17 replies to this topic

[Innes Cate]

Hi - hope someone can help me.

 

I have a Swan 3260 lever fountain pen for which I needed to change an incorrect nib as part of its restoration.   After unscrewing the section from the barrel I gave it a couple of minutes in the ultrasonic bath to soften the dried ink, before successfully taping out the feeder and nib.   With the section and feeder cleaned of old ink, I soaked the feeder in hot water and then pushed both feeder and the nib into the section.   To my surprise it appears the feeder has 'shrunk' somewhat as it now has movement within the section making it unusable. 

 

What went wrong and is there a solution to make the feeder a firm fit within the section?

 

Thanks

Innes    

 

 

[johnmc2]

Does the feed have the SWAN imprint?  What was the incorrect nib?  I wonder if the feed was incorrect too, and this only became apparent after cleaning.

[Innes Cate]

Does the feed have the SWAN imprint?  What was the incorrect nib?  I wonder if the feed was incorrect too, and this only became apparent after cleaning.

 

Yes, the feed has the SWAN imprint and the nib going in is size 2 so it is correct with the 3260 numbering.

[Deb]

It's possible that whoever installed the replacement nib used a smaller Swan feed to enable the nib to fit. The only solution is a larger feed.

I don't think that you have done anything that would cause the feed to shrink. In my experience feeds don't shrink.

[Innes Cate]

It's possible that whoever installed the replacement nib used a smaller Swan feed to enable the nib to fit. The only solution is a larger feed.

I don't think that you have done anything that would cause the feed to shrink. In my experience feeds don't shrink.

 

Deb - The nib that was in the pen was a size 3 so what you say could make sense, except that I had taken the No.2 replacement from a SWAN 3261 and the same issue has occurred with that pen i.e. the feed has movement .   I shall check my other spares to follow through on your suggestion of a larger feed.

[Deb]

A mystery then.  All I can do is repeat that I've never known a feed to shrink, and I can't think of any method by which it could be made to happen.  Is it possible that you're doing something that could distort the inner surface of the section?  If you can't find an appropriate feed, PM me.

[johnmc2]

My brass-thread 3250 also has a No.3 nib, and three cap bands, although the numbers 3250 are clear on the barrel.  Maybe it's a NZ market thing, and the No.3 nib was the original after all?

[Innes Cate]

My brass-thread 3250 also has a No.3 nib, and three cap bands, although the numbers 3250 are clear on the barrel.  Maybe it's a NZ market thing, and the No.3 nib was the original after all?

 

Following are two photos now showing the nibs and feeds in their respective sections as first started with.   The 3261 is BHR (broken cap thus spare parts) with the correct 2 nib.   You can see the feed and nib of the 3260 is turned up similar to that the some Sheaffers' nibs.   I am not aware of Swan having this type of nib so took it to be pressure damage that occurred at some time.   Interestingly the feed and nib have tightened up in their respective sections as they have dried over the past couple of days.   However, the internal diameter of the 3260 section is slightly larger than the 3261 with both feeds being within a .mm of each other.  So my only option maybe to have the 3 nib straightening and use it as it was at first?

 

Question - when fitting the feed and nib into the 3260 section, should the 'SWAN' imprint be in line with the nib or rotated to the underside?

 

 

Edited by Innes Cate, 05 January 2016 - 06:48 AM.

[Deb]

My brass-thread 3250 also has a No.3 nib, and three cap bands, although the numbers 3250 are clear on the barrel.  Maybe it's a NZ market thing, and the No.3 nib was the original after all?

 

The 32xx series often has a No 3 nib.  I don't know why that should be - just another Mabie Todd mystery.

[Deb]

It seems that your problem is a consequence of soaking. I'd never seen that because I don't soak sections and feeds, partly because of the risk of fading but also because there is no benefit in it. There are better ways of loosening parts and removing dried ink.

I don't know how the "Swan" imprint aligns. It's not something I've ever paid any attention to.
 

[Rocco P]

It seems that your problem is a consequence of soaking. I'd never seen that because I don't soak sections and feeds, partly because of the risk of fading but also because there is no benefit in it. There are better ways of loosening parts and removing dried ink.

I don't know how the "Swan" imprint aligns. It's not something I've ever paid any attention to.

I try to use as little (cold) water as possible, for fear of fading, but I'll be the first to admit that I have little experience. I'd like to learn better techniques. How do you remove ink without soaking at least up to the nib?

[Deb]

Quite often, forcing water through the section with a bulb is enough to remove the old ink and give good ink flow. If that's not enough, trickle a little water into the section and drift the feed out. If there is a lot of resistance a little dry heat will expand the section sufficiently to allow the feed to be drifted out. Mostly, though, feeds will come out with very little difficulty – I've hardly ever had to use additional heat.

Once it's disassembled use a stiff brush to clean the feed channels. Wet a Q-Tip and push it through the section. You may have to use several Q-Tips to get the section completely clean. Dry the section and feed carefully and reassemble.

[vintage penman]

Absurd as it may seem could the section be made of casein, a material notorious for expanding if put in water for a prolonged period ?

[Innes Cate]

Thanks for all your advise and input.   Deb - will take your points on board re water.   To get this pen restoration completed I have reinserted the 3 size nib and have fitted a new ink sac.   Will give it a writing test tomorrow.

 

Many thanks

Innes 

[Rocco P]

Thanks, Deb. I'll follow your advice on my next restoration.

[Deb]

Absurd as it may seem could the section be made of casein, a material notorious for expanding if put in water for a prolonged period ?

I think that's very unlikely.  Even pens that are made of casein don't use it for sections.  In any case, a casein component that had been distorted by soaking would not resume its original shape when it dried out.

[vintage penman]

 

Absurd as it may seem could the section be made of casein, a material notorious for expanding if put in water for a prolonged period ?

I think that's very unlikely.  Even pens that are made of casein don't use it for sections.  In any case, a casein component that had been distorted by soaking would not resume its original shape when it dried out.

 

 

 

Absurd as it may seem could the section be made of casein, a material notorious for expanding if put in water for a prolonged period ?

I think that's very unlikely.  Even pens that are made of casein don't use it for sections.  In any case, a casein component that had been distorted by soaking would not resume its original shape when it dried out.

 

It can occasionally, depending on how it's dried. 

[Hugh]

Strangely many of these came from the with the nib and feed deeply set, nearly down to the number on the nib. Maybe, despite the aesthetics, setting the nib deeper will solve the problem.

 

Regards

Hugh