I just recieved this in the mail yesterday and once I gave it a good cleaning and a new sac, the pen was good to go. The ebay seller said the sac was good, but it was a stone when I received the pen. It was the original sac with "Conway Stewart" printed on the side of it.

It has a nice flexy fine nib that gives nice line variation. It lays down a nice line and will make a great daily writer.

Can anyone tell me the history of the #15?

Here's a pic from the ebay auction:



Thanks.

Chris

Hi again Chris,

The 15 was made for a long period from the early 1950s to the early 1960s. It comes in two basic versions, with a bandless cap (which I have only seen with nickel plated trim) or a single band cap (like yours, which is I think always the gold trim version). David Wells website also tells me it came in a longer and shorter version. Parts are usually easy enough to find, the main problem is wear on the plated bits of versions with the gold plated trim. The nickel plated trim seems much more durable. Colours tend to be black, plus the usual red, green and blue marbles.

I've sold (actually more like given away!) two of the super green and black marble bandless types, fully restored, on ebay recently, the nicest of which is pictured here



Overall, as you say, they are an excellent low cost every day writing pen, much better value than many a modern pen in the same price range. If you like the bandless style, also look out for the model 17 which is quite similar but comes in more dramatic colours, known as red flame, blue flame or green flame.

Andy

I have a 14, which I must admit to thinking was the same as a 15 but without the bands. Perhaps, using mine as an example, it is like the 15 with no band but with gold plated trim. Mine is black with plating on good nick.

It has the 1A nib (actually the number is hidden on mine) and the pen is quite small. Writes perfectly well, mine is not the best writer I have, but gives a good, medium line. Its a reliable writer, just wish I could give it more use. I imagined it coming from the lower priced end of the range - a school pen?


Greg

Andy,

I'll have to keep an eye out for the 17s just to see what they look like.

I just stumbled upon this auction and really liked the look of this pen. Just saw a blue marble one that's really nice looking too. I may have to throw a bid on it.

There's very very little brassing on the metal bits on the 15 I picked up (just a touch on the clip). It needed a little polishing up, but the metal bits were in really nice shape.

The barrel has a bit of wear on it. Mostly scratches from posting.


Greg,

My 15 has a 1A nib too. At least that's what it looks like is printed on the nib. I'll have to find a magnifying glass to double check.

Thanks, Chris.


What is the auction you use? (not that I would want to bid against you!)


Greg

Just ebay.

Hi Chris,

Just for your interest, this set on ebay (not one of mine!) is in the blue flame material as far as I can see from the photo

Blue flame set

Andy

I was hoping no-one had noticed that set for sale!

Greg

Don't ya just hate it when that happens? :doh:

Huh, it went for £78!

You can recognise when the experts get in because the bids remain tantalisingly low until the last minute when the serious money weighs in.


Greg

I saw that. I was a little surprised at how much it went for.

Chris, how is your '15' getting on? Will you be using it regularly? How is it fairing up?


Greg

The pen is doing great. I use it at work most every day. I really enjoy how it writes. Has a nice bit of flex to it to make it interesting. Probably the best $45 I've spent on a fp of late.