Conid Fountainbel's Bulk Filler Ltd Demonstrator

[olivier78860]

Presentation

This is the box I received in my mail, very well-packed in a huge carboard parcel with plenty of foam, and protected by a little cardboard sleeve, all enclosed in a bubble-wrap envelop. This pen was ready to travel anywhere !

http://i.imgur.com/ujstc.jpg

When I opened this beautiful yet simple box, I saw the pen :

http://i.imgur.com/RhSXu.jpg

To my surprise, customization wasn't just a word. You can see the inner plate with my full name inside (blanked because I like my privacy ) :

http://i.imgur.com/3bi0S.jpg

This was accompanied by a little manual sheet, a certificate of ownership dated and signed by both Francis Goossens (aka Fountainbel) and Werner Helsen (Conid). With two tools to work on the pen yourself (the wrench is useful for a thorough cleaning, and it adapts clearly on the top of the barrel, thanks to two holes, to unscrew the piston system) :

http://i.imgur.com/p6M5y.jpg

So let's skip all this and go to the pen :

http://i.imgur.com/ra08S.jpg

The pen is nice. I would lie if I said I like demonstrators, but Francis made a tour de force to make one that was beautiful to my eyes. The union of brushed Titanium and transparent resin is particularily well found, with nice proportions and shapes and an elegant and timeless design.

If it wasn't obvious yet, one can rest assured that Francis has a sure taste when it comes to pens.

This pen compares in size with the Pelikan M900 (but of course, not in weight):

http://i.imgur.com/HnOc7.jpg

But the big innovation with this pen is the filling system. Thanks to a disengageable piston, the filling mechanism doesn't waste space and enables at least twice as much ink as the Pelikan M900.

Step 1: Unscrew the turning knob,

http://i.imgur.com/e0J1P.jpg

Step 2: Pull the rod until it reaches the disengageable piston. Notice there is a little screw at the end of the rod.

http://i.imgur.com/Y9Vfi.jpg

Step 3: Keep rotating the knob as if you were unscrewing it from the barrel. The rod is now fixed to the piston.

http://i.imgur.com/wuCeq.jpg

Step 4: Push the piston until the rod is completely inside the barrel again.

http://i.imgur.com/p6J0E.jpg

Step 5: Now pull the piston to suck ink in. At the first time, the pen will get filled at 80%. If it isn't enough, expell the ink bubble when holding the pen with the nib up, and plunge the pen in the inkwell again.

/!\ Hard Hat Area /!\ I wrapped the nib with a paper towel, because there are ink projections from the ink contained in the feed when expelling the bubble. (Maybe I'm doing it wrong, in this case I'll take advice from more savvy people ).

http://i.imgur.com/gcrVn.jpg

Step 6: Screw the turning knob as if it was at the end of the barrel. This disengages the rod from the piston. Push gently the rod back inside de pen, and screw the knob on the barrel. Et voilà!, you're ready to use the pen for a solid week of non-stop writing !

http://i.imgur.com/2oKkj.jpg

Here is a little written review with some blah blah. Remember you have to sligthly unscrew the turning knob, in order to open the flow between the feed and the reservoir. The end of the rod is a plug. This pen won't leak when not used!

The nib is in Titanium, Fine, and it allows a little variation as seen here :

http://i.imgur.com/Ih6YG.jpg

One's got to love the logo :

http://i.imgur.com/xaGre.jpg

There is a real attention to details here. The number of my pen is engraved at the top of the clip.

http://i.imgur.com/1YWsm.jpg

On the cap's ring, stands the name of the creator proudly sitting beneath the clip's end:

http://i.imgur.com/iT7Ga.jpg

The nib and feed:

The nib is very smooth, allows a little line variation and the engraving's pattern is quite beautiful. It is quite large, and starts instantly. No problem like on the Stipula T which needed lots of tweaking in order to work better. Francis adjusted everything prior to sending the pen, and it's just perfect.

http://i.imgur.com/GZ8Ms.jpg

The section has a very comfortable form. It's a real pleasure to hold this pen !

http://i.imgur.com/coUZW.jpg

Now, since I don't have any way of measuring the ink volumes, here's a little picturesque comparison, of what the pen contained, expelled in an empty ink bottle.

Since the bulk filler won't expell all the ink, what's in the left bottle is only 80% of what was inside the pen's reservoir.

(on the left, this pen; on the right, the M900)

http://i.imgur.com/sPEG3.jpg http://i.imgur.com/B4hEX.jpg

 

My impressions

Pros

- This pen is a real proof it is still possible to innovate in the world of fountain pens, and that's what led me to buy it.

- The Bock nib is very smooth and the flow is finely adjusted.

- The pen is very well-balanced, posted or not, and very light. It has a timeless design.

- As far as I know, it's completely hand-made, which ads up to the personalization.

- Considering the limited human resources involved, the price is fair.

- Five years guarantee !

Cons

- The box is a bit cheap.

- The rod on my pen isn't perfectly straight, which induces some friction when activating the piston. Maybe some QC to improve there.

- There is a little scratch on the clip.

- The cap doesn't screw very safely. I have the feeling it could unscrew in a vest pocket, and since it is asked not to overtighten it, my advice would be to carry it in a pouch. Not a big deal, but better know it before your pocket changes colour

 

Conclusion

As you might have understood, this pen isn't perfect, but it is obvious the designer loves his trade and shows it in his design. I warmly recommend this pen to any enthusiast, and wish success to Francis for his future projects. Be sure I will be keeping an interested eye on them !

Edited July 18, 2012 by olivier78860

[Malcy]

A very interesting design. Thanks for posting.

[ArchiMark]

Wow! That's some pen, Olivier!....Thanks for sharing.....

 

Wasn't aware of this pen being made, just had heard about the filling system...

 

How does one get this pen?

 

 

Mark

[olivier78860]

Mark, send a PM to Fountainbel, if there are still some available (it is limited to 60 and there won't be more demonstrators), he will be happy to help you.

[ArchiMark]

Mark, send a PM to Fountainbel, if there are still some available (it is limited to 60 and there won't be more demonstrators), he will be happy to help you.

 

Thanks, Olivier.....will do....

 

[mongrelnomad]

I should be getting mine tomorrow or Sunday (stuck in customs :bonk: ). Really looking forward to it...

 

Thanks for the great review!

[hari317]

Great review. Thanks!

[Uncle Red]

Nice review. That nib looks like fun.

[Lemon328i]

Great review Olivier as well excellent photos!

[fountainbel]

Hi Olivier,

Thanks for your fast and excellent review !

Allow me to react on the con's you've mentioned :

Cons

- The box is a bit cheap.

We agree on that, but given the free insured shipping we provided we reached our cost limit.

- The rod on my pen isn't perfectly straight, which induces some friction when activating the piston. Maybe some QC to improve there.

Note the rod IS bend on purpose, allowing a more fluent ink transfert with minimal opening of the filling knob.

One can feel the Oring enters its section seat initially, but this will not harm anything and the ink shut-off valvewill close perfectly

- There is a little scratch on the clip.

Sorry to hear this, could you send a picture to Werner please?

- The cap doesn't screw very safely. I have the feeling it could unscrew in a vest pocket, and since it is asked not to overtighten it, my advice would be to carry it in a pouch. Not a big deal, but better know it before your pocket changes colour

I have one of these pens daily in my shirt or jacket pocket for over a year and never experienced a loose cap. question is, what does " do nor ovethighten" mean?

Nevertheless we will relect on your remark and see what we can do !

 

Thanks again !

Francis

[pelman]

An excellent review. Thanks for sharing your joy.

[InkyWinky]

That is one stunning pen - thank for sharing!

[Lemon328i]

This is exactly why I made the plunge in being an early adopter of this technology - Francis has really thought this design through and takes the time to explain the reasoning behind each choice. If I understand correctly, the slightly bent rod essentially acts like a spring.

 

Hi Olivier,

Thanks for your fast and excellent review !

Allow me to react on the con's you've mentioned :

Cons

- The box is a bit cheap.

We agree on that, but given the free insured shipping we provided we reached our cost limit.

- The rod on my pen isn't perfectly straight, which induces some friction when activating the piston. Maybe some QC to improve there.

Note the rod IS bend on purpose, allowing a more fluent ink transfert with minimal opening of the filling knob.

One can feel the Oring enters its section seat initially, but this will not harm anything and the ink shut-off valvewill close perfectly

- There is a little scratch on the clip.

Sorry to hear this, could you send a picture to Werner please?

- The cap doesn't screw very safely. I have the feeling it could unscrew in a vest pocket, and since it is asked not to overtighten it, my advice would be to carry it in a pouch. Not a big deal, but better know it before your pocket changes colour

I have one of these pens daily in my shirt or jacket pocket for over a year and never experienced a loose cap. question is, what does " do nor ovethighten" mean?

Nevertheless we will relect on your remark and see what we can do !

 

Thanks again !

Francis

[akellens]

Hello,

 

Very interesting design (and a good review)!

I wasn't even aware of the existence of this company.

Nice to see that we now also have a pen maker in Belgium :-)

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

[RMN]

Thanks for the review, Olivier

 

 

I had only seen a prototype last year.

 

A very nice demonstrator.

 

 

Now all the more patiently (NOT!!) waiting for the non-demonstrators.

 

 

 

 

Can someone comment on the non-titanium nibs??

 

D.ick

[Bill Wood]

Francis. I think you just sold some more pens. Congratulations on a great review and thanks to the poster for the review.

[olivier78860]

Thanks, Francis, for answering the question about the rod.

About the box, it is nice looking, it's just the inside slit that is a bit thin. But this is very minor.

Regarding the cap, it behaves like the Pelikan M1000. Not loose at all, I didn't want to give that impression.

[hari317]

 

[/u][/b][/i]- The rod on my pen isn't perfectly straight, which induces some friction when activating the piston. Maybe some QC to improve there.

Note the rod IS bend on purpose, allowing a more fluent ink transfert with minimal opening of the filling knob.

One can feel the Oring enters its section seat initially, but this will not harm anything and the ink shut-off valvewill close perfectly

 

Francis, I am curious. Can you pls explain how having a bent rod can allow a more fluent ink transfer by minimal opening of the filling knob?

 

Surely it is the pitch of the knob threads which will determine how much the valve opens axially per turn of the knob?

 

Regards,

hari

[olivier78860]

I suppose that if you bend the rod a little, you get the "plug" at its end (which surface is in contact with the feed) to have an angle with the feed intake, and therefore you get a sufficient ink flow with fewer turns of the knob ?

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I will try to explain here from my understanding. The rod is bent so that when it is unscrewed, it will move toward the walls of the barrel and out of the way of the hole at the bottom of the ink reservoir. This allows the ink to flow unimpeded from the reservoir to the nib. When the knob is screwed in all the way, the tip of the rod seats in a hole at the bottom of the ink reservoir to cut off ink flow to the nib and feed.

 

Also of note, but not as related is the Sheaffer Vacufil. When the plunger is all the way down and the blind cap is screwed in, there is a protrusion in the feed that pushes the plunger rod sideways. This serves the same function and pushes the tip of the plunger toward the barrel wall allowing a more unimpeded flow of ink from the ink reservoir to the nib and feed.

 

Fountainbel, does this sound correct?

 

Dillon