Filling Systems
Because Bruno Corsini pens are styled like the fine vintage pens of the early 20th century, it seems only appropriate that their filling systems also be reflective of that time. By request or desire, I've been expanding the selection of systems. For each, I endeavor to improve just a little bit on the design or implementation to assure each pens quality and durability.
The earliest fountain pens were eyedropper fillers... nothing could be simpler in concept. This was followed by a long era of sac fillers, where there was significant innovation and competition in developing various methods to fill the sac.
Bruno Corsini pens may be made with any of the following filling systems. Or, we can work towards adding to the list by developing something different.
Eyedropper
Button
Pneumatic
Crescent
Sleeve
Piston
Eyedropper Filler
The eyedropper is conceptually one of the most simple filling mechanisms. It does, though, have its advantages and disadvantages. An eyedropper filler provides the maximum ink capacity of the barrel. Filling the pen requires the use of an eyedropper, though... an extra utensil required.
Most critical for the eyedropper is that it is inherently prone to leakage since the pen must be opened to fill and the point of opening (usually the section) cannot be permanently sealed. In keeping with my tradition of making pens in the old style, I have consciously chosen not to incorporate O-rings as a seal. Instead, I take more care and effort into making the threads joining the section and barrel more resistant to leakage. I feel that hard rubber is a far more advantageous material to get a better seal, so I only use hard rubber when making eyedropper pens.
Button Filler
The button filler was my first implementation on the Bruno Corsini pen. The most common implementation of the button filler was found on the early Parker pens. My implementation is similar, but I never liked the Parker buttons. I found them difficult to remove (ease of maintenance is a priority of mine). So I machine a different brass button that is attached with a simple collar to the bottom of the barrel.
One of the advantages of the button filler is that it is a one handed filling mechanism. The pen can be held and the button operated from one hand, leaving the other hand to tilt the ink bottle, so necessary as the ink bottle level runs low.
Pneumatic
The pneumatic filler came about at the suggestion of one of my first customers. He had an affinity for pneumatics, hinted strongly, and I set to work on one. I settled on the later Chilton approach of using a single tube extending from the end of the barrel.
The pneumatic filler works by unscrewing the blind cap, extending the tube and then pushing it back while covering the hole in the end of the blind cap with a finger. This causes the air in the barrel and tube to be compressed, thus compressing the sac.
One major difference between the pneumatic filler and button filler is that the pneumatic filler is more of a two handed operation. The body of the barrel is held in one hand while the other hand holds and pushes down on the tube. The pneumatic pens can use a large sac and get in a good quantity of ink.
Crescent Filler
The crescent filler is one of my personal favorites. Found on many early Conklins, a Greishaber or two, and Spors, the crescent filler is an obvious and attractive protuberance on the pen. Not only is it a very functional filling device, but it also has been know to keep the pen from rolling off the desk (as Mark Twain attested to).
I machine my own crescent, which is then attached to a pressure bar. I also make the lock rings, styled like early Conklins. I've made these pens in acrylics, polyester and hard rubber. One issue of material choice is that the raw material must be of a large enough diameter to accommodate making the lock ring. Some stock has been too narrow for a crescent filling pen.
Sleeve Filler
The sleeve filler was an interesting challenge. Using an early Waterman as a model, I found it interesting to see that the sleeve would slide along the barrel, but not come off. This presented the question... how does one get the sleeve on? On the early pens, the sleeve was generally made as a friction fit, so it therefore would scuff up the barrel on those early hard rubber pens.
When I designed the sleeve filler, I wanted it to operate free of the barrel to leave the barrel unmarked. But I also needed to assure that it would stay on the barrel in an open or closed position. I also wanted to be sure the sleeve could be removed should the need arise (doubtful). It was a fun challenge. I ended up with a sleeve that has a touch of thread to hold it in either the open or closed position without scuffing the barrel.
Piston Filler
Although not my usual style, I have made a few piston filler pens, on in particular being the PENguin Limited Edition pen, which incorporates a vintage Pelikan 400 piston unit.
The other piston filler I have used is a recent JoWo high quality filler. I used this on a few examples of the Corsini-Simpole Limited Edition.