How I Clean The "feed" Of An Esterbrook 444 Inkwell

[Enai]

I recently had to clean an Esterbrook 444 inkwell, particularly the "feed". I've done this once before and I thought I'd document it here because I think it's an effective way to clean it. (And because I'm procrastinating on housework.)

 

The part of the well I'm calling a "feed" (because I don't know the proper term) is that which protrudes from the underside of the well cap into the well and is submerged in ink. This is also the part where you insert the pen's nib so the nib can absorb ink, and also to stabilize the pen when not in use. If you buy a used inkwell, chances are good that this part will be chock-full of dried-up ink.

 

The first photo below shows the separated well cap and well. The second photo is a close-up of the pen slot. If you peer into the pen slot you can see the small black rods, arranged horizontally, which make up the feed. I'm guessing that these rods are made of ebonite, but I could be wrong, so don't quote me on that.

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLljB6xwoPI/AAAAAAAADTs/vZmRT-00eAY/s400/inkwell_444_topbottom_1.jpghttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLlsZWV70sI/AAAAAAAADUA/DE1hI3KqXbE/s288/inkwell_444_top_feed_zoom.jpg

 

 

The first photo below shows what the underside of the cap well looks like. The feed is the part sticking up. This part can be easily separated from the cap by pulling it out. The second photo shows the feed separated from the cap.

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLlsZP57OuI/AAAAAAAADT8/-bn0oAuqVeA/s400/inkwell_444_top_inside.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLlsYzBEqOI/AAAAAAAADT4/Snl_52rgAQo/s400/inkwell_444_top_inside_2.jpg

 

 

The first photo below shows the rods of the feed in place in the plastic cup (or is it rubber?). The metal ring seats in a groove in the cup and can be easily removed. Once the metal ring is removed, the rods can be removed from the cup. The second photo shows the cup emptied of the rods.

 

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLls5FwNDHI/AAAAAAAADUk/8zvcBvtp9R0/s400/inkwell_444_feed.jpghttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLls4yxbkbI/AAAAAAAADUg/nG0bMGCcuw8/s400/inkwell_444_feedcap.jpg

 

 

Once removed from the cup, the rods can then be easily cleaned by soaking in soapy water, rinsing, and then drying. This method is a quick way of cleaning the feed. The first time I tried to clean one of these, I had the whole feed assembly soaking for a week and it was still spitting out a lot of old ink even after that! Maybe an ultrasonic cleaner will help but I don't have one. Of course, with this method, you have to be very careful with the rods---you don't want them flying everywhere. Here are photos of the rods after being cleaned and dried (that's a Rhodia dotpad as background). They are very uniform in size (about 17mm in length), but for one exception in this case. I haven't broken one yet, and I don't think they break easily if you're careful. Oh, and I counted 174 rods in this case (umm, it was for the sake of research :embarrassed_smile: ) :

 

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLls4QxpoyI/AAAAAAAADUc/4UWw3ngq8Zk/s800/inkwell_444_rods.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_Zw92qAkQFhw/TLls4G2LFkI/AAAAAAAADUY/JWLySC8IiMg/s800/inkwell_444_rods_zoom.jpg

 

 

After cleaning the rods, put them back carefully into the cup, making sure they are parallel to each other, and secure with the metal ring. It's not hard to do. Really.

[roundthecurve]

Thanks for the informative post Enai. I've wondered about this, but was chicken to go that far.

The step by step pictures and instructions made it crystal clear.

 

Greg

[lovemy51]

nicely done! thx!

[Lsarios]

Thank you! Very informative! :clap1:

[PaFitch]

Most helpful, thanks.

[Enai]

Thank you for the kind words everyone!

 

I'd like to add that the rods are probably tougher than they look---after all, the pen nib is repeatedly thrust into them in regular use and they don't break.

[PaFitch]

Two 444 caps arrived yesterday and this tutorial is a great help.

[Enai]

Two 444 caps arrived yesterday and this tutorial is a great help.

 

Thank you, that's a generous compliment. Have fun with the inkwells!

[ljwahl]

Thanks for posting this! I have (only) one of these, presently in service. When I brought it home, I did like you the first time and did not disassemble the feed from the cap-- so it took a long time to clean. When it's time for the next cleaning, I'll know better. Thanks again!

[Enai]

Thanks for posting this! I have (only) one of these, presently in service. When I brought it home, I did like you the first time and did not disassemble the feed from the cap-- so it took a long time to clean. When it's time for the next cleaning, I'll know better. Thanks again!

 

You're welcome! When I soaked the entire feed it seemed like it contained an infinite amount of ink, so I was frustrated enough to disassemble it.

[unclebrat]

Hi,

 

Thank you very much. I have purchased my 444 used and I have the rods bathing at this minute.

 

Brad

[Chiro75]

Learned this the hard way with my 484 (double 444). I took one of the feeds off and ran it under the water (I think mine was new and unused) and then gave it some hard shakes to knock some of the water out. The metal ring flew off and rods went flying, but luckily I only had about 20 of them fly out and I recovered them all. WHEW!

[Freddy]

In the past..after purchasing three hockey pucks...soaked sockets with Rapidoeze..which

dissolves stubborn dried ink efficently...Same result..less work for me.

Fred

[zepharia2]

Thanks for this tutorial. I just got my first 444, and this made setting it up very easy.

[dcpritch]

... Oh, and I counted 174 rods in this case (umm, it was for the sake of research :embarrassed_smile: ) .

 

... It's not hard to do. Really.

 

Enai, thanks so much for a very helpful post. I had started out by soaking the feed housing in water, but then I found your instructions which turned a messy job into a snap.

 

Oh, and I counted 174 of the little rods. Did you lose one?