Never again - red ink in a vintage plunger-filler

[FredRydr]

A conversation starter...

I had been looking for a golden-brown striated Triumph Vac-Fill desk pen. Five years ago I found the late Tom Heath had a Franken-version with pocket pen plunger, so we struck a deal and I sent it off to Ron Zorn for a correct desk-pen plunger rod. Since then, it's been a constant favorite and always on my desk filled with Omas Sepia. Well, almost always.

Earlier this year for a reason I cannot recall, I refilled with Diamine Syrah. I use the pen a lot, and I continued to refill with Syrah until today when I decided to return to Omas Sepia. So...I start to flush. And flush. And flush! I resorted to my pen flush solution, and on and on and on it went. The lubricated plunger rod kept coming out with a layer of red. On and on it went until the efflux had reached an acceptable very light pink. Even then, there would still be a ring of red deposited around the top of the plunger rod. I finally decided that the Sepia would just have to dilute what Syrah left behind.

My unscientific biased conclusion? Red deserves its reputation, and it is bad news in plunger-fillers.

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[Yazeh]

I made the same mistake five years ago with J Herbin Rose Cyclamen in a lever filler. Pink/ red/ purple are banned from all vintage, pistonfillers and vac fillers.
That's a lively pen, btw.

[Jon Szanto]

I can confirm as well. And the pen is lovely, in addition to lively!

[Ron Z]

Red ink stains, and some attack latex sacs. I had a guy who liked to use red in snorkels - until it killed the sacs in a month, twice. No more warranty. Fortunately, the rubber I use in plunger fillers for both 0-ring and head gasket is both chemical and wear resistant.

[FredRydr]

Red ink stains, and some attack latex sacs.... Fortunately, the rubber I use in plunger fillers for both 0-ring and head gasket is both chemical and wear resistant.

Thank goodness!

[~JJ]

Back when I was in textiles (dyeing & finishing) we had more problems with reds than all other hues combined. From color-matching to permanency, even variations within a lot, it was a PITA to deal with.

[FredRydr]

What is it about red?

[~JJ]

The stuff it has to be made from, largely. And the good stuff has to be considerate of fading from (sun)light, which it's not good at.

PS: Fred, That desk pen & holder is a KNOCKOUT! I hope that beige-ish streak on the left half of the base is natural & not kintsugi. But even if so, nice save! LOL

[INeedAFinancialAdvisor]

That’s a beautiful desk pen

[FredRydr]

That streak is just natural color in the marble base.

The color difference between the barrel and the taper is exaggerated by the image. In any event, I've seen others with that difference, so I'll claim it's factory correct! I do like 1942-48 Sheaffer Vac-Fill pens.

[Chrissy]

It's a lovely pen Fred. In exactly the best and most appreciative hands for it.

[calamus]

What is it about red?

It's the real, true, unwritten inspiration behind the '50s slogan "Better dead than red."

But on a more serious note, now that Omas Sepia has become unobtainium, is there another ink that looks and behaves somewhat similarly that you're aware of? It's such a beautiful ink.