I would like to catch the magic of Conway Stewart;s vintage pens and would welcome suggestions about what might be a good entry level model.

Of course, if anyone has an inexpensive user for sale, I would be glad to hear from you!

Many thanks!

Laurence

Good on you Laurence, we'd love to welcome you to the club!

Post war pens, for me it really has to be a 58 or a 60, with a Duro nib numbered to match, in any finish that takes your fancy (herringbone, candy stripe, marble, tiger's eye or cracked ice). At a pinch, maybe also an 85L!

Pre-war pens, there's just so much choice you'd have to give us a clue as to your preferences for size and style. One of the above pens is probably a better choice for a daily user.

Andy

I second Andy's 58 or 60 with Duro nib... they are the right size, not big not small either, there are still quite a few around in good condition and are serviced very easily. They look well and write very well providing they are well adjusted... One step further would be a 100, but price rises and they were made only in black.

Thanks for the advice, both of you. I was about to move on an 85L a few days ago for $60 but got cold feet at the last second. There's a 36 for $100 available now but that's more than I want to spend on a first-time pen.

How do CS Duro nibs run? In other pens, I usually like fine mediums or medium fines, moderately wet. Love Esties (2668), Sheaffers and Parkers.

What fun!

Laurence

A fine Duro nib should be good, it's worth spending a little more or holding out for the right pen. The correct fine Duro nib is less common on a 58 or 60 than the medium but worth the wait! (I'm actually looking for a similar pen for myself). I loved my old Exec. 60 with a fine Duro nib, unfortunately Ollie ate it! The nib probably won't be quite as wet as the Estie 2668 (if the only example of that I have ever tried is representative) although there is some adjustment to be had if necessary.

Definitely not the 36 - overpriced at $100 and a small pen, not very interesting at all!

Andy

Thanks for the advice. I will be patient!

Ollie's misbehavior reminds me of friends who had in their house a collection amounting mto a small museum of Eskimo art. The collection included a room of bone sculptures until on day when they left their German Shepherd alone in the house. Dog, bone …

Not as funny as the plot complication in the movie, Bringing Up Baby!

Just had a 15 with a fine 14kt offered ($50), but am being patient!

thewolfgang, you might also consider a Conway Stewart 55. These are slightly older than 58s or 60s and of equal quality, many coming with Duro nibs. This previous generation of nibs is slightly softer and more flexible, which I have to say I prefer.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

BTW, love the Mozartkugel pic - I ate far too many of those in Vienna!

The 55 is certainly well respected if you prefer a style that is more closely related to the pre-war pens. One reason I didn't suggest it is the fairly restricted range of materials - there is more choice of body material (and cap band configurations, with a 60) for you to get something you really like with the 58s and 60s. If you like a large pen, the 77 is probably the largest post war coloured pen (produced in herringbone patterns of red, green or blue), the correct nib is again a Duro 60, from memory. It looks like an overgrown 58, though there is not actually that much difference in size!

Personally, I'd suggest a 1930s Dandy would probably suit you well...... (maybe not as a first vintage CS, though)!

Like most CS pens of the 50s, the 15 is a decent pen but it doesn't have the quality 'feel' of the others we've mentioned.

I'll PM you if I spot anything likely looking on ebay or elsewhere - I wouldn't want to alert the world!

Good luck with your quest,

Andy

(Needless to say, Ollie has by now been forgiven and has fortunately grown out of the habit of eating pens, shoes, remote controls, etc.)

Many thanks for offering your tracking skills. Sounds like an excellent plan. )One clue: I don't like large pens.)

Re my Sophie, here's her looking up in adoration at our older daughter:

Yet another topic turned into 'stories about pets' - what would you do without them?!

The 55 is a fairly large pen, the 60 feels slightly larger than the 58 although the measurements aren't that much different (though none of these is as big as a modern CS Churchill for instance). Maybe my suggestion of the 30s Dandy isn't too far off after all, unfortunately I don't have any duplicates to offer you at present.

We'll keep on looking!

Andy

Thanks Andy!

Preferring the older styles I can certianly recommend the 55s. Cheaper too (if that's important.)

Can I also raise the issue of 45s? There were 2 on the dreaded in the last couple of weeks, I won one and forgot about the other. Both went for less than £10 and the one I won is very nice indeed. For me a bonus came the day after it arrived, in the hot weather, when I found what I thought was black plastic is in fact BHR with that slightly pungent smell of rubber. Wonderful! It feels perfect and writes very well. It was a little sorry for itself but, given its new life and appreciation, it seems to have perked up and is now a smooth and shiny deep black.

It is now my regular pen for daily use


Greg