7 replies to this topic

[Claes]

Dear all,

[attachmentid=370]
I clearly dislike modern converters, especially the one depicted,
formerly belonging to a cute little Pilot Birdie.

You operate it by pressing the U-bar, one prong of which is fixed
inside the metal collar, the other prong is movable and flattens
the ink sac.

Unfortunately, the end of that movable prong is somewhat sharp
and eats into the ink sac in no time at all. Result: the ink sac
leaks!

Grumpfingly Yours,
Claes in Lund, Sweden
http://www.algonet.se/~claesg

Attached Files

•  pilot_converter.jpg   10.35K   59 downloads

[Rob Astyk]

Hi, Claes,

It looks as if the Japanese (at Pilot anyway) have forgotten something that people making thumb fillers have known for about a century. The moveable part of the pressure bar must be rounded and short enough so that it never contacts the nipple on the section that holds the sac. Actually, Pilot brobably writes the specs and sends these off to some sweatshop in China or Southeast Asia where they don't give a damn whether the thing works a second time as long as it holds together for the first. I would send Pilot the converter and some notes on how poorly it's made.

Take care,

Rob Astyk

[DRP]

This message may be a bit outdated but I'll comment, anyway.

Businesses, regardless of whether they manufacture fountain pens or anything else need to hear from customers when a product -- or service -- is unsatisfactory.  

It's interesting to note that the most profitable businesses oftentimes have the best customer relations.  Some people say that customer relations are a luxury which can only be afforded by the most profitable concerns.  I am of the opinion that businesses are profitable BECAUSE they respond to customer needs and expectations.

[Tinker]

I am of the opinion that businesses are profitable BECAUSE they respond to customer needs and expectations.

It's a pretty simple equation in many industries. People are willing to pay more for good service - thus a business that provides good service can charge more, and it is more profitable. I also suspect a good customer service model is a sign of efficient operations in general.

John

[DRP]

I agree completely.  Good customer service is evidence of a properly functioning operation.

[einv]

do you actually press that bar? i refill the convertor using a blunted syringe, in fact the pilot carts and convertors have such a gaping mouth that even an eyedropper will do the job. what needs to change is not converter design, but the attitude---there is nothing sacred nor convenient about bottle filling. refilling cartridges with blunted syringe reduces contamination because only the syringe tip needs to contact ink, allows every last drop of ink to be used, and above all permits ink mixing to be carried out with efficiency and little wastage within cartridges as laboratories.

[boreal]

do you actually press that bar? i refill the convertor using a blunted syringe, in fact the pilot carts and convertors have such a gaping mouth that even an eyedropper will do the job. what needs to change is not converter design, but the attitude---there is nothing sacred nor convenient about bottle filling. refilling cartridges with blunted syringe reduces contamination because only the syringe tip needs to contact ink, allows every last drop of ink to be used, and above all permits ink mixing to be carried out with efficiency and little wastage within cartridges as laboratories.

Will you not prematurely wear out the convertor by the constant removing and replacing it in order to fill with the syringe?  
Isn't it the same for people who re-use cartridges?  Eventually the plastic wears, and it doesn't seal properly to the section.

Boreal

[einv]

in my experience, for the pilot converters, no loosening happens with time. the plastic is fairly stiff, and it is surrounded by a steel sheath that tends to prevent loosening or splitting. i have used the same cartridge for years refilling, and the same with converters. the only time i ever press the steel press bar is to flush the section forcefully to get rid of a clog. there too, it is probably better to use a separate rubber bulb in place of the converter, as the clog if it backfires into the bulb can be removed more easily than if it went into the converter, which might cause the pen to clog again.