A selection of Super pens in black. They were also available in a number of colors.
Most of these pens were equipped with nail-type nibs, albeit there are a couple of exceptions about which I will speak later on. However, the leading characteristic of these pens was the filling system—the quarter-switch device, called “hose system” in Japan. It is composed of a rubber sac covered by a metal sheath inside which there is a pressing plate operated by a small lever located on the top of the sheath. Small Super models, though, could not fit this system inside and implemented a much simpler pressing plate in the fashion of a traditional aerometric device.
The three filling systems on Super pens: accordion (bellows) on the top, quarter-switch on the middle, and the more simple pressure bar on the bottom.
As for the nib materials, in my experience, the vast majority of them were made of 14 K gold. The exceptions were the cheapest models –the Super 50, for instance—, whose nibs were made of gold plated steel. And regarding the points, although most of those available today in the second hand market were rigid Fs, there existed more exciting nibs including flexible falcon and three-tined music nibs.
Four examples of nail-type nibs on Super pens. The first and the third from the left are made of steel.
The exceptions to those characteristics were two pens that I have already described on these chronicles—the accordion filler Super 500G and the Super Ultra 500, which implement inlaid nibs. Actually, the later, as the top of the line model, is a very unique model that deserves a chronicle for itself.
(Pilot Custom 74, music nib – Pilot Iroshizuku Sho-ro)
Bruno Taut
January 3-4th, 2011
[etiquetas: Pilot]
Bruno Taut
January 3-4th, 2011
[etiquetas: Pilot]
6 comments:
Hi Bruno! Thanks for the detailed write up on the Pilot converters. I got a vintage Pilot Super 200 from a thrift shop about a month ago. It has the quarter switch mechanism but the rubber sac is missing. I'm wondering if a Con-20 can be used to replace the converter.
I got to make it (partially) work but the ink doesn't flow very well. Hope you can help me because this pen has a really nice flex. Thanks!
I am sorry for my delay in replying.
You can attach Pilot cartridges to the old Super series, but you have to extract the nipple to whether the sac is attached. Changing the sac, however, is not that difficult.
Cheers,
BT
Hi Bruno,
I have a similar pen, though not sure if it's a Super 77, 100 or 150 of some kind. It looks like the 3rd one from the right in your top familly picture, though the nib is more like an arrow (as in the 77).
Anyway, I'd like to get it to work again and replace the sac. Do you know which type of sac should be there? Latex, sillicone or other? Do you have suggestions for where to find them? Also, there seems to be absolutely no glue/shellac or other to the 'nipple' (which I removed). How was the sac afixed ?
Thanks
Christophe
PS: your blog is an amazing source of information! Well done!
Thanks, Christophe, for passing by and commenting, and for the nice words.
Use whatever the sac fitted properly. Its material is not what matters. I favor silicone as they are more durable.
I reckon there might be people who wanted a "period correct" sac, made with similar materials, but I think sacs are consumables --just like ink--, and using modern materials is not a heresy.
AS for the pen model, there might be some subtle inscription on the body saying "SUPER XXX" together with a dating code formed by two letters and two digits. All that could give you additional information on your pen.
Cheers,
BT
Thanks Bruno. I found the inscription: "super 150"
I also found silicone sacs, but too large. Still need to identify a proper supplier...
I guess once I find a sac that fits, I'll try using some silicone grease, or if it leaks, silicone glue.
Cheers, Christophe
Hello all,
Christophe, if you have access to "the Pen Sac Company" sacs, then their straight walled latex sacs work well in the hose/switch fill mechanism, a size 15 fits many, but you should measure your pen to be certain. Don't forget to account for the space taken by the pressure bar and allow for some small extra clearance in the tube, erring on the side of using a smaller sac is the safest policy. If you ordered sizes 13 through 16 sacs, one of those would almost certainly fit your Super.
In view of the delicacy of the pressure bar spring seat (too much force on the system can break the paper-thin retaining collar), I favor very thin and supple sacs for these pens, latex was what Pilot used originally, so sticking with that assures similar performance (and internal clearances) as when new. Also, regular shellac does bond sacs to the PE sac bushing, no need for silicone adhesive (and certainly don't use silicone grease!), remember to cut the sac a few millimeters short as well, since the switch mechanism plunger moves in the sac shroud when activated!
Another trick for this type is to use an empty standard Pilot cartridge as a removal tool for the sac bushing: remove the seal disc from the cartridge, then press it onto the sac bushing, grasp the cartridge and slowly rotate it with your fingers, keep rotating while gently withdrawing the cartridge (and hopefully also the attached sac bushing) from the section. The feed and section should be clean of dried ink before trying this and it may take a few attempts before the bushing comes out, but I have yet to fail using this technique and it doesn't damage the bushing, like prying with dental picks or forceps does.
Good luck! hose/switch fillers are conceptually similar to a button filler system, so not that difficult to restore, compared to some filler systems.
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