Firstly, hello everyone, been away for a while, working long hours then trying to avoid the computer when I come home.
Secondly, and most importantly, I have a mission.
My mother-in-law's elderly neighbour died recently, and the family invited her into the house after the funeral to choose a keepsake from his belongings.
She spotted a handful of distressed looking FPs and knowing our passion, thought we might be able to do something with them.
A cheap school-like Platignum and something that looks like a Parker rip-off were easy to clean and get going again, but the jewel in the collection was also the saddest . . . . migraine-inducing scrutiny of a very faint imprint with a loupe revealed
it to be a Conway Stewart 85 (possibly L?), in blue herringbone.
The sac was dust, the lever mechanism in pieces but not broken, a small crack to the section, and a very grubby nib. But we think we may be able to fix all that.
The only thing we're not sure of, it has no clip. At all. nothing. the entire metal piece is missing, including the piece that goes over the top of the cap.
Does anyone know where I could get a replacement for one of these? It would be great to restore the pen, just to prove it can be done and guarantee it doesn't end up in that big pen case in the sky!

Any help, advice, etc will be much appreciated!



Ann



(I've also posted this in the Conway Stewart Forum)

A seller on eBay, stylophilist, has had CS parts for sale in the past; none now, but you might contact him and ask. Also Max Davis has some parts on his website; perhaps he will have what you need.

The grubby nib can be cleaned and made nice and shiny with some Simichrome, the lever-assembly could probably be reassembled. Not sure about the rest, though.

BTW: I would suggest using tweezers/pliers to hold the nib when you polish it. Those little pieces of metal are devilishly hard to clean with big fat chunky fingers...