A Feed Replacement

[The_Beginner]

Howdy,

 

I hope i find all of you well, I was wondering if this lovely community might be able to direct me as to where i can purchase a feed replacement. I recent purchased a vintage fountain pen but to my dismay the feed it came with had apprently cracked possibly due to mishandling or age. I was wondering how i would go about replacing the feed that would be appropriate to the pen. The feed measures about 3 cm length wise by .5 cm width with 3 lines down the center. I have attached photos along with this post. If any more information is needed please let me know and i will gladly give it

 

Sincerely,

The Beginner.

Edited January 6, 2020 by The_Beginner

[tamiya]

Helps to describe what pen is that.. is that a Parker Vac that's been dollied up?

 

Looks a lot fancier/dearer than what I'd usually muck around with, but with the old feeds that have cracked I usually try glue them back together. Your crack looks clean & no pieces missing, should make a good butt joint. Ebonite might use Superglue, sometimes with kicker/glue primer applied first. Plastic feeds can be welded with suitable solvents/cements.

 

 

If it's really just a Vac under that artwork, spare feeds are available eg https://pentooling.com/partsparkervac.html

 

But with these ancient pieces, you have to know what EXACT model/variant/size yours is. Plus when you get a new feed it usually supplied bigger than yours might need, you'll need to make it fit then set it to the nib etc etc...

 

If you're in USA you've got several pen service experts you can send to.

Edited January 6, 2020 by tamiya

[The_Beginner]

Helps to describe what pen is that.. is that a Parker Vac that's been dollied up?

 

Looks a lot fancier/dearer than what I'd usually muck around with, but with the old feeds that have cracked I usually try glue them back together. Your crack looks clean & no pieces missing, should make a good butt joint. Ebonite might use Superglue, sometimes with kicker/glue primer applied first. Plastic feeds can be welded with suitable solvents/cements.

 

 

If it's really just a Vac under that artwork, spare feeds are available eg https://pentooling.com/partsparkervac.html

 

But with these ancient pieces, you have to know what EXACT model/variant/size yours is. Plus when you get a new feed it usually supplied bigger than yours might need, you'll need to make it fit then set it to the nib etc etc...

 

If you're in USA you've got several pen service experts you can send to.

Its an eyedropper-filler, as for the make etc all i got from the seller that it was a Urushi Makie made in the 40-50's era

[tamiya]

Cap looks Parker ish... mainly due to arrow clip.

 

You do realise you're asking us to diagnose "engine trouble" without even opening the bonnet, right?

 

You haven't given us any picture of section nor nib... everything hidden under that cap.

 

 

If you think it's a totally handmade custom pen, then maybe that part & it's replacement might need to be totally handmade too.

 

But even totally handmade bespoke motorcars like Morgan buy in engines from Ford/Fiat/Japanese/Coventry/Rover/Standard/BMW... if we need an engine part, we go searching only after knowing which exact engine it uses.

[The_Beginner]

Cap looks Parker ish... mainly due to arrow clip.

 

You do realise you're asking us to diagnose "engine trouble" without even opening the bonnet, right?

 

You haven't given us any picture of section nor nib... everything hidden under that cap.

 

 

If you think it's a totally handmade custom pen, then maybe that part & it's replacement might need to be totally handmade too.

 

But even totally handmade bespoke motorcars like Morgan buy in engines from Ford/Fiat/Japanese/Coventry/Rover/Standard/BMW... if we need an engine part, we go searching only after knowing which exact engine it uses.

oh im sorry i will add the other photos as well, there we go

Edited January 6, 2020 by The_Beginner

[tamiya]

Vac section...

 

 

...looks uncannily familiar!

[tamiya]

Does nib look like this?

 

[The_Beginner]

yes, my mistake i may have forgotten to attach the image.

Edited January 6, 2020 by The_Beginner

[tamiya]

ahh that nib is by Platinum!

 

But most nibs don't have that notch at the blunt end, only Vacuumatic afaik.

 

I have not aware of Platinum/Nakaya making a lookalike of Parker Vacuumatic but hey anything is possible, it was a very popular pen in 1930s-40s+. They might've started off making misc spareparts to support Parker pens and eventually ended up duplicating the whole thing.

 

Not a gambling guy but I'd wager it's close enough to a Vac that Vac parts can be made to fit.

 

As you are in USA not Japan it'll probably be easier to send to a local pensmith. Most experienced repairmen would've dealt with Vacuumatics in their career, they'd likely have suitable parts on hand too. Recommend you don't DIY as the feed is likely to need an expert for handfitting & setting.

[Ron Z]

You will need to find a feed that is the same length and diameter as the one that is in the pen. Some variation in length is OK, and a feed can be shortened if too long. Diameter though is important. Too tight, and the nib and feed may not go in, too loose, and the nib will shift on the feed. Don't just try random feeds. Measure the diameter using a pair of calipers. They should be withing a couple of thousandths of each other.

[The_Beginner]

oh okay i see thank you both for this wealth of information

[Krushna]

yes, my mistake i may have forgotten to attach the image.

The tines look misaligned and sunken in. You'll need to realign them first.

Edited January 9, 2020 by Krushna

[txomsy]

I would have a look at FPR #5 feeds. Not so expensive as to break the bank and may be enough with just a bit ot retouching. But do not take my word for it.