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http://www.ebay.com/itm/322790449481?ul_noapp=true Anyone got an opinion on this lever? I haven't been able to find Stephen's book in the US but I had never seen this lever on an Onoto before and wonder why or how -or mainly if - DeLaRue were using it (or anything so complex, possibly to get around the Watermans box patent?) so early in their l/f production? In her un-illustrated book THE HISTORY OF THE ONOTO PEN, Eileen Twydle says that DeLaRue (for which company she sounds authoritative, using the term "we") started making l/fs in 1922 in response to market pressures: but their earliest lever seems to have been a straight Sheaffer-type one (known in UK as the Swan/Valentine style) and not the lever in a box Watermans style they adopted later. But this ebay-appearance is neither?? I wonder if they patented this curious design or did this lever just come out of someone's parts stock in the mid 1920s? But I have also never seen a generic version of the 1920s Pilot lever without a P or an N in it? I suppose, in its symmetry, it looks a bit like the early 1920s lever which MontBlanc used for about ten minutes, - shown in the 'Fountain Pens - Their History and Art' book [http://www.ebay.com/itm/322561277801?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649].

Hello to All, I am new to this forum. I have one of my vintage onoto delarue pen that has the plunger at the back that opens only about 8mm...it feels stuck....this is the self filling type. Now the pen is very old, should be around 1920's......I suspect that old dried ink is inside. What can be done so that I can repair it? I can fell it is hitting something. (1) Can I throw some surgical spirit or alcohol inside so maybe it will dissolve the ink? will this cause damage? (2) How does this pen open up? I really dont want to induce any damage or marks...the pen is in very good condition, still has the box with the original papers, no wear on the body...etc.... Here are some picture.... Any help and ideas appreciated. Thanks. Dam.