Pen enquiry

[wantz1]

Hi all, I have just found this forum so wanted to say hi to all, I have a family member left me a old fountain pen, not sure of make or model so I am hoping to identify it, it has a silver overlay. Pictures below
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/31/974187d9f64ff5ea1d7aa523c4213f81.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/31/5af0ae5cdade892eb6677cb4979b9b9d.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/31/7f7f5e4c7957e6806615208759d10fd4.jpg

Thanks in advance
Martin

[jar]

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell. Can't tell much from the pictures though.

[wantz1]

Thanks Jar, is that due to the quality? Or not knowing....

[jar]

Thanks Jar, is that due to the quality? Or not knowing....

Both. Overlays were quite common and made by many non-pen companies. But the big issue is that there is no detail on any imprints.

[Wahl]

:welcome:

[wantz1]

It is quite faded, any recommendations for how to clean it up?

[jar]

It is quite faded, any recommendations for how to clean it up?

Don't clean it up yet. Get closeups of the nib, any other markings on the pen, hallmarks if present.

[Hawk]

Welcome.

[tandaina]

Yup, please take closeup photos of the engraving on the nib, and any hallmarks that remain on the overlay even if they are faint. The better the photos the more likely folks will be able to help ID the pen!

[wantz1]

Here's a few pictures, thank you for your replies
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/f2c470327292d98584d0e9dcfa7b8b55.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/b7fca33db11b6f3ed3c32260a3aadd40.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/e6ad4ee8fc8deee9c22cb5c3724ec7db.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/874bc5965bbdb9cb161078a7ec0685ae.jpg

Happy New Year

[wantz1]

I will try to get a magnifying glass today, how exciting

[jar]

Looks like British Hallmarks so there will also be a makers mark likely.

Let's see if we can get better images of them. The date mark looks to be 1913-1914 which seems correct looking at the simple feed.

[wantz1]

Wow, your doing well, thank you, I need to get the lads camera or a magnifying glass still, I'm trying to wipe some ink of the nib

[wantz1]

Nib photos
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/ba8af1d71d35d1e4346964edff311122.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/3487c92437886b0a069c7343bdb665da.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/30f13773a43f3a0839e8b281cdeda1d4.jpg

[wantz1]

More marks
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/05b8abde6eaf6878a57fa0575945685f.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/44354b2892bb6a8539f6d3b05aa90def.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/d053616bec13f8cbb3bd0c5f1def1e2d.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/e97002f65c01790104221e73417c4e04.jpg

[wantz1]

looks like the letter M on the end of the maker?

[jar]

looks like the letter M on the end of the maker?

It is likely a "W". Look at the Britannia (Leopard) and date mark (O in a shield with flat angled top) for proper orientation.

Next look for an assay office mark. You can see examples of the Assay Marks here (http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html).

With those we can then try to figure out the Markers Mark which is for the overlay, not the pen.

[tandaina]

That is a really strange nib.

[jar]

That is a really strange nib.

My guess is that the nib is not original to the pen.

[tandaina]

And I suspect it isn't installed properly either?

[wantz1]

W & H could be the silver mark looking through the pictures, I think from Sheffield
The nib was in the pen, there is nothing inside the chamber so I guess there is a part missing that would hold the ink? http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/eb21f14d3e59dfc1da40d9e243a054a9.jpg

[tandaina]

Nope, looks like an eyedropper filler. The WHOLE pen barrel is what holds the ink. Section threads just need a little pure silicone grease, simplest pen in the world and needs the least maintenance, my favorite filling system honestly. So long as the barrel and section are sound it just works!

Edit: So that means to fill it you use an eyedropper (or I use a blunt syringe as it's easier to clean and more precise) to fill it with bottled ink. Holds a lot of ink.

[wantz1]

Thank you, I will get some ink and a dropper and try it out, if I need to buy a new nib will any fit, or are they different for pens?

[tandaina]

Thank you, I will get some ink and a dropper and try it out, if I need to buy a new nib will any fit, or are they different for pens?

Finding a new nib that will fit is a very finicky business. No, not just any will fit and with an old pen it'll be even more difficult. A skilled nib miester might be able to properly seat the nib it has (which looks far too set forward on the feed). Without careful measurements there's really no way to know what nib will fit and what won't I'm afraid.

[wantz1]

Ink in today, I'm pleased it works!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/02/4700e9421d2ba096440f97bc2a2658ca.jpg

[jar]

Back then many pens were nearly one offs. Parts were machined individually and hand fitted; very often pieces from one pen will not fit on another made by the same folk that same day without hand fitting and modification.

From the pictures you have a fairly high end pen and one that got lots of use.

[wantz1]

Every now and then it goes dry, but I think that I will persevere with it next week back at work and see how it goes, thank you for your assistance

[Marsilius]

Welome! Very cool thread for starting!

[wantz1]

Thank you Marsilus, I am now looking at other pens wondering if I should get another for comparison purposes :)

[jar]

Thank you Marsilus, I am now looking at other pens wondering if I should get another for comparison purposes :)

You always need one more pen.

[wantz1]

Well I have ordered one from USA, they then wanted 52usd to ship it, so I am getting them to ship to my sisters in Colarado, she can send it to me after!

[wantz1]

It has arrived, what are the two little bits for? http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160122/4076852c786bb278b250252e16338485.jpg

[penwash]

Nib photos
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/ba8af1d71d35d1e4346964edff311122.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/3487c92437886b0a069c7343bdb665da.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/01/30f13773a43f3a0839e8b281cdeda1d4.jpg

From these pictures, the nib looks like an Esterbrook dip pen nib type 314.
314 is a stub nib, and this number is later carried on to their fountain pen nibs.
Hence 2314-F, 2314-M, 2314-B and their sibling 9314-F,M,B

[Marsilius]

If your nib dries out often while you write, it could be that it is too loose from the feed and so the ink doesn't get pulled through. You can see that easily if you press a bit against your fingernail and it lifts easily up away from the feed. Folks here will have food suggestions for adjustment.
One pen is never enough!
You might like dip pens, too.

[Serendipity]

Great thread, thank you for sharing, it brought about pen nostalgia and had me wondering what was written with it over the years. I'm glad you brought it here for us to peruse and for those with expert knowledge to offer insight on.

[wantz1]

I have got my new pen now, feels more modern but I still like the old one......

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/7f359c922d97dd23dbcd01a7d902c618.jpg

[Bisquitlips]

Greetings!

We are glad you are here.

Chime in and enjoy!

[wantz1]

Thank you for your kind comments, I think I will do an old versus new comparison, to see which is better to use :)

[Bisquitlips]

Martin,

Looks like a nice pen.

In my opinion a lovely sterling overlay / graphing with a hard rubber body.

These are common and not necessarily valuable, but if it were mine I would see about having it restored. It is likely an eye dropper but even still a lovely example.

Thank you taking the time to share!

Richard

[wantz1]

Thank you Richard, where would I look for having a pen restored, I have used it a little, but I am preferring the Levenger as it doesn't drop puddles :)

[distracted_mom]

This was fun to read! Thanks for sharing!