Organic Studio’S Ebonite Mendeleev Eyedropper Fountain Pen

[doggonecarl]

The Mendeleev is my first ebonite pen, a small-sized eyedropper with a medium-fine nib. I believe the pen is manufactured for Organic Studio by Ratnamson, an Indian firm.

Dimensions: 5 ¼” capped, 4 ½” uncapped, 6 1/8” posted. The Mendeleev is almost identical in size to the Pilot Varsity.

 

Packaging: Came in a clear plastic tube with a blunt syringe to fill the pen. Affixed to the tube, there is a brief note about Dmitri Mendeleev, The Russian chemist the pen is named after, citing his scientific contributions. Nice touch.

 

Construction: There is not a lot of construction to an eyedropper pen. The hardware is gold colored, roughly finished. Clip is tight, sturdy, no spring. Cap is threaded. Takes three turns to put on/take off. The threads that secure the section to the barrel are tight, showing close tolerance. There is no ink leaking from the section. The ebonite is polished and there are no scratches or blemishes to the finish.

 

Nib: The nib is firm and somewhat scratchy. I am able to get a little bit of line variation if I bear down. The line, without pressure leans toward fine. There is some skipping but I don’t think it is nib related. Before I filled it, I dipped the nib in Waterman Havana Brown and it wrote fine. Filled it with Pilot Blue and now it skips. It seems to be a feed/flow issue. Hoping a break in period helps.

 

Value: I think the pen is well valued at $15, but as a novelty. As a writing instrument the Pilot Varsity or the Platinum Preppy modified to an eyedropper holds more ink and provides a better writing experience. Objectively, the Pilot Metropolitan provides many times the value of the OS Mendeleev.

 

Overall Impression: If I can get the flow to remain consistent and the skipping to stop, I will enjoy writing with this pen. There is something about a hand-crafted (if that is indeed the case) pen that make it unique and more personal. Additionally, the ebonite make for an interesting material, with a smoothness and warmth lacking in many of the “plastic” pens that make up the entry level pens at this price point. Plus, you have that lovely smell of an old hard-rubber pocket comb.

Edited August 27, 2013 by doggonecarl

[WOBentley]

Thanks for the review...I have had very little success with Indian eyedropper pens, specifically with the consistency of flow from their nibs...it has been very discouraging as I really like the pens themselves...your experience is not all that different from mine. I will likely consider trying one of these as I am a huge fan of their inks and want to support the company...but I hold out little hope for the nib. The pen is actually quite nice looking in an understated way.

Perhaps others who have had better experience with the nibs will chime in.

[doggonecarl]

At some point I will muster the nerve to pull the feed from the section to see if there is debris I can clear out, or if widening the channels is an option. But for the moment my level of frustration has not overridden my caution.

 

I have found that keeping the nib pointing in a downward position has helped, though clearly not a real solution.

Edited August 27, 2013 by doggonecarl

[TMac]

I recently acquired an OS Boyle and the nib writes wonderfully with consistency. I love the pen and plan to get more when they become available.

[doggonecarl]

I recently acquired an OS Boyle and the nib writes wonderfully with consistency. I love the pen and plan to get more when they become available.

I got a Boyle too, a squeeze filler, so I look forward to inking it.

[mikehodgman]

I got the Boyle and while it is a really nice pen, the nib is crazy scratchy. Scratchiest pen i have ever had. Never had any flow issues though.

[mbrandt]

Have you tried your usual cleaning routine on this pen yet? If so, did it help? I read that sometimes nibs and feeds have lubricant on them form the manufacturing process that will cause inconsistencies in the writing performance.

[nakiana]

I have a Boyle. It's on its first fill with Lamy black and lays down a very consistent fine line with no starting or skipping problems. I did wind up using some micromesh to smooth the nib as it was too scratchy for me. Quality of the workmanship is excellent.

[OrganicsStudio]

For those wanting to 'adjust' them, a knockout block and a quick tap and the nibs do come out relatively easily. From there, you can adjust away, and jam it back in there. We added our own scavenged nibs to our pens and they write extra nice

[doggonecarl]

Have you tried your usual cleaning routine on this pen yet? If so, did it help? I read that sometimes nibs and feeds have lubricant on them form the manufacturing process that will cause inconsistencies in the writing performance.

I did flush before I inked, but the the way the section is constructed, it wasn't as easy to force water through the feed as it is in most pens. I'll try a soak next time I ink.

[doggonecarl]

For those wanting to 'adjust' them, a knockout block and a quick tap and the nibs do come out relatively easily. From there, you can adjust away, and jam it back in there. We added our own scavenged nibs to our pens and they write extra nice

Thanks for the information. And double thanks for making these unique pens available to U.S. pen users.

[mbrandt]

I did flush before I inked, but the the way the section is constructed, it wasn't as easy to force water through the feed as it is in most pens. I'll try a soak next time I ink.

Well, good luck. That looks like an awfully nice pen to be treating you like that. I hope you get it sorted and can enjoy the pen.

[doggonecarl]

I hope you get it sorted and can enjoy the pen.

I can report that the pen is working much better. I was able to slip something between the tines and I am not sure whether I cleared something out or if I spread the tines a fraction further apart, but it is writing like a charm. Laying down a wet, medium line, no skipping.