Restorations

 

Introduction:
We offer restoration services on a broad variety of vintage pens. We specialize in fountain pen repairs, nib repairs, nib adjustments and tuning. We often can provide specialty services like celluloid crack repairs. Regardless of the service requested, in all situations we will treat your pen as if it were a precious family heirloom of our own. Our goal is to send your pens back to you in the best possible working order, often even better than when they were originally manufactured. 

Repair Services and Pricing:
Below you will find a list that includes a good number of repair services available here at Indy-Pen-Dance. If you can't find the repair you believe your pen needs, or are uncertain as to your needs, please contact us to discuss your pen's specific situation. Please note that the prices listed below do not include shipping or insurance charges.

READ ME! Prices listed here are for standard work.  Additional fees may apply if we have to replace parts other than those standard to the repair  (e.g., a broken pressure bar) or if we have to  correct damage resulting from previous improper  repairs..

Standard Restoration Services:
This includes complete disassembly, cleaning, replacement of rubber components within the filling system, and a light polishing of the pen's exterior to remove tarnish on metal components and reduce the appearance of light surface wear while bringing out the natural shine of the fountain pen. This does not include replacement costs for any missing, broken or metal parts. If these are needed, additional charges will apply and all Additional charges for parts or additional services will be discussed with the owner prior to completion when the charges add more than $10 to the final cost.

Sheaffer Snorkels & PFMs:  Starting price is $65
We will replace the O-ring and Point Holder Gasket, remove the old sac, clean all remnants of the old sac from the sac protector, install new sac, adjust and align the snorkel then test with water to ensure that it draws and expels as designed. We use correctly sized replacement parts for the Point Holder Gaskets and the O-Ring to ensure proper function and long lasting restoration.

Sheaffer Touchdowns: Starting price is $60
We will replace the "O" ring and blind cap gasket, remove the old sac, cleaning all remnants of the old sac from the sac protector, install new sac and test fill with water to ensure that it draws and expels as designed. 

Lever/Button Fillers: Starting price is $50
We will remove the old sac from the section and install a new one. All remnants of the old sac will be removed from the pen body. Pressure or "J" bar will be inspected, cleaned and properly reinserted. (Replacement of the bar, if needed, will add $5.00 to the total). The filling system will be tested with water to ensure that is draws and expels as designed. 

Vacumatics: Starting at $55
We will remove and replace diaphram and reseal the vacuum system. Inside of pen cleaned and all remnants of the old diaphram will be removed before reassembly. Breather tube cleaned and reinserted - it will be replaced as necessary. The filling system will be tested with water to ensure that is draws and expels as designed. 

Parker 51 Vacumatic-Filler: Starting at $55
We will remove and replace diaphram and reseal the vacuum system. Inside of pen cleaned and all remnants of the old diaphram will be removed before reassembly. Breather tube cleaned and reinserted - it will be replaced as necessary. Nib and hood will be reinstalled accurately and the filling system will be tested with water to ensure that is draws and expels as designed. 

Morrison Patriot: Starting at $60
We will disassemble and clean the pen. The filling system will be removed. Old cork and red clay seals will be removed and replaced with appropriate O rings. The filling cylinder will be cleaned to improve clarity. The filling system will be reassembled and sealed onto the section nipple.  The filling system will be tested after setting for three days to allow the chemicals to flash off any vapors.

Piston Fillers: Starting at $65
We will disassemble and clean the pen. The filling system will be removed.  Old cork and seals will be removed and replaced with appropriate O rings. We will also test the pen overnight for any leakage. The filling system will be tested with water to ensure that is draws and expels as designed.

Plunger / VAC-Fillers: Starting at $60
We will disassemble and clean the pen. The packing unit will be restored and the plunger gasket will be replaced. We will also test the pen overnight for any leakage. Here is how we test to make sure the seals and gasket are working correctly. Vac-fill Test The filling system will be tested with water once assembled to ensure that is draws and expels as designed. 

Conklin Nozac: Starting at $65
The piston will be removed and the old cork seals will be cut off and replaced with O rings. The pen will be cleaned along with the inside of the barrel to increase visibility as best possible. If the clear portion of the barrel is ambered it cannot be made clear through cleaning. The section unit will be dissasembled and cleaned. The nib will be reset and section replaced, then the filling system will be tested.

Waterman Ink-Vue: Starting at $60
Type 0 and type 1, Removal and replacement of old Ink-Vue sac and gasket. The pen will be disassembled and cleaned. Once reassembled the pen will be tested to ensure proper filling and ink flow. The pen will then receive a light polish.

Waterman Hundred Year Pen Barrel End Repalcement: Starting at $75
Removal of old crystalized transparent end. A replacement end will be fabricated and chemically welded to the pen barrel. It will then be properly shaped and smoothed to the existing barrel. Pen will then receive a polish.

Hard Rubber Deoxidization: Starting at $60
Price is based on what parts are being treated. Parts are run through a chemical process to restore the oxidized finish, soaked in a mineral oil bath, then hand buffed. We do not use temporary dyes or colors when deoxidizing pens.

Nib Smoothing: $45  (Binderizing)
Tine alignment, flow adjustment and smoothing of the nib tip.  Linda's goal is to make your pen a joy to write with, not a hassle. Linda has spent extensive time training under Richard Binder and is constantly honing her skill.

Bent Nib Repair: Starting at $55
Bent nib repair starts at $55, and can go up based on the severity of the bend and time it takes to bring the pen back into proper alignment.

Nib Customization: 
Please refer to our Nib Services tab above.

Except for warranty repairs, pens to be worked on are put into a queue several weeks in length to await their turn. We will let you know the estimated waiting time when we notify you that we have received your pens. There is a minimum charge of $20.00 for any single repair or restoration order. Use of Noodler’s inks will void our warranty.

We guarantee our restoration and repair work for one year. We guarantee our installation labor and all parts that we provide. (We cannot guarantee parts that you have supplied.) Wherever possible, we use original parts; that is, parts made by the original manufacturer for the pen model in question. This does not include matching the manufacture dates on pens bearing date codes. Also, we cannot warrant the life of a latex sac beyond 90 days.

About Plunger-Filling Fountain Pens
There are several variations on the basic plunger filler, as used by Sheaffer (Vacuum-Fil), Wahl-Eversharp (“One-Shot” vacuum filler), Conklin (Nozac Q.F.), De la Rue (Onoto the Pen), and Pilot of Japan. We are set up to restore these pens, which have a thin plunger shaft.

We do not repair these pens by shoving a thick rubber washer into the barrel to substitute for the shaft packing, as do many repairers. That method works after a fashion; but it is often a short-lived and unreliable “fix,” and it reduces the pen’s ink capacity and makes the plunger operate stiffly.

Instead, we restore the pens to their original smooth, easy working order by replacing the original cork or felt shaft packing with a Viton^® O-ring and fitting a new plunger washer made of a specially selected synthetic rubber. We reassemble the pen using a thread sealant that is made to Sheaffer’s exact specifications.  For Onoto pens we use new-made exact replacement cupped washers for the plunger head.

Note: If additional parts are required, the cost will be higher. Note that almost all Conklin Q.F. pens and some others have celluloid-sheathed mild steel plunger shafts that often rust and need replacement. If your pen needs a new shaft, we will “cannibalize” or fabricate one and charge accordingly.

If you wish to take advantage of our restorations services please use the Contact Us form to let us know what you need. We will then provide you with instruction of how and where to send your pen(s) for service. Repaired pens for which payment has not been received 30 days after the initial email notification will be considered abandoned and may be sold or used for parts. 

Kind Regards,
Mike & Linda