The bodies of these are nearly always of vulcanite, which material takes a high polish, but is not able to stand violent shocks or blows, and does not lend itself to easy repair if broken, and indeed is not worth the cost of repairing, since new replace' parts can readily be obtained of all well-known makes. The older type of fountain pens were filled by unscrewing the nib end and injecting a charge of ink. These have now been more or less displaced in favour of so-called " self-fillers," which are generally of two main types : (a) those which by means of a small lever in the side of the body draw in a charge of ink, from a bottle, through the nib end, and (b) those operated by means of a pump worked by a rod at the end remote from the nib. Type (a).-A small metal pull-up lever is fixed about the centre of length of the pen; this when pulled up, squeezes, by means of an internal projection on the lever, a rubber bag inside the body. The nib end being held under the ink surface, and the lever pulled out or up, the ink in the bag is forced out past the nib, and so the bag is emptied. The lever is then pushed down, and the rubber bag then resumes its circular shape, and fills itself with ink from the bottle. During the action of writing this ink in the bag flows out and along the nib.

Type (B)

The body of the pen is used as a pump cylinder, and is fitted with a piston and piston rod. When the rod and piston are pushed in towards the nib, the ink in the body is forced out, and when the piston rod is pulled out again, with the nib end held well under the ink surface, the pen body is refilled with ink. The rubber bag type obviously holds more ink for the same diameter and length of pen than the piston type, and is less liable to internal wear, and for these reasons is more popular. Both types should be thoroughly washed out now and then by having warm water drawn or forced in and out of them by their respective methods of operation; this is an easy and ready method of ensuring that the ink passages by the nib are kept open and clean. Needles or pins should not be pushed down these passages, as their shape and size may be altered, and the pen not work properly. The nibs are a push-in fit, and care should be taken to keep them tight. A pen that drips ink on to the paper, frequently only requires refilling, indeed this may generally be taken as a sign that more ink is wanted, and refilling should first be tried. It is advisable to use ink which is sold specially for fountain pens, as some other inks appear to dry on the nib, and block the ink passages, and some inks will corrode fountain pen nibs. It will be noticed that some of these fountain pen inks are sold in coloured glass, or earthenware bottles, this keeps the ink from any ill effects from the action of daylight or sunlight, as some inks are so affected in this way, changing density and depositing a sediment.

In the event that a pen of type (a) will not refil with ink, unscrew the top and draw out the rubber bag, which is attached to it, examine carefully for cracks or splits, etc., if such are present, then a new bag is required. If a type (b) pen will not refill, it is probably due to a leaky pump piston, unscrew the pen, and draw out the piston and rod. If the piston is worn in diameter, a remedy is to file or cut a groove around it, and fill it with silk or cotton thread bound round it to make a packing. With the correct amount so twisted round it, a good fit in the pen body will be obtained, and the pump work properly. The protecting cap over the nib may in course of time become too slack a fit on to the body, and refuse to stay on, the remedy is to hold the open end of the cap in a cup of hot water until it is hot, and then roll the hot end between the fingers rapidly. This will decrease the diameter sufficiently to make it a tight fit on the pen body again. Should a pen nib not write smoothly enough, take a fine oil stone, lay it on the bench or table, and write on it with the pen, held in the usual writing position, but pressing lightly, after say 20 words wipe the nib carefully and well, and try the result on a piece of paper.