Nibs, Parts & Supplies
We offer only a limited selection of parts. The main reason is simple: most vintage pen parts aren't interchangeable. They exhibit a maddening range of variations, and often as not even a correct original part must be hand-fitted. In most cases, it takes as much time to figure out what a do-it-yourself pen repairer actually needs as it would take to do the job ourselves, so please don't take it amiss when we ask you not to inquire about pen parts other than those listed.
Please make certain that the part you are ordering is the one you need -- returns of parts will not be accepted unless defective or not as described. This also applies to renewable components, such as sacs and seals, as well as pencil lead, erasers, and the like.
Unless otherwise noted, all parts are factory-made originals. If unused, they will be labelled "NOS" (new old stock); otherwise, condition will be used but sound. As noted above, some hand-fitting of parts may be required, and nibs (even new old stock) may need some tweaking in order to give the exact ink flow and "feel" on paper that you prefer. Prices listed below do NOT include shipping and insurance; if you wish to buy more than one of an item, quantities can be adjusted within the shopping cart before checkout.
Items without an order button (or quoted but not listed) may be added to your shopping cart through the form below.
Tools & Accessories -- Pencil Lead -- Nibs -- Other Parts -- Sacs & Seals
Tools & Accessories
These 5-inch nib smoothing disks aren't cheap, but they are the best! The industrial diamond coating resists being scraped off the extra-tough mylar backing -- one can even run the edges of these disks between a nib's tines to smooth the inside edges of the tipping material. Can be used wet or dry, will outlast other polishing media many times over -- one disk should easily be good for smoothing dozens of nibs.
Available with particle size of either 0.1 micron (ultrafine, for smoothest finish work; dark green) or 1.5 micron (very fine, offers faster deburring; light green). The ultrafine is the grade we use the most. $12 per disk.
NOTE: These are much finer than mylar-backed abrasives sold for hobby use, while the grit size is far more closely controlled. This chart gives rough equivalencies between difference abrasives scales, listing abrasives of up to 0.5 micron as equivalent to 100,000 mesh (our finer grade is, of course, five times finer yet).
Click here for more information on nib smoothing techniques
Cleanout bulbs are essential for pen restoration and maintenance: use them to flush out accumulated ink deposits and sediments from sections, feeds, and nibs, or to clean out dried ink from Parker 61 capillary reservoir units. Similar bulbs were furnished by Waterman for routine cleaning of their eyedropper-filling pens at the beginning of the 20th century. Cheaper, less risky, and often more effective than an ultrasonic cleaner! These sturdy, thick-walled rubber bulbs will last for years. The large bulbs will fit the section nipples of most pens, as well as Parker 51 and 61 nib openings. The small bulbs will fit slender pens and miniatures, such as Eversharp Bantams and Peter Pans. $4 each.
Test tube brushes are another must-have. This set includes one large, one small: the first is a good general purpose brush for caps and most barrels; the second is ideal for the narrow barrels of eyedropper-fillers, and for cleaning out sections after feed removal. Two brushes, one price: $6
If you've worked on vintage piston-fillers, safeties, pump-fillers, or plunger-fillers, you know that replacement seals are almost never available ready-made -- you have to cut them yourself, using tools like these. This seal-cutting set consists of six punches that will cut disks in cork or rubber from about 4 to 9 mm in diameter. This nicely covers the range required for the great majority of fountain pens. Note that most experts cut their seals slightly oversize, bringing them down to final dimensions with sandpaper while spinning them in a drill or lathe. May require sharpening for best results -- just twist them against a whetstone or file. Six punch set, $20
Do you have an eyedropper-filling pen in the box, complete with eyedropper? Chances are, the eyedropper's bulb has long since hardened and shattered. These latex bulbs make accurate
replacements, at only $0.60 each.
Pencil Lead
Thick 1.1 mm lead for older mechanical pencils (interchangeable with leads nominally designated as .046", 1.18 mm, and 1.2 mm), as well as .9 mm (.036") lead in various grades and colors. These are fresh production from Autopoint. Each tube contains 12 leads, each 1 3/8" long (3.5 cm). Black lead is $2 per tube; colored lead is $2.50.
VS (1.5 mm) lead, one of the most commonly-used sizes for 19th-century mechanical pencils.
Five 2 cm pieces for $6 OUT OF STOCK
2.5 mm lead, another Victorian thick size, very hard to find! Our supply was custom-ordered -- get it while you can.
Five 9 cm pieces for $8
M (1.0 mm) lead, also commonly used in 19th-century mechanical pencils.
Five 6 cm pieces for $5
| Esterbrook: | Various Renew-Point units, NOS: see current listings for availability |
| Parker 51: |
Octanium (stainless steel, for 51 Special or 21 Super, will also fit standard 51):
medium-fine , NOS, $20 each
|
| Parker 61: |
14K gold, fine, NOS, $25 each
|
| Parker 75: |
18K gold, fine, made in France, narrow tail without fins, NOS, $50 each
|
Newly-manufactured precision stainless steel breather tubes for Aerometric 51. Our manufacture, made to original Parker dimensions. Replacements for the original sterling silver breather tubes, which are commonly found broken or badly corroded. Properly sized and located side vent hole is crucial for proper functioning. Available in both standard and Demi lengths -- please specify how many of each are required. If not specified, standard size tubes will be sent.
$10 each, 3 for $24, 10 for $65, 50 for $250.
(Parker 51 Aerometric repair notes here)
Hood for earlier Vac-filling and Aerometric full-size 51, without recess for O-ring: black, NOS, $20 each
Dark blue (for Vac-fillers; more greenish than the Aerometric blue), NOS, $30 each
51 Mark III Aerometric barrel, wide threads, injection molded, not Lucite; NOS, black: $25 each
A few available in blue (not shown): $30 each
Clips for late production 51 Aerometrics (38 mm long, 12 ribs) c. 1960, NOS, gold filled or chrome plated, $35 each.
Hood for 21 Super (with small, 51-style tubular nib), NOS: black
or dark blue
, $10 each
Hood for 21 (not shown; with large nib opening, will fit sac assembly below), NOS: green, $10 each
21 sac & coupler assembly, with integral nib & feed holder (will not fit earlier hoods which hold nibs & feeds on their own, as below); OUT OF STOCK
21 Super filler housing, does not include sac, NOS: $5 each
Clip for 75 fountain pen, fibertip, or rollerball, gold filled, NOS: $25 each
Pelikan
Replacement barrels for 1930s Pelikan 100 piston-fillers, newly-made in USA from transparent acrylic (NOT Pelikan production). Finish machined, can be polished internally and externally for additional transparency. Barrel sleeve (binde) fit is deliberately designed to be on the loose side, so as to minimize risk of splitting a vintage binde.
Barrels can be used with or without barrel sleeves, but note that there will be a slight step where the barrel abuts the filler unit if no sleeve is mounted. Make your own customized demonstrator!
$50 each. Please specify color: blue or clear (green and red are now sold out).
Sheaffer
Replacement coil spring for Sheaffer PFM. Not original Sheaffer production, but newly manufactured to original specifications, $10 each
Wahl-Eversharp
Skyline pencil clip assembly, NOS, $10 each
Waterman
9500: Waterman lever box assembly: original new old stock, 21 mm long, fits 16 mm long, 2.2 mm wide barrel slot, gold plated.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: mint • $15
9501: Waterman lever box assembly: original new old stock, 23 mm long, fits 16 mm long, 3 mm wide barrel slot, gold plated.
DATE: c. 1945 • CONDITION: mint • $10
Our replacement sacs are all fresh production from the Pen Sac Company (the inheritors of the old White Rubber Company's ink sac operation). Sac sizes represent approximate external diameter in 64th of an inch; unless otherwise noted, all sacs are straight (i.e., not necked or tapered). Sacs are sold by the bag, $10 for five sacs, or an assortment of twelve in the most useful sizes (our choice) for $20.
NOTE: To order 100 of items sold in bags of 20, set the quantity in the cart at 5, then click Recalculate.
O-rings for pneumatic-fillers (these fit into the end of the barrel, making an airtight seal with the plunger), newly manufactured to original specifications, now in long-lasting ethylene-propylene*: 20 for $10 or 100 for $25
NOTE: small rings fit Snorkels and most Touchdowns, including Imperials; large rings fit PFMs, 1949 Touchdowns (the fat first-year model), and Touchdown Tuckaways. (installation instructions here)
Point seals for Snorkel and PFM (these fit inside the nib/section assembly, sealing around the extending filler tube). Custom-made to our specifications in long-lasting ethylene-propylene*. These seals are of critical importance, for when old seals leak they may allow ink to be sucked into the pen's interior, causing the spring to rust and zing up the mechanism: 20 for $16 or 100 for $50
* Ethylene-propylene seals should last at least twice as long as those made of ordinary rubber, which are vulnerable to oxidization, and especially the effects of ozone. Use only with pure silicone grease, keep away from petroleum-based lubricants.
Replacement ink sacs for Snorkel, Touchdown, and PFM repair are listed above. Correct sizes are as follows: #14, for Snorkels; #15, for slender Touchdowns, including Imperials; #17½, for Touchdown Tuckaways, PFMs, and fat-barreled first-year (1949) Touchdowns.
(more on sac selection for pneumatic-fillers here)
Repair kits for Sheaffer pneumatic-fillers, $10 each. Snorkel and PFM kits each include three sacs, three point seals, and three barrel-plunger seals; Touchdown kit comprises a total of four sacs and four barrel-plunger seals, two each of each of the two sizes used. Touchdown repair instructions may be found here; Snorkel and PFM instructions, here.
General-purpose piston-filler seal replacement kit. Assortment includes 40 O-ring seals, 10 in each of four different graduated sizes. Easily installed replacements for traditional cork seals, use singly or in pairs, or in combination with greased felt washers. Will fit a wide variety of vintage European piston-fillers -- we have used these on pens by Aurora, Kaweco, Montblanc, Osmia, Pelikan, Soennecken, and others. $25/kit
(NOTE: This is the same assortment offered for Conklin Nozac repair below)
Piston seals for Pelikan 100 and 100N. Use in pairs as replacement for original cork seals -- will not fit pistons originally made to use synthetic seals.
Better sealing, more durable, lower friction than cork. Easy to install, use with silicone grease for smooth action. Shown above installed in one of our transparent acrylic replacement barrels (at left) and in an original celluloid barrel (at right).
$10/dozen
Piston seals for Pelikan 100N and 400. Press-fit replacement for original synthetic seals, new manufacture.
$8 each
Piston seals for Conklin Nozacs (use in pairs). Kit includes 40 O-ring seals, 10 in each of four different graduated sizes. Sizes A and B will fit most standard-sized (5000-word) Nozacs, use C or D for oversize pens (7000-word). O-rings stretch over the piston head, seal tighter with less friction than any other seals we've tried. No more time-consuming gluing together of split cork! May also be used for a wide range of other piston-fillers. $25/kit
(installation instructions here)
Packing seals for Waterman safety pens (use two or three to replace the original cork shaft seal). Will fit pens up to #5-size (Waterman 45). Newly-manufactured in fluorocarbon rubber** for maximum durability and chemical resistance.
20 for $15
(installation instructions here)
Packing gaskets for plunger-fillers (used to replace original innards of Sheaffer or Eversharp packing units). Newly-manufactured in fluorocarbon rubber** for maximum durability and chemical resistance.
20 for $12 or 100 for $25
(installation instructions here)
** Fluorocarbon seals are extremely durable, resisting wear & weathering far better than standard synthetic rubber seals (estimated lifespan in industrial settings is up to 20 years, versus 2 to 5 years for the standard synthetic rubber, butadiene).
Precision-cut styrene closure washers to complete plunger-filler gasket installation, used to reclose the packing unit. Custom-made to our specifications: 20 for $8 or 100 for $25
Long-necked applicator, perfect for applying solvent cement in plunger-filler repair -- also a superior filler for eyedropper-filling pens (the long, thin tube reaches further into the barrel, filling it more neatly):
$0.50 each, ten for $2.50
High grade industrial felt, 1/16" (1.6 mm) thick; 95% wool, tough and dense, used in packing units and in some piston seals, layered with rubber washers -- the felt serving to absorb and retain the silicone grease that seals and lubricates the seal assembly. Not to be confused with fabric and craft store felt, which is thin and flimsy and insufficiently absorbent.
$4 for a 4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm) sheet.
Special thin-wall Teflon™ tubing will not corrode, low-friction surfaces resist ink residue buildup. Approximately .074" OD, for fabrication of replacement breather tubes for Vac-filling 51s, Vacumatics, Skylines, and many other pens.
5 feet for $5, or 50 feet for $30.
NOTE: We no longer stock the thin version of this tubing, as we now offer
newly-manufactured stainless steel breather tubes for Parker 51 Aerometric pens here.
For quantity discounts, put the item in the cart, adjust the quantity, then click Recalculate.