I've been drooling over Conway Stewart pens for a while (I'm not a pen guru by any means...I own 8 or 9, mostly Pelikans)...one of my favorite pastimes is going over to Richard Binder's site and fantasizing about ordering my first CS 58 from him (when I have the $$)...

Last night I finished a HUGE project (6 straight weeks of writing, writing...).By midnight I'd shipped it off to my editor, then, bleary-eyed, I decided to check out CS pens again...and within minutes (MINUTES) I'd purchased a Dinkie from a site I've never been to...and I feel like an idiot saying this, I'm *assuming* it's a vintage pen. No, I hadn't been drinking.

I feel as though I was engaged (to Richard) and I went and bought a mail-order bride on a whim.

So, if someone could enlighten me...does this description sound like a vintage pen?: Conway Stewart Dinkie 550 Rose With Gold Veins In Mint Condition. Medium Nib Lever Filler Mint.

I remember loving the photo...the word "Mint" was compelling...and then I hit the PayPal button and the rest is history...

I believe it's being shipping from the UK, so I'll be receiving it within a week or so.

I do like the red marbling, especially with the gold veins, you should have a nice pen there. I used to have a 550 and keep contemplating getting another. They date to the 1950s and you can see details here.

The 550 is a perfectly good Dinkie, not rare but nice to have in mint condition and very usable if you like a small pen! Hopefully you'll go on to be inspired to explore the wonderful world of pre-war Dinkies to see what incredible pens the company produced in the earlier 'golden years'!

One warning - this is a casein pen so do not soak it in water! See the recent topics in Writing Instruments and here started by deitic nib!

Andy

First, thank you for the link so I could read more about my first vintage pen.

Second, advice re: soaking the pen well taken (I read those recent posts about the poor fellow who ruined his pen).

I love history, always have, never thought I might apply it to fountain pens...who knows, this could be the beginning of a long friendship.

Ugh, dont remind me....

LOL on Richard servicing others! And from what I hear, he does a superb job of it, too!

Well, my "midnight purchase" arrived today--my first Conway Stewart (Dinkie), which is also my first vintage pen, and I love it! The lever threw me off (I read several websites on how to fill ink with a lever), and I feared I'd break it, but miraculously I managed to fill the pen successfully (with Diamine Crimson, befitting the rose-hued w/ gold veins pen casing).

I'm smitten. Perhaps besotted. Off to revel with the Dinkie...

Coco,

I'm glad you like the pen and Diamine inks are a good choice for Dinkies, I use nothing else in mine.

If you are truly besotted, please also explore the pens from the earlier pre-war era, some pictures of just a few of mine were posted here last year and there are other pictures throughout the forum. I shall also be selling some 1930s pens that write beautifully with a low starting price on ebay in the next few weeks (I'll post a warning in the marketplace when they have been listed).

Welcome to the Dinkie club!

Andy

Dear Andy:

I checked out the link and looked at the wonderful photos of your Dinkie/Dandy collection. Beautiful!

Today, as I gazed at my "midnight purchse" Dinkie, I wondered who they were first created for--interesting to read in your post they were originally men's "vest pocket" pens. I've written with it the rest of the day, and it's a delight.

I've never purchased anything on eBay, so I hope you'll be posting a link when you post a notice on Marketplace. I'll be watching for it!

I laugh now at my "whim" purchase when I was "too tired" to be thinking straight...it's one of the more enjoyable pen purchases I've made.