I have a few (well, many more than a few 😁) sac fillers, of which the lever filler is an example. Almost hundred year old pens still with no major issues. Yes, I generally have to replace the old ink sac. Though I have several 70 year old Esterbrook pens that are still on the original sac (they used the same ones everyone else used, but they seem to be strangely more durable in an Esterbrook), most need replacing. Generally about a 5 minute process, not counting the dry time for the shellac to seal the sac in place. Lever fillers were so popular because they are very simple, generally durable, and easy to use. Some are slightly different. Waterman's used what's called a "box lever," with the lever in a metal box to keep it in place and avoid deformation of the barrel around the spring that holds it in place. Waterman's, and vintage Conway Stewart used a pressure bar that slides on 2 TINY pins to secure it, other than the more common "J bar" most others used. A gripe about lever fillers is "they're harder to clean." Not really, in my experience. Maybe a little longer, but not harder. "Some inks eat the sac." Again, not in my experience, and I've used inks on the "forbidden list" (Noodler's, to be specific) with no problems. "They don't hold as much ink." If you use a cartridge converter, they hold the same amount. Ultimately, they're some of my favourite types of pens. I will lump in the button filler, the crescent filler, the coin filler, the matchstick filler (though I don't have the last 2 types. Same basic concept, though.) I will say that they can get looser over the years, and depending on how cheaply made the pen is, you can get deformation around the spring for the lever. Or cracking around where it's pinned in place. But, remember, it's taken years for these things to happen. The original owner probably got decades of use from them, and it's still working, just not as pretty. I have several that the lever is loose. Just means that the 70+ year old pen needs to be more carefully placed in a pocket, or be careful if you post it. Lever fillers are, for the most part, very durable and easy to maintain. I think that you covered the basics quite nicely. Thanks for sharing this, potentially opening people up to another type of great pen!
Thanks so much, Paul. I really appreciate the comments. I'm with you - I really love the lever-filler. I haven't yet played with a Mark Twain, but they seem ideal too. And as for capacity - any limitation just demonstrates the ease of refilling for me!
@@writerlywitterings I have a 1917 Conklin Crescent 2P (vest pocket model.) Great little pen! With the modern ones, there may be a possibility of issues, though from what I'm hearing, it's gotten better (though the ring for the crescent, to act like a "safety," is still a little loose for my taste. Seems to be with all of them. Guess the build quality of the original spoiled me. 😁) Yafa going to Jowo nibs seems to help.
For sentimental reasons, the original Conklin Crescent Filler is one of my very favorite pens. I learned to write with a pen using a Crescent Filler that belonged to my grandfather. I've love the Parker Duofold Button Filler since the first time I wrote with one. As young as I was, as small as my hands must have been, that pen just wrote perfectly. Still does.
Have you tried using your Pineider travel inkwell? If the pen fits, I think you would get a nearly full reservoir with gravity helping the fill. I use mine on my Pilot Custom 823 vacuum filler and it gets a complete fill. A different mechanism, I know, but the lever-filler should also get the benefit of that inkwell.
No, I haven't - the Conway Stewart #58 has a large swelling at the nib end of the section, which is cut quite sharply. That means that it's an unreliable (!) fixing in a Pineider or Visconti travelling inkwell - i.e. the pen can come loose and suddenly spray ink in every direction! I may have a look and see if I can run some tests with water, but for now it makes me anxious to look at it!
I grew up using lever fill pens that belonged to my grandfather. I never had a problem with a lever bending, let alone breaking. Maybe because my grandpa made it clear that I needed to be careful and gentle with the lever. I did have a couple of sacks rupture, but those pens were already decades old. This doesn't seem to be much of a problem with modern pens because most of them don't use rubber sacks that can dry out when the pen isn't in use. I don't think there's any doubt that cartridge/converter pens and eyedropper pens are the most reliable and trouble free, but I've had much, much less trouble with lever fill pens than I have with piston fillers.
Yep, the trick is to be gentle - I use the underside of my thumbnail to first lift the lever and then finish the lift with the ball of my index finger slightly down the lever, where it is stronger. If you put a new sac in it you may not be able to lift the lever to 90 degrees - no matter. I grew up with lever fill pens - standard issue at my school where I learnt to write - they can’t be too bad.
I have to admit, I have had no problems with any version of sac-reservoir pens. Even my Sheaffer from the 70s still works fine with the original (I assume ordinary rubber) ink sac. I think people are a lot more anxious because of lack of familiarity than any real issues.
I think people got hooked on cartridge convertors for convenience, and cannot get their heads around the idea of an ink sac, which is a real shame. I think it's one of the quickest, simplest and most effective filling systems there is!
@@writerlywitterings One of the sacks that ruptured on me was a very, very early Conklin Crescent filler that my great-grandfather bought almost as soon as they hit the market. I think my grandfather said is was 1902. The other wasn't in a Parker Duofold Button Filler. from about 1930. Both of these ruptured in the mid-sixties, but I don't remember the years. I have seen a number of ruptured sacks on those older pens, though I didn't own them. In fairness, I will say that far more often than not the pens hadn't been used for a lot of years, and the rubber dried out and cracked, and then split when the pen was used again. I've only seen a couple of new pens have sacks that split, and that's normal. Nothing is perfect, and on a percentage basis, sacks are extremely reliable. And it's very, very easy and quick to replace a ruptured sack. Too, I really have no experience at all with the sacks in pens that are on the market now. I don't even know what material they make the sacks from, but it absolutely isn't like the rubber that was on those old Conklins and Parkers.
Greetings - Sorry to hear about your cold. Glad your on your feet. And, where can I get Akkerman in the UK please? I have searched everywhere with no success.
I'm not giving the sac enough time, apparently. I prefer levers that click back into place, preventing them from sticking out. I don't know if that feature is specific to any particular brand. As for summer fun, I had a large non-allergic reaction to a bee sting on my head. My kids said I look like Gothmog from LOTR.
I can happily state that children are as respectful to their fathers even here. Sympathy is not something you can rely on! I like levers that click back, too, but it's a non-essential compared with the benefits of the quick refill for me!
Your pen looks like a reproduction of the vintage Conway Stewart 58. I have many lever fillers pre 1960s. They still function beautifully if the sac is not perished. These latex rubber sacs at one point of the rot cycle, will not expand normally-they won’t suck up ink fully-the sac sides stick together-an indication the sac must be replaced. If the lever is stiff DO NOT force it-you need a new sac. Sometimes the lever pressure bar is pulled out and detached from the lever when removing the perished sac. With vintage Conway Stewart pens, putting the bar back onto the lever is “easy’ after finding instructions. The lever must always click flush with the barrel… otherwise there is a problem.
Thanks for that. Yes, this is a reproduction of the 58 which CS manufactured and called the "Indiana Jones" after the pen that was used in the third film to squirt ink into the eyes of a German guard and gave rise to the quote "The pen is mightier than the sword" in the film by a giggling Denholm Elliot. On mine the lever doesn't click into place, but I think that's a design decision, and it does sit nicely flush with the barrel. It's a great little pen, a good size and light, and ideal for pretty lengthy writing sessions.
When it's full, and you've let some air in, the ink sac swells to its full size and (on my pen) there is no rattle. The sac presses the bottom of the lever to the edge of the barrel so it can't rattle.
I have a few (well, many more than a few 😁) sac fillers, of which the lever filler is an example. Almost hundred year old pens still with no major issues. Yes, I generally have to replace the old ink sac. Though I have several 70 year old Esterbrook pens that are still on the original sac (they used the same ones everyone else used, but they seem to be strangely more durable in an Esterbrook), most need replacing. Generally about a 5 minute process, not counting the dry time for the shellac to seal the sac in place.
Lever fillers were so popular because they are very simple, generally durable, and easy to use.
Some are slightly different. Waterman's used what's called a "box lever," with the lever in a metal box to keep it in place and avoid deformation of the barrel around the spring that holds it in place. Waterman's, and vintage Conway Stewart used a pressure bar that slides on 2 TINY pins to secure it, other than the more common "J bar" most others used.
A gripe about lever fillers is "they're harder to clean." Not really, in my experience. Maybe a little longer, but not harder.
"Some inks eat the sac." Again, not in my experience, and I've used inks on the "forbidden list" (Noodler's, to be specific) with no problems.
"They don't hold as much ink." If you use a cartridge converter, they hold the same amount.
Ultimately, they're some of my favourite types of pens. I will lump in the button filler, the crescent filler, the coin filler, the matchstick filler (though I don't have the last 2 types. Same basic concept, though.)
I will say that they can get looser over the years, and depending on how cheaply made the pen is, you can get deformation around the spring for the lever. Or cracking around where it's pinned in place. But, remember, it's taken years for these things to happen. The original owner probably got decades of use from them, and it's still working, just not as pretty.
I have several that the lever is loose. Just means that the 70+ year old pen needs to be more carefully placed in a pocket, or be careful if you post it. Lever fillers are, for the most part, very durable and easy to maintain.
I think that you covered the basics quite nicely. Thanks for sharing this, potentially opening people up to another type of great pen!
Thanks so much, Paul. I really appreciate the comments. I'm with you - I really love the lever-filler. I haven't yet played with a Mark Twain, but they seem ideal too. And as for capacity - any limitation just demonstrates the ease of refilling for me!
@@writerlywitterings I have a 1917 Conklin Crescent 2P (vest pocket model.) Great little pen! With the modern ones, there may be a possibility of issues, though from what I'm hearing, it's gotten better (though the ring for the crescent, to act like a "safety," is still a little loose for my taste. Seems to be with all of them. Guess the build quality of the original spoiled me. 😁) Yafa going to Jowo nibs seems to help.
For sentimental reasons, the original Conklin Crescent Filler is one of my very favorite pens. I learned to write with a pen using a Crescent Filler that belonged to my grandfather. I've love the Parker Duofold Button Filler since the first time I wrote with one. As young as I was, as small as my hands must have been, that pen just wrote perfectly. Still does.
Have you tried using your Pineider travel inkwell? If the pen fits, I think you would get a nearly full reservoir with gravity helping the fill. I use mine on my Pilot Custom 823 vacuum filler and it gets a complete fill. A different mechanism, I know, but the lever-filler should also get the benefit of that inkwell.
No, I haven't - the Conway Stewart #58 has a large swelling at the nib end of the section, which is cut quite sharply. That means that it's an unreliable (!) fixing in a Pineider or Visconti travelling inkwell - i.e. the pen can come loose and suddenly spray ink in every direction! I may have a look and see if I can run some tests with water, but for now it makes me anxious to look at it!
@@writerlywitterings I'd be really interested in the result if you do give it a test with water. Cheers
I grew up using lever fill pens that belonged to my grandfather. I never had a problem with a lever bending, let alone breaking. Maybe because my grandpa made it clear that I needed to be careful and gentle with the lever.
I did have a couple of sacks rupture, but those pens were already decades old. This doesn't seem to be much of a problem with modern pens because most of them don't use rubber sacks that can dry out when the pen isn't in use.
I don't think there's any doubt that cartridge/converter pens and eyedropper pens are the most reliable and trouble free, but I've had much, much less trouble with lever fill pens than I have with piston fillers.
Yep, the trick is to be gentle - I use the underside of my thumbnail to first lift the lever and then finish the lift with the ball of my index finger slightly down the lever, where it is stronger. If you put a new sac in it you may not be able to lift the lever to 90 degrees - no matter. I grew up with lever fill pens - standard issue at my school where I learnt to write - they can’t be too bad.
I have to admit, I have had no problems with any version of sac-reservoir pens. Even my Sheaffer from the 70s still works fine with the original (I assume ordinary rubber) ink sac. I think people are a lot more anxious because of lack of familiarity than any real issues.
I think people got hooked on cartridge convertors for convenience, and cannot get their heads around the idea of an ink sac, which is a real shame. I think it's one of the quickest, simplest and most effective filling systems there is!
@@writerlywitterings One of the sacks that ruptured on me was a very, very early Conklin Crescent filler that my great-grandfather bought almost as soon as they hit the market. I think my grandfather said is was 1902. The other wasn't in a Parker Duofold Button Filler. from about 1930. Both of these ruptured in the mid-sixties, but I don't remember the years.
I have seen a number of ruptured sacks on those older pens, though I didn't own them. In fairness, I will say that far more often than not the pens hadn't been used for a lot of years, and the rubber dried out and cracked, and then split when the pen was used again. I've only seen a couple of new pens have sacks that split, and that's normal. Nothing is perfect, and on a percentage basis, sacks are extremely reliable.
And it's very, very easy and quick to replace a ruptured sack. Too, I really have no experience at all with the sacks in pens that are on the market now. I don't even know what material they make the sacks from, but it absolutely isn't like the rubber that was on those old Conklins and Parkers.
Greetings - Sorry to hear about your cold. Glad your on your feet. And, where can I get Akkerman in the UK please? I have searched everywhere with no success.
Cheers, Kevin. It was a nasty one!
I’ve never seen Akkerman in the UK. I ordered my inks and stuff from them direct. Although that does indeed mean import costs. arghhh.
I have a Conway Stewart 475 from 1933 with a lever and it still works very well.
I really like the system, and the pens using it seem to be very reliable.
Thank you as always for the video !
My pleasure!
Use a Pineider portable ink well and fill the pen inverted. Should get a full fill.
Cheers, William.
Interesting……..not sure I’m into the lever, however I love the idea of the Indiana Jones and all of that. Some good info Mike, thanks 🙂👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm not giving the sac enough time, apparently. I prefer levers that click back into place, preventing them from sticking out. I don't know if that feature is specific to any particular brand.
As for summer fun, I had a large non-allergic reaction to a bee sting on my head. My kids said I look like Gothmog from LOTR.
I can happily state that children are as respectful to their fathers even here. Sympathy is not something you can rely on! I like levers that click back, too, but it's a non-essential compared with the benefits of the quick refill for me!
Your pen looks like a reproduction of the vintage Conway Stewart 58. I have many lever fillers pre 1960s. They still function beautifully if the sac is not perished. These latex rubber sacs at one point of the rot cycle, will not expand normally-they won’t suck up ink fully-the sac sides stick together-an indication the sac must be replaced. If the lever is stiff DO NOT force it-you need a new sac. Sometimes the lever pressure bar is pulled out and detached from the lever when removing the perished sac. With vintage Conway Stewart pens, putting the bar back onto the lever is “easy’ after finding instructions. The lever must always click flush with the barrel… otherwise there is a problem.
Thanks for that. Yes, this is a reproduction of the 58 which CS manufactured and called the "Indiana Jones" after the pen that was used in the third film to squirt ink into the eyes of a German guard and gave rise to the quote "The pen is mightier than the sword" in the film by a giggling Denholm Elliot. On mine the lever doesn't click into place, but I think that's a design decision, and it does sit nicely flush with the barrel. It's a great little pen, a good size and light, and ideal for pretty lengthy writing sessions.
I think this is a great pen,I hope Conway Stewart brings it back.
I think they already have one new version, but I believe the Indiana Jones model was a limited edition, sadly.
I don't believe the lever is bent, it's deliberately shaped that way. Mine identical..
Aha. Thanks for that.
so the ratle of the lever is gone also when you act like that ?
When it's full, and you've let some air in, the ink sac swells to its full size and (on my pen) there is no rattle. The sac presses the bottom of the lever to the edge of the barrel so it can't rattle.
@@writerlywitterings i go try in the evening ….finally the problem solved 🤞 😀
@@patrickblindeman5847 Success!
@@writerlywitterings and we have a winner , thanks Michael to show how it must be done 🥳👍