Strange Hinged Lever Filler

[LoveBigPensAndCannotLie]

Got this pen a little while ago, finally got around to putting a sac in it, and I was looking for more info. The lever is hinged with a bar that swings out a bit. 

 

 

I put a size 14 sac in it which was apparently the wrong size because it barely fills. The bar takes up space internally and seems to restrict the size sac that will properly work in this. It also has a pressure bar on the inside that holds onto feet on the lever, ala Waterman pressure bars. I am guessing this is a very early lever filler, as the design is overly complicated and barely works.

 

Any clue who made this for Rexall? My suspicion is possibly Moore, as I know they made some pens for Rexall, and I am using a Moore cap with this pen and it fits perfectly. But I have never seen a Moore lever like this.

 

Also would appreciate any advice to possibly make this work better, any kind of modifications I could make to the lever system. I can put a size 12 sac in this but then it will hold roughly 3 drops of ink and will be virtually useless as a pen. This is already a frankenpen as I do not have the original cap for it so I don't care about making some changes.

 

Edit: Did some research and found that the Rexall line was probably made by Dewitt LaFrance whose writing instrument department was bought out by Carter's Ink Company at some point in the late 20's. But I still cannot find any references to this kind of lever filler.

[Paul-in-SF]

I just found out myself that Rexall sold a couple of different brands (besides the Signet branded pen that you have) made by different manufacturers. Belmont pens were reportedly made by Moore, although the one I have doesn't look like any other Moore pen I have seen. And their Monogram pens were reportedly made by an outfit called Kraker, with which I am not familiar. 

 

I see your pen says "Sold only at Rexall Stores" and I was wondering if it also says "Non-breakable" like the other pens do? And the other pens have nibs labeled "Forever" like a brand name, is your nib branded? 

 

I'm afraid I don't have any advice about the lever, I haven't seen one like that either. I wonder if the pressure bar might be re-shaped to take up less room, but it sounds like it would be difficult to get out, and even more difficult to put back. 

[LoveBigPensAndCannotLie]

Yeah, that's how I found an answer for your thread, was trying to figure out companies that made pens for Rexall and came across the Forever nib on the Belmont/Monogram pens while I was looking and remembered your question.

 

I feel like "unbreakable" was almost like a generic term lots of manufacturers used for their celluloid pens. I guess it was considered very durable at the time compared to hard rubber. This one is rubber so it doesn't have anything like that on it.

 

The nib just has an "S" on it and 14kt below. It's a little late so I can't get a pic up but it looks exactly like this one on Peyton Street Pens: https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/rexall-signet-fountain-pen-by-dewitt-lafrance-gold-filled-lined-pattern-flexible-fine-14k-nib-excellent-restored.html

 

I thought it may have been a replacement nib because the curvature was all messed up - would not fit on the feed at all, I had to bend outwards a bit and really heatset the feed to make it fit. But most of the examples of Rexall Signet pens I can find online have the same nib so I guess it must be original. Not sure why it was so deformed.

[FarmBoy]

You have bad luck with pens. 
 

Try a larger sac. 

[LoveBigPensAndCannotLie]

I don't think this is really bad luck, I don't think it's broken, this is just how it works. Although it would be nice to know from someone else who has seen this type of lever if anything is off about mine. With the section off I can see the pressure bar correctly depressing.

 

But when putting in the sac it feels tight at first and then goes through, like there's some latch that is catching or something. A size 14 sac definitely seems appropriate for a pen of this size but it doesn't work all that well.

[Ron Z]

Check to make sure that all of the bits and pieces of previous sacs are cleaned out of the barrel and off of the pressure bar,  and that nothing is caught on the top side of the pressure bar.  It doesn't take much stuck on the barrel wall to make you think that you need a smaller sac when you try to fit one in.

[LoveBigPensAndCannotLie]

It's all clean, I'm very thorough about getting old sac bits out. When I put the new sac in, it feels like it is pressing on something, and then I can feel it releasing. I can't tell for sure, but I feel like it is that extra little hinge bar that comes up when the lever is pulled out. 

 

Maybe this is just how it's supposed to work and I need a smaller sac. But 14 is already fairly small so I'm a little skeptical. Have you seen this kind of lever filler before?

[Ron Z]

2 hours ago, LoveBigPensAndCannotLie said:

Have you seen this kind of lever filler before?

 

I have.  Not a commonly used design.  I don't remember what the pens were though.  There were multiple designs made in attempts to get around patents.