Ball pens have a thick paste ink that is long lasting and does not dry out when
the point is exposed. This is why most ball pens do not have caps. The points
are activated by either a push-top or twist mechanism. The hard metal ball that
distributes the ink makes the ball pen useful when writing on glossy surfaces
or for making multiple copies. Ball pen refills usually come in blue and black
ink with fine or medium points. Some manufacturers do offer broad point in
other colors. There is also a new kind of ball pen refill on the scene - the
gel ink refill. It combines the smooth writing and vivid writing of a
rollerball with the convenience of a ball point.
Rollerballs differ from ball point pens in one important area. The rollerball
uses a liquid that has a smooth and fluid flow, much like a fountain pen. Most
rollerball pens have caps to keep the fluid ink from drying out. Make sure you
always replace the cap of a roller ball to keep the ink form drying out
prematurely. Because of increased ink flow, rollerball refills run out faster
than ball pen refills. Rollerball refills are usually available in fine or
medium points. They generally have a broader offering of colors than ball point
refills.
Most of the mechanical pencils made today are equipped with self-feeding
systems. The lead is usually filled into the pencil by removing the cap or
eraser. When not in use, the lead is retracted with the same type of mechanism.
There are many sizes of lead available and you must be sure to load your pencil
with the correct size or the leads may become jammed inside the mechanism. The
most common sizes are 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm; 0.9 mm can be found in a few pencils.
There is also a new generation of pencils with leads as wide as 5.5 mm, perfect
for sketching and drawing.
Even though they require some care, the expressive writing of a fountain pen is
well worth it! Most fountain pens use ink cartridges or a converter; some have
piston-fill systems that use bottled ink only.
A pen becomes a very personal possession for most people.
The grace and style of the fountain creates a certain aura that is difficult to
describe, but appeals to many, especially in our fast-paced culture. Touch pen
to paper and experience the unique pleasure only a fountain pen creates.
Selecting a fountain pen is much like choosing a pair of glasses. You must take
into account your aesthetic and technical needs.
The ideal pen is a perfect marriage of form and function; it should fit your
handwriting style.
· If your handwriting is small or condensed, select a fine nib
· Broad nibs are great for signatures, but can be a little temperamental.
Nibs must be held flat and not rotated when writing. This
will keep the ink flow feeding the point sufficiently.
Remember that like any fine mechanism, a pen must go
through a two to four week breaking-in period. Treat a pen properly and it will
last a lifetime, paying the dividend of enjoyable writing.
| 1. |
Always use fresh ink. If your ink is over a year old, buy a new bottle. |
| 2. |
Cartridges are fine, but a self-filling pen or the use of a converter will
offer fewer problems. |
| 3. |
Never wash a pen in hot water or alcohol. Use cold water only. If the pen is
really dirty, add a touch of sudsy ammonia to the water. |
| 4. |
If you value a fine pen and it is suited for your hand, do not let someone else
use it. You could be asking for trouble. |
| 5. |
If your pen is to be out of use for several weeks, clean it by flushing in cold
water. |
| 6.
|
Cap the pen properly. Hold the pen upright and place the cap on top of it. Do
not drop the pen into the cap or you may end up with ink in the cap. |
| 7. |
If you fly, either fill your pen all the way or leave it empty. A sudden change
is cabin pressure may cause the pen to leak if you don’t follow this rule. |
|
If you have any questions regarding your order, need
additional product information or shopping assistance, you can email our
customer service department at
custserv@fahrneyspens.com. You can also call Customer Service between 9
am and 5:30 pm EST Monday through Friday at 1.800.336.4775 or Fax us at
301.736.2926, 24hrs.
If you wish to place your order over the phone please call
us at 1.800.624.7367, 24hrs.
Mail orders can be addressed to:
Fahrney's Pens
8329 Old Marlboro Pike, Suite B13
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(you choose how fast)
Standard Delivery reaches you within approximately 8
business days of our receipt of your order. The time varies according to your
distance from our warehouse in suburban Washington DC.
Two Day and Next Day delivery are available. Select the
appropriate ship method on the order form. Please include a comment on the
order form if you need the product by a certain date. Allow 24 hours for your
order to be processed.
Sales tax will be added to your total for addresses in
Maryland (5%) and Washington, D.C. (5.75%).
Two Day Delivery. Adds $6.95 to Standard Delivery charge.
Next Day Delivery. Adds $14.95 to Standard Delivery charge.
Use STREET addresses (no PO Boxes, APO/FPO’s).
AK, HI, PR addresses will add $9.00 to Standard rate for
Three Day Delivery and $19.00 to Standard rate for Two Day Delivery.
(Phone number required).
Shipping time is for items in stock at the time of your order. Please provide
your daytime phone number.
To Order Total Add:
Up to $25.00
|
$4.50 |
| $25.01 to $50.00 |
$5.75 |
| $50.01 to $75.00 |
$7.50 |
| $75.01 to $100.00 |
$8.75 |
| $100.01 to $200.00 |
$10.75 |
| $200.01 to $500.00 |
$12.75 |
| Over $500.00 |
$15.75 |
Fahrney's Pens makes every effort to deliver your backordered item(s) to you in
a timely manner. We will inform you of the status of any backordered item that
is delayed.
We have guaranteed your satisfaction on all of our products since 1929, You
must be 100% satisfied with your purchase or you may send it back within 30
days for a credit, exchange or refund. All packaging and warranty cards must be
returned with item please empty all pens before shipping. Sorry, we cannot take
back engraved or custom-ordered items.
If you would like a Customer Service Representative to
assist you, call 1.800.336.4775, 9 am – 5:30 pm EST, Monday-Friday, or email us
at custserv@fahrneyspens.com
Should you care to send part of your order to another address, please call
1.800.336.4775, 9am-5:30pm EST, Monday-Friday. You will be charged Standard
Delivery Charge for each address unless other ship method is requested.
If you have moved and would like to continue receiving our catalogs, please
call our Customer Service Department at 1.800.336.4775, 9 am-5:30 pm EST Monday
– Friday, or email us at
custserv@fahrneyspens.com
We can email it to you.
Email Address
This refers to the email address you used when you first
registered with us. We can only send your password to the email address on
file.
To check the status of an order or of your account, please click
here and complete the appropriate information.
Credit card orders may be paid with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or
Discover Card. Mail orders can be paid by personal check or money orders.
Sorry, we do not accept COD’s. For your security, we verify all credit cards to
billing address. Please make sure the address you entered is where you receive
your credit card statement.
We would be happy to gift wrap up to 10 items for you at no additional charge.
We can also include a handwritten note. Please include specific instructions on
the order form.
If you have any question about personalizing an item, please call our pen
experts at 1.800.336.4775, 9:00am-5:30pm, EST.
The box for filling in “name” for customization
accepts the number of characters (spaces included) that will fit on the
personalized item.
It is imperative that you indicate which item
you are personalizing if this box is provided.
Please allow 3 days additional time for delivery
of in-stock, engraved items. Personalized items are not returnable.
Click here for a sample of all engraving styles
for pens.
Fahrney’s can engrave your actual signature, company logo or emblem on many of
our most popular pens (please call for more information). For information on
reproducing company logos, please call our
Corporate Gift Service at 1.800.336.4775, 9:00am-5:30pm, EST.
Fahrney's repair department provides our customers with easy access to reliable
care and maintenance for their fountain pens and other writing instruments.
However, we do not service:
* Designer and "off-brand" pens
* Replacement parts on vintage pens
* Broken vintage desk bases
* Broken nib points (repelleting)
Warranty Repairs:
All warranties are help between the customer and the pen manufacturer.
Fahrney's sells and services many brands of writing instruments. If you have a
claim that falls under the warranty we suggest you send your writing instrument
directly to the manufacturer, who may repair or replace your pen at no charge.
If you decide that you want Fahrney's to handle the warranty work, our minimum
service charge is $20.00, which includes shipping. Charges for parts from the
manufacturer may be additional.
Vintage Pens:
The cost for reconditioning and installing a new bladder or diaphragm is
$35.00, plus parts. Please note that although we do take special care with
vintage pens, over time the parts may become brittle. Repairs are done at the
owner's risk.
Estimates:
We are happy to provide estimates for our repair work. Please send us a written
note requesting the estimate. The cost for issuing an estimate is $15.50 per
pen. If we do the repairs, the cost of the estimate will be deducted from your
bill. If you decide not to accept the estimate and ask for the return of your
pen, we charge an additional $5.75 for return shipping.
Repair Time:
Turrnaround time for in-house repairs is 4-6 weeks. If the repair must go to
the manufacturer, please allow 6-9 weeks.
Sending Your Pen Fahrney's:
1. Empty fountain pens of ink.
2. Send the entire pen.
3. Enclose a note stating the problem.
4. Include your name, address, daytime phone number.
5. Package in a sturdy box.
We will send you an acknowledgment when we receive your pen. Send your writing
instruments to:
Fahrney's Pens
8329 Old Marlboro Pike, B13
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
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