Question - re small hole in Caps of vintage fountain pens

[dave321]

many vintage foutain pens have a small ~1mm hole in their caps.

whyis this?

surely this would allow the ink to dry up more quickly ?

i find it very odd and counter intuitive

[inkstainedruth]

I remember reading an old thread where it said that the holes were there in case some small child swallowed the cap -- but that might have just been conjecture on someone's part.

I've also (on occasion) seen holes in the barrels of vintage pens but I don't remember whether I've ever heard a reason for that (it might have something to do with the sac or diaphragms in the barrels on vintage pens like having air flow around outside them in the barrel, but don't quote me on that...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth