Fountain Pens Need Help

[lady-janine]

is there anyone who can suggest a firm that repairs fountain pens, please?

I have found a couple (can't see the name as it is writ small) but they should fill by lifting a small lever on the outside of the case. this is too stiff to move, as they were not used in latter years that it may have rotted. One of them not used as far as I can see. Are they worth the trouble?

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.classicpenengineering.co.uk/fountain-pen-pencil-repairs.html

Also depends on the brand - I have a Mont Blanc and managed to snap it in two by my pc bag coming off the car seat sharply.....it sat there until I was in Michael Spiers one day for a refill on my biro. They told me that MB charge £70 for service and repair but if the pen was irreparable, they would replace it...that wasn't too bad in my book, a new one costing several hundred....

[lady-janine]

thanks for that link DTC. will contact them first to see. although they are marked with an M very much doubt if they are MB. probably a firm that is now out of business.

[sandyRoe]

http://www.penhome.co.uk/pen-repairs.html

What about these people?

[lady-janine]

thanks sandy. that seems to be a good link.

[Tilly2]

Just had a look at Sandy's link. It's strange that both the Parker and the Waterman certificates have the name Battersea printed as Batersea.

[lady-janine]

thanks tilly. I had not noticed that.

[retrocop]

Try and catch Mikeys attention. He seems to collect them and buys them so he might know.

[atalanta]

Pens Plus, 69-70 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BD

[stuey]

Lady-janine, I've fixed a few bladder-type fountain pens over the years. The principle operation of them are really simple, so there's nothing much that can go wrong. Just Google "Repairing fountain pens".

[lady-janine]

thanks for that info atalanta and stuey. I use a parker 51 each and every so I know how they fill but cannot move the little outside lever that operates the bladder on these. btw they are both conway stewarts with mottled/crazed cases.

nowhere appears to be open so will have to wait until the new year.

thanks to all of you for your suggestion and help. x

[murraymints]

I always use fountain pens..unless the paper surface is unsuitable for ink...have several ..none as posh as yours DT ..have been using a parker mainly for years now..I simply flush mine in warm water every few weeks..had to use distilled water in Norwich ..but tap ok here..

[EDDIE51]

Conway Stewart go for good money on eBay , probably worth restoring
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Conway-Stewart-58-near-MINT-Fully-Serviced-Restored-/231729425262?hash=item35f4266b6e:g:E0MAAOSw5VFWKhU1

[lady-janine]

I would do that to these minty but the little lever on the outside of the case that operates the bladder inside the case is too stiff to move up and down it has become stiff and unyielding I don't want to break the little levers off and so thought a professional might know the answer. I have been soaking them in tepid water with no success.

[EDDIE51]

The bladder is rubber and it will have perished, it will need replacing .

[murraymints]

had that happen to me the wee lever stuck..have you tried soaking in some kind of oil ? that 3 in one stuff perhaps..

[Canary42]

I know nothing about pens, but could the lever's intransigence be due to a full bladder having solidified ?

Soaking seems an excellent idea - add a smidgen of liquid soap to reduce surface tension of the water.

[Canary42]

Good idea murraymints, WD40 perhaps, very penetrative.

[murraymints]

suspect canary is correct that a new bladder is needed though...

[murraymints]

Eddie ^^ sorry

[lady-janine]

tried wd40on one of them with no joy. still soaking the other one.

thanks canary.