Vintage Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph

[dvscrobe]

I want to be able to use this set but I do not know much about them. I have tried contacting businesses such as Chartpak and Colorado Pen but they have not seen these before and could not offer much assistance. I am not sure how to clean nor how to add ink. Are they fillable or do they take ink cartridges? What timeframe were these made? "Made in Germany," "Rapidograph" and "Koh-I-Noor" are inscribed. The nibs screw off (not shown on picture). On one pen that I could get the nib out by hand, there was a small needle that came out of the pen. Set used to belong to my Aunt who was a draftswoman. Thank you.

[graystranger]

I had a set of these Rapidograph pens (made by Koh-I-Noor) at work back in the early to late 1970's. I used them making engineering graphs and drawings, especially for reports. I remember having a bottle to fill them, Koh-I-Noor black India ink I think. Jet black, unbelievable uniform lines of the pen point's width. A little weight with a fine wire that moved back & forth with the wire inside the feed hold to keep it flowing. I think there was a bottle of Koh-I-Noor cleaner to keep it clean. I'm sure I had to clean my pens, but I just do not remember. I may have put it in a beaker in alcohol to clean them out in an ultrasonic cleaner in the lab. I do know that I did not use any cartridges at all. I think the grip sections held the ink so you could just switch the front ends without having any ink leaks or mess.

 

When computer printers and plotters became letter quality and there was graphing and graphic software available, these became obsolete. But, they were handy when you wanted to add a note or comment to a printout without having to wait to print out another one. Those HP plotters could take quite a long time to plot your graph.

 

Any one out there who can refresh my memories? I had a nice little container that held all my different sized points and accessories in a nice package, clear plastic top, etc. I think there was a wrench to remove the grip section or something.

 

Looks like they are still made: http://kohinoorusa.com/products/pens/rapidograph/pens/index.php

 

http://www.dickblick.com/products/koh-i-noor-rapidograph-pens/

 

Finally, what you wanted all along: repair, use instructions, and other information in a PDF format here: http://kohinoorusa.com/sellsheets/service_policy.pdf

[Sholom]

These are stylographic pens, i.e. with tubular nibs that are intended to be held at right angles to the paper. I went through a decade of taking notes with these or similar Staedtler Mars pens before going back to fountain pens. They are made to be used with India ink or technical drawing ink. The wire is there so that you can give the pen a bit of a shake and loosen up any ink drying at the tip or remove any paper fibers that get caught in the nib. Since they use India ink, cleanliness and maintenance are essential, and they really want to be used regularly, not put up on the shelf for months. The nibs unscrew and come apart so that the entire nib assembly can be soaked in an India ink dissolver like Koh-I-Noor Rapido-Eze. The Dick Blick website referenced above has lots of information on caring for and using technical pens.

[dvscrobe]

graystranger, Sholom, thanks. Sounds like the barrel that holds the nib can be filled with ink rather than use an ink cartridge. Wouldn't the ink just run right out of the tubular portion of the nib? Also, what is that plunger looking thing? I took that apart. The part that is mostly all orange has a black cap that turns. Inside this orange part is a device that connects to the plunger. Common sense tells me that you are using the plunger to cause vacuum to prevent the ink from running out of the tip. Also, I thought on tubular design, you would want the pen perpendicular to the paper, as compared to an angle. Wouldn't you wrip the paper writing at an angle? Thanks!

[pajaro]

I have a Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pen like the second one from the top. My pen is a piston filler. You twist the blind cap to empty the ink and turn it the other way to load ink from a bottle. A later model pen I had with flat ends had a plastic reservoir that you were supposed to fill with ink, probably from an eyedropper. Then you pushed it back into the section like an ink cartridge.

 

A few years ago, having no more use for the Rapidograph nibs, I screwed one of the shortest Esterbrook nibs into the pen. The cap goes on nicely. I used it briefly before putting it away somewhere.

[inkstainedruth]

I wish I could tell you more than what others have said. I have a set from the mid-late 1970s, and they don't look anything like these, style-wise (the fill mechanism is likely the same, though). Haven't used them for years, so lord only knows what shape they're in. I got the original set of 4 when I graduated from high school, then picked up several more in college. I didn't know that they were effectively ruling pens because the first person I knew who had some used hers for drawing with, and I mostly used mine for that as well outside of some graphic design classes.

A couple of years ago my husband's oldest brother tried to give me his old set, as well as a decent looking draftsmen' set, but I didn't need more of the former and had no use of the latter -- and had *really* bad memories from a class in college where we were *required* to use ruling pens (but one guy I know who got an A for the course cheated and used his Rapid-o-graphs and the professor couldn't tell the difference; I used a ruling pen and barely passed... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[lallin]

These pens are piston fillers; the blind-cap at the end of the barrel should be removed to reveal the fill knob. The barrel hold the ink, no sac, no cartridge,. There is a prior discussion that should answer your questions; if not, let me know and I'll try to address any additional ones. My contribution to that thread starts at message 7 or so.

 

One thing to know about these is, they were intended for drawing, not writing. The exception being models with a red ring and cap jewel, labeled either Tintenkuli or Inkograph. These two models have rounded tips, rather than the square-cut tips on the numbered models (1,2, 3, etc. indicating line size).

 

If these have been used with india ink, a product, Rapid-o-eze, available at art supply houses can help with cleaning.

[dvscrobe]

pajaro, inkstainedruth, lallin, thanks! My intent is to use for drawing, not writing. I have some old electrical blueprints I want to copy, notate changes on and then scan the new print. So, I'll be drawing on typical plotter paper. I'll check out that prior discussion on this. Sounds like I will be able to make some good use out of this old set.

[stuartk]

These are the old-style Rapidographs, and are piston-filling technical pens. They're using for drafting, lettering, and for drawing as well.

 

They use India ink of a number of different brands. Higgins and Kohinoor are probably the brands you're most likely to run across, although Speedball also makes an ink that will work in these. I really like Dick Blick's Black Cat India ink, although the Higgins inks are quite good too. (I think the Kohinoor inks are not really black, and I prefer dark lines.)

 

As someone else noted, these are meant to be used with the point perpendicular to the paper, not held at an angle as you would with a fountain pen (or most other pens or pencils). Like a fountain pen, don't apply any pressure - the point should float across the paper.

 

Be very careful when taking the points apart. It's easy to damage the fine wire on the finer points. They operate by capillary action, just as fountain pens do.

 

I used them in an Engineering Graphics course, and also in several Geology courses, all things that would be done by computer now. I still use them for lettering some things that I do by hand, but most people would do that on a computer as well.

 

India ink is well-proven to be durable and waterproof, so I also use my technical pens when I want to mark something indelibly. Since I found out about some of the Noodler's inks, I use them too, but they're not as tested and proven as India ink is.

 

Another place I found technical pens very useful was for lab notebooks in Chemistry and Biology, and in some Geology labs too.

[stuartk]

 

 

One thing to know about these is, they were intended for drawing, not writing. The exception being models with a red ring and cap jewel, labeled either Tintenkuli or Inkograph. These two models have rounded tips, rather than the square-cut tips on the numbered models (1,2, 3, etc. indicating line size).

 

 

 

You do realize that engineering drawings done by engineers or draftsmen had words on them? I've done a lot of lettering by hand with a technical pen, and others did as well, or they used lettering guides for a more professional look (but still used technical pens). IIRC, Leroy was the big name in lettering guides.

 

I do agree that they weren't made for the same type of handwriting as fountain pens were, but I can write as rapidly with a technical pen as I can with a fountain pen. In both cases, you don't put any pressure on the tip of the pen. The angle you hold the pen at is quite different though.

Edited December 13, 2015 by stuartk

[anderl]

This historical review by MYU may be of interest.

[dvscrobe]

stuartk, anderl, thanks! Will follow up on this thread on how I make out, for any future inquisitive minds who come across vintage items like these. Here is another picture, showing fully disassembled. I was very careful with the needle.

Edited December 15, 2015 by dvscrobe

[anderl]

This "exploded" view is great! And everything looks so clean.

I hope you have a lot of fun with your rapidographs, inking/writing/drawing.

[mercu80]

Hi! I am new here..can someone please help me with the needle+weight? How do I mount it? i.e. the needle towards the stylus or the opposite? Thank you!

[SamChevre]

This thread, and the picture above, were very helpful as I fixed my father's Rapidograph.  

 

In case it's helpful, here's a picture of the dissassembled filler unit (above the collar is blue for a #2.5, this one is a green #3).

 

I'll name the parts the plunger, the screw, and the collar (green).

 

Note that the plunger has flanges, and the collar has corresponding grooves.  These can clog (mine had some glop in the grooves, which is why the plunger didn't move.)  Note also that the screw has coarse threads to move the plunger, and fine threads that attach to the collar; the collar screws need to be screwed in a bit (two turns or so) before starting the plunger screws.

[BaronWulfraed]

On 1/21/2021 at 5:56 AM, mercu80 said:

Hi! I am new here..can someone please help me with the needle+weight? How do I mount it? i.e. the needle towards the stylus or the opposite? Thank you!

The wire goes through the steel tip (and, in a properly fitted nib, will just stick out the end, such that putting the nib on paper pushes the wire and weight up). This is what helps clean dried ink from the tip.

 

Be very careful with the wire -- any bend or kink will result in binding in the nib tube, and malfunction.

[TheInfiltratedEye]

Hi everybody, my name's Chris and I just signed up and I'm glad to be here.

I've searched the internet trying to find a forum on these old Koh-I-Noor piston style technical pens and I'm relieved to find a group of folks who have these and are sharing information on them. I appreciate it and as I mess around with mine I'll try to share whatever little insights I gain as well. I had swore off of them after too many frustrating experiences (I don't know how many wound up in the trash...best to not think about it) and I don't think I will be using any type of ink other than fountain pen ink in them. 

I am cartooning* and I typically use very black, waterproof ink, either Speedball Super Black or, for the ultimate, Dr. P.H. Martin's Black Star Matte. This is with dip pen nibs.

But being curious about what to use in these old 50s piston Koh-I-Noors, I've been experimenting with "Noodlers" ink followed by a couple light coats of artists' workable fixative spray and so far the results are satisfactory.

 

I realize people are always going to say it's okay to use india ink and who knows, maybe I'll try it again sometime but it will be for one drawing session at a time, followed by thoroughly washing the pen out IMMEDIATELY afterward, each time.

I really think that's the only way to avoid clogging using the hard stuff. 

 

*Have a look at my stuff and let me know what you think: www.theinfiltratedeye.com

[inkstainedruth]

These are interesting.  They look very different from my Rapidograph set from when I graduated from high school, being black instead of white, and more cigar shaped than mine (which IIRC are flattops).  

A guy I knew when I was in college from the campus coffee house didn't understand why I *didn't* use India ink in mine -- he thought that the Koh-i-noor ink wasn't dark enough.  But I mostly used mine for drawing, so I didn't mind the more grey/brown color over super-black.  I didn't even know at first that they WERE for ruling lines with -- the only other person I knew in high school who had any were someone in my art classes and she drew with hers.  

I have no clue what shape mine are in at this point (they're in a desk drawer someplace because I haven't used them in something like 35 years).  I do remember when I was working as a graphic artist (mostly layout and pasteup for ads) wishing that I could find a non-repro blue to put in them for laying out the ads: pencils didn't stay sharp enough for as fine a line as I wanted, and non-repro blue ballpoints tended to be blobby (I didn't really know anyone back then that used fountain pens except for maybe one guy who used to work at one place I did, and Harry didn't use them for work per se), and one roommate in college who was a year ahead of me -- she used an Osmiroid pen when she took calligraphy from a different professor).  And when I took calligraphy classes (and one place I worked after that job I made a little money on the side doing calligraphy on envelopes for wedding invitations) I always used a dip pen -- because that's how I was taught.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[R.Stone]

Hello, everyone. Does anybody know if the older Rapidograph pens, the black ones with the piston-fill, are point swap-able? If so, are they only swap-able with nibs/points of the same era, or do the newer Rapidograph models work equally well?

[SamChevre]

12 hours ago, R.Stone said:

Hello, everyone. Does anybody know if the older Rapidograph pens, the black ones with the piston-fill, are point swap-able? If so, are they only swap-able with nibs/points of the same era, or do the newer Rapidograph models work equally well?

 

The points in the older ones screw out, and the modern Rapidograph points fit, although they don't look quite the same.  (I repaired my father's Rapidograph which he's had for 50 years earlier this year.)