Hello All FPN visitors,

Well it looks like I have been nominated and I have accepted the task of being the moderator for the Conway Stewart forum on FPN.

It is probably best I give you a little background on myself and why I’m here in the first place.

My name is Gary Holder and I reside in Christchurch, New Zealand. I’m married to Catherine and have two children, Rachel who is nearly 14 and Samuel who is 10 ½.
We live just outside of the city on 1 ½ acres and have a Jack Russel dog called “Bingo” and a cat called “Franki”. There is also 4 chickens who don’t have names (well maybe stir-fry or curry) but produce great eggs.

My paying profession is as a branch manager and account manager in the electronic manufacturers supply business. Lots of components, solder, test tools etc….but my real passion in life is fountain pens.

Whilst I have a modest eclectic collection I specialise in vintage Conway Stewarts of which I have a few (don’t ask how many). I am not an expert by any sense of the imagination and there are many more people who possess knowledge far beyond what I can offer, however I do have a love of anything to do with writing, a passion for pens and in particular a fondness (understated) for vintage Conway Stewarts.
I like restoring vintage pens and have had some very good successes (with a few disasters) along the way.

So in a nutshell, if you want info on any vintage CS and can’t find it elsewhere (or can’t be bothered to look), post and all shall be revealed….ish.
Between us All there is always some fountain of knowledge (pun intended) to be tapped into.

Regards to All.

Gary

Congratulations on your new 'position' here, Gary. I've always enjoyed your posts...and you have a really, really cool tattoo to boot

I don't own any CS (yet!) but I sure have seen some very purdy vintage ones on some UK sites like: www.writetime.co.uk and www.andys-pens.co.uk (no affiliation with these sites just think they're pretty fun to look at! )

I just love that their modern pens still have the option of the lever filler - too great!

Congrats Gary!

Thanks Guys and Gals,

Kelly, if you want to start with vintage CS's at a very cheap price let me know, I'll steer you in the right direction, I've checked out some sites and can't believe the pricing.

Chainwhip, love the smilies.

Gary

Congratulations Gary !

About that tattoo, I never could see what it represents...

Congratulations!

chainwhip, where did those emoticons come from? They're pretty cool!

Ok OK, the Tattoo.

Well it's an eagle with a snake wrapped around it, got it done many moons ago when I served in the British Army.

If I tell you any more I'll have to kill you.

Gary

BTW keep an eye on the Conway Stewart forum from time to time. I may well run a competition with a vintage CS up for grabs, just to rev it up a little and no, it won't be a rare #22 or a mint herringbone.

That would be great, Gary - PM me or whatever you feel would be the best way - it's appreciated

CONGRATS!!!!

Gary, congrats on your new role and looking forward to seeing a revitalised forum.

Hi Gary,

Congratulations!

Here is my one and only Conway Stewart. I bought it beacause of its broad oblique Duro nib, and I fell in love with it. I wouldn't mind at all having a few vintage CS with stub nibs...

Congratulations Gary,

I did have a Conway Stewart once, back in my school days. It was an old one that was given to me, don't know what or were, but the sac went as I recall and then it sort of vanished, then I got given a "51" and things went downhill from there.

Regards,

Jim

Aaah, Conway Stewart 55. One of my favourite pens!

Congratulations on the new "job".

Martin

Congrats! I hope the forum grows!

Hi Gary,
Congrats on your new job I don't know much CS's as myself.Maybe you can inform us with your guidance

Take Care
Emrecan

Gary,

Congratulations! May these beautiful pens get the attention they deserve on these pages.

(And maybe we could invite a few Swans in from time to time).

John

(trying hard to resist becoming a Conway Stewart Collector)

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.

I intend to try to do something weekly in the CS forum. Such as the basic components of the pens, different type of lever / pressure bar arrangements, colours of a particular model available (with pics), the odd rarity to look out for etc...
A good question I initially had was "how do I remove the pressure bar and lever", it took my ages to work that one out and now I have a answer and a technique that works for me. You may note for instance that a #759 has a thin barrel and a slight bulge by the lever may occur. This is because the wire clip that holds the lever has pressed the barrel out slightly. The answer is to have only 1 turn of wire clip, not the 2 generally found in 759's.

I am slightly biased towards CS's (really ?) but I would encourage you all to let the forum know of some of your CS's (if you have any) or ones you would like to get. Tell us of your finds, ask questions about them and generally share and enjoy my passion for these great pens.

Gary

Congrats Gary... Now get back to work!

Kev

Sorry I'm a bit late to say it but....

Congratulations, Gary!!!


I have several Conway Stewart pens (all vintage) and am quite excited about the resurrection of the CS forum here on FPN! Thank you for accepting the position of moderator. If there is anything we admins can do to help out, please let us know.


Cheers,
~Maja