Ink-o Graphs

[Keith with a capital K]

These were one of Frank Dubiel's favourite pens and although they aren't exactly a fountain pen they are a close cousin.

 

I found a basic black 40's model some months ago complete with it's original paperwork and don't think I was ever inked.

 

It's been resting in the pen drawer for quite a while and tonight I filled it with Noodler's Polar Black and was pleasantly reminded why I like this pen so much. It's a perfect size and writes smoothly with nary a skip or hesitation.

 

The vintage models come in some of the prettiest celluloids.

 

Has anyone else here discovered why Frank and I like these pens so much?

Edited February 13, 2005 by Keith with a capital K

[Karin]

Gee Keith,

Great minds think alike I have three inkographs. One dark blue, one marbled blue that I bought from Richard B last year and one marbled brown and green beauty that I picked up last month for the sum of 15 bucks.

I love these pens, but I sometimes feel that I'm being disloyal

 

 

 

:bunny1:

[wimg]

Hi Keith, Karin,

 

I still use my RotRing RapidoGraphs. Do they qualify? I use them for tiny writing, and drawing occasionally. Used them a lot during my student years, for graphing and drawing (no computers yet ) and early work years, for writing down contents of borehole samples in an amazingly tiny script .

 

and now the real reason for ths reply , especially for Karin :

 

http://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny01.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny02.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny03.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny04.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny05.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny06.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny07.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny08.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny09.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny10.gif

 

Regards,

Wim

[KendallJ]

I have none. These were architects pens weren't they? I only have a few vintage. If you sell me on the advantages tho, I'll put one on my list...

 

Keith, describe the polar black to me in terms of flow properties. This supposed to be a "lubricating" ink no? What's the dif?

[wimg]

Hi Kendall,

 

The advantages of these pens to me is that you can draw really thin, incredibly black, waterproof lines.

 

However, there are severe disadvantages: you can't allow te pen to dry out, as it is ink of india you're drawing with, and between sessions, especially with the thinner tips, you have to clean out the pens very thoroughly, which is quite a lot of work.

 

I think the way things are these days, you may be better off with an XXXF Binder nib and Noodler's Black. I hope to have one of these nibs very soon, and I'll check it out, maybe do a review here too.

 

Kind regards,

Wim

[ElaineB]

Funny you should ask, Keith. I just snagged a bargain stylograph off Ebay last week. It's a BCHR model by Independent. I couldn't find much info about the company, but Nathan Tardiff mentions it on his stylograph pages. It's in fabulous condition, pitch black and glossy, nib is in great condition and the nib innards look perfect.

 

Fortunately, I'm already familiar with fixing these pens up. I grew up using Koh-i-noor rapidographs for all my daily writing, and by the time I graduated high school I was expert at taking them apart for maintenance. So everything looked very familiar inside this BCHR stylograph. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the section apart to replace the sac, and I'm still waiting for my order with the section pliers to arrive. So it's not writing yet. *sigh*

 

But I dropped some ink into the nib and did a test write with the pen, and it's beautiful. Very smooth line, the needle is perfectly placed so it doesn't scratch. I'm very happy. I could easily see myself becoming a stylograph collector. (Well, if I had any money...!)

 

ElaineB

[ElaineB]

However, there are severe disadvantages: you can't allow te pen to dry out, as it is ink of india you're drawing with, and between sessions, especially with the thinner tips, you have to clean out the pens very thoroughly, which is quite a lot of work.

Groetjes Wim!

 

Are you speaking of stylographs or the Rotrings you used? I never had a problem with Kohinoor rapidographs drying out, even my very thinnest writers. (I used "00" points for a while when I was rather fanatical about thin lines and tiny writing in high school.) The inner cap on the Kohinoor pens sealed the nib very tightly. And you were also supposed to put a drop of water into the inner cap, where it was absorbed into a thick disk of blotting paper that kept the inner cap humidified. I could leave my pens inked up for at least 2-3 weeks, unused, and they'd start up perfectly when I was ready to write. I know less about the Rotring brand of rapidographs -- I didn't much like them and stopped buying them after a couple bad experiences.

 

But as far as I know, stylographs are a different sort of pen than a rapidograph. They were designed as general writing tools. The nibs have a slightly different shape, with a curve at the tip, and are much broader than a rapidograph. And you don't need to use India ink in them -- regular fountain pen ink is fine.

 

I'll know more once I can finally get my new pen fixed and ready to write.

 

ElaineB

[wimg]

Hi Elaine,

 

I started off with the Rotring Variants, which came in decimal point sizes, and the ones I used most often were 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm, occasionally 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm and 0.8 mm. These you did fill with "drawing ink", and I had black, yellow and red (the only colours available).

 

Because they were so expensive (for a student anyway) and did block up, or wear fairly quickly, I tried out Faber Castell drawing pens once. That was a real waste of money. They never wrote well and blocked even more easily.

 

Next they came out with the RapidoGraphs, and they came in exponential sizes, as I call them, the smallest being 0.13 mm, next 0.18 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.5 mm etc. These are the ones that came with cartridges of ink, which I happily refilled of course. I didn't know about the drop of water trick, but I can assure you, despite having inner caps, unlike the Variants, they still do dry out, especially the finer pointed ones.

 

I realize stylographs are different pens, but the principle is the same, as far as I understand, with the little weighted needle within a hollow tube. I did repair many of these drawing or architectural pens in the period I used them a lot; I even routinely fixed the 0.1 and 0.13 mm ones, taking them apart, and getting the weighted needles back into the little tubes again without bending them. O, how patient I used to be .

 

Nowadays I use a fine nibbed fountain pen for very fien writing, but occasionally it is just too wide. I should actually see what the result is with fountain pen ink in these, hmmm, new little project . I still have a Variant 0.1 mm in working order, and several RapidoGraphs. Ok, new little project... As if I don't have enough little projects already :bonk:.

 

Anyway, quite a long post considerign my original intention: I saw Denis' remark about the bunnies being in sync, played with them, and just looked for a post by Karin to reply to and add the bunnies, without being too much OT . I hope you'll forgive me for that... :blink:

 

So, one more time, dancing bunnies . http://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny01.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny02.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny03.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny04.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny05.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny06.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny07.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny08.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny09.gifhttp://fp.vandebilt.net/fpn/anim/bunny10.gif

 

Warm regards,

Wim

[ElaineB]

Next they came out with the RapidoGraphs, and they came in exponential sizes, as I call them, the smallest being 0.13 mm, next 0.18 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.5 mm etc. These are the ones that came with cartridges of ink, which I happily refilled of course.

Yes, I remember when those came out. I didn't want to waste my money on the dumb cartridges. I didn't know you could refill them, or I might have tried them.

 

And I'd completely forgotten about the Faber Castell pens until you mentioned them! Actually, those were the first rapidographs I ever bought. Green barrels and caps, right? The Kohinoors (white barrel & cap, black printing) were much better pens and I quickly made the switch when they became available here.

 

I even routinely fixed the 0.1 and 0.13 mm ones, taking them apart, and getting the weighted needles back into the little tubes again without bending them.

Oh, memories! Yes, I did exactly the same thing. Ever so gently probing the inside of the nib with that tiny, fragile little needle, trying to find the hole without being able to see it...

 

I still have a Variant 0.1 mm in working order, and several RapidoGraphs. Ok, new little project... As if I don't have enough little projects already

I'm very curious to see your results. I saw R. Binder's XXF needlepoint nibs and they certainly piqued my interest. But I didn't think any fountain pen could approach the fineness and consistency of rapidographs.

 

ElaineB

 

P.S. Love the asynchronous bunnies!

[wimg]

Hi Elaine,

 

I never saw the Kohinoors here, otherwise I might have tried them. Rotring very much had the market cornered here in the NL regarding drawing pens and related materials. And at the time you only had a decent choice of nib sizes at specialist shops, I can remember that much.

 

I still have a single Faber Castell left. but I don't know what it's state is. I'll have to check that too, I guess.

 

I'll let you know what the results are, but I can't promise when I'll get around to it, considering the multitude of pen-related projects I seem to have these days, apart from chores around the house, helping my daughter with her homework, and my own homework .

 

And regarding the bunnies, I'm thinking of creating a chorus line, but that is going to be a lot of work, I have realised in the mean time .

 

Ah well, lots of interesting things to keep me off the streets .

 

Warm regards,

the Madman from the Netherlands

[mr_inky]

Hi Kendall,

 

 

However, there are severe disadvantages: you can't allow te pen to dry out, as it is ink of india you're drawing with, and between sessions, especially with the thinner tips, you have to clean out the pens very thoroughly, which is quite a lot of work.

 

Kind regards,

Wim

I have 3 Inkographs and use PR Lake Placid Blue in them. What you mention is true for the drafting pens & india ink but not really for the regular FP Inkographs w/ FP ink. Not really different than a snorkle or other FP for maintenance.

 

My collection is:

 

Red w/ chrome trim

Red/Black/Silver w/ Gold trim

Gren/Brown/Gold w/Gold trim (Just came in the mail today!! Sweeeet!)

 

All write smooth with a wet medium line. They are self cleaning (the needle & weight inside). Overall a very good pen especially the older ones like the marbled ones.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I have a collection of 14 Staedtler Marsmatics. I used to use them every day, but just these few months, I ran out of ink. I am very experienced in replacing the needle in all of these pens. I have point sizes ranging from 0.10 to 1.00 MM.

 

Dillon

[Brian Anderson]

Nothing like reviving an old thread. Just got back from some vacation having scored a brown and green marbled model. Put a sac in it last night and inked it up this morning:

 

http://www.esterbrook.net/funpics/inkograph.jpg

 

Best-

Brian

[meanwhile]

These were one of Frank Dubiel's favourite pens and although they aren't exactly a fountain pen they are a close cousin.

Would they be allowed to marry??

[krz]

Nothing like reviving an old thread. Just got back from some vacation having scored a brown and green marbled model. Put a sac in it last night and inked it up this morning:

 

Best-

Brian

That is a striking example! I love those colors Brian.

 

I lucked into 2 pair of InkOgraphs after never trying one out all these years. I've got 2 NOS Dove Gray and 2 NOS Burgundy both sets 40's deco/bullet shaped.

 

I've used Rapidographs for years. I've got 3 of the real nice 3060 piston fill pens, but I prefer drawing with my fountain pens as the thin points are so fragile and finicky on the Rapidographs.

 

The InkOgraphs really surprised me. I was expecting a rigid Rapidograph experience, but the InkOgraphs gave me a nice smooth and fluid performance. The thick plastic point holders make me a bit more confident that I won't bend it.

 

All of my InkOgraphs lay a medium line. I hope they made them in a fine line too.

 

I put 2 away for safekeeping and kept a set to use.

[Brian Anderson]

All of my InkOgraphs lay a medium line. I hope they made them in a fine line too.

 

I would say mine is a fine line, although it has a tendency to "perspire" ink when capped which can give it more of a medium width. I wonder if I don't have the point screwed in to the section tightly enough, although it seems pretty tight.

 

Pictures! Let's see Pictures!

 

Best-

Brian

[Johnny Appleseed]

Ok,

 

How about this one. And a related item - not an Inkograph - I think earlier, in fact.

 

I also have a couple of boring late plastic ones as well, one of which will be appearing in the marketplace soon. Both the plastic ones show signs of heat shrinking and slight barrel warpage, but they are wicked-smooth writers.

 

 

John

Edited July 29, 2006 by Johnny Appleseed

[Brian Anderson]

ooohhh... nice ones John.

 

The Juco looks like a De la rue elphin I have.

 

Love that HR!

 

Brian

[krz]

I'm not much good with my camera yet for closeups, but I can work my scanner!

 

Here's 2 of the 4 InkOgraphs I picked up lately. NOS, I inked 2 and put 2 away for safe keeping.

 

 

The Tan Rapidograph in the center is one of my oldest pens. I've had it for 30 years. With a Osmiroid Sketck nib, it's a Frankenpen and one of my favorites. The other 2 Rapidographs I bought recently, also NOS. All model 3060's.

 

I keep Noodler's Black in the Burgundy InkOgraph and Noodler's Lexington Grey in the Grey InkOgraph. All of the InkOgraphs are a Medium point.

 

I usually run higgens India ink in the Rapidographs. The InkOgraphs are a blast if you like a dense saturated line.

[AllWriteNow]

Timing is everything. Out hunting Pens today and found this crazy looking thing. I didn't quite know what it was.

Come home and lookie here all about Ink O Graphs

 

Kohinoor InkOGraph Medium Is this a "demonstrator"?

 

Am I to use the India inks? Is Noodler's Ink BulletProof OK?

 

 

Thanks

Steve

Edited July 5, 2007 by luckygrandson