Boston, a Dutch piston filler

Boston, a Dutch brand, with a semi-flex 14ct nib. Looks like one of many generic piston filler models of that era, with a beautiful hatched pattern on the brown ink window.

I got this with the piston filler mechanism not working. Took it apart and manufactured a replacement cork. The nib also needed some work to get rid of the initial scratchiness. Now writes smooth with a bit of pleasant feedback.

 

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Ranga Model 8

The Ranga Model 8 in one of their premium ebonite colours, this is 3-in-1 filler with a Bock M nib. A beautiful writer, in a classic streamlined design, this model may be my favourite.

I was really struggling between this red-black and the similar mustard-black combination and I finally went for this one. I love all their premium colours and I have been told that there are more on their way. I saw almost all their premium colours first-hand last year at the TIPS show. Once you see these, the ordinary ebonites are left far, far behind in comparison.

Made in Tamil Nadu, India by Ranga Handmade Pens. Thank you, @ranga_pens

Currently inked as an eyedropper filler with Nurit Royal Blue.

The Guider Onyx - Sheaffers hybrid 'frankenpen'

I had got myself a Guider Onyx in BHR during my visit to their shop in late 2017. The pen, a medium sized one, came with a #5 stock nib which although a smooth writer, I thought was too small for the pen. I tried various experiments with the section, such as widening the inner bore to accommodate a larger #6 nib. I was more or less successful but I was not satisfied somehow.

I have had a Sheaffer's Imperial 440 (I think...) with an inlaid nib for a while and I was devastated when one day I noticed a small crack in the barrel. It was a cartridge filler and didn't pose an immediate threat, but i was hesitant to use it after that, even though it was a fabulous writer.

Last week, during the winter holidays, having nowhere to go and nothing much to do, I took out the un-inked pens, basically to tinker around. I soon realised that the Sheaffer section fit the already-modified Onyx pen's barrel perfectly! Just to make things a little more interesting, I switched the recognizable Guider clip with a more generic and chrome finished one.

All said and done, it's turned out to be a beautiful looking pen, don't you think?