anyone know anything about fountain pens?

[captainbovine]

I have a nice heavy green marbled fountain pen that OH bought me in the 80's. The nib has never been much good, and I wondered if all fountain pen nibs are replaceable?

Do you just get a pair of pliers and pull out the old nib and push another replacement one in?

There isn't a makers mark on the pen, some writing on the nib though.

any information would be appreciated.

I fankyou x

[captainbovine]

I have a nice heavy green marbled fountain pen that OH bought me in the 80's. The nib has never been much good, and I wondered if all fountain pen nibs are replaceable?

Do you just get a pair of pliers and pull out the old nib and push another replacement one in?

There isn't a makers mark on the pen, some writing on the nib though.

any information would be appreciated.

I fankyou x

[**towery**]

im not sure , i think my mum had a screwy nib malarky

i'll agree not all nibs at smooth

its ages since i used one

what brand of pen  is it?

i think there is a poster on  seller central that collects or deals in them

[captainbovine]

there isn't a makers name we can see!

I know some posh make of pens have a top bit that just screws off and you replace the nib that way.

on the nib is an "M" and the word mika I think, hard to see it really but I think that may just be the name of the nib,.

[rhubarbcity]

I still have some of my uncles fountain pens somewhere, used to love using them, think i also have some sealing wax as well, mmm,  i am going to use it again

[stroppy*cow]

The M could be for medium - to indicate the width of the nib

[vamo48]

See if the section near the nib (usually black) unscrews.  If so, you could probably get a replacement that screws on. If not, on older pens the nib just pulls out, not usually necessary to use pliers.  That's the way it was with the ones I used at school - mind you, that was long before the 80s!   Or you could try taking the pen to WHS or somewhere similar and asking there.

[xtf70]

Any chance of a picture, especially of the cap or the pointy business end?

I've got a stainless steel Parker fountain pen which I was given in 1984, and is still in daily use (I hate ballpoints!)

[soppysofty]

Is the pocket clip shaped like an arrow?

If it is then you have a Parker Duofold pen which is a very valuable pen and I would not be messing around with it.

Go to this web site: http://www.parkerpensuk.co.uk/contact-parker-pens-shop.php

They will clean your pen and replace the nib for about £30.00.

If it is a Duofold then the pen is worth around £300 - £400 second hand.

[fishpieface]

If you get no joy with it Captain there are lots of fountain pen shops round here

and in London, well not lots and lots and lots, but some anyway.  I would

take it and ask them for you if you send it down to sunny Essex!!

Hopefully it won't come to that, but the offer's there.

Alternatively, if you have antiques fairs round your way, there are often fountain

pen dealers who would no doubt be able to help and advise you if you took

it along.

[saasher2012]

I was gonna say that, if you go to a fountain pen collector at an Antique fair they are usually very helpful, I collect Dip pens& have always had great tips & help especially with nibs from experts in that field !

[captainbovine]

thanks fishy I may take you up on that offer.

I think the nib won't come out, it seems tight in to me.

We have a problem with it though, as you write, sometimes it misses ink out on the letter, it's very frustrating!!!

[**towery**]

can you take some photos that  might help with identification

i remember being told  i was 'writing all wrong' by a teacher

when i complained that my ink pen was playing up

being left-handed  didnt help

[fishpieface]

Hi Captain, I'll see when there's next an antiques fair round here, I think there's

a big one at Easter where there is always a pen dealer.

I'm usually in London in the evenings when the pen shops are shut (helpfully!),

but I do go sometimes during the day and, assuming I can hide the coach somewhere,

I will gladly take it to be investigated for you.  I think it's probably a good idea to try

the antiques fair first though, I usually find those dealers pleasant and very

knowledgable about their subject.

[captainbovine]

[captainbovine]

[captainbovine]

tbh, I'm thinking of just getting the pliers and yanking out the nib, it's useless anyway.

[saasher2012]

Don't do it captain! It would be a shame to ruin it, let fishpieface have it & see what she can find out for you!

[cee-dee]

The only thing I know about fountain pens is my own experience of the ones I used to use.

With one of them, the nib and the bit behind it all unscrewed and came out as a unit.

Another came out by turning the nib and the bit behind it about a quarter turn then the nib and the bit behind it came out as a unit.

With both of those, once the unit was out, the nib came off.

I've no idea now what make they were as it was so long ago except that they were not Parkers.

[cee-dee]

Watch this:-

http://www.fountainpenrevolution.com/how%20to%20remove%20a%20nib.html

[captainbovine]

oooh now that's very interesting, I shall find a broad nib and give that a try. Maybe a good idea to send it off to fishy though as there is a chance of her seeing a pen specialist before me.