I have read the warning on a lot of vintage pens with flexible nibs to be careful when using them. I keep reading about springing the nib. What does ”springing a nib” mean? A lot of vintage pens that have flexible nibs should be treated with care. Although they can tolerate pressure, depending on the specific nib (some are more flexible than others), you don’t want to apply so much pressure that you spring the tines. …
What does restoring a fountain pen mean? I have some vintage fountain pens that someone told me need restoration. Assuming your fountain pens are not broken, restoration will get them back into working order. Without having then in-hand we can’t tell you exactly what’s wrong with them, but chances are it’s one of a few things: no ink flow because of dried ink in the mechanism, ossified sac that needs replacing, or mechanism repair. Having your …
I recently inherited some vintage fountain pens but I don’t know what they are. How can I find out what they are? What can I do with them? To find out what those pens are, you can always just search online based on the brands and models (if they are labeled). If they are not, we do offer appraisal services where we can have a look at your pens and give an estimate of their …
Where can I find ephemera like the Waterman lucky tokens you posted about? A variety of ephemera is still circulating today: ash trays, tokens, posters, ads, pen displays, and more. You can find ephemera in a few places, but you will probably have the most luck at the following: eBay Estate sales Antique stores Flea markets Brick & mortar stores that are getting rid of old items (this is not as common as that stock depletes) …
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) …
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 …
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 …
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. …
