Fountain pens have been hundreds of years, and over that time, there has evolved different types of filling mechanisms. During their evolution pen makers were looking for ways to make the use of fountain pens more convenient, less messy, and cheaper to use.
The five most popular types of fountain pen filling mechanisms are converter, cartridge, piston, vacuum, and eye dropper. Each of these filling mechanisms has their own pros and cons which we will discuss, and compare them to each other to see which might be ideal for you.
Converter
The converter filling mechanism is the most popular and widely used filling mechanism. It is a small, removable device that fits inside the pen barrel and can be filled with ink. The converter itself is a small piston filling device. The converter operates by using the piston to draw ink from a bottle through a narrow tube and into the converter's reservoir. The converter then feeds the ink to the pen's nib.
The converter is easy to use, and it allows for the use of bottled ink, which offers a greater variety of colors and properties than cartridges. The converter also saves money in the long run because it eliminates the need to continue buying cartridges. However, one must keep the converter clean, not only between use of different colors, but use over time.
Cartridge
Cartridges are small, pre-filled ink containers that are designed to fit inside a fountain pen. The cartridge has a small opening that fits over the pen's feed, allowing ink to flow to the nib. Cartridges are easy to use, and they offer a mess-free experience. Once a cartridge is emptied it is discarded, though Noodler's Ink does make a reusable cartridge for some of it's pens.
The downside of using cartridges is that they come in a limited range of colors and properties. It can be expensive to manufacture cartridges because it takes more work to put a small amount of ink in a lot of tiny cartridges than a large amount of ink in one glass bottle. Manufactures tend to only offer their most popular inks as cartridges.
This also means that ounce for ounce cartridges cost more than bottled inks. They also contribute to waste, as the cartridge is not reused. Despite this, cartridges are popular, and good for people new to the fountain pen hobby, or anyone who values convenience over variety.
Piston
The piston filling mechanism is a popular for it's large capacity. The piston is fitted inside the barrel of the pen, and it operates by drawing ink into the pen barrel through the nib. The nib is submerged in ink and the piston moves up inside the pen's body drawing in the in. The piston is operated by turning a knob or mechanism located at the end of the pen.
Piston fillers offer a huge ink capacity, making them perfect for those who use their fountain pens frequently. Such as artists who use them for drawing, or writers who spin their tale writing longhand.
The piston filler is a larger version of the converter, they use the same piston style mechanism to create a vacuum to pull the ink into the reservoir. The main difference between them is the converter is small and lives inside the barrel, the piston is huge and is part of the barrel.
The piston offers similar benefits as the converter, only with more ink. It is cheaper than cartridges, and just as much clean up as the converter or vacuum.
Vacuum
The vacuum filling mechanism is another popular option for high-end fountain pens. It operates by drawing ink into the pen barrel through a vacuum created by a plunger located at the end of the pen. The plunger pulled up, then the nib is submerged in the ink, and the plunger is pushed down. A vacuum is created behind the plunger, which the plunger reached the wider opening inside the barrel the vacuum is opened to rest of the barrel, and ink is sucked inside.
Vacuum fillers offer a large ink capacity, larger than piston fillers because they do not need the bulky piston itself.
Other than capacity, the vacuum filler offers the same benefits and drawbacks as the cartridge and piston filler.
Eye Dropper
The eye dropper filling mechanism is the oldest and simplest filling mechanism, it is also the one that is least used these days. It operates by filling the pen barrel directly with ink using an eye dropper or pipette. With an eye dropper pen the entire barrel of the pen is the reservoir for holding the ink. Great caution must be taken where the barrel screws onto the grip section or there could be leaking. Often o-rings and silicon grease are used to ensure a tight seal.
Eye dropper fillers offer a gigantic ink capacity, and they allow for the use of any type of ink, including specialty inks that may not be available in cartridges or bottles. However, eye dropper fillers are also the messiest and most difficult to use, making them a less popular option for many fountain pen enthusiasts.
Comparison of Filling Mechanisms
In terms of ease of use, the converter and cartridge filling mechanisms are the easiest to use, as they offer a mess-free experience and do not require any additional tools or equipment to operate. The piston and vacuum fillers are also relatively easy to use, but they require a bit more effort to fill and clean.
In terms of speed, the cartridge filling mechanism is the fastest, as it only takes a few seconds to replace an empty cartridge with a new one. The piston and vacuum fillers take a bit longer to fill, but they offer a larger ink capacity, so they do not need to be refilled as frequently.
In terms of messiness, the eye dropper filling mechanism is the messiest of all, as it requires the user to carefully fill the pen barrel with ink using a dropper or pipette, which can lead to spills and stains if not done properly. Then to ensure the seal between the barrel and grip is air tight to prevent leaking.
In terms of ink capacity, most eye droppers have the largest reservoir followed by the piston and vacuum filling mechanisms, and then converter fillers, with the cartridge filling mechanism offering the smallest capacity.
Each fountain pen filling mechanism has its own unique advantages and disadvantages for different situations, however I would recommend the converter over the others if I had to choose only one. It is easy to use, easy to clean, and saves money in the long run. The converter filler is the practical choice for most fountain pen users, regardless of their level of experience. I encourage you to explore the different types of filling mechanisms and choose the one that best fits your writing style and needs. Happy writing!