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[[File:Pelikan-400-BlackCapGreenStripes-NewNib-Feed.jpg|thumb|A [[Pelikan 400]] feeder ]]

[[File:Pelikan-400-BlackCapGreenStripes-NewNib-Feed.jpg|thumb|A [[Pelikan 400]] feeder ]]

Although it is probably the least important part in the aesthetic aspect of a pen, the feeder (also called ''conductor'' or ''feed'') is actually the heart of the [[functioning]] of a fountain pen, and on a technical level it is probably the most important component of it. It is in fact the feeder that creates the delicate balance of forces that allows the correct passage of the ink from the tank to the nib that deposits it on the sheet of paper, and a fountain pen writes well because its feeder does its job correctly.  

Although it is probably the least important part in the aesthetic aspect of a pen, the feeder (also called ''conductor'' or ''feed'') is actually the heart of the [[working]] of a fountain pen, and on a technical level it is probably the most important component of it. It is in fact the feeder that creates the delicate balance of forces that allows the correct passage of the ink from the tank to the nib that deposits it on the sheet of paper, and a fountain pen writes well because its feeder does its job correctly.  

The importance of this component is even more evident in the fact that the most important invention of ''Lewis Edson Waterman'', the one that leads many to consider him (with some exaggeration) the father of the fountain pen, is related to the construction of the feeder. Of course, well before concentrating on [[materials]] and [[loading systems]] at the end of the 1800s, manufacturers were competing (and investing their research efforts) on this very element, which characterized their pens (think, for example, of [[Parker]] ''[[Lucky Curve]]'' or [[Waterman]] ''[[Spoon feed]]'') since a well-functioning feeder was then what could lead to success or failure.  

The importance of this component is even more evident in the fact that the most important invention of ''Lewis Edson Waterman'', the one that leads many to consider him (with some exaggeration) the father of the fountain pen, is related to the construction of the feeder. Of course, well before concentrating on [[materials]] and [[filling systems]] at the end of the 1800s, manufacturers were competing (and investing their research efforts) on this very element, which characterized their pens (think, for example, of [[Parker]] ''[[Lucky Curve]]'' or [[Waterman]] ''[[Spoon feed]]'') since a well-functioning feeder was then what could lead to success or failure.  

And although later on the importance of the feed, at least in the promotional material, has decreased at the expense of other parts and technical characteristics (and especially compared to the stylistic ones), it is still one of the essential parts of the functioning of a fountain pen, taken up in several cases by the manufacturers (as for the [[Eversharp]] ''[[Magic Feed]]'' or the [[Lamy]] ''[[tintomatic]]'').  

And although later on the importance of the feed, at least in the promotional material, has decreased at the expense of other parts and technical characteristics (and especially compared to the stylistic ones), it is still one of the essential parts of the functioning of a fountain pen, taken up in several cases by the manufacturers (as for the [[Eversharp]] ''[[Magic Feed]]'' or the [[Lamy]] ''[[tintomatic]]'').  

The first changes to the simple bevelled cylindrical shape occurred to solve the problem (then very pressing, but which still occurs today) to allow the blocking of the flow of ink when the pen is not used to prevent leakage in the cap. For this reason different solutions were adopted, with as many patents as the famous ''[[Lucky Curve]]'' of [[Parker]], in which the rear part of the feeder was bent until it touched the wall of the tank, thus favoring (at least according to the claims of the project) the reabsorption of the ink.  

The first changes to the simple bevelled cylindrical shape occurred to solve the problem (then very pressing, but which still occurs today) to allow the blocking of the flow of ink when the pen is not used to prevent leakage in the cap. For this reason different solutions were adopted, with as many patents as the famous ''[[Lucky Curve]]'' of [[Parker]], in which the rear part of the feeder was bent until it touched the wall of the tank, thus favoring (at least according to the claims of the project) the reabsorption of the ink.  

Other solutions were produced for the same type of problem, such as the creation of appropriate side pockets next to the channel (as in the ''[[Spoon feed]]'' of [[Waterman]]). Over the years, the development of mechanisms has continued, either with the presence of engravings in more or less jagged shapes of the external part (as in the ''[[Spear-head]]' of [[Parker]]), or with the realization of fins, bags, engravings, channels and other configurations, to allow any excess ink to accumulate properly in the various folds, and avoid dangerous accumulations on the nib, in particular to compensate for pressure changes due to air in the tank, a problem that has become even more significant with the emergence of air travel.

Other solutions were produced for the same type of problem, such as the creation of appropriate side pockets next to the channel (as in the ''[[Spoon feed]]'' of [[Waterman]]). Over the years, the development of mechanisms has continued, either with the presence of engravings in more or less jagged shapes of the external part, as in the [[Parker]] ''[[Spear-head]]'' or in the variants of the [[comb feed]] created by ''August Eberstein'' ({{Cite patent|US|750271)}}) such as the [[Swan]] ''[[Ladder feed]]'', or with the realization of fins, bags, engravings, channels and other configurations, to allow any excess ink to accumulate properly in the various folds, and avoid dangerous accumulations on the nib, in particular to compensate for pressure changes due to air in the tank, a problem that has become even more significant with the emergence of air travel. A photo gallery can be found on [[Feed_Gallery|this page]].

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