I have been using fountain pens on and off for years. I only own 3 and have limited knowledge of them. I have been searching for a nice vintage lever fill fountain pen on the bay. I have found a few that look in decent condition that I may try to acquire. My question is, if I was to get one in possible not working order, do any of you fellas know a good person/company that I can send it out to to have restored to working order? Any info is greatly appreciated!
Fountain Pen Restoration
- Thread starter skacj7
- Start date
Richard Binder (sp?) is the most well known and to be honest I would purchase from him first rather than ebay.
I haven't sent anything out to a professional yet, but I have cleaned out and re-saced (is that a word?) a few vintage (AKA junkers!) lever fillers. It's pretty simple and straight-forward and requires a minimal investment in supplies (sacs, shellac, talc, and a tool of some sort to extract the petrified remains of the old sac).
I prefer to buy one already professionally restored and save myself the hassle, but my go-to pen fixer upper guy is Danny Fudge at The Write Pen. I use Joel at Ink Pen for piston fillers.
Richard Binder is no longer accepting pens for restore or customizing. If it is just repairing an ink sac, maybe a pressure bar it is not that hard to do yourself, if you want to.
Another recommendation for Danny Fudge. I sent one pen for sac replacement to him because it seemed like a delicate pen, and I didn't want to risk it. On the other hand, doing it yourself can be pretty easy, depending on the pen. I've put new sacs in four Wearevers (and put a new pressure bar in one of them) and re-sacked a Conklin Crescent filler, which turned out to be surprising easy. Many people do Esterbrooks themselves, and I would have tried, but none of the ones that I bought needed it. I bought an assortment of sacs, some shellac and talc, and even a little heat gun, although you have to be careful not to use too much heat. Also got four pressure bars while I was at it. Not all pens take the same size, though.
Of course, there can also turn out to be problems with nibs or feeds. Danny Fudge will do some basic nib alignment, although he doesn't re-tip them.
If you find yourself looking at Esterbrooks, there are some eBay sellers who restore them themselves before selling them.
Of course, there can also turn out to be problems with nibs or feeds. Danny Fudge will do some basic nib alignment, although he doesn't re-tip them.
If you find yourself looking at Esterbrooks, there are some eBay sellers who restore them themselves before selling them.
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- Thread starter
- #7
Thank you guys for all the info! What I am mainly concerned with is the nib. But considering my experience with fountain pens in general is relatively limited and have never had a lever fill I just don't know what to expect. However, all the info you guys are offering is definitely helpful!
Danny has four pens of mine as we speak. This is my first time sending him pens, so I'll be sure and show the goods when I get them back. If a nib needs retipping, Greg Minuskin is your man. Depending on the pen, though, simply replacing the nib may be a better option.
- Thread starter
- #9
Good to know, Mark...Thanks!
That he does! I've just never been fast enough to get one!
Boy, those sure are lovely pens!
Me either! I am going to try to check very early this Saturday!
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- #14
I just found his site. Ok, so I guess that means he should be posting a new tray of pens in the beginning of December. Ok, so no one order a pen until I pick one! Thanks!
- Thread starter
- #15
Ok ok I am being greedy. No one order one until myself, Mark, and Dave all order one..ok thanks! lol
Thanks Charlie!
Best advice? Don't go to sleep on Nov. 30.
I just found his site. Ok, so I guess that means he should be posting a new tray of pens in the beginning of December. Ok, so no one order a pen until I pick one! Thanks!
I've gotten two rather nice pens from his monthly tray, an Eversharp Skyline and a Parker 51 demi. I'm happy with both, but with the feeding frenzy that greets the tray when it goes up, it may not be the best way to make a well considered purchase. In both cases, I purchased within minutes of the tray going up at 10:00 PM on the last day of the month. Typically all the pens are gone within an hour, or maybe two. In a few cases, one will hang on for a week or two, but that's rare. A couple of times I bought and paid for a pen within the first five minutes only to get a quick refund and a note that someone had beaten me to it.
This has been my experience. I've essentially given up even trying.
I did not realize he posted the pen tray at 10 pm on the last day of the month, maybe that is why I never had any luck! I thought it was always the first day of the month. I guess it would have helped if I read about it on his site!
That really stinks about paying for something and then finding out you can't have it!
