Why do you sell storage/display cases, slotter boxes, and slotted display trays? What is the point of these? A lot of people use cases with elastic loops to store their pens,which can work really well. If you want an option that will not have a snug elastic loop against the barrels/clips of the delicate pens in your collection, the combination of these items is something to consider. They provide an attractive, tidy way to display …
This may be a stupid question, but what can I put into my vintage pen? They always say there’s no such thing as a stupid question, and that’s true. Fountain pens are meant to be used with fountain pen ink. Do not use calligraphy inks, liquid acrylic inks, India ink, or anything other than fountain pen ink. Fountain pen inks are designed to flow through the fine channels of the feed, and other (non-fountain pen) …
Aside from interesting ephemera and useful tools like the Signagraph, Waterman created some other handy items. The Waterman 20S was a prohibition era flask from the 1920s. It was supposed to look exactly like a Safety Pen, but was an innovative and sneaky rubber flask! Considering the average size of other vintage pens, the Waterman 20S was comparatively huge. Below, the Waterman 20S next to a Waterman 420 and Waterman 20.
What is blotting paper? How do I use it? Blotting paper is a highly absorbent type of paper which we fountain pen lovers use to absorb excess ink from whatever we have written on. For inks that don’t dry quickly enough, you can use a blotting sheet or a rocker blotter to prevent smearing of the ink across the paper, on to your hand or clothing, or to prevent shadow printing onto another page when you close …
Pen #19 is a 1955 Montblanc 149 piston-filler. Modern Montblancs are made of precious resin, which is indeed plastic. For those who are interested in the celluloid 149, this particular model is black celluloid with sterling silver outer cap bands. The clear celluloid windows tend to show wear and amber, but this window is still clean. The celluloid models have so much character that is hard for resin to capture!
What type of maintenance does a vintage pen need? This will depend on the pen, the condition it is in, the material of the body, and the filling system. Generally what you can expect is: Flush the pen with cool water each time you empty it. Keep hard rubbers and celluloids out of direct sunlight and high heat as this could damage the material. Do not soak your pens in water. Expect that your sac will …
Some interesting vintage Waterman ephemera: Waterman tokens! These chips have been found in red, white, and blue. It also appears there may be a black. From 1910, they were handed out as good luck tokens, for example, with the purchase of the Secretary model Ideal fountain pen (see advertisement below), but they have also been used as poker chips.
Pen #178 from our Catalog #74 is the Conklin Halloween. This 1927 pen is composed of ivory, orange, and black veined celluloid. The lever almost blends into the finish. This model is highly desirable, and it is quite beautiful, as well as rare. This Halloween is equipped with a #2 fine, flexible nib. This is a really gorgeous and unique vintage pen – the celluloid colors are not clownish at all. They may be wild …
Why buy a vintage pen instead of a modern pen? Your miles will vary when you buy a fountain pen, just as it does with almost every other item you can purchase. However, vintage pens offer features that are hard to find on modern pens. They also may require more care and upkeep than their modern counterparts. A lot of vintage pens were often made with hard rubber or celluloid, and they are usually quite beautiful. …
You have your first modern or vintage pen, but you have no idea what to do with it. Many of us have been there, if we didn’t have a fellow fountain pen-connoisseur to take us under their wing. Here are a few things you can do to get up and running — basic starter steps you can go through. The first thing you can do is flush your fountain pen with cool water – it …
