Conway Stewart & Onoto?

[raging.dragon]

Most likely CS and Onoto make too many pens for handmade nibs (like those on Romillo pens) to be viable, yet don't sell pens enough to justify the research, development and equipment expenses in setting up industrial nib production.

[coffeetoofull]

Without seeming too pretentious and with no knowledge of the actual state of Onoto and Conway Stewart, I would engineer to size and for growth, with government assurances and sources for historical preservation within England. I am sure that similar guidelines have been established throughout the UK for the manufacture and preservation of industry. I have previously mentioned more specific ideas for the enhancement of fountain pen companies in India.
Daniels and Smith , Bremont, and a host of other companies, which I will not mention at this late hour in the USA, would be worth noting. They persevere with tradition, while expanding to scale.

Very Best Writings To You, coffeetoofull

Edited May 29, 2014 by coffeetoofull

[Guernseytim]

Sometimes it's best to make inhouse, if you have the skills. Sometimes it's best to recognise the benefits of outsourcing,

 

onoto have nibs specially made to their requirements by a specialist nib manufacturer, then get Oxonian to nib master them if required.

 

I see nothing wrong with that.

[RMN]

What is wrong with outsourcing?

 

You would not expect Ford tires under Ford cars and Volkswagen Tires under Volkswagen? We find it perfectly normal to find Goodyear or Yokohama or Michelin or .. under those cars.

No doubt Ford and Volkswagen COULD make their own tires, but would they be better?

 

There are 100s of brands television, but only a handful screen makers. So you could find the same screen in different brands television.

 

 

Why now all this negative sentiment about getting your nibs to specification from a specialised factory?

Which besides giving good quality will be cheaper as well?

 

And why the sentiment about nibs but not about resin? As there will be few if any penmakers that mix their own resin in house, rather they buy sheets of the stuff from specialised factories.

 

 

 

D.ick

[raging.dragon]

Without seeming too pretentious and with no knowledge of the actual state of Onoto and Conway Stewart, I would engineer to size and for growth, with government assurances and sources for historical preservation within England. I am sure that similar guidelines have been established throughout the UK for the manufacture and preservation of industry. I have previously mentioned more specific ideas for the enhancement of fountain pen companies in India.

Daniels and Smith , Bremont, and a host of other companies, which I will not mention at this late hour in the USA, would be worth noting. They persevere with tradition, while expanding to scale.

Very Best Writings To You, coffeetoofull

 

The R.W. Smith (and previously Daniels) watches are pretty much entirely hand made in their shop, but they only produce a handful of watches every year. The closest analogue among pens makers is probably Romillo (in Spain).

 

Most English watch brands, including Bremont, buy their movements from Swiss manufacturers. Rather like CS, Onoto and YoL buy their nibs from German manufacturers.

Edited May 30, 2014 by raging.dragon

[coffeetoofull]

Conway Stewart nibs are manufactured by Bock. The Bock nib lines run to the wide side. The Fine nib will not write comfortably between the line spacings of the Letts Journals, which are made in England.

I used Bremont as an English example, since some watch parts are manufactured in-house on all their watches.The Smith watch company has gradually enlarged its operations to scale.
Small scale nib manufacturing is not that difficult to engineer to the size of your company and/also for expansion.

Edison pens in the USA manufactures their barrels and caps, as well as, assembles in the USA, although their nibs are from Bock or JOWO.

The following link, "Behind The Scenes", may be of interest to you.

It takes more than marketing and follow up to consistently produce a fine pen over the years.

Best Writings To You, coffeetoofull

Edited May 30, 2014 by coffeetoofull

[FriendAmos]

Hello,

 

Just to let you know, the new MD/CEO of Conway Stewart decided to reduce the 18 ct nib range from eight grades to six: no longer offering EF or BB nibs. The Bold grade is still available. Conway Stewart nib grade options are now: Fine, Medium, Broad, Italic Fine, Italic Medium and Italic Broad.

 

Have you tried the Italic nibs? I consider the italic nibs to be 'writer friendly' because they are very smooth at the edges so they do not dig into the paper, and yet still help to give character to the writing style. I know many people who love writing with an Italic Fine and Italic Medium for notes, and Italic Broad for signatures. I personally love writing with the Italic Medium.

 

Kind regards,

 

Mary Burke

Hi Mary

 

I have tried the CS nibs (on a Churchill), and I would agree that the IM is a great nib and one that I could use for everyday writing. I'd like to have it on a CS pen that is of the same dimensions as the Churchill but without the "colourful" QC issues. What post-Churchill pen would that be?

 

Thanks!

[esterbex]

I don't doubt the collaboration will benefit both companies.

Here's a bit of insight from someone who knows a bit about both companies and those that run them: Has Anyone Heard of Henry Simpole

 

<< I've just been browsing through the thread on the Conway Stewart forum, [about the link up with Onoto ] and I must say, I enjoyed reading about how people have talked about their feelings about these two companies working together. Without a doubt, there is a certain amount of nostalgia and even romanticism about both the names 'Conway Stewart and Onoto', evoke in people's minds when they are mentioned.

I was lucky enough to have met Don Yendle before he had secured the legal right to use the name of Conway Stewart, and I tried to do everything possible to help [wherever I could] like providing him with examples of the various clip styles and sizes, and the levers that had been used on the vintage models from the original factory. I did this because I was so pleased to be 'able' to help, but also because I am such a nostalgia freak! Also because my sister and I both had Conway Stewart Dinkies when we were at Prep-School, so I suppose it is perfectly understandable that Conway Stewart is a name that is 'warm' in people's hearts, [mainly people of a certain 'age' range, you understand!!!]

I must admit though, that I had never heard of the name Onoto, before I started collecting vintage pens, [in fact, at first I honestly thought that it must have been a French company, with the De la Rue name stamped somewhere on the pens!] but as time went on, I realised that they were the 'Rolls Royce' of British pen manufacturers, and that their main customers were among the 'Doctors and Solicitors' fraternity, so it was hardly surprising that I had never even heard of them. Since then of course, I have learnt quite a bit about the original company, and have got quite a few of their lovely vintage Magnas in my 'Pension Scheme' collection.

I am in the fortunate position of having had dealings with both of the re-born companies, [having been commissioned to make several over-lays for both] and I am very pleased that they have decided to work together, as I am quite sure that it will prove to be beneficial to both companies in the long run.

Conway Stewart have got the factory, and the machinery, and the production skills, and Onoto have a very high standard of quality control and good customer relations, so, combined they both should succeed in this current economic climate.

Alistair Adams is a great CEO [i hate that expression, why can't people just use the old name of director? "Because it's the modern term that everyone now uses!" I know!!!] and he has demonstrated that he has good 'taste', and having chosen the path then he follows it through until it's conclusion.

I sincerely wish the 'Conway Stewart /Onoto alliance' every success in the future.

Truffle Finder. >>

[Postscript]

Glad to hear that from a respected eminence of FPN.

 

Post Script

[Tancred]

I am a proud owner of the (modern) Onoto Magna Classic in sterling silver, and I can testify that it is quite a fantastic pen. Quality control has improved by leaps and bounds since the early days when Onoto first started again as a modern company.

 

I hope that we will soon have some clarification as to what markets both brands will be aimed at.

[michaelembley]

If this works (as someone who owns a few of each) I can see very good things coming of it. As ever people will be nervous around change, but if carefully done then I can see the potential benefits for all.

[AJ50]

There is a regional pen show coming up in Lichfield this coming Sunday (22nd June). While Onoto have always supported these shows, Conway Stewart never have. Maybe this situation will change now that they have the same owners. I'm not going to this weekends pen show sadly but it would be nice to know if Conway Stewart put in an appearance.

[arran]

I recently had very positive service minded issues with CS!i think they are going the right way.

I look forward in a very positive way what will come out of it.

[The Good Captain]

There is a regional pen show coming up in Lichfield this coming Sunday (22nd June). While Onoto have always supported these shows, Conway Stewart never have. Maybe this situation will change now that they have the same owners. I'm not going to this weekends pen show sadly but it would be nice to know if Conway Stewart put in an appearance.

I can't make the Lichfield bash today but have always enjoyed a chat with Alastair when we have gone over there. I'm sure someone will report on the Onoto/CS presence etc.

[esterbex]

Well I am happy to report that Conway Stewart as well as Onoto will be represented at the DC Pen Show over here in August.

Nothing like a double dose of British royalty to humble us Yankee upstarts!

[da vinci]

I can't make the Lichfield bash today but have always enjoyed a chat with Alastair when we have gone over there. I'm sure someone will report on the Onoto/CS presence etc.

Alastair was there with Onoto, helpful and interesting as ever. Doing some great deals too. I didn't have the chance to ask him about CS (who were not represented).

[david6]

Alastair was there with Onoto, helpful and interesting as ever. Doing some great deals too. I didn't have the chance to ask him about CS (who were not represented).

Yes, there was no Conway Stewart representation at the show but Alastair and James were doing a fine job showing off the Onoto range of pens.

[da vinci]

Yes, there was no Conway Stewart representation at the show but Alastair and James were doing a fine job showing off the Onoto range of pens.

Indeed. I wish I had not seen the heritage version of the plunger filler! Another addition to the "want" list.

[david6]

Indeed. I wish I had not seen the heritage version of the plunger filler! Another addition to the "want" list.

The Onoto plunger filler is an amazing pen