Since most of the big name makers have had a lever filler in their back catalogue how about one of them putting this idea back into production. It really cannot be much costlier to produce (if any) than a C/C filler.
How about it Waterman?
Time for a new mainstream lever filler?
Started by vintage penman, Oct 04 2010 08:15 PM
4 replies to this topic
#3
AltecGreen
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journeyman
Posted 05 October 2010 - 02:30 PM
There is a enough of a cost differential between a c/c and a lever filler model to make the lever filler unprofitable.
You have an extra machining operation to cut the slot in the barrel for the lever box (you need a different machine tool for this operation) , a lever box assembly, a pressure bar, you need a different feed, you need a sac (minor cost), and most importantly labor to install the sac.
Secondly, many casual users of fountain pens will find lever fillers more difficult to use.
Finally, there are so many vintage lever fillers that can be had cheaply that it makes no sense to make a modern one that is not a LE that caters to a specific group of fountain pen buyers.
Given the effort, a piston filler makes more sense given the cachet modern buyers give to piston fillers.
You have an extra machining operation to cut the slot in the barrel for the lever box (you need a different machine tool for this operation) , a lever box assembly, a pressure bar, you need a different feed, you need a sac (minor cost), and most importantly labor to install the sac.
Secondly, many casual users of fountain pens will find lever fillers more difficult to use.
Finally, there are so many vintage lever fillers that can be had cheaply that it makes no sense to make a modern one that is not a LE that caters to a specific group of fountain pen buyers.
Given the effort, a piston filler makes more sense given the cachet modern buyers give to piston fillers.
#4
vintage penman
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Posted 05 October 2010 - 09:58 PM
Admittedly there will be extra machining to do, probably most pen companies have suitable feeds on hand. In any case the converter of a C/C filler requires some degree of machining as the moulding process however good will not be sufficiently well finished without a degree of intervention to finalise fit and finish. A lever filler would fit into the upper end of the range where things like an Edson sit - the flagship should not be a c/c filler in anyone's range. Personally I'm not all that fussed about piston fillers either.
#5
jonro
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Posted 22 July 2011 - 03:48 AM
At the price Conway Stewart charges for its pens, they can afford a little extra machining. I appreciate lever fillers in vintage pens, especially because they are usually easy to restore. But, I was never a fan of flipping that little lever back and forth 40 times in order to flush a pen. I think that more companies would make them if the demand were there. Personally, I'd like to see the Touchdown filler make a comeback.
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