Why an Areometric filler?

**sgphoto** · March 18th, 2020, 02:33 PM

Perhaps I'm not understanding something, but why would a modern pen maker put an aerometric filler in a full-size pen?

Can't figure it out so I must be missing something.

Thanks.

Sg

**silverlifter** · March 18th, 2020, 03:19 PM

They are a very robust filling system. Aerometric Parker 51s, for example, very very rarely require the filling system to be restored prior to them writing (if they need any restoration other than a good flushing at all).

**INeedAFinancialAdvisor** · March 18th, 2020, 03:19 PM

What pen do you have in mind?

**sgphoto** · March 18th, 2020, 03:34 PM

I should have phrased my question better. Why would a pen maker today make pens and use an aerometric filler? Not talking about older pens, but pens made today.

Peyton Street Pens (I think they are the one) advertized that he was putting aerometric fillers in his new pens.

That just strikes me as unnecessary when converters are so easy to use, but I might be wrong.

I'm not seeing an advantage rather seeing a weak point.

What am I missing?

**INeedAFinancialAdvisor** · March 18th, 2020, 03:57 PM

I know a “true aerometric” has the breather tube and that supposedly helps with filling and with pressure changes like in an airplane

Also, maybe just good old fashioned nostalgia?

**Chuck Naill** · March 18th, 2020, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by sgphoto

I should have phrased my question better. Why would a pen maker today make pens and use an areometric filler? Not talking about older pens, but pens made today.

Peyton Street Pens (I think they are the one) advertized that he was putting areometric fillers in his new pens.

That just strikes me as unnecessary when converters are so easy to use, but I might be wrong.

I'm not seeing an advantage rather seeing a weak point.

What am I missing?

There is something extremely efficient and effective about this design. I've restored several Esterbrook pens that used a sac and lever fill. It's much faster that dismantling and filling my Lamy Al Star converter. Plus, no chance of inky fingers...LOL!!

**sgphoto** · March 18th, 2020, 04:21 PM

Here's an example.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B92AtkGjPUX/

It's not a lever filler. It's an open the pen and squeeze the bulb filler.

**Sandy** · March 18th, 2020, 04:29 PM

Aerometric fillers are mostly recyclable, perhaps there is an environmental benefit?

Pilot still uses aerometric fillers in some pens.

**Jon Szanto** · March 18th, 2020, 04:31 PM

That is a bulb filler. A moderately common filling system in the 30s-40s.

As to why they might be doing these? Well, Teri (and Nivardo, her main co-worker/nib-guy/etc) have only been making their own pens for a while, and I think it was mostly for fun because they are making their own pen blanks. They also use a lot of NOS nibs, and I think what they are doing is turning basic barrels/caps/sections without next-level inner section threading... meaning they aren't building them for nib units that have a nipple coming out the back that you can jam a cartridge or converter on.

I could be massively wrong but I think they mount a reservoir on the back of the section and attach the sac, which acts as the bulb. I don't know if they have a breather tube, which was present in better aerometrics (and notably Parker Vacumatics) that allows an even larger fill. There is a bit of guesswork on my part in this, but I've known those guys for a while and I think it is just their way of making a pen project in-house. If you want a detailed answer I can write her an ask.

**sgphoto** · March 18th, 2020, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jon Szanto

That is a bulb filler. A moderately common filling system in the 30s-40s.

As to why they might be doing these? Well, Teri (and Nivardo, her main co-worker/nib-guy/etc) have only been making their own pens for a while, and I think it was mostly for fun because they are making their own pen blanks. They also use a lot of NOS nibs, and I think what they are doing is turning basic barrels/caps/sections without next-level inner section threading... meaning they aren't building them for nib units that have a nipple coming out the back that you can jam a cartridge or converter on.

I could be massively wrong but I think they mount a reservoir on the back of the section and attach the sac, which acts as the bulb. I don't know if they have a breather tube, which was present in better aerometrics (and notably Parker Vacumatics) that allows an even larger fill. There is a bit of guesswork on my part in this, but I've known those guys for a while and I think it is just their way of making a pen project in-house. If you want a detailed answer I can write her an ask.

Thanks and please find out as I'm quite curious.

**Jon Szanto** · March 18th, 2020, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by sgphoto

Thanks and please find out as I'm quite curious.

Ok, lovely Teri was very prompt in writing back to me in my queries. I copied her what I had said previously and this was her answer:

There’s a couple reasons for the bulb fillers. They hold more ink than cartridge or converter pens, so that’s some of the justification for doing them with JoWo nibs, and of course people do like to see the ink sloshing around. FYI, we do make lots of standard JoWo #5 and #6 compatible pens with sections that accept the screw in nib unit.

The best justification is for the pens with vintage nibs. You can’t get the nibs to work with normal cartridge/converter housings, they just don’t fit, so we’ve had to resort to blow fillers and eyedroppers in the past. When you have a flex nib, it needs a really strong supply of ink with no impediments such as a C/C tube, and with bulb fillers (as with blow fillers and eyedroppers) you’ve got the ink right there at the butt of the feed. We do have to use a breather tube to get the pen to actually fill, and while breather tubes in vintage nibs usually install into a hole already there in the feed, when we build bulb fillers for JoWo nib units we have to attach the tube to the post/stem/nipple and also drill a tiny hole in the feed to get it to vent.

Edison makes bulb fillers and they charge more for them than regular C/C pens, so I think that indicates that people like them.

That is all straight from Teri Morris, owner of Peyton Street Pens and all-around swell person.

**sgphoto** · March 18th, 2020, 06:32 PM

Thanks for getting that information, Jon. It makes sense.

I've learned something today.

Cheers,

Sg

**Farmboy** · March 18th, 2020, 08:17 PM

FYI Peyton Street Pens = Teri = She plus staff

**Jon Szanto** · March 18th, 2020, 08:31 PM