Apologies if I've missed an existing thread on this, but as a newbie with a dozen or so nice old pens needing TLC, It would be good to have a few restoration tips.
(I've been restoring classic motorbikes and old cameras for years so I'm not so dopey technically).
Most of my pens came from my 101 year old foster mum, who received most of these pens as presentations from various organisations. As a headmistress in a particularly 'challenged' South London school she was awarded an MBE for services to education, and of course I'm very proud of the ol' gal. It's wonderful to have her old pens, you just wonder how many reports and submissions would have been written with these pens.
Anyway, they're up for a new life!!! Poor ol' things, -they thought they'd been put out to pasture in some pot for an easy life. But NO! I'm getting them back for a new life... and if my plotting is successful, some of them may end up in the hands of her great grandchildren.
Well. What I've been doing is lots of soaking and cleaning with water. Careful blowing out with air, careful work with 1200 grade carborundum paper to smooth out any scratchiness out of the nibs.
Successful so far. I haven't pulled any nibs out yet. Is that an option with stubborn-flow pens?
Any other tips? Disassembly? (Pulling nibs sounds entertaining, is that like pulling fingernails?!) A couple have suction issues (they won't draw ink up). Perhaps they'll need new 'bladders' (or whatever).
I will post a pic of them just for fun, soon.
-Jools
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