Pen Cleaning: My Vintage Pen Is Stuck, Help?

[TREBFPN]

 

Hello. I just received a new - old Eversharp/Wahl Doric FPN (1936 version with a simple nib). It has a Vac system and they call it "a one shot". There is the problem. The knob on the back of the pen will not budge. I have soaked it in Speedball pen cleaner and the paranoid side of me thinks the fountain pen had been filled with Super Glue. I try to be rational but you know this is my first plunger type fountain pen I own in such an aged condition. I know Medea has an Airbrush Cleaner and that literally will remove tar off streets. Having read on this pen type it seems the plastic is slightly improved but can end up crystalizig due to age since the resin is just made fragile. I am not sure what to do with it and i do not want chemicals to react with that plastic body. Can someone please throw in some recommendations, tips and insights?

 

Thank you.

[sevenof9]

maybe you have lots of old ink dried in the pen. have you dipped the nib into water and do you get ink dissolved?

[TREBFPN]

I have tried soaking it over night in water and some liquid dishwashing soap. Speedball Pen Cleaning Fluid is the only other remedy I have used and it calls for rinsing the pen in warm water after every 30 minutes of use. I was using Super Glue only as an analogy to define the stubborn nature of this dried ink. I am not sure how long a pen can safely be soaked in water and I have removed it from the water after a 12 hour period. It is drying on a paper towel at this time with the pen nib downward. I hope there is another remedy. A lot of the ink has been dissolved and any liquid that comes out of the pen now does not show anymore color.

Edited October 8, 2014 by TREBFPN

[sevenof9]

do you have a friend with an ultrasonic bath? that normally get things going.

[Hooker56]

TRBFPN,

 

That Doric is a sweet pen! It is one that you might consider sending to a professional restorer such as Ron Zorn or Danny Fudge. Fore a pen like that it's worth every cent!

[kirchh]

The pen will almost certainly need to have the filler serviced if you would like it to function, so there's little point in trying to free up the piston yourself; I suggest leaving it for the repairperson who will perform the filler repair.

 

--Daniel

[RonLyke]

+1 on the last 2 posts.

My black Doric w/#7 adjustable nib is presently being restored by Syd (Wahlnut).

[RonLyke]

P.S.

That's a beautiful pen!!

[TREBFPN]

Thank you. I will send my pen in and get it professionally repaired. I really appreciate the comments and the wake up call.

[TREBFPN]

+1 on the last 2 posts.

My black Doric w/#7 adjustable nib is presently being restored by Syd (Wahlnut).

Many general fountain pen reapairers are swamped with work and here is a specialist. He said the average turn around time is only a month. I have spoken to other pen repairers and some have a repair wait frame extending over 1 year. Sid knows this pen and the assumption is that the rubber inside the pen has basically globbed up over time and welded the pen shut. I will be working extra hard to cover the repairs but I would not have it any other way. Besides, every pen has a different personality and a soul to care for. Thank you very much for the referral.

[TREBFPN]

P.S.

That's a beautiful pen!!

I just sent my pen off to the Penbury Manor. I told Syd Saperstein that you gave me the referral, I thought that is the least I could do. I will let you know how the pen turns out and if you get your pen back please share the repair story. Inquiring minds want to know Thank you, sir!

[TREBFPN]

TRBFPN,

 

That Doric is a sweet pen! It is one that you might consider sending to a professional restorer such as Ron Zorn or Danny Fudge. Fore a pen like that it's worth every cent!

I just received my other Eversharp Wahl Gold Lady Fountain Pen and Pencil set back from Danny Fudge today. He did an excellent job with them. His rates are very sweet and I will sure work with him again in the future. You mentioned him to me in another post and I just wanted to thank you for that. I will have to set my camera up and show some pictures of them soon. Thank you for the help and this complement. I think you have saved my few pens I own from extinction.

Edited October 10, 2014 by TREBFPN