What's Up With This Dip Pen?

[wushimushi]

Hey, got my hands on this vintage looking dip pen and I inked it but I can't write with it. Problem is the ink just comes out in blobs. However, once there is less ink on the nib, it writes really nicely except there isn't enough ink left to even write a longer word, which makes me want to find out what's wrong with it. I compared it to another dip pen I've got that writes perfectly, ink flow and all, and realised that the problem pen does not seem to have the 'reservoir hole'? If anyone has any ideas it'd be great! =) Here are some pictures that may help in the diagnosis.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/1kind/Pens/24122010303.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/1kind/Pens/24122010302.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/1kind/Pens/24122010304.jpg

 

For comparison with my 'functional' dip pen.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/1kind/Pens/24122010305.jpg

[jbb]

The spacing between the tines looks off to me -- like theres too much space.

 

If it's a nib that has never been used before I'd recommend removing the invisible coating because that causes blobbing. You can wash it off.

 

One last thing that might help, I add a bees wax feed to the back of my nibs to improve the number of words I get per dip. It's simply wax pressed in under the breather hole with line incised like a feed.

Edited December 24, 2010 by jbb

[wykpenguin]

Tines too wide apart and it was probably it was designed for more viscous inks anyway.

[Paddler]

That nib looks like it is brass and is built into the business end of the pen. I would not try to burn off the coating. That could wreck the temper of the metal and toast the writing on the shank. Try washing the nib with dish detergent and then swab it with lacquer thinner (not the stuff sold to remove fingernail polish; that has oil in it.). The goal is to have the ink evenly wet the nib on both sides. If the ink beads up or doesn't coat the metal nib evenly, it will blob.

 

When you dip, dip the nib into the ink far enough to cover the slit and then gently drag it over the edge of the bottle or inkwell. That will remove any drop that lurks on the underside, ready to flood your paper.

 

That is a really interesting pen! Have fun with it.

 

Paddler

[Dueller]

In the third photo, it looks like the tip of the tines are forming a "V" shape rather than being flat. This "v" shape may be responsible for allowing a greater quantity of ink to flow to the tines than the tip can dispense while writing.

[atypical]

Interesting and unusual nib.

 

Googling "melanyl pen" resulted in a number of links to people selling vintage bottles of Melanyl "No Heat" marking ink for fabrics.

This ink was apparently delivered with special pens, specifically intended for use with this ink.

 

It seems you have one of these special pens.