Watermans: A French Pen That Has Me Baffled!

[Toby or not Toby]

Hello, or perhaps I ought to say, 'Bonjour',

 

This French Watermans pen, possibly a Ligne 60(?), has a filling system that I haven't come across, before.

 

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/5/3/2/1/0/webimg/827324423_tp.jpg

 

Dipped in ink, the 18k nib writes beautifully, but I can't fathom out how to fill the 'cartridge'. The aluminium cartiridge has a hinged, brass tab at the end. Does the cartidge screw, or pull out? I'm reluctant to use force for fear of breaking something.

 

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/5/3/2/1/0/webimg/827324814_tp.jpg
http://ti2.auctiva.com/web/supersize/clicktosup_000000.gif

 

I'd be grateful of any guidance you can offer.

 

Thankyou.

 

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/5/3/2/1/0/webimg/827324854_tp.jpg
http://ti2.auctiva.com/web/supersize/clicktosup_000000.gif

[flipper_gv]

Complete guess, but try pressing the brass plate and use it like a button filler maybe?

 

From what I could gather, the sac inside the converter is impossible to repair. If you need a new converter, the CF type should do the trick :

http://www.penbox.co.uk/waterman.ink.htm

 

Otherwise, cartridges for these are very hard to find.

Edited April 15, 2015 by flipper_gv

[tinkerteacher]

Does Waterman still qualify as a French pen company now that it is owned by Rubbermaid?

 

Back on topic, isn't that one of those Waterman X pens? That fill by capillary action?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/236372-how-do-i-refill-this-fountain-pen/

[Toby or not Toby]

Good thinking Rare,

 

Yes, I've tried that and nothing seems to happen. The brass tab lifts up which suggests it might work in a similar way to the traditional lever fill pen. There may be a rubber sac inside the cartridge that may have perished. I just don't know!

[tinkerteacher]

Ah, it is more of an aerometric filler.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/profiles/xpen.htm

 

Filling and cleaning instructions here.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/107288-please-help-me-identify-this-interesting-waterman-fp/?&p=1057975&hl=aerometric&fromsearch=1

[Toby or not Toby]

A-ha! Tinker, you're a godsend!!!

[Toby or not Toby]

Thanks for the tip regarding a replacement cartridge, Rare.

 

If I can get the present one out, I shall certainly invest in one.

 

I'm going to try soaking it to see whether it'll loosen up enough to get it out.

[Ernst Bitterman]

The filler works by lifting the tab; it raises a bar inside. Unfortunately, what it raises the bar against is a rubber sac that is apt to have gone hard. I've got one that I haven't been able to get the filler out of, and I've seen some opinion that it was not meant to be removable, a sort of captive converter (this seems a little unlikely, though, because they knew by then that sacs need replacing and this is REALLY unserviceable if permanently attached).

[Toby or not Toby]

That's interesting, 'Bonum, and very useful to know.

 

It's curious. The sac doesn't feel hard, but neither do I feel any elasticity when I lift the tab. Perhaps all it needs is a good clean to clear the gills.

 

I'm an illustrator and I use the pen for drawing. By simply dipping the pen I've found that I can load the nib sufficiently to finish a A4 sketch.

[Toby or not Toby]

A-ha!

 

I've just discovered that it's possible to prize off the little cap on the top end of the cartridge, (see picture). The sac within still feels springy so I'm hopeful a good clean might yet do the trick.

 

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/5/3/2/1/0/webimg/827324814_tp.jpg

 

How on earth one might set about replacing the sac from the wrong end is anybody's guess!!

[mariom]

I saw this pen for sale and was tempted as the nib looked really nice. I couldn't get a definitive answer on how the filling mechanism worked and had decided to pass on the pen, but you obviously jumped in before me.

 

Love to know the path to getting one of these working when you finally figure it out.

 

Mario

[Left FPN]

Perhaps the same method as used on my No3, cut through the converter case approx 10mm from the section and bond a sac over,