The unusual "peacock" colour of the vintage casein Conway Stewart Dinkies and Dandies
is not only difficult to find, but also difficult to photograph. So I thought I'd contribute to the
visual information available on these pens!




This particular pen is a Dinkie 540, made around 1937. It is a 2nd-generation, streamlined
Dinkie. Normally, my interest is in the straight-sided flat-tops, but I was given an offer I
couldn't refuse -- so I decided to take it just for the opportunity to own a pen in this
unique and famous colour.



I can identify 5 distinct pigments present in "peacock":
black, green, violet, blue, and amber.

The black is matte, while the colours are highly perlescent, with a "deep," transluscent
quality to them.

Keep in mind that this is casein -- an organic material based on milk protein. What additive was
used to create the pearlescent effect in the pigments I do not know. If anyone has information
about that, please do share.



The colours absolutely "light up"when they catch the light, and the dazzling sensory experience
this creates is simply impossible to capture on camera.

The peacock colour was first produced in 1932, and that just amazes me.
How was such a colour possible?





One thing that the "peacock" swirls remind me of, are "raden," or seashells, when they catch the sun.

Here is the Dinkie next to my Retro 51 Tornado "Cioppino" LE!



The size of this Dinkie is somewhat larger that the early flat-top models. And mine has a Fine stub nib,
which is quite unusual in these pens.

A great pen in a remarkable colour that I wanted to share with fellow CS lovers.

QM2

Fantastic!

What a beautiful material... do you imagine if the FPN pen could be made in something like that?

Alejandro

Beautiful pen!

Alejandro, what an excellent idea!

Oh, I would love to see a casein FPN pen, but somehow I doubt that a bespoke casein CS would be very affordable! And alas, technology nowadays does not allow levers to be installed into casein material as easily as this could be done in the past, so the lever option is not available on the modern casein pens.

But who knows, maybe CS will make an exception for FPN!

Mary?... : )

Casein although beautiful is a delicate material. water can actually destroy the material.

That's a really unique colour scheme! A shame that it's only possible with casein...

Definitely -- if you soak the pen in water for too long it will basically turn into putty.

Nonetheless, the CS caseins from the 1920s+ have survived in remarkably good condition, with many mint examples to be found. As long as you do not soak the pens, casein is quite durable.

Plus, as I understand it, modern CS casein pens have added an element to the mix that makes the material water resistant.

here are some related threads:

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=63563
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=20072
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...?showtopic=2580

Congratulations on your acquisition. To simply describe the pen as "colourful" would be an understatement!

Heh, yes : ) Especially for someone who owns mostly black, gray and silver pens. That is still the case for my taste in general, but I am simply smitten with the vintage CS caseins. I must have all the colours!

Thanks for sharing. The material is absolutely stunning!

Beautiful pen and unusual. Reminds me of an "end of day" pen but more likely was purposefully made to incorporate the colors of...a peacock.

Wow, what a beautiful finish! Magnificent.