Graf Von Faber-Castell Classic Fp Writes Beautifully But Rather Leaky

[WilsonLaidaw]

I bought a Graf von Faber Castell Classic (Pernambuco Wood) fountain pen earlier this year new. I wanted a pen for air travel that had cartridge filling but also had a piston or similar filler system for more economical use when not travelling. It had to have a broad oblique nib. The only other cartridge filling pen I have is a Mont Blanc Bohème where the cartridges seem to quickly self-empty into the cap, on an airplane or not. Pity because it has a nice OB nib, which is more than I can say for its big "Le Grand Meisterstück" sister's OB nib. I was pleased when I got the G v F-C Classic pen. It looks to be very well made and writes beautifully, with nicely controlled ink flow, using Pelikan ink.

 

Disappointingly however, it has proved to be rather leaky. Now I know that we have had very hot weather in the south of France and even at 800m/2500 feet altitude, we have seen 38ºC. It seems to be leaking from both the nib into the cap and around the filler unit, into the back cover. I am reluctant to return it, as I suspect it will come back exactly the same and this is a characteristic of its design rather than any fault. I will buy some G v F-C ink, to make sure it is not the fault of the Pelikan ink being too low viscosity but I very much doubt if it will make any difference.

 

it shows that I suspect it will be essential to wash out the pen before air travel and take cartridges with me. From some other comments, I had hoped otherwise. I looked at some other pens with ink shut off but was not enamoured of the nibs.

 

Wilson

Edited August 17, 2018 by WilsonLaidaw

[jar]

Sounds like you have an air leak in both pens. Take or send them to a competent fountain pen repair place and the leaking issues should be able to be solved unless it is operator error. If the latter then we can also help with suggestions on what habits should get changed.

[sciumbasci]

Yes, send it back to Faber Castell.

Reports say their experience was outstanding.

[senzen]

I would return it, doesn't sound normal.

[WilsonLaidaw]

I would return it, doesn't sound normal.

 

I will wait until I get back to the UK in October before sending it back for a warranty repair, as I suspect it will be a few week turn around. I would not want it sitting in my not very water or thief proof French letter box, until my house gardien empties it. I will go right now and put its box in my "back to the UK bag."

 

Wilson

[WilsonLaidaw]

Sounds like you have an air leak in both pens. Take or send them to a competent fountain pen repair place and the leaking issues should be able to be solved unless it is operator error. If the latter then we can also help with suggestions on what habits should get changed.

My Mont Blanc is well out of warranty. I should have sent it back while still in warranty. Mont Blanc repair charges are absurd, more than the pen is worth second hand. I will have to try and find a third party repairer. I will contact Dr. Lawrence Oldfield who did such a beautiful job on my Sheaffer Snorkel and ask who he would recommend in the UK for Mont Blanc.

 

Wilson

[dapprman]

I agree with the others - send it back. I have a classic which is semi thrown around in a bag as it's attached to a midori traveller and a Platino Intuition (reason not wood so smaller nib) which until recently was in my pencil case, and again knocked around. No leakage from either,

[zaddick]

I had one of those pens in the same wood for years without issue despite lots of travel. If you have a problem with a cartridge and a converter I wonder if there are issues with the feed or a break in the nipple somewhere.

[WilsonLaidaw]

Thanks folks. I am happier that it would seem to be a fault rather than an inherent characteristic. The leakage into the cap, I could just about understand given how hot it has been and the filler was only half full, with the air expanding but the leakage into the filler area back sleeve did seem odd.

 

Wilson

[jar]

Thanks folks. I am happier that it would seem to be a fault rather than an inherent characteristic. The leakage into the cap, I could just about understand given how hot it has been and the filler was only half full, with the air expanding but the leakage into the filler area back sleeve did seem odd.

 

Wilson

That really, really, really sounds like cartridge/converter not fully seated as a first guess. Second most likely defective converter.

 

Try a cartridge and see if the problem goes away.

 

http://www.fototime.com/EB50EB884E08D8E/large.jpg

Edited August 19, 2018 by jar

[WilsonLaidaw]

I did make sure the filler was fully seated and it did not move at all when I pushed in again quite firmly, after discovering the leakage. I wonder if an 'O' ring seal has been missed out on assembly. I have a box of cartridges which I can try but I have arranged for it to go to the Faber-Castell agent in the UK when I get back in October. They have said it will go back to Germany so may well take a few weeks.

 

Dr Oldfield told me he is no longer doing customer repairs and suggested I contact Dr. Sumer in Germany for the leakage problem on my Mont Blanc Bohème, which I have done.

 

Wilson

Edited August 19, 2018 by WilsonLaidaw

[ArchiMark]

That really, really, really sounds like cartridge/converter not fully seated as a first guess. Second most likely defective converter.

 

Try a cartridge and see if the problem goes away.

 

http://www.fototime.com/EB50EB884E08D8E/large.jpg

 

Nice pens!

 

Mark