Swan pen id

[Chris Hall]

Hi folks.

Just come into possession of this Swan lever pen and need to know if the colour change on the pen is aging or meant to be.Thanks.

[Greenie]

Celluloid is starting to rot.  It is not meant to look like that. 

[Chris Hall]

Thanks Greenie.

Probably not what I wanted to hear can any thing be done to halt that process.

[Greenie]

On 9/16/2023 at 1:38 AM, chris Hall said:

Thanks Greenie.

Probably not what I wanted to hear can any thing be done to halt that process.

 

Not that anyone is aware of.....   All you can do is enjoy it while it lasts.  Keep it away from other celluloid pens. It is thought that the gasses being emitted can damage other celluloid pens in the vicinity.  

[mhphoto]

On 9/17/2023 at 8:47 PM, Greenie said:

 

Not that anyone is aware of.....   All you can do is enjoy it while it lasts.  Keep it away from other celluloid pens. It is thought that the gasses being emitted can damage other celluloid pens in the vicinity.  

I’m a little late to this party, but please follow Greenie’s advice. Keep this pen the heckums away from other celluloid pens. 

[mhphoto]

The celluloid rot does and will spread to other celluloid pens if they’re stored together. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Christopher Godfrey]

May we enlarge this conversation to cover cellulose degeneration in general, then?

 

How common is this phenomenon?  Will all cellulose act in this way, <given long enough>?  Or are certain celluloses more liable to become afflicted than others?  (Example: Omas "wild" is one we know about).

 

We must have some chemists among us who might comment in general terms?  Please?