BHR eyedropper

[GlenV]

This is a simple eyedropper just 5 parts as advertised by Waterman a long time ago. This is my first attempt at a pen of this type, with vintage nib and feed, and turned pen from Japanese ebonite. I made it about the size of a Waterman 16 but with a 2/4 size feed. The  Waterman feed should be ( and had been with use)  well behaved and a Warranted nib.  I am looking forward to making some other eyedropper pens too. 

size compared with a 40’s Commando 

[cellopen]

I find myself returning to this post. I think the simplicity and clean shape of your pen is quite attractive. I have a weakness for ebonite slip-cap pens; everything that is needed, and nothing superfluous. There is beauty in that. Thank you for sharing.

[GlenV]

Thank you I am partial to pens from that era, this one has been inked all week and working great may be beginner’s luck 😏.  There is also some cool brown pattern in the cap mostly as was a bit close to the unfinished surface of the ebonite rod, I am quite pleased with how it worked out.

[VacNut]

You do great work.

May I ask, which machine tools did you use? Do you need anything else beyond a good hobbyist lathe?
thx

[GlenV]

You are a bit too kind I’m definitely learning but lots of experience with wood lathe. I recently bought a bench top (larger than a jeweler’s lathe) metal lathe and the possibilities are exciting. Mine is a Wen brand, and ebonite from Vermont Freehand they have been great.

[GlenV]

Another homemade pen, this taper cap, in the early pen style again, getting a bit better but still having to redo some parts, to get the finished pen I’m happy with. I’m also working on a reliable homemade feed design, this one is based on the Lincoln pen by AA Waterman, Frazier and Geyer (sp?) after warming up and blotting it works really well without any flow problems, about as well a Waterman feed. I used a nice nib it’s a Ingersoll dollar pen nib, I like this nib alot, 

[Sinjin]

I found your posts after thinking I wanted to try learning how to turn ebonite pens because I love my old waterman eyedroppers so much. I love what you’re doing and I want to learn how to do it myself. Do you have any suggestions for where I should start learning/reading?

[GlenV]

The main issue for me is getting a lathe, after that you can play with ebonite and other materials without that much expense.  You tube has cool penmaking and metal lathe videos, but you have to jump in sometime and start trying to learn by doing, it's all fun though. I didn't really plan on getting a metal lathe, but am having fun learning, lots more to learn (thread making on the lathe)

[VacNut]

May I ask which lathe model you decided to use?

[GlenV]

I went with the WEN 7x16 inch bench top metal lathe, it's easy to get here at Home Depot not sure as available where you are though?