Waterman Edson Question

[speculator]

Happy New Year, friends at FPN!

 

I hope some experienced Edson owners weigh in.

Recently, I purchased the Edson fountain pen (in the photo I took, here)- and have been using Waterman cartridges thus far. It's in great condition. The point is very smooth, and I love the grip of this pen.

 

My question is about the "seal" at the place, deep in the nib section, where the cartridge (or the converter) "plugs in." I've already noticed how the ink supply has to be very firmly embedded, otherwise ink leaks to the area around the ink supply.

What's the trick to avoiding this? I'm tempted to ring a sliver of tape around the open end of the cartridge.

For a pen as spiffy as this, I expected better craftsmanship.

it writes beautifully, but it's not quite up to a Caran d'Ache.

 

Thanks so much in advance!

[Left FPN]

The seal is in the inside of the cartridge or converters opening (mouth). Inside the section will be a spigot, a small separate part through which the feed needle passes, which has a slow taper to form the seal. I have always felt the ink supply requires a good steady push into the section to ensure the seal is good. Here is a close up off the carene parts which I should imagine are similar to the inside of the Edson.

 

[Ursus]

 

My question is about the "seal" at the place, deep in the nib section, where the cartridge (or the converter) "plugs in." I've already noticed how the ink supply has to be very firmly embedded, otherwise ink leaks to the area around the ink supply.

What's the trick to avoiding this? I'm tempted to ring a sliver of tape around the open end of the cartridge.

Tape would not work, but as long as you can force it in place I would not worry about it.

 

 

it writes beautifully, but it's not quite up to a Caran d'Ache.

 

Considering how much more expensive it is, that's a little sad. With such an expensive pen, I would send it to a nib meister to make sure that it performs its very best.

[speculator]

Thank you for these responses. They are fascinating.

As nice as the Edson is, I don't believe it's worth the full price. It's beautiful, but not what I'd call "sturdy."

Seeing ink droplets around the cartridge is disappointing.

 

I think the Carene is more solid- and most certainly a Caran d'Ache Leman is far better made (the latter has a threaded connection for ink converters).

[RMN]

Make sure you put in the cartridge, or converter straight in the connector, the push firmly on the end of the C/C to push it home.

Or give the C/C a little twist when pushing it home.

 

 

Some other brands even have screw in connectors on the converters.

 

 

D.ick

.

[Left FPN]

I would send it to a nib meister to make sure that it performs its very best.

Ummmm, why. The nib is fine and if anything it would have to be to Waterman for a look-see. I suspect it just requires more ummmpphhh on the reservoir.

[RMN]

Yes, I think not many nibmeisters would take on a task on an Edson nib/feed.

 

Perhaps they would be willing to change a B nib into an Italic.

 

 

And I actually have never heard of an Edson nib that was not smooth as hot butter on glass.

 

I think the Edson (at least my 2) is a tremendous pen, and Waterman's best.

But I agree if you would say the value for money quotient is better on the Carène

 

 

 

D.ick

[Ursus]

About nibmeisters: I might have misread the post; I just wondered why a Caran d'Ache should write better than the top line Waterman...

I did not think of a customization but of a mere optimization. Frankly, it's a long time since I have last bought a pen that could not be improved a little - or a lot (which I enjoy doing myself). Shipping them back to the manufacturer can be such a terrible waste of time.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Ursus

[Namo]

Bonne et heureuse année, speculator. I have two higher end Waterman, one Préface and one Liaison, and I am experiencing the same king of trouble with both of them. Let us know if anything changes with the Edson!

[speculator]

Merci tout le monde!

 

Thanks again for your replies. I changed cartridges, and firmly attached the new one. The converter felt too loose to take a chance right now. That'll be next.

Joining cartridge/converter to the inside of the nib section doesn't seem all that secure. The other Waterman I have is a Laureat- which has given me very dependable service; it's very solid.

 

About the Edson, I must say it writes very smoothly. The point is great. I'm grateful for the new adventure.

 

As well, I'm still interested to know if others have a similar problem with the connection of ink chamber-to-nib-section.

Edited January 4, 2015 by speculator

[RMN]

I have several Watermans, including Edsons and Carenes, and I have not yet experienced a loose connection. Sometimes too tight, that I was afraid to push a converter home.

 

 

D.ick

[Left FPN]

Merci tout le monde!

 

Thanks again for your replies. I changed cartridges, and firmly attached the new one. The converter felt too loose to take a chance right now. That'll be next.

Joining cartridge/converter to the inside of the nib section doesn't seem all that secure. The other Waterman I have is a Laureat- which has given me very dependable service; it's very solid.

 

About the Edson, I must say it writes very smoothly. The point is great. I'm grateful for the new adventure.

 

As well, I'm still interested to know if others have a similar problem with the connection of ink chamber-to-nib-section.

Please show us a good close picture of the converter.

[ballboy]

 

I think the Carene is more solid- and most certainly a Caran d'Ache Leman is far better made (the latter has a threaded connection for ink converters).

I admire my bi-colour Léman for all the services features. The Edson feels bloated and delicate by comparison, from what I got to see.

[speculator]

I admire my bi-colour Léman for all the services features. The Edson feels bloated and delicate by comparison, from what I got to see.

 

Yes, the Leman is much better made- in every way. Much more reliable. I've been using mine for years.

[speculator]

Here you can see how leaking ink coats portions of the cartridge- and the tape I also tried to use.
I'm hoping to get some help from the Waterman company.

[Left FPN]

I am wondering if your lance has broken....that portion of the assembly which penetrates the ink reservoir. Remove the cartridge and shine a torch up inside the section. How does it look up there.

[plumista]

I have never found this issue in any of the four Edsons I have to date enjoyed.

 

But its inner design of the "integrated" section + nib unit, so special and characteristic of this model, precisely one of the strong points of the Edson, has always seemed to me way far beyond the usual possibilities of the average pen user who likes to service his/her pens him/herself and does as much maintenance as possible at home, even those experienced with other brands and models, especially those mechanically simple modern pens that use the ubiquitous and boring Bock/Schmidt or JoWo nib units (kits in fact, perhaps too close to just a diy assembly).

 

If I have well understood your first post, the pen is a recent purchase, so my advice (from many years of wasting time and money trying repairs beyond my possibilities) is: send the pen to Waterman offcial service, and demand a PERFECT pen (at least as perfect as the money you paid).

 

plumista

[stevesurf]

I agree with everyone stating that if you want to send it to anyone, it should be Waterman. Have you tried a converter? Even with a converter, I get a very tiny amount of ink leaking onto the converter threads and nib after a couple of flights due to cabin compression and decompression. I keep the converters full, so this does not bother me.

 

The Edson is amazing!

[speculator]

Thank you for all your encouragement-

I sent the above photos to Waterman, and hope they can help.

 

All the ink seepage aside, the pen writes very well, and smoothly. Great for large hands (similarly to the Caran d'Ache). Once the Edson nib section can be sealed/repaired/replaced? I'll have a great new companion!

 

 

[speculator]

I admire my bi-colour Léman for all the services features. The Edson feels bloated and delicate by comparison, from what I got to see.

 

Roger- I think you'll appreciate this picture.

I used these during my Oxford fellowship, last year.

My all-time favorite pens.

Edited January 13, 2015 by speculator