Help! How To Handle Osmia Progress 94 F?

[FromTheNetherlands]

Hello!

 

Today I went to a second-hand store and found an Osmia Progress 94 F.

 

At first I couldn't open the filling mechanism, but after reading how to fill the pen I managed to open it.

Some dust fell out, and turned blue on my hands, which were a little sweaty I think.

 

Here are some pictures:

 

 

 

My main question is: How will I get this pen to work again?

 

Deducting from the powder coming out of the filler mechanism, the pen worked when it was put away for some reason.

 

How should I clean this beauty?

 

And how do I fill this beauty after properly cleaning it?

 

And is this a pen that I can call a 'vintage pen'?

 

 

 

Thanks so much in advance!

[KBeezie]

Be aware that said 'dust' might not all be ink, but it could also be seals/etc. Meaning you'll probably want the pen serviced since simply cleaning it might not make it functional again.

 

If it's from before the 80s (or for some groups, 1975 or before), it's a real safe bet calling it 'vintage'.

[FromTheNetherlands]

Be aware that said 'dust' might not all be ink, but it could also be seals/etc. Meaning you'll probably want the pen serviced since simply cleaning it might not make it functional again.

 

If it's from before the 80s (or for some groups, 1975 or before), it's a real safe bet calling it 'vintage'.

 

You mean sending it to a repair shop?

[KBeezie]

Repair shop or restoration expert, or if versed in the area self restore.

 

So beyond just a flushing may need disassembly or checking at least somehow that the seals are good (ie water test, not ink.) I don't know how that specific model comes apart but thought that I should least mention that dried powdery stuff may not be ink, but also the seal especially if that came out of the back of the pen (where ink could have leaked after the seal failed)

[mhguda]

You might get lucky. Fellow member lexaf is knowledgeable about similar pens and is located in the Netherlands. You find him hanging out more on fpgeeks dot com these days, but try sending him a private message, either from here or via fpgeeks. Try this or this.

Good luck on getting that beauty working again!

[KBeezie]

You might get lucky. Fellow member lexaf is knowledgeable about similar pens and is located in the Netherlands. You find him hanging out more on fpgeeks dot com these days, but try sending him a private message, either from here or via fpgeeks. Try this or this.

Good luck on getting that beauty working again!

Yea, he's quite helpful and may know a thing or two about some of the more obscure setups (like that huge suitcase of NOS cork-based piston fillers he restored en masse).

[mhguda]

Yes... I think I got at least two of those, and they're great.

[FromTheNetherlands]

UPDATE:

 

I let the pen soak in cold water for some time. The water kept turning blue every time I renewed the water.

After the pen was 'thoroughly bathed', I let it dry.

 

IT WORKS! I can fill it without problems. Works the way it should!

 

It writes marvellous!

[mhguda]

That's great, thanks for the update! If it ever gives you trouble, try Lexaf. Enjoy the pen!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Dried ink can be hell....if it comes out in a blue cloud it's Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue....the only ink to leave in your pen for a couple 2-3 generations.

If it comes out sort of dark stringy....it's Blue Black or Black and harder to clean from an old pen.

 

A Diamond with a number....in your case a size 4, is a semi-flex....the next flex set up is the Supra stamped nib, a maxi-semi-flex.

The flex set of 'true' regular flex, semi-flex and maxi-semi-flex should not be 'flexed' more than 3 X a light down stroke. Just because it is semi-flex......almost flex....don't go trying to make it do Olympic splits.

It is from the 'middle '30's and is in size medium to medium large, 92,93,94,96.

 

A problem you are going to have is it had a rubber sac...like the Parker Vacumatic ...in Parker owned Osmia form late '28 to when the Crash of 29 happened, and they sold it back to the Boelher brothers.

So you are going to need a new rubber sac real, real soon.

 

Your pen is a Frankenstein, the top is gullochierte(German spelling) (Chased) and the bottom not....Don't worry about it. The pen writes.

 

The Osmia nib (Osmia sold it's nib factory to Degussa, in 1932; who continued to make Osmia's nibs for them) is a very, very good nib be it steel or gold. I find them both =. I was once a gold nib fool so neglected to get Osmia back when they were cheaper...if it wasn't gold.

I missed some nice pens....back when I was dumber. Osmia was always at my outside limit, so I only have 7-8 of them. Half gold, have steel, half semi-flex with the diamond and half maxi-semi-flex with Supra on the nib....half and half.

 

Yours is older than the ones I have...I have a later '30's(Boehler, same model numbers as the Osmia) one and some 40-50's. Some sore Osmia/Faber-Castell.

 

Osmia was a first class pen company from Heidelberg which had six or seven top brand pen companies...one of the pen capitols of the world back then.

 

Osmia didn't have an office supply company keeping it up like Sonnecken, MB or Pelikan, So they were always broke...sold them selves to Parker...manager for Parker was Lamy. Due to the depression and that the Parker Duofold was over expensive and held too little ink And, there were so many Duofold Clones made in Germany...Parker cut it's loses and sold the factory back to the Boelher brothers late 29 early 30's. But Osmia got a 'free' technology transfer. Lamy would start a couple of pen companies.

 

After selling off Osmia's nib factory in '32....they sold some shares in '36 to Faber Castell that made only second class pens...having the worlds largest then pencil empire. By 1938 Faber Castell started sticking their nose too deep into Osmia's business and the brothers split the company.

 

It is said that Osmia would not have survived with out the War. (Boehler survived to 1970)

Right after the war and in 1950 Faber Castell bought up the rest of Osmia....needing a First Class pen ..... then the fools started erasing Osmia from the pen....by late '50's Osmia was gone except for the diamond on the nib. The ball point came in and killed a lot of pen companies.

 

1922 The German Professor from Heidelberg U, sold the Boehler brothers his patent on Osmium for the tipping....so it was one of the better tipping.

[Noihvo]

 

[markiv]

GJK,s pen has the vacumatic type filling mechanism similar to Parker Vacumatic.

Unlike Parker, Osmia's filler is mostly all ebonite and very delicate to restore. It uses the good old rubber diaphragm.

It fills by submerging the nib in ink and pumping the unscrewed filling knob back and forth about 6-8 times. If the filler is working there would be no ink drips at the nib. Also check for leaks on the other end, while holding the pen upright, nib pointing up, and slowly pushing/pulling the filling knob about 1/4 of inch.

 

Looks like the barrel is celluloid and most likely has a ink window. You should be able to unscrew the section (counterclock to open) and clean up the dried ink with mild soap and water. While unscrewing the section be cautious as it houses a fragile ebonite breather tube. You don't want to break it.

 

If you are clumsy with repairs and new to pens I would recommend that you consider the above informational and seek help of professionals - Ron Zorn, Joe Hamilton,...and several others. Outside of US, consider Fountainbel.