of the tortoise celluloid, to prevent the celluloid from staining?

Hi rpsyed,

The barrel bore surface will be reamed and polished perfectly avoiding staining risks.

Francis

[fountainbel]

Hi fountain pen friends !

Another material we could use for the CAISO is the "ivory celluloid" also made by AAP

What do you think ?

Regards, Francis

 

http://www.americanartplastics.com/celluloid/Ivory.shtml

[Tojusi]

I like them both, and I have some issues with both:

 

Transparent tortoise allows one to see inside the pen/mechanism - but on the other hand, for my taste, it seems to have a "dirty / spotty" feel to it.

 

Ivory celluloid is very refined and elegant - but the mechanism of the pen cannot be seen, and I have the ordinary fears of inks staining the white (-ish) pen.

 

Still, both are nice.

[mongrelnomad]

Between them, I would definitely choose the light tortoise.

[entropydave]

Hello Francis

 

Thank you for sharing these possibilities with us.

 

On balance I think I prefer the ivory, though the light tortoise is also appealing. Certainly, I will not consider an acrylic, but I had been considering the ebonite.

 

I wonder if you can comment on the relative merits of these celluloids versus the normal ebonite, given the way it is machined at Conid and the form it will take in the Kingsize? Is one better?

 

Also, you mentioned these are for consideration when doing the FPR-LE of the CAISO Bulkfiller. Is that the same series as the Einstein LE you mentioned Conid would do or this an additional series?

 

The CAISO project is very exciting, thank you.

 

David.

[fountainbel]

I like them both, and I have some issues with both:

 

Transparent tortoise allows one to see inside the pen/mechanism - but on the other hand, for my taste, it seems to have a "dirty / spotty" feel to it.

This is exactly also my feeling, the dark brown spots are very unequally distributed in my opinion

 

Ivory celluloid is very refined and elegant - but the mechanism of the pen cannot be seen, and I have the ordinary fears of inks staining the white (-ish) pen.

Exactly, I also have some fears about staining risks

 

Still, both are nice.

Thanks for your valued input !

[fountainbel]

Hello Francis

 

Thank you for sharing these possibilities with us.

 

On balance I think I prefer the ivory, though the light tortoise is also appealing. Certainly, I will not consider an acrylic, but I had been considering the ebonite.

 

I wonder if you can comment on the relative merits of these celluloids versus the normal ebonite, given the way it is machined at Conid and the form it will take in the Kingsize? Is one better?

The only- but important - drawback on using ebonite are the inherent oxidation/discoloration risks over time

 

Also, you mentioned these are for consideration when doing the FPR-LE of the CAISO Bulkfiller. Is that the same series as the Einstein LE you mentioned Conid Yes it is.

Would CONID use the CAISO on additional series? Sure, but In a later stage

 

The CAISO project is very exciting, thank you.

Thanks, glad you like the CAISO idea !

 

David.

[zaddick]

The ivory is a good proxy for the real thing, but if you want my money, I want to be able to see the mechanism in action - or at least get a peek at it here and there. I like the idea of the tortoise vs a completely clear demo as it adds more variety to the pen and adds something unique to my stable of pens.

 

Whatever you decide, I am a fan and appreciate the ability to provide feedback and see all the permutations.

[mongrelnomad]

I must concur with others regarding the available AAP celluloids: neither are ideal. I like the idea of the tortoise (semi -demo) more than I like the actual execution itself (although as a potential customer for the LE I would appreciate seeing a prototype). Perhaps in pen form the dark tortoise might be a better fit?

The ivory may be nice in principle, but it adds nothing to the CAISO and, because of the colour, may cause problems down the line (which IMO is against the ethos of Conid pens).

Forced to choose between these two, I would of course choose the tortoise. However it lacks the character of vintage materials, and even the celluloids currently produced by Omas and Platinum.

 

Perhaps it may be worthwhile to contact Hakase in Japan - perhaps they would sell you a few rods of their jade celluloid stock (which I gather comes from Platinum)...

 

http://fp-hakase.com/products/IMG_9674_R.JPG

Edited March 13, 2015 by mongrelnomad

[fountainbel]

I must concur with others regarding the available AAP celluloids: neither are ideal. I like the idea of the tortoise (semi -demo) more than I like the actual execution itself (although as a potential customer for the LE I would appreciate seeing a prototype). Perhaps in pen form the dark tortoise might be a better fit?

 

The ivory may be nice in principle, but it adds nothing to the CAISO and, because of the colour, may cause problems down the line (which IMO is against the ethos of Conid pens).

 

Forced to choose between these two, I would of course choose the tortoise. However it lacks the character of vintage materials, and even the celluloids currently produced by Omas and Platinum.

 

Perhaps it may be worthwhile to contact Hakase in Japan - perhaps they would sell you a few rods of their jade celluloid stock (which I gather comes from Platinum)...

 

http://fp-hakase.com/products/IMG_9674_R.JPG

Thanks a lot for your suggestion mongrelnomad !

I've mailed Hakase, keeping my fingers crossed ……..

Francis

[pavoni]

Jade celluloid! Great suggestion mongrelnomad.

 

The vintage jade celluloid doesn't seem to age well, not that would bother me at my age (54). I always think that jade celluloid suits slim pens and as such, for me, it would lend itself more to the streamline format than the flattop. Either way, it is a delicious thought.

 

Given the care and consideration being given to the material to be used, this is certainly going to be a fabulous (must have)pen. Can't wait! And I've already got my nib ready

 

Pavoni.

[mongrelnomad]

Thanks a lot for your suggestion mongrelnomad !

I've mailed Hakase, keeping my fingers crossed ……..

Francis

 

Fingers (and toes) crossed here too!

[captain1796]

Here's my question. I hope you still make the regular version of the Conid. I'm anxiously waiting for my slimline for an upcoming Journey. If I get into an airplane or in bad seas my thought was that I could leave little in the reservoir shut the ink off and not have an issue. Or I could drain it completely and shut off the valve. While the auto shutoff is nice, as soon as it gets uncapped, if it's the wrong time won't you have the same pressure differential issues? I think this would be an awesome system if you could also manually seal it. From the pictures it doesn't look like that is an option. I don't have my pen just yet, but on my quest to find the "perfect" pen I think it's in the mail, the Conid ! Your obviously an engineering genius and the CAISO is a masterpiece of design I think it needs a pressure equalizing system to really complete the idea. Maybe in the cap or breather like the Parker 51 Aerometric. I love you guys, Werner gets my vote for man of the year, what a fantastic guy !
Shawn

Edited April 5, 2015 by RMN
corrected bleep and others

[captain1796]

Sorry folks, I hate auto correct. I have no idea what the (bleep) is about and I was trying to say "leave a little in the reservoir ". Please excuse any brevity that my fat fingers or silly phone has caused.

Shawn