leaking section

[sombrueil]

At the Commmonwealth Pen Show I acquired a sweet, tiny old BCHR Aiken-Lambert ring top, marked "Capitol Lady Dainty". It seeps ink, where the nib inserts into the section. Is there any simple fix to try? I am the kind of person who sends my pens out to be re-sacced, so adapting your advice to the most basic of levels would be good.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Can you post a photo?

 

Lever-filler?  Fixed nib?  I wonder if it would be worth (or even advisable) trying a teeensy bit of silicon grease near where the leak is.  Would be temporary at best, though.

 

Do you have a loupe or something to check for any cracks near the nib?

 

Good luck.

[sombrueil]

yes, lever filler. I think it might be a friction fit nib. I have a loupe; I can't see any cracks in the nib (doesn't mean there aren't any), but the section is sort of dinged up and maybe it no longer keeps a good seal. I mean, it's probably only a hundred years old or so.

[Bristol24]

I came here to post the same question and saw this thread already in progress so I'm going to chime in and say, "me too." 

 

I collect vintage combos and have one that has become a semi-daily carry pen for me.  Lately it has started allowing ink to migrate up the face of the section to the bottom edge of the grip area.  Inky fingers are the result.  It does not write excessively wet by any means but I can see ink glistening around the nib and feed where they enter the section.  I see no evidence of a crack anywhere.  How does one tighten up the seal between the nib, feed and section?

 

Cliff

[tmenyc]

Sombrieul and Bristol

to both of you, if the nib and feed are tight enough to not slip around while writing, it looks more like they need new sacs, or the sacs there aren't properly sealed, than anything else. Air is getting in, letting ink out.  It may be that the nib and feed aren't fit well together, but I'd look at the sacs first.  A lot of us here can do that.  I'd be hesitant to get silicone up in there because stopping too much ink flow can too easily become stopping all ink flow with sticking anything in there. 

 

Tim

[CrabButler]

I agree with Tmenyc that the problem is likely with the sac, I bought a "repaired" Waterman 50 something and it dribbled ink from the same place, the sac had been cut and placed onto the section, but without any shellac. Removing the sac and putting shellac onto it sealed it and it no longer leaked. I don't think there is a simple fix other than replacing the sac.