[early clipless Dandy "green measles"; image Jonathan Donahaye]

I am interested in early, non-tapered flat-tops, with self-filling mechanisms.

The way I understand it, CS made the following models of this type:
- The very early Duro: Models No.1-5
- The Dandy: CS 720, 726, 728, 729, 736, & 739 with the black “knurled” tops
- The Scribe: CS 330, 333, & 336
- The early International: CS 338, 350, 356, & 360
- The Pixie Pen: CS 353, 358, 383 & 393
- The Universal: CS 364-372, 378

It seems most non-tapered flat-tops came either clip-less, with ring-tops, or with "stepped" clips that sit low on the cap, similar to the current production Dandy clip. Some Scribe and International non-tapered flat-tops did come with diamond clips. Please correct me if this is not quite right.

Here are some questions for vintage CS Experts:

Did the Dandy go out of production entirely after the 1940’s to be reintroduced only in modern Conway Stewarts? Or did its flat-top equivalent still exist after the 1940’s but under a different model number?

Is there a source that lists the complete range of colours, materials, and trim, that the models I specified were made in?

Were any of these models ever made with white-metal trim?

Do I understand correctly, that the Churchill was born during CS’s modern reincarnation and did not exist earlier?

Conway Stewart was not one of the industry pioneers, so there are not many articles describing its early models in depth. But I did find a couple informative websites -- most notably Jonathan Donahye's "Book of Numbers" and the conwaystewartpens.co.uk History page. Any other suggestions for sources would be appreciated as well. Does anybody out there collect vintage CS flat-tops? I would love to see.

Many thanks,
QM2

I've now gotten some answers to the questions in my original post via further investigation and with some generous help from fellow FPN member andyr7. So, for whomever this may interest:

The original Dandy was discontinued in 1940.

The Churchill was born during CS’s modern reincarnation, its design is based on the early large Duro models of the 1920s.

There did seem to exist a number of early CS flat-top models with white metal trims, particularly the BCHRs.

There is a detailed list of vintage CS colours in an article by Andy Russell in a back issue of the WES Journal (Writing Equipment Society). However, no complete catalog exists and many of the colours are difficult to identify because they were un-named.

Also, to my list of non-tapered flat-tops, I must add the early Dinkies and the Dinkie Majors.

I will post a full list of vintage CS flat-top model numbers after some further investigation.


QM2

Very interesting, QM2, and you have come across a wealth of help from Andy.

Do let us know the results of your investigations.


Greg

Thanks Greg,

I am currently trying to compile a list of all the CS un-tapered flat-top models, along with information regarding what type of clips they had (CS clips interest me) and some other details.

Many will probably find this information to be too narrow in focus to be of great interest. Even so, the sheer variety of vintage Conway Stewart models is bewildering, even if the field of interest is limited to just un-tapered flat-tops.

QM2

Do the shapes which pre-date the flat tops come into your interest? The domed and curved tops? Here are two examples (from Jonathan's site) of pens I have. the CS200 with the domed top I find one of the most elegant pens I've seen. (But then I'm old fashioned!) The top of the cap of the 200 unscrews, just like the flat-tops, and so was easily updated as the fashions changed.

It seems its the fixed type clips you prefer rather than the washer clips.


Greg

Yes, very much so. I just don't know what to call them and aesthetically group them with flat-tops. What I don't like is the tapered/streamlined style that began to happen to flat-tops in the later years of production.

Your pens certainly are elegant. I am mad about BCHR, and these are pretty nice ones. I am also very much a fan of clipless, trimless pens, of which these are truly wonderful examples.

The beautiful levers really stand out, too. Have you seen this comparison page of vintage CS levers?.. I am curious what is the difference between the "flange" and the "lollypop" style.




Yes, particularly the ones with the rectangular base and the "stepped" clip (like on the modern dandy and Churchill). Maybe it's just me, but I think these are the sexiest, hottest clips in FP history, and I'd be interested to know where this design originated. The clips with an oval base are also pretty great, but they don't make me swoon quite like the rectangular base : )

Rectangular-base "stepped" clip:

[*Duro Model No.1, c.1926-1927, in Mottled Vulcanite, flanged lever, fixed clip, 1 band]

Oval-base "stepped" clip:

[*Duro Model No.1, c.1925, in Mottled Vulcanite, flange lever, 1 band]


* pictures and info from the "Book of Numbers" cited earlier in this thread

The flanged levers are those with the little extra bit in the slot which allows the lever to 'click' into place and not open without a bit of a pressure. Both the Duros you show have the flange in the lever slot. These were fitted to the very early CS pens and I do not know why they stopped. I suppose the lever doesn't really flop open without it so its a little unnecessary. The little 'flange' clip was protected by a patent which is the number (235447) normally stamped around the end of the barrel.

Regarding the cap clips I must say I rather admire the oval shaped clips, perhaps because they are so unusual. They are certainly rare, if that makes them more beautiful.

I also like the pens from the same period, up to the peak tops (like the CS55) but then lose interest a little when the shape changes to be like the CS58.

Thanks, makes sense : )
So it seems that the lolly-pop lever is basically identical to the flanged lever, only without the flanges...



flanged


lolly-pop

very neat levers!...