A Skyline Pontential Cap-Posting Catastrophe

[Bristol24]

About five weeks ago, I purchased my first Eversharp Skyline "in the wild." This pen is all black with gold trim and has a nice flexible nib. It is a wet-writing pen, at least with Waterman Serenity Blue. I had a near catastrophic incident about 10 days ago and then again yesterday. I have found that, with my Skyline at least, it is possible for the cap to slip under the fill lever when posting if the cap's edge is inadvertently slid down along the barrel just behind and in alignment with the lever. In both instances, I saw what was about to happen and stopped before the lever was raised more than about 25% of its travel. If the pen were full enough, this inadvertent raising of the lever could cause ink to spew from the nib; a potentially embarrassing thing to happen...although a fortunate one for the nearest dry cleaners. I checked the fill lever to be certain it is retracting completely and it does but even in its full-retracted position, it is possible for the edge of the cap to butt up against the lever in such a way as to raise it. Obviously being aware of this potential certainly helps to avoid it from actually happening but this has made me curious. Have others had this situation?

[SpecTP]

About five weeks ago, I purchased my first Eversharp Skyline "in the wild." This pen is all black with gold trim and has a nice flexible nib. It is a wet-writing pen, at least with Waterman Serenity Blue. I had a near catastrophic incident about 10 days ago and then again yesterday. I have found that, with my Skyline at least, it is possible for the cap to slip under the fill lever when posting if the cap's edge is inadvertently slid down along the barrel just behind and in alignment with the lever. In both instances, I saw what was about to happen and stopped before the lever was raised more than about 25% of its travel. If the pen were full enough, this inadvertent raising of the lever could cause ink to spew from the nib; a potentially embarrassing thing to happen...although a fortunate one for the nearest dry cleaners. I checked the fill lever to be certain it is retracting completely and it does but even in its full-retracted position, it is possible for the edge of the cap to butt up against the lever in such a way as to raise it. Obviously being aware of this potential certainly helps to avoid it from actually happening but this has made me curious. Have others had this situation?

 

I don't post mine. So I don't encounter this situation.

[Pentode]

I havent used mine in a while, but I never really noticed that when I did.

[JonSzanto]

I just have one Demi- nearby, so I took a look. I don't know if this is across the entire line and production length, but the last 1/16" or so should be a little tab, which may have gotten bent upwards just a bit so that it sticks up out of the indentation in the barrel where you are able to grasp it. Gently bending it down just a small amount should help.

Do note that many Skylines have the gold plating worn off right on the lever from excessive or agressive posting - that lever always seems to be just a tiny bit above the face of the barrel. Even if you don't have any more 'accidents' in the future, post your cap very lightly and be certain the inside of the cap is clean and smooth.

[Greenie]

I have quite a few skylines. The end of the lever is probably bent upward, as JonSzanto said.

 

It should like like one of these photos, preferably the one with the lower profile. These won't catch like yours.

 

 

[JonSzanto]

It should like like one of these photos, preferably the one with the lower profile. These won't catch like yours.

 

Yes, thanks - your photos illustrate this perfectly.

[Bristol24]

Wow! Thanks for the very useful information. I'm going to look into the lever profile as mentioned and will report back. I really like the Skyline and find it to be a good writing pen. I'm thinking of getting another at some point.

 

Cliff

[Glenn-SC]

Yet another good reason to never post.

[PAKMAN]

+1

[Greenie]

But you kinda HAVE to post a Skyline. It feels too small and unbalanced unposted.

[Glenn-SC]

Besides damaging things and potentially leaking ink, posting my Skylines make them feel unbalanced and back-heavy.
They feel very "nibble" without.

[RedRinger]

About five weeks ago, I purchased my first Eversharp Skyline "in the wild." This pen is all black with gold trim and has a nice flexible nib. It is a wet-writing pen, at least with Waterman Serenity Blue. I had a near catastrophic incident about 10 days ago and then again yesterday. I have found that, with my Skyline at least, it is possible for the cap to slip under the fill lever when posting if the cap's edge is inadvertently slid down along the barrel just behind and in alignment with the lever. In both instances, I saw what was about to happen and stopped before the lever was raised more than about 25% of its travel. If the pen were full enough, this inadvertent raising of the lever could cause ink to spew from the nib; a potentially embarrassing thing to happen...although a fortunate one for the nearest dry cleaners. I checked the fill lever to be certain it is retracting completely and it does but even in its full-retracted position, it is possible for the edge of the cap to butt up against the lever in such a way as to raise it. Obviously being aware of this potential certainly helps to avoid it from actually happening but this has made me curious. Have others had this situation?

 

 

 

I think posting Skylines is begging for a cap crack and brassing of the lever; but I'll admit they do look awful impressive posted!

 

I wonder if the fact that you didn't lose a huge blot of ink, Cliff, might be due to the "breather tube" inside allowing a little air out of the back of the bladder when the lever was raised as you say 25% of its travel....lucky in any case!

 

I would think a nice pair of nylon pliers could help bend the end of the lever inwards a bit toward the barrel -- OR it may also be that the lever is a bit loose. I just took apart one of my Skylines for inspection and the J-bar is not so springy anymore, so if the sac isn't doing a nice job pressing on it, the lever can come away from the barrel just a little bit. That may be what happened in your case Cliff.

[Bristol24]

I think posting Skylines is begging for a cap crack and brassing of the lever; but I'll admit they do look awful impressive posted!

 

I wonder if the fact that you didn't lose a huge blot of ink, Cliff, might be due to the "breather tube" inside allowing a little air out of the back of the bladder when the lever was raised as you say 25% of its travel....lucky in any case!

 

I would think a nice pair of nylon pliers could help bend the end of the lever inwards a bit toward the barrel -- OR it may also be that the lever is a bit loose. I just took apart one of my Skylines for inspection and the J-bar is not so springy anymore, so if the sac isn't doing a nice job pressing on it, the lever can come away from the barrel just a little bit. That may be what happened in your case Cliff.

 

First off, I owe everyone an apology for going dark for a couple of weeks. I hadn't checked back to see if there were other responses. Sorry...

 

I guess I am old school. I post virtually all of my pens, even some that might actually "feel" better in the hand un-posted. I agree with you that the Skyline does look impressive when posted. As to the lack of a huge blot of ink being averted because of the breather tube, the breather tube in my pen, at the time this happened, was loose inside the sac. I have since removed the sac and repaired the breather tube. I'm not happy with the performance, however and will post my questions and concerns about that under another topic shortly.

 

I was able to bend down the tab of the lever by holding down the front of the lever and pushing down on the tab with my thumbnail. My tab now looks like the second photo posted by Greenie. Even with the bent down tab it is still possible for the cap to grab the lever but not nearly as much so as it was before.

 

Cliff

[RedRinger]

 

First off, I owe everyone an apology for going dark for a couple of weeks. I hadn't checked back to see if there were other responses. Sorry...

 

I guess I am old school. I post virtually all of my pens, even some that might actually "feel" better in the hand un-posted. I agree with you that the Skyline does look impressive when posted. As to the lack of a huge blot of ink being averted because of the breather tube, the breather tube in my pen, at the time this happened, was loose inside the sac. I have since removed the sac and repaired the breather tube. I'm not happy with the performance, however and will post my questions and concerns about that under another topic shortly.

 

I was able to bend down the tab of the lever by holding down the front of the lever and pushing down on the tab with my thumbnail. My tab now looks like the second photo posted by Greenie. Even with the bent down tab it is still possible for the cap to grab the lever but not nearly as much so as it was before.

 

Cliff

 

 

Nice job!

Yeah, I'm struggling with a Skyline right now that allows the feed and nib to come out of the section just too easily (needs to be heat set I think; just got a new heat gun programmable to 10 degree increments!), but worse it allows blots of ink out and I think the sac might have a leak or just be to floppy. It was sold to me "restored" but I'm starting to trust anyone's restore job but my own less and less...

[Glenn-SC]

 

I post virtually all of my pens, even some that might actually "feel" better in the hand un-posted.

 

Even with the bent down tab it is still possible for the cap to grab the lever but not nearly as much so as it was before.

 

Only you can save you from yourself.

[Bristol24]

 

Only you can save you from yourself.

A very true statement. Clint Eastwood's line in the movie Dirty Harry has unique application in the arena of fountain pen repair. "A man's got to know his limitations."