Snorkel Pen Doesn't Need The Spring?

[watch_art]

So I got a snorkel to fix up. The spring is rusted and stuck inside the barrel. Got the spring out and found a replacement pen, but that spring wasn't any good either. So I went ahead and put it all together without a spring, and it STILL WORKED! COOL!!!

 

When unscrewing the knob, just push in until the threads on the tube let go of the threads on the sac protector, then pull the knob and tube out, submerge snorkel in ink like normal, and push the knob and tube back down, threading the tube and sac protector threads back together and closing the pen. Badda bing!

[fountainbel]

So I got a snorkel to fix up. The spring is rusted and stuck inside the barrel. Got the spring out and found a replacement pen, but that spring wasn't any good either. So I went ahead and put it all together without a spring, and it STILL WORKED! COOL!!!

 

When unscrewing the knob, just push in until the threads on the tube let go of the threads on the sac protector, then pull the knob and tube out, submerge snorkel in ink like normal, and push the knob and tube back down, threading the tube and sac protector threads back together and closing the pen. Badda bing!

 

Sure it works, !

When you compensate for the function of the spring by pushing the snorkel manually out, you don't need a spring.

Francis

[watch_art]

Before I had handled one of these pens, I had never read anything about them, or thought about what this part does, or that part does, so I was pretty happy when I found that the spring isn't really necessary.

[Flounder]

That's good to know! Wouldn't it be nice if they made them from stainless steel?

 

ps if the springs are still strong, try soaking them in kurust!

 

 

[Ray-Vigo]

I tend to think of the Snorkel as a more complex Touchdown, with the addition of the self-extending and retracting tube. The Snorkels are nice pens, but I do think Sheaffer went overboard with complexity in the filler mechanism. I think they had that style of filler right with the 40s/50s Touchdowns.

[Flounder]

Ingenious though, I mean it's clever stuff. If anything, I'd like more bells and whistles.

[Ron Z]

No, you do need the spring.

 

Without the spring in the pen it's more difficult to extend the snorkel tube, and even more, it's possible to retract the snorkel tube etc. so far back that the sac guard rotates and binds. Ask me how I know. The snorkel tube and sac guard stop moving back when the spring is fully compressed by the ring on the sac guard.

 

Seriously, do you think that Sheaffer would go to all the trouble and expense to include a part that wasn't needed in the pen? The key to successful manufacturing is to keep costs down. A 15 cent part times a gazillion pens is a lot of money.

Edited May 6, 2011 by Ron Z

[watch_art]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

 

Okay. Thanks, Ron. I guess the search for a spring continues.

[teej47]

I tend to think of the Snorkel as a more complex Touchdown, with the addition of the self-extending and retracting tube. The Snorkels are nice pens, but I do think Sheaffer went overboard with complexity in the filler mechanism. I think they had that style of filler right with the 40s/50s Touchdowns.

 

I have to agree. It's too bad that the Tip-Dip wasn't the upgrade to the Touchdown.

 

Tim

[ashbridg]

I tend to think of the Snorkel as a more complex Touchdown, with the addition of the self-extending and retracting tube. The Snorkels are nice pens, but I do think Sheaffer went overboard with complexity in the filler mechanism. I think they had that style of filler right with the 40s/50s Touchdowns.

 

I have to agree. It's too bad that the Tip-Dip wasn't the upgrade to the Touchdown.

 

Tim

I have to disagree just a little. I think the Snorkel is an improvement over the Touchdown, and it goes beyond being a dunk-free device. The Snorkel tube is an extra feeder with tiny slits that meter ink flow more precisely. In theory it’s a more efficient writer. Dubiel thinks so and also says Snorkels have the longest write-out. I can’t really tell if my Snorkels write longer than my Touchdowns. It seems to depend on the nib. But when it comes to elegance of filling system combined with ease of restoration, the Touchdown can't be beat.

 

The problem with Tip Dips is it’s hard to find one that has a non-steel point. Most of them are budget pens with steel nibs. Still, Tip Dips can be excellent writers. Mine are smooth and never start hard or skip. And you can find them unrestored for $10, which is an amazing value, in my opinion.

 

Ashby

[kkshadow]

I tend to think of the Snorkel as a more complex Touchdown, with the addition of the self-extending and retracting tube. The Snorkels are nice pens, but I do think Sheaffer went overboard with complexity in the filler mechanism. I think they had that style of filler right with the 40s/50s Touchdowns.

 

I have to agree. It's too bad that the Tip-Dip wasn't the upgrade to the Touchdown.

 

Tim

I have to disagree just a little. I think the Snorkel is an improvement over the Touchdown, and it goes beyond being a dunk-free device. The Snorkel tube is an extra feeder with tiny slits that meter ink flow more precisely. In theory it's a more efficient writer. Dubiel thinks so and also says Snorkels have the longest write-out. I can't really tell if my Snorkels write longer than my Touchdowns. It seems to depend on the nib. But when it comes to elegance of filling system combined with ease of restoration, the Touchdown can't be beat.

 

The problem with Tip Dips is it's hard to find one that has a non-steel point. Most of them are budget pens with steel nibs. Still, Tip Dips can be excellent writers. Mine are smooth and never start hard or skip. And you can find them unrestored for $10, which is an amazing value, in my opinion.

 

Ashby

 

I'll put a on that. Have a 1959-ish tip dip desk pen set, picked up on the Bay very cheap. Yes it has a steel nib but is one of the biggest surprises of my collection. It writes like a dream, holds a lot of ink, and still has at least some of the gee-wiz value of the snorkels.

 

Ken

[FarmBoy]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

 

Okay. Thanks, Ron. I guess the search for a spring continues.

Unfortunately they are now more than 15 cents.

 

Todd

[watch_art]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

 

Okay. Thanks, Ron. I guess the search for a spring continues.

Unfortunately they are now more than 15 cents.

 

Todd

 

Would you happen to have one? Would anybody happen to have one? I don't wanna send this pen back without a spring, now. I'd feel bad about not doing the job right.