Perhaps dubious reason for interest in a pen, but I've just discovered that Conklin, since re-opening in 2000, has relocated to my hometown (Englishtown), New Jersey. Felt like I should throw my support behind them by at least sampling their (modern) product. Mostly for economic reasons, thought I'd start with the Mark Twain Signature Collection. There is a review of this pen, but none since 2005, when there were several complaints of its feed and flow, but the hopes that those issues would improve.

Has anyone picked up one of these pens recently, or any longtime users feel like offering an update?

Thanks,
Adam

Hi falika,
sorry to hijack your thread with absolutely no information on Conklin, but I couldn't believe that there was someone else on the forum from Englishtown, NJ

french

Hi Adam:

I have had one for two months, M nib, It is a nice pen, beautiful design, modern and conservartive, smother than other steel nibs; It is a big pen but confortable, I write with cap unposted. Mine is ocean blue.

Nice M line, not too bold not narrow. No complains. I have used it with three different inks with good results.

So happy I just have order today another Conklin, an All Amreican, now I want to try a gold nib

Hope Helps,

Julio

I've had both the inexpensive variety (that's c/c filled) and now have the crescent filler, and they were all nice pens, as was the vintage lever filler I had.

Adam, you'll find good and bad here. Read up on the reviews of the Duragraph, Ohio, and Glider, as they all use identical nib/feed combos (with some of the nibs being 14K, some steel).

(And if you get one that has feed/nib issues, send me a note; I can help, and I'm happy to.)

Thanks everyone!

French, you weren't the one who smashed my fountain pens in the school lunchroom were you? Making up for the sin now by devoting your hobbytime to the world of Fountain pens?

Graduated from Manalapan High in '86. How 'bout you?

Adam Falik

I have the lime green Mark Twain Signature pen with a fine nib. It's a good smooth writer.

I have had a Mark Twain for a couple years. The way it came it was a very dry writer, but the pen is built to take a lot of abuse... metal body and the nib is very stiff. This is great, because I like to have a pen around to throw into my backpack or bicycle bag. It is great for that. Then about six months ago, I learned the razor blade trick to increase ink flow, it worked, not it writes beautifully! I use it as my travel pen. Someone had asked what pen you would take if you were to be stranded on a desert island. THis is it. Probably the most indistructable pen I have. If you had to you could use the nib as a hook. Anyway, I like the pen. Hope this helps. I assume the dry writing was a factory problem, but one that is easily fixed (the two thumbs method did not work on the nib because it is so rigid). I doubt most are dry writers... I was just lucky. I also have a couple cheap Conklins, I fount those to write incredible well and be a great value for the money ($70-90?), and they were not dry writers, and were very smooth. Hope this is of value. JD

Hi Adam,

Thankfully, I wasn't the one who smashed your pens in the lunchroom. I graduated Christian Brothers (Lincroft) in '88.

French

I have a Crescent Glory [one of the LEs] in a B nib and it's glorious - right up there with high end Viscontis. The Duragraph I was given as a present is a tad scratchy, tho'. I keep it for editing.

Go Conklin! I have purchased many Conklin fountain pens and they are terrific! Have had minimal problems which have all been corrected by Conklin.
Happy Writings!

I have two of the Mark Twain Crescent fillers. One is black chased, and the other is butterscotch. Both of these have 14K nibs. They were both smooth writers when I got them, and I use them daily. They have a great balance and feel with the cap posted. I purchased them earlier this year, and they wrote great after the first time I filled them with ink. I got great results with both Parker Quink blue-black and Noodler's Polar Blue.

I have a Mark Twain Signature FP which I bought 2 years ago from FPH.

It's colour is, however, not one of the standard four in the Conklin catalogue - mine is the lovely Tobacco Brown, which I supposed is a limited production one.

The steel M nib is very smooth and flow is just nice - not too wet not dry. Nice balance too. I fill mine with Pelikan's Brilliant Brown.

The only thing about this pen is the furniture tarnishes easily (it's not sterling silver, though), but a quick rub with a silver-polishing cloth takes care of that.

Nice pen - and cheap too. Great buy I'd say


Shahrin