'coughing' Estie Sj

[MBFan]

I've recently discovered the wonderful world of Esterbrook, and bought myself an SJ (red) and what I think to be an LJ (green). The nibs are probably the best I've ever used (a 1551 and a 9314 relief, both OF).

 

From what I've been told, they have been fully serviced. However, both have a tiny amount of ink around the collar usually after being stored upright, and my little SJ coughs a blob of ink every now and again. I use them for lecture notes, so this is annoying to say the least. Both are filled with Noodlers Borealis Black.

 

Any ideas why this is, and how to fix it?

 

Here a photo of the pair

 

Edit: sorry for the sideways upload, not sure why it does that. Also, sorry for the bad quality!

Edited October 2, 2013 by MBFan

[Hobiwan]

The coughing or "sploosh effect" is the ancient problem users had with the earliest of fountain pens in the 1880s. It happens when a bubble of air rushes back into the sac, causes a pressure spike, and forces an overload of ink to the nib. The story is that this is what happened to Lewis Waterman, an insurance salesman.

 

He was in the process of signing up a client for a large contract when his pen coughed all over the contract and ruined it. By the time he rushed back to the office and got another contract, the client had already signed with another agent. Highly displeased, he went to work and designed what was to become the item that ushered into being the "Golden Age of Fountain Pens" ... the fissure feed.

 

The simple modification was 3 small channels or fissures cut into the feed below the original "ink flow channel" that allowed the ink to flow to the point via the fissures, with a smooth flow of air going back to the ink sac via the upper channel. This solved the coughing provlem. Esterbrooks have this kind of feed, as do/did most all fountain pens made from 1883 on.

 

Please forgive all the pontificating, but I like to tell the story.

 

In a sentence it appears to me that your feed's fissures may be clogged up, A good soaking in pen cleaner or a soapy solution with a bit of ammonia might do the trick.

 

There could, of course, be other causes, such as "sac jiggle" within the barrel as you write....

 

 

[FarmBoy]

Mine does it almost every time I put it next to a 51 in my pocket...

[KrazyIvan]

Mine does it almost every time I put it next to a 51 in my pocket...

 

So you made it ink itself?

[Hobiwan]

Mine does it almost every time I put it next to a 51 in my pocket...

 

Yep. I have to keep mine away from the Sentinel Snorkel. Whaddya think that is ... envy, embarassment, excitement ... ?

[WirsPlm]

My Esties also burp/leak occasionally, more than my modern Pilots. In one I know it's related to sac jostling (probably similar for the others). I just watch where I'm holding them and avoid touching the feed.

[OcalaFlGuy]

 

Yep. I have to keep mine away from the Sentinel Snorkel. Whaddya think that is ... envy, embarassment, excitement ... ?

 

The pen of Satan trying to posses that pure little Estie?

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[pajaro]

Hood envy.

[MBFan]

What an enjoyable read! Thank you all for the tips, I'll give it a soak and see what happens.

 

Hood envy