Fountain pen versions

In the 1950s, fountain pens with cylindrical points became available, but they were complex
instruments with tubes holding a tiny shaft. To release ink the shaft is depressed and a line of about
the width of the exterior diameter of the tube can be drawn. Additionally, in later models, the tube
had a small ledge that effectively narrowed its end, that - while maintaining the line thickness - made
the tube thicker along most of its length and also protected ink from spilling while drawing along the
edge of a rule, set-square, T-square or other template (the ink had no immediate contact with the
template's edge). Some special, more expensive nibs were equipped with tubes made of tungsten or
with their tips made of synthetic precious stones, to slow their wear on hard surfaces.

Ink tubes
In the 1960s, the pen's design evolved to feature tubes of ink that were filled with a Pasteur
pipette or from a narrow spout on a special bottle of ink. Such pens frequently came in sets of
various sizes, and several pen points which were installed into the holders that also contained a
filled fountain, which in turn would be screwed into a handle. The construction and number of parts
varied depending on the company, and the parts were not cross-compatible in most cases. Some
later designs (like the Staedtler MarsMatic700) had especially designed channels to allow better air
flow in between the wall of the external grip and the point assembly. This made ink flow more
reliable. The general drawback of this group of pens is that they have to be frequently and carefully
cleaned to remove all ink from the tubing, otherwise it would set and could not be removed.

References

Lutz, Ronald J. (1991). Applied Sketching and Technical Drawing. The Goodheart Willcox Company. ISBN 0870067648

"Technical Pen Care". Koh-i-noor Rapidograph, n.d. Retrieved September 27, 2012.