Month: June 2022

Posted in Stories

Doodling: Scribble absentmindedly, Stress relief and Creativity

Posted on by Danny Watts

Today I am going off-topic – not really, you’ll see – and discussing doodling.

Webster defines a doodle as “an aimless or casual scribble, design or sketch.” Sounds like a waste of time, correct? We’ll see about that. I do not view doodling as art, but many have made it artistic. If you perform a Duck-Duck-Go search for “Doodling+images” you find artwork…. don’t let that discourage you.

I am a doodler from way back. When I was a high school student in an Analytic Geometry class, I would doodle in the margins of my notebook. The teacher collected said notebooks to assess our “note-taking skills” for which we received a grade. Upon return, mine always included a comment about “doodling less and note more,” since I got an “A” in the class…. Anyway, isn’t this the dumbest thing to remember (guess I can thank the doodling)?

I credit the genesis of this post to the bloggers at Pam Alison Knits, and Your Friendly Malaysian Writer. I was discussing the use of outlines with Stuart and mentioned I don’t use outlines, I start with an idea and let it run wild, developing the outline as I go relying on imagination and inspiration. With Pam, we chatted about journaling and the use of stickers, NO stickers, doodle instead. WOW an epiphany, so I decided to reproduce a recent doodle focusing on the process (inspiration and imagination).

My Doodling

Changes in my “job” have precipitated the need to make use of journals to “plan” my week and manage tasks. I often doodle in the journal, or on scrap paper, or on whatever is handy.

On a Monday not long ago, I was preparing a to-do list and simply wrote down the word “Monday.” Several minutes later I decided Mondays should be banned, thus the “prohibited” circle (that is a pretty good freehand circle – don’t you agree). BTW, all my doodling is done with fountains.

Later that morning, while aimlessly updating the journal I decided the “ban Mondays circle” would make a great poster. Thus I boxed in the circle and made the decision the poster should be supported by a fictitious group the “Work Week Liberation Front” and of course a peace sign.

Quite happy with myself, and focusing on the doodle, I thought, should the sign be carried by an angry mob of stick people with pitchforks and torches or simply a sign attached to a post. As an angry mob was way more effort, and no mob would incorporate a peace sign. I decided it was best to nail the sign to a post.

A tattered second sign proclaiming my love of Mondays seemed in order. Not sure what the non-smilie face is, maybe a button/pin someone stuck to the sign.

This brings us to the completed doodle. Clearly, not artwork but I enjoyed the escape from the doldrums of a work week (full of none productive meetings) and happy with the results.

Stress Relief & Memory Recall

What a surprise, it appears doodling offers health benefits, primarily stress release. It is said that our brains work better with the structure of coherent stories, but sometimes there are gaps in these stories. Doodling helps fill these gaps by activating your brain’s “unfocus” synapses, giving your “focus” synapses a break, resulting in increased creativity and problem-solving. Doodling has also been shown to increase memory recall by as much as 29%. Feel free to doodle away during that next “important” conference call, plus it makes you look like you are taking copious notes.

Are you feeling “stuck,” can’t concentrate, or is your mind is wandering … it’s time to doodle.

——————————- Reference Material ————————-

Posted in Nibs, Stories

Breathe, just Breathe(r Tube)

Posted on by Danny Watts

I hadn’t given breather tubes a second thought until I unexpectedly ran into one in a 1951 Park Parkette. I got to thinking “what are breather tubes and why are they only in some pens?”

What is a breather tube you ask? Welp, it is added to a filling system whose mechanism will not completely fill the ink reservoir with one cycle of compression and vacuum.

The breather tube is a thin tube inserted into a hole in the back end of the feed and extends into the ink reservoir; it permits complete filling in pens that require multiple operations of the filling mechanism.

They also control the airflow within the barrel, thus immediately balancing the pressure of the air inside the ink reservoir with that of the external air, because the breather tube provides a way for air to transition between inside and outside, thus reducing or eliminating the tendency of leakage at high altitudes, sometimes!

What? How does it work?

When a filler mechanism is engaged, it pushes air out of the reservoir up the ink channel in the feed and out through the breather hole and slit in the nib. The nib of the pen is submerged in ink, as the compression stage ends, a vacuum is created and the evacuated air is replaced with the ink drawn up through the same channel in the feed.

Breather tubes require modification to the feed. A hole is drilled into the reservoir end of the feed, in to which the breather tube is inserted. Perpendicular, a “blowhole” is added via the ink channel or the dorsal side of the feed connecting with the breather tube hole.

Parker Vacumatic feed

A breather tube (26), effectively extends the ink channel deep into the reservoir. Thus, when the filler mechanism is engaged, the air is forced out through the tube and the “blowhole” in the feed (16). The vacuum draws ink up the ink channel into the blowhole. As the blowhole is attached to the breather tube, the distance ink travels is farther so a better vacuum is created. As ink exits the breather tube it fills the reservoir while maintaining a vacuum. Once the ink level in the reservoir reaches the end of the breather tube (A), the vacuum is equalized and the pen is “full.”

From Parker patent 2,400,768

This sounds great – right, well it does come with a significant aggravation. The breather tube makes it difficult to completely empty the pen thus cleaning the reservoir is problematic.

Not all breather tubes address the issue of leakage and excess ink flow associated with high altitudes or air travel. The Parker patent 2,400,768 claims to address this issue. Breather tubes extending to the rear of the ink reservoir are prone to leakage caused by air pressure differential. The aft opening of these excessively long tubes is submerged in ink until the reservoir is almost empty – when carried nib up. The pressure differential associated with altitude changes causes the higher pressure in the reservoir to force ink out through the breather tube. Who knew patent applications could be interesting to read?

Contemporary Pens with Breather Tubes

Basically, any pen with a fixed squeeze filler, which is pretty uncommon, will use a breather tube, such as many of the Hero, the Bahadur, and the Dux models.

Posted in Collection, Pens, Restoration, Reviews, Stories

The 1950’s Parker Parkette

Posted on by Danny Watts

The Parkette

A family of pens manufactured by Parker, but generally considered a third-tier pen. Evolving from the Parco, Parkette produced began in 1932 and ran through 1941. The pen was Parker’s answer to inexpensive competition while providing the Parker name and mystique. The Parkette generally lacked the quality of flagship Parker pens of the time (Duofold, and Vacumatic).

The Parkette was Parker’s first pen to make use of a lever-filling mechanism. A common option amongst other manufacturers but not one Parker pens ever would regularly embrace. Eventually, the lever-fill mechanism would find its way into other “third-tier” Parker pens, including the Duo-Tone (not to be confused with Duofold) and the Writefine.

The 1950s Parkette

It is a common practice for pen companies to reintroduce former names as a means of adding nostalgia. Parker introduced one last model to the Parkette family in 1950. The new pen included a lever-filling system and contemporary styling (a metal cap and a hooded nib). The newest Parkette did not fare well against period Parker’s.

My Pen

I have a grey 1951 Parkette. It is in very good shape, without any bite marks, or scratches, but it leaks. I know grey is boring but I like it with the shiny metal cap. It appears to have the same “defect” other hooded Parker’s shared – a gap between the hood and the nib. While researching the Parkette, it seems this pen is not favored amongst collectors and is considered cheap and not worthy of the time and effort to repair it – got my attention now.

This seemed odd to me, when I removed the ink sac I found the pen had a breather tube (more on these another day). A breather tube is used in better pens when the filling system fails to completely fill the reservoir with one cycle of compression and vacuum. This is a feature commonly not found in cheap pens and I would know, I have 3 Arnolds.

Refurbishment

I replaced the too-short ink sac, being careful not to remove the breather tube. I tried to remove the hood but found it is held firm by glue. I made a valent effort to remove it but when all options failed and applying solvents was the only choice, I stopped. The cap retention ring thingy was a little tarnished, nothing a Sunshine cloth could not remedy. The only real damage is a minute amount of brassing on the cap clip.

Not wanting to leave the feed, nib and breather tube as is, I used a bulb syringe to flush them out. I was surprised to see flakes of dried ink accumulate in the sink. My concern appeared warranted.

All done and ready to ink up and give it a go.

Welp, I’m happy to say it writes well. It is a fine point nib which is not one of my faves but this one does very well. The nib is a little wet but that may be excess ink from the filling fixing in the hood.

Vital Statistics

  • Capped length. 132mm
  • Uncapped length. 121mm
  • Barrel diameter 11mm
  • Cap diameter 12mm
  • Weighs in at 16g

For a “cheap” pen not worthy of my time, the only complaint is a manufacturing defect (in my opinion). The cap is secured is pressure the cap retention ring thingy. The pen lacks a clutch ring as found in a 51, thus the cap is not adequately secured. I picked it up one day by the cap and the pen went flying. Luckily I made a good catch.

Posted in Stories

10,004 days (part 2)

Posted on by Danny Watts

I am going way off topic again but that is my prerogative. As a warning, if you are of a sensitive nature read no further, this doesn’t end well.

In case you didn’t read Part 1, 10,004 days is the number of days between the date on Nick’s birth certificate and the date on his death certificate. Today is the 5th anniversary of his death.

And I don’t want the world to see me

What seemed like every other Wednesday turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. After we had eaten, I took the dogs for a walk when I got the frantic call to return immediately, something was wrong with Nick. I ran home to find Nick on the floor, he was trying to get up but had little control, he was making sounds but not words. I’ll never forget the look on his face. I kept telling him, “I got ya, everything will be ok.”

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand

Nick had suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture and was pronounced brain dead a couple days later. I knew I couldn’t prevent this, some of the best trama neurosurgeons in the country including the department head told us there was nothing they could have done, but as a parent, I still felt I had failed him.

When everything’s made to be broken

After the funeral, everyone had returned to their lives yet ours was shattered, each evening I would go to Nick’s room and sit and stare at Nick’s stuff. All the things that made up his life, and had meaning to him. BTW, Nick was a slob so I felt like I was in a TLC episode of “Hoarding, Buried Alive.” This went on for 2 months.

I just want you to know who I am

Have you ever wondered how many people die each year? Welp, in 2017 Maryland 50,000 died. I assume many of you watch television shows featuring doctors and nurses performing miracles (I’m thinking “Grey’s Anatomy“). It is impressive how many patients receive organ transplants.

And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming

Now for the unbelievable reality, guess how many of the 50,000 deaths resulted in organ donations…. Would you believe 1,000 or maybe more like 1,500 or how about 500. Nope, not even close. In 2017, a mere 152 people of the 50,000 deaths were able to donate a total of 498 organs. Astounding isn’t it? Why such a low number you ask, well the secret is all about dying correctly. Yes, there is a correct way and wrong way to die – if you can believe that.

Or the moment of truth in your lies

Nick died correctly and was able to donate organs and tissue helping 7 individuals. Only one recipient sent us a card thanking us for Nick’s donation while offering condolences for our loss.

When everything’s made to be broken

The Roman philosopher Seneca writes about the awareness of mortality in his essay On the Shortness of Life, “you live as if you would live forever; the thought of human frailty never enters your head, you never notice how much of your time is already spent. You squander it as though your store were full to overflowing, when in fact the very day of which you make a present to someone or something may be your last.”

Tonight hug everyone you love since you never know. Live as if tomorrow may never come, live every moment appreciating the people you love.

I just want you to know who I am

Why Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls? During the time after Nick’s death, this song played incessantly on the radio when we traveled to the funeral home, to the cemetery, etc. So often did this song play, I requested it’s playing during his funeral. If you know the origin of the song, you know it is appropriate and it still hits home.

Posted in Stories

10,004 days (part 1)

Posted on by Danny Watts

I am going way off topic but that is my prerogative. As a warning, if you are of a sensitive nature read no further, this doesn’t end well.

10,004 days (or 1,429 weeks or 329 months or 27 yrs and 5 months), is the number of days between the date on Nick’s birth certificate and the date on his death certificate. Today starts the 5th anniversary of the absolute worse experience in our lives. But first let’s look at who Nick was.

And I’d give up forever to touch you

Nick was exceptional by most accounts. I know all parents say these things but we didn’t cultivate his exceptionalism – he did. When Nick was still in a car seat (maybe 4 or 5) he would read the big green overhead highway signs as we drove down the road. When he was in the 4th grade (10) he was a participant in a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University. They told us he had a reading comprehension level of a college student. Nick by age 11, had become a big Michael Crichton fan and would burn through a book over a weekend. He was too smart for school, at a parent/teacher meeting, we were asked what we thought Nick’s “problem” was. I told the principal “he learned to read” and you guys can’t teach. Needless to say, I was persona non-grata at the school

‘Cause I know that you feel me somehow.

When Nick graduated high school, he joined the Marine Corps, specializing in airfield operations – they trained him to be a firefighter. He was deployed to the Al Asad airbase in Iraq where he received a commendation for what he called “smart thinking.” And I added, “yeah while being shot at.”

You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be

After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Nick went to college but it wasn’t his thing, saying it was “dumb” and failed to teach students any useful skills. Nick was good with computers and built his own. He landed an IT job with a medical firm where he found his groove. He had a girlfriend, bought a new car, and was searching for a house or apartment. His employer had plans for Nick until that one night.

And all I can taste is this moment

We’ve been to counselors, and support groups: some helped, most did not. Society is “uncomfortable with the topic…people will either try to avoid discussing it or offer comfort by talking about their “own experience,” which is not a helpful response. Birthdays, holidays, and the anniversary of the loss are particularly painful. We stopped celebrating birthdays, blew off Christmas completely one year, and have played it down ever since. If you are uncomfortable talking to people about their loss, I recommend reading the following article What to Say to Someone Who Lost Loved One. It contains by far the best advice I’ve come across.

And all I can breathe is your life

If I haven’t lost you, tonight hug everyone you love because you never know. Live as if tomorrow may never come; live every moment of your life surrounded by those you love. As Paul McCartney once sang “All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.” Don’t meet that moment with regret.

When sooner or later it’s over

Posted in Pens, Stories

TWSBI, Nope, Notta, Not Now

Posted on by Danny Watts

Six months ago I planned on presenting my TWSBI Eco-T but given the current bad behavior of TWSBI, I cannot in good conscience promote their pens. I’m not going to dispose of my TWSBI, I’m simply not buying another or promoting them in general.

What’s Up you ask?

Welp, TWSBI is accusing Moonman and Narwhal of selling copies of some of their models, and retaliating against retailers who sell TWSBI pens along with Moonman and Narwhal pens. Stating they can no longer sell TWSBIs as long as they sell the “impostors.” My position in this is simple, if TWSBI had a patent on their piston-filler mechanism (the issue), they could defend it but they don’t or they have already lost this battle in court. Bullying retailers is not the answer and I’m not going to support them.

My final thoughts, if you are in the market for a TWSBI Eco-T might I suggest a Pilot Prera instead. Or if you want to get back at TWSBI, there are some very nice options available from Narwhal and Moonman.

As I do not feel inclined to reorganize my posting schedule (it goes out through September 2023), instead I am going to highlight Pen News stories (those are super hard to find BTW).

In the News

TWSBI declares war on Moonman and Narwhal – enough already said but if you are interested in reading more might I suggest the post on Rachel’s Reflection, Goodbye TWSBI. It contains many links sourcing additional information on TWSBI’s behavior.

Monblanc Haus opened in Hamburg with a museum, art gallery, hall of fame, and school. A unique destination blends a museum, art gallery, hall of fame, and school elements. Located next to Montblanc’s headquarters, and production facilities for resin writing instruments and hand-ground gold nibs, the three-story structure also boasts a café, exhibition spaces, an archive, and an academy. “It’s about celebrating writing,” Montblanc chief executive officer Nicolas Baretzki.

Montblanc Haus

BIC Launches U.S. Program To Recycle used Pens, Pencils, Markers The “Write” Way. Stationery Recycling Program, allows consumers to send in all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers, and paint sets to be recycled for free. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program web page, and a prepaid shipping label is provided. Simply packaged the used items and drop them in the return mail. The returned pens, etc are melted down to hard plastic that is remolded to make new products.

Pen pals, one from Ohio and Brazil, were finally able to meet each other in person after 33 years of letters. My hand hurts thinking about this.

Staedtler Upcycled Pencils announced a process to manufacture upcycled wood pencils from wood chips produced in the wood processing industry. Upcycling transforms residual or wastes materials into something new.

Pelican announces M605 Tortoiseshell-Black special edition. “Each writing instrument is a truly unique piece. The distinctive series, consisting of a piston fountain pen and a ballpoint pen with a twist mechanism, captivates with its appealing and individual play of colors with black and white nuances. This means that no two writing instruments look the same, which is what makes this series extremely interesting.”

Nibs.com merges with The Pen Family. “Nibs.com will continue as an online retailer of brands such as Nakaya, Sailor, Pilot-Namiki, and Platinum, and as a retailer of Pen Family brands such as Armando Simoni Club, Bexley, and Wahl-Eversharp. All pens will continue to be offered with the options for tuning and customization developed.”

Posted in Pens, Stories

Wait, my pen is made from WHAT?

Posted on by Danny Watts

Some time ago, I was researching something (the first thing to go is your mind) when a revelation hit me, “wow they produce pens using all kinds of weird stuff.” I started taking notes, found websites providing generic dictionary-style explanations, and well that wasn’t going to work.

As I am not a chemist if I misspeak, my apologies, and please feel free to correct me. Also, if by chance you manufacture your own pens, feel free to comment.

I came across this quote and burst out laughing. I knew then I had to learn more.

“Casein doesn’t burn well but a celluloid pen in flames is memorable.” Deb @ goodwriterspens.com

Pen Material

Thermosets vs Thermoplastics: Thermoset is a material that creates bonds between polymer strands forming a tangled grid when heated that cannot be remolded or reheated after the initial forming. While thermoplastics can be reheated, remolded, and cooled repeatedly without causing any chemical changes.

Bakelite. It is not often used for pens due to its brittleness. It is the first plastic made from synthetic components via the condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde (thermosets).

Celluloid (trade names Permanite, Stonite, Pyralin). The first widely-manufactured synthetic plastic combining cellulose nitrate with camphor and alcohol. It replaced ebonite in the late 1920s. It can be made in virtually any color or pattern, and is easy to machine, yet slow to produce and is flammable. As celluloid ages, the camphor molecules are ‘squeezed’ out causing deterioration generally known as “celluloid rot.” Celluloid was replaced by cheap plastics in the 1940s. Celluloid acetate is not celluloid.

Pen Injection Mold

Casein aka Galalith (trade names Casolith, Lactoloid, Aladdinite). A milk-derived plastic, susceptible to moisture. Derived from 80% of the phosphoproteins in cow’s milk. It is rarely seen in American pen production but is more commonly used in the UK and Europe. It is a synthetic plastic material produced by the interaction of casein and formaldehyde.

Photo credit: Crimshaw.com

Ebonite (hard rubber or vulcanite). Early naturally-derived plastic is made by vulcanizing latex rubber with a large proportion of sulfur (25% to 80%) and linseed oil. Used to manufacture fountain pens until the late 1920s, thereafter primarily used to produce pen feeds and sections. The origin of the name reflects its intended use as an artificial substitute for ebony wood (thermosets).

Plastic. A generalization referring to celluloid, resin, and acrylic. Excludes hard rubber even though hard rubber is technically plastic.

Resin (aka Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene or ABS). A fancy modern name for plastic (honestly how else can one justify sales prices for a “plastic pen”). Resin actually undergoes a chemical reaction in the mold and cures from a liquid into a solid (thermosets).

Acrylic Resin (trade names Lucite or Perspex). Parker 51s is acrylic resin. It is typically derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and butyl acrylate, and/or methyl methacrylate. In the case of acrylic, the material is melted and poured into the mold to cool (thermoplastics).

How can I tell what my pen is made of?

Firstly, you must have an idea of your pen’s age, then as a general rule, pens predating 1925 are usually made of hard rubber, casein, transparent bakelite, or celluloid. Multicolored pearlescence or translucent pens are typically celluloid, as are most streamlined pens. Postwar, most penmakers transitioned from celluloid to cellulose acetate and injection-moldable polymer plastics (thermoplastics).

Hard rubber is easily identified by its distinctive smell (like a tire). Wet a celluloid pen and it gives off a distinctive smell (odor of camphor – honestly I have no idea what camphor smells like). You can also, test for celluloid by removing a tiny, tissue-thin shaving from the inside of the cap or barrel. Place the shaving on a glass slide, then add a drop of acetone. If the shaving is celluloid, it will dissolve; if casein, bakelite, or acrylic nothing will happen.

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Posted in Pens, Stories

It’s a new month, what’s in your pen cup?

Posted on by Danny Watts

The only May flowers are the ones I planted. I started May with a Shaeffer Taranis, sporting a medium nib. The Taranis was inked up with De Atramentis, Fog Grey. Personally, I would rename the ink “Blue Fog.” The pen performed great, and the ink impressed me.

Still inked up and in service are the Pilot Prera, Esterbrook J, and the Scrikss 419 (with red ink).

The usual suspects inked up and ready for use

For the new month, I pulled out a 1950’s Parker Parkette. As with similar Parker pens of the era, the new Parkette sported a hooded nib. The Parkette is inked up with De Atramentis, Dark Green, because it is Springtime and if I had grass….

Yes, this is a Parker lever-filled pen.

In case you missed any of these last month…

  • Storing Your Pen Up/Down or Somewhere Between. A topic near and dear to my heart. Mostly I think it is because I use vintage pens and some are in need of heat setting their feeds. My problems started last summer when my vintage Esterbrook and Duofold pens both decided to leak excessively into their caps…
  • Happy Nurse’s Day – Pen Sets. “Nurse’s Pens” are a genre of fountain pens that were marketed to nurses throughout the 1940s and 50s, mainly by Waterman and Esterbrook. So why did nurses need specialized fountain pens?
  • The Airplanes go up, and down, and all around with me and my pen aboard. When traveling try to carry or store fountain pens with their nibs facing up if at all possible. When flying, temperature and air pressure change quickly causing the ink to change, especially in volume. So how best to transport a fountain pen in a plane?
  • Esterbrook M2 Aerometric Pen. Esterbrook introduced their first aerometric filler called “M2.” The pen sported a metallic cap and a funky plastic barrel, but otherwise a nice vintage everyday pen with a 1950’s nostalgic look.
  • The Pens of Madman. Madmen, a show renowned for its attention to period detail which included a variety of era-specific pens. But where did they find the pens?
  • Mabie Todd Swan Leverless. The Swan Leverless model featured a special filling system that makes the pen appear to have a blind cap of a piston for vacuum filler. Looks can be deceiving.

Two questions, are you enjoying the new background paper? I’ve used many of the new sheets in the May posts and as always, what’s in your pen cup?