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VacNut

By VacNut
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LoveBigPensAndCannotLie Vintage

LoveBigPensAndCannotLie

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I just got a bunch of interesting pens, and among them one "Betzler" pen I've never come across. Anyone know how to restore this?

 

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I found this ad for the exact same type of pen:

 

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Appears to be some sort of vintage accordion filler...

 

 

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VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

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The section looks like a friction fit or is held in place by rosin or shellac. It may come loose with dry heat. The internals of the pen appear to come out with the section.

I would be curious if the sac was really accordion-shaped.

I am guessing there may be a feed tube so that the ink is not expelled when the filler is pushed down.

Interesting pen. It’s a shame there is a chip on the cap. The BHR looks to be in pristine condition. It may also be that the filler never quite work, hence the lack of use.

Good luck

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VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

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On 6/4/2025 at 7:14 AM, Nightjar said:

@VacNut many thanks for this reply, I will take the pen to next available pen show, see if I can find a feed!

I guarantee you find a feed at the London Pen Show. Mark from Vintagefountainpens will have a feed. If not I will give you one there.

The problem will be not buying more Swan Pens at the show that need restoration.

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

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They made accordion sacs for these pens.  I understand that accordion sacs may be in development.   It looks like there was a smaller rod on the back end, and that the rod was locked down with the smaller rod sticking up in the blind cap.  With the back end of the rod broken off, that would would have to be fixed to fill the pen as designed, i.e. drill out the end and fit in a smaller diameter hard rubber rod like the original. 

 

Given that the accordion sacs aren't available yet, and that the end of the rod is broken off, an option may be to turn it into a twist filler i.e. a full length sac with the remains of the rod sticking up.  

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LoveBigPensAndCannotLie Vintage

LoveBigPensAndCannotLie

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Ahh... I didn't realize there was a part missing/broken. I might just keep this pen around as an oddity then, it seems to be beyond my skills to restore. The tipping on the nib is chipped on one side too so it wouldn't be a good writer either.

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

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16 minutes ago, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

Ahh... I didn't realize there was a part missing/broken. I might just keep this pen around as an oddity then, it seems to be beyond my skills to restore. The tipping on the nib is chipped on one side too so it wouldn't be a good writer either.

Not every pen needs to write.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

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VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

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May be interesting to just open it up to check out the internals.

Always interesting to see what people thought would work.

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LoveBigPensAndCannotLie Vintage

LoveBigPensAndCannotLie

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I might open it from the front but I have a feeling all I'll see is a dried up sac, accordion or otherwise. It's quite a large pen, almost 6 inches long. I am guessing it had to be long to accommodate that filling system.

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VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

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Besides the odd accordion sac shape, is the sac connected to the feed and the piston filler so that it moves back and forth with the piston? It would be a very uncommon sac if it was open ended on both sides, since it would be shellaced in place at both ends.
How is ink prevented from being expelled through the feed when the piston is pushed back down to secure the end cap? Many pens use a feed tube to prevent the ink from being pushed through the feed, but I have not seen a BHR pen use a feed tube.

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

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Looking at the picture, I would expect the sac to be shellaced at both ends, one to a sac nipple on the section, and one to the piece at the other end. All that it dies is move the end of the sac up and down.  The sac is like an sides of the instrument  accordion, so air gets pushed out as the end goes down and the sac collapses, and ink gets pulled in as it's pulled up.  If there is a breather tube it means that it's designed to fill in increments like a Vacumatic or some of the Eversharp Skylines.  Just because we haven't seen a hard rubber pen with a breather tube doesn't mean that there weren't any.  Lots of odd ball pens out there.

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

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1 minute ago, Ron Z said:

Looking at the picture, I would expect the sac to be shellaced at both ends, one to a sac nipple on the section, and one to the piece at the other end. All that it dies is move the end of the sac up and down.  The sac is like an sides of the instrument  accordion, so air gets pushed out as the end goes down and the sac collapses, and ink gets pulled in as it's pulled up.  If there is a breather tube it means that it's designed to fill in increments like a Vacumatic or some of the Eversharp Skylines.  Just because we haven't seen a hard rubber pen with a breather tube doesn't mean that there weren't any.  Lots of odd ball pens out there.

Because it doesn't say Parker VacNut is over thinking the pen.

 

And which 'we' hasn't seen a hard rubber pen with a breather tube?

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

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2 minutes ago, FarmBoy said:

And which 'we' hasn't seen a hard rubber pen with a breather tube?

 

OK nit pick.  Make it just because "one" hasn't seen...

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VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

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I am just curious how they solved the problem. I think it would be interesting if there was a breather tube. I was thinking about the Sager Pens which solve the problem cleverly without a tube, but use a similar piston filler with a threaded end cap.

Are there internal “supports” inside the sac, as I can’t imagine it would be easy to reinstall the system after the sac has been attached to each end of the filler/feed system. It would be similar to pushing a wet noodle up the barrel.

 

Do I see any volunteers to make an accordion sac? 
 

Ron, which other pens use an accordion-like sac?

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

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2 minutes ago, VacNut said:

Ron, which other pens use an accordion-like sac?

Lots of French and Japanese pens.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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oneleglance Dipped Only

oneleglance

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I have this Wahl Eversharp that needs a new sac.

The pen is very clean (nothing in the flush or ultrasonic).

My reading indicates the section should unscrew from the body but I have been cycling heat for 45 min and not a budget.

Any tips? The body seems like thin plastic and I don't want to melt it.

 

20250613_205933.jpg

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