Hi everyone, here comes the start of yet another laborious week! Just wondering... What do people know/think of the vintage Conway Stewart 388s? I have just acquired a straight black GT 388 in good condition, and would like to know more about the history and quality of this line.

It dates from the 1940s or thereabouts, doesn't it?

The 388 is not the most exciting example of a CS pen you will find because it dates primarily from the post war period when material shortages seriously affected all UK pen manufacturers. The gold plating is often worn on the lever and the clip, though the cap bands generally seem to survive unscathed. It was produced right up to the mid 1950s, when the fashion for the more 'aerometric' style pens like the 58 overtook the straight-sided design of the 388. The correct nib is a 5N and you can date the pen to the earlier or later part of the period depending on whether the number is on the same line as the Conway Stewart imprint (number on the second line is from the earlier period, on the same line is from the later period - thanks to David Wells' website for reminding me which way round these go)! As far as I know, the colour range is restricted to black and the standard red, green or blue marbles though other members may know of some more!

It is, like most CS pens, an honest and sturdy pen which is easy to service. Given that you say yours is in good condition, it should serve you very well for many years if you like the nib that is fitted!

Andy

Hi Andy, thanks for all that information! Glad to hear that it is a bit of a workhorse. I haven't received the pen yet; I've only just won it at an auction. It does look, from photographs, that it's in fairly good condition. In any case, I have a very good pen shop nearby which is quite capable of restoring it to prestine condition.

Cheers for the heads-up about the nib and dating the pen from the '5N' that's on it. Does this nib write as well as the other Conway nibs? I understand this would've been before the Duros came out, but that it is known to write better than the 1s, 2s and 3s?

Sorry, I've confused you about the various numbers and their positions by my careless phrasing (speed of my typing not matched by speed of brain...)!

5N should be stamped on the nib (though the position can vary and it's sometimes hidden by the section). All 388 nibs should show that number irrespective of date. The number that can be used to roughly date the pen is the 388 on the barrel imprint, and it is this number 388 that may appear on the first or second line, next to or below the 'Conway Stewart' marking.

Having cleared that up, I'm not the best person to comment on how good or bad the nib might be as I tend to be very uncritical of nibs on pens. Personally, I think it will be good if it is well polished and adjusted properly for the correct flow but other CS users will no doubt have their own opinions! Duro nibs were fitted to CS Duro pens well before the war but by the 1950s they were only fitted to the best of their pens such as the 58 and 60 models.

Hope this helps!

Andy

Hi Parker, welcome to the complex world of CS pens! Simple pens but with a confusing range of numbers, designs, nibs, patterns etc. Some ridiculously expensive and rare, others cheap and plentiful.

The 388 is one of the smaller sizes produced but better equipped. the smaller pens normally have the 1A nib, which is fine but also small. The 5N is a little wider and longer and befits the 388 perfectly. I sometimes wonder if the 388 was intended as a smaller version of the large 55, also with triple gold bands and the Duro nib.

I have still to experience a Duro nib, sadly, but I have a very nice 388 which is waiting to be given as a birthday present to a young lad with an interest in fountain pens. I've not used it much but its reliable, writes very smoothly (nib not worn and with an easy to find 'sweet' point) with a reliable line. Its hardly a flexy nib but soft and springy enough for me and for some character in your writing. I chose it for him as its shape is old fashioned (ie not the streamlined shape mentioned by Andyr7) and should be easy to use, especially for smaller hands.

Mine is shiny black (the BHR cap tip and section have browned a little) and the gold plating remains in good condition. I find them very attractive and for someone not looking for a big, chunky pen they are very good indeed. If this is the case for you then you will be delighted with your pen. Please honour it by using regularly!

I wonder why pens like this are no longer made? Modern pens for the masses seem to require messy dismantling for filling, steel nibs (with unecessary patterns), and are often too heavy. Have we progressed I wonder?


Greg

Thanks, Greg. Good to hear that you've enjoyed the use of your 388. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive; can't wait to have a go at it. Yes, I do intend to use this as my regular writer, along with the 21 Super which I have in my collection.

There's just something about these vintage pens that, to me at least, makes them better writers than their modern counterparts. Nothing against the Parker Sonnet (I've used mine for years now), but it just doesn't feel quite like the 21 Super, even if it does probably belong in a higher price category.

I look forward to trying out a Conway Stewart for the first time. For a long time now, I've admired from afar, and haven't quite mustered the initiative to just get one for myself. Well, now I have, and I'm hoping it'll be every bit as good as it's touted to be.

By the way, how can I tell if the pen will need a new sac? Does it come apart easily, like the vintage Parkers?

Cheers!

Hi Parker,

The section is a push fit and will pull out with some effort. The sac will probably need replacing if not recently done. A size 18 is what you need. Use shellac to "glue" the new sac on.

As correctly stated, the factory shipped these pens with a 5N nib.

Regards

Gary

I can't help but add the comment (due to never to be repeated experience) to be very careful removing the section. It should be a very tight fit and will require section grips to remove properly. If, like me, you have none of those I wrap tissue or thin rag around a the jaws of a pair of pliers and wriggle it off.

However, and here's the experiential bit, keep checking though that the wrapping remains complete. It only needs a little nick in it for a nice gouge to appear in the section, which has managed to remain unharmed for the previous 50 odd years!

You can tell if it needs a new sac by gently operating the lever. If it's stuck or you hear a nice crunching sound you have a perished sac. I must admit I enjoy pulling the pens apart as far as they go and cleaning replacing etc as required regardless. Dig about on eb*y or other suppliers you might know for a supplier of sacs. They are not expensive.

Let us know how you get on with it.


Greg

When buying your sacs, invest in a proper pair of section pliers as well. They are the one tool you really can't do without when servicing CS pens. They are not expensive but will save you much heartache. I would also caution against crunching the lever to see what the sac is like. You never know how tired a sac is until you look at it. Sacs are so cheap that you might just as well replace them anyway if you are going to use the pen regularly and it's usually easier to remove a hard sac in one piece rather than one which has crumbled. Also, removing the nib and feed from the section (to give a proper clean) is much easier without the sac in place.

Good luck whatever you do!

Andy

Thanks for all the tips! I have just received the pen and, guess what, immediately broke the lever. Have since sent the pen in for a new lever and sac. Not too costly, but nevertheless frustrating after having had to wait for such a long time for it to arrive via airmail.

Overall, though, I must admit the pen is in very good condition. For a truly vintage pen, I was surprised to see no visible signs of brassing on either the original clip or the since-destroyed lever. The pen didn't fill; my inexperience with lever fillers led me to crank the lever too hard when more learned CS users would probably have recognised a perished sac just by tugging gently at the lever. But, I did dip the nib to try it out and it sure felt glorious.

It's a broad straight italic nib. I'd never written with an italic nib before (hence my latest thread in the Writing Instruments forum), but it felt great and the resultant handwriting was commendable. I didn't notice myself writing any slower with the italic nib, and sincerely hope it writes at a similar speed to my other round-nib pens, as I would like to use my Conway in exams.

Anyhow, it looks to have been a positive investment. Shame about the lever, but that is life sometimes. Anyone with experience with vintage CS italic nibs?

P.S. Incidentally, the 5N on the nib appears to be hidden. CS did make italic 5N nibs, didn't it?

Here's the italic nib I have on my Conway Stewart no. 55. It's one of my favourite nibs, a fairly wet writer with a hint of "spring" to give your handwriting a flourish. It's very smooth, and it certainly allows me to write with the same speed as standard nibs. Looks especially great with rich, dark Aurora blue ink.

Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!

I have finally gotten hold of my CS 388 in working condition, after the series of incredible bungles! It writes like a dream. I think it's a stubbish italic 5N, which has practically no discernible tooth in it.

Still getting used to the whole lever-filler concept, but I think I'm performing fairly well thus far. The pen has been filled with Noodler's Polar Black; by all accounts, it seems like it's loving some attention after years of neglect. Looks to be in very good condition for a 50-year-old pen. Can't imagine it's been used too much in active duty.

All in all, a most satisfactory purchase. Conways really are something special!

EDIT: I've been preparing my mooting submissions with the CS, and have noted that, rather miraculously, the Polar Black ink doesn't bleed through copy paper with this pen! I'd been having this problem with all my other pens (whenever using Polar Black), but it's been handsomely dealt with by the CS. All that with a broad nib too. Bizarre!