Platinum Cartridges

[Deacon Blues]

Just purchased a new Platinum pen at the pen show. The seller did not have a converter for it, so I ordered a couple on-line.

 

I tried a variety of cartridges on the pen - Aurora, MB, Waterman, Pilot - none seemed to fit.

 

Does anyone know what would work with Platinums until I get my converter delivery?

[Lady Spencerian]

Platinum cartridges, which are readily available from a variety of online retailers. There is also an adapter for Platinum pens that allows you to use other cartridges.

[AltecGreen]

Just purchased a new Platinum pen at the pen show. The seller did not have a converter for it, so I ordered a couple on-line.

 

I tried a variety of cartridges on the pen - Aurora, MB, Waterman, Pilot - none seemed to fit.

 

Does anyone know what would work with Platinums until I get my converter delivery?

 

 

Platinum uses a proprietary converter/cartridge. No others will work.

[Deacon Blues]

The converters I know are proprietary, and already ordered.

 

Any idea who on-line carries the cartridges?

[Deacon Blues]

Ah! Fountain Pen Hospital has them.

[AltecGreen]

The converters I know are proprietary, and already ordered.

 

Any idea who on-line carries the cartridges?

 

 

Lots of places have them.

 

 

 

nibs.com

fahrneyspens.com

refillmonster.com

artbrown.com

fountainpenhospital.com

jetpens.com

gouletpens.com

 

 

and many more

[rockydoggy]

I'd also recommend that you get an inexpensive adapter that allows you to use standard international carts in Platinum pens. The adapter is a small plastic insert that you put between the back of the section and the cartridge. Jetpens used to carry them, but they apparently no longer do so; here's the link: http://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Cartridge-Adapter/pd/5285

There may be other sources.

[Deacon Blues]

I've been searching for the adapter. No luck so far.

[AltecGreen]

I've been searching for the adapter. No luck so far.

nibs.com has them

 

They are $1.00 ea. so you may want to order other stuff with that.

 

 

I personally don't recommend the adapter. It's a pain to remove once inserted. The material is pretty soft and if you damage the material while trying to get it out, it can take some effort to remove the remains. The Platinum cartridges work very well especially with the small steel ball inside to break surface tension.

[rockydoggy]

A google search turned up at least one source:

 

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Platinum-Preppy-International-Adapter.html

 

Also, I think nibs.com has carried them, and Speerbob may still include it when you buy one of his Platinum pens.

[Deacon Blues]

I've had very good experiences with Speerbob. A good man / company to do business with.

 

I didn't realize the adapter could be a potential problem.

[Jezza]

Another reason I avoid using the adapter is that it tends to constrict the flow of ink. Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum/Nakaya each use proprietary cartridges/converters that only work with their respective pens. However, they each have a wider opening that allows more ink to get to the feed than other manufacturers. This tends to greatly reduce the chances of a dry-writing or skipping pen for lack of sufficient ink getting into the feed. See the quick and dirty pic below:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b119/ramasesii2000/IMG_0003-1.jpg

From left to right: Pilot cartridge, Sailor cartridge, Platinum cartridge, and the International/Montblanc/Omas/Waterman etc cartridge. Notice how much larger the opening is on all of the Japanese cartridges. That's not to say all pens that use an international cartridge have poorer flow than Japanese pens. Any pen can have poor flow for any number of reasons. However, I have to believe that Platinum pens use feeds that were designed to work with the ink-flow afforded by a cartridge with a larger diameter opening. Personally, I use Platinum carts for traveling, and refill them with whatever ink I happen to fancy when I'm home.

[Deacon Blues]

Great explanation and great picture! And it makes perfect sense.

[rockydoggy]

This argument may have merit. However, for what it's worth, I've been using the adapters in my Platinum pens for a few years now (from Preppy pens up) and haven't noticed any change in ink-flow at all. I'd guess that the type of ink might have as much, if not more, impact on flow. I generally simply refill my carts as well, but the adapters give me a chance to use up the piles of international-size carts that I've somehow accumulated (and they're cheaper than Platinum carts for when I'm traveling and don't have bottled ink on hand).