Editing Fountain pen (section)

== Cartridges ==
A patent for an ink cartridge system for fountain pens was filed in 1890. In the early 20th century, cartridges made from glass and thin copper tubing were made. However, the concept only became successful and popular after the introduction of moulded plastic cartridges, firstly by Waterman in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintagepens.com/early_cartridge_pens.shtm |title=Early Cartridge Pens |website=Vintage Pens |accessdate=20 May 2014 |author=Nishimura, David }}</ref>
Modern plastic cartridges can contain small ridges on the inside to promote free movement of the contained ink and ink/air exchange during writing. Often cartridges are closed with a small ball that gets pressed into the cartridge during insertion into the pen. This ball also aids free movement of the contained ink.

===Standard international===
Most European fountain pen brands (for example [[Caran d'Ache (company)|Caran d'Ache]], [[Faber-Castell]], [[Michel Perchin]], DuPont, [[Montegrappa]], [[Stipula]], [[Pelikan]], [[Montblanc (company)|Montblanc]], [[Europen (brand)|Europen]], [[Monteverde (brand)|Monteverde]], [[Sigma (pen brand)|Sigma]], [[Delta (pen manufacturer)|Delta]], [[Italix]] and [[Rotring]]) and some pen brands of other continents (for example Acura, Bexley, Retro51, [[Tombow]] and [[Platinum (pen company)|Platinum]] (with adaptor)) use so called "'''international cartridges'''" (AKA "European cartridges" or "standard cartridges" or "universal cartridges"), in short (38&nbsp;mm in length, about 0.75 [[Litre|ml]] of capacity) or long (72&nbsp;mm, 1.50 ml) sizes, or both. It is to some extent a standard, so the international cartridges of any manufacturer can be used in most fountain pens that accept international cartridges.<ref name="goulet video">{{cite web|last1=Goulet|first1=Brian|title=Who Invented Standard International Cartridges? - Q&A Slices|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x571al6Y9D4|website=YouTube (Goulet Pens)|publisher=Goulet Pens|accessdate=27 July 2016|date=30 June 2016}}</ref>

Also, converters that are meant to replace international cartridges can be used in most fountain pens that accept international cartridges. Some very compact fountain pens (for example Waterman Ici et La and Monteverde Diva) accept only short international cartridges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fountain Pen Converters|url=http://www.nibs.com/fountain-pen-converters.htm|website=Nibs|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref> Converters can not be used in them (except for so-called mini-converters by Monteverde). Some pens (such as the modern Waterman models) have intentional fittings which prevent the usage of short cartridges. Such pens can only take a proprietary cartridge from the same manufacturer, in this case the long Waterman cartridges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Which Ink Cartridges Can Be Used With Which Fountain Pens?|url=http://www.nibs.com/FAQInkCartridges.htm|website=Nibs|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Parker Fountain pen.jpg|thumb|[[Parker Vector]] stainless steel with proprietary [[Quink]] cartridges containing 1.4 ml ink]]

===Proprietary offerings===
Many fountain pen manufacturers have developed their own proprietary cartridges, for example [[The Parker Pen Company|Parker]], [[Lamy]], [[Sheaffer]], [[A. T. Cross Company|Cross]], Sailor, [[Platinum (pen company)|Platinum]], [[Platignum]], [[Waterman pens|Waterman]] and [[Namiki]]. Fountain pens from [[Aurora (pen manufacturer)|Aurora]], [[The Shanghai Hero Pen Company|Hero]], [[Duke (pen company)|Duke]] and [[Uranus (company)|Uranus]] accept the same cartridges and converters that '''Parker''' uses and vice versa ([[Lamy]] cartridges, though not officially, are known to interchange with Parker cartridges also). Cartridges of Aurora are slightly different from cartridges by Parker.<ref name="nibs cartridges">{{cite web|title=Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges|url=http://www.nibs.com/fountain-pen-ink-cartridges.htm|website=Nibs|accessdate=27 July 2016}}</ref>

Corresponding converters to be used instead of such proprietary cartridges are usually made by the same company that made the fountain pen itself. Some very compact fountain pens accept only proprietary cartridges made by the same company that made that pen, for example Sheaffer Agio Compact and Sheaffer Prelude Compact. It is not possible to use a converter in them at all. In such pens the only practical way to use another brand of ink is to fill empty cartridges with bottled ink using a [[syringe]].<ref name="nibs cartridges" />

Standard international cartridges are closed by a small ball, held inside the ink exit hole by glue or by a very thin layer of plastic. When the cartridge is pressed into the pen, a small pin pushes in the ball, which falls inside the cartridge. The Parker cartridges do not have such a ball. They are closed by a piece of plastic, which is broken by a sharp pin when inserted in the pen.<ref name="goulet video" />

===Concerns and alternatives===
Pen manufacturers using a proprietary cartridge (which in almost all cases are the more expensive ones like the ones mentioned above) tend to discourage the use of cheaper <ref name="www.richardspens.com inks"/> internationally standardised short/long cartridges or adaptations thereof due to their variance in ink quality in the cartridges which may not offer as much performance, or be of lesser quality than the manufacturer of the pen; ink that has been designed specifically for the pen. In addition, cheaper ink tends to take longer to dry on paper, may skip or produce uneven colour on the page and less "tolerant" on lower, thinner grades of paper (e.g. 75gs/m).<ref name="www.richardspens.com inks"/>

While cartridges are mess-free and more convenient to refill than bottle filling, converter and bottle filling systems are still sold. Non-cartridge filling systems tend to be slightly more economical in the long run since ink is generally less expensive in bottles than in cartridges. Advocates of bottle-based filling systems also cite less waste of plastic for the environment, a wider selection of inks, easier cleaning of pens (as drawing the ink in through the nib helps dissolve old ink), and the ability to check and refill inks at any time.<ref name="goldspot" />