OK, I'm sure the question's been asked many times already but my search didn't throw up any obvious threads.

I'm intrigued to try an oldish CS (can't afford a new one!), but there is such a multiplicity of model numbers, I haven't a clue what to look for. I like a decent sized pen. I noticed a blue and brown veined 12 on Ebay which caught my eye, but I haven't yet picked up enough info or courage to feel that I can take the plunge. So what might a good start be? Nib-wise I need a medium or broad. Thanks

Ayse

Hi Aysedasi, you have to take a chance on nibs. Tha vast majority of vintage CS nibs are a broadish medium.

The myriad of number etc is partially explained, at least in reference form, on the various, well worn sites.

Firstly there are age preferences, the earlier peak tops are still common, but it looks like you prefer a later model.

The 12 is worthy but not a big pen. I think its better to find pens you like the look of then consult the references to see if its what you want. Going through the reference sites will reveal so many desirable pens, but only a small proportion turn up very often.

A CS 58 is very popular, is a similar shape to the 12 and larger. If this is too expensive maybe you could look at the models numbers in the 70s, 80s (with an 'L' for long) and 90. The Duro nibbed pens are sought after.

http://www.ftic.info/Donahaye/ConwayStewart/
http://conway-stewart.old-pens.co.uk/
http://www.conwaystewartpens.co.uk/


Greg

Hi,

Vintage CSs can be a bit of a mixed bag, as Greg mentions some nibs run a bit broad (at least in my experience) but generally write well. Still on the lookout for a vintage 58 or even a 100 at an affordable (or just plain cheap) price, but have a variety of others a couple of 12s and I think a couple of 27s (have to check the numbers) as well as a couple of 28s one of which is a nice crosshatch one which needs a new ink sac.

Most of my user ones are plain black, a bit boring but generally cheaper than the patterned ones, might be worth sampling one of these if you can find one cheaply.

I will be looking out for a nice vintage CS at the London Penshow, they had a few last year but I resisted and now wish I hadn't, very interested in a herringbone one if I can find one at a good price.

Andy

Thanks for that guys, much appreciated. I'm intrigued to hear that some nibs tend to run broad, as that's very much to my liking. I'll keep my eyes peeled......

One significant choice is whether to acquire one of the models that have the pre-war straight barrel, or a post-war stream-lined model. I think most of the models discussed so far are all from the stream-lined series of the 50s and early 60s. Some of the earlier models are fairly small and delicate (e.g. the Scribes and 388s), but some are fairly large and quite "solid" (e.g. 286s and 55s).

The thickness of the nibs and their writing qualities will depend much on how they have been tweaked during repairs and restorations. I have a 286, two 58s, a 388, a Scribe and a 70, and one design feature all have in common is a fairly small diameter section, compared with many modern pens.

Good luck with your quest: vintage Conway Stewarts are great pens.

I just bought this -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...N:IT&ih=014

I put in a bid of £45 (say $80) but thought it was pointless as the item had a reserve which was clearly £50+. Woke up this morning to find that the item never sold and the seller didn't want the hassle of re-listing so offered it to me at that price - to include free shipping!

So, might I have done well or not, do you think?

At the risk of upsetting you all;- modern CS is based in Devon OK uses names and some of the materials but pumps out LE after LE, has no presence as a standard manufacturer like Parker Waterman or Cross. whereas the old London based company did, and has a collectable pedigree. If you are going for LE's go for MB's they will be worth more in the end.

I'm not buying to collect or to acquire money value - I'm buying to use. On that basis an MB is waaaaayyyyy down on my list.

Hi,

Looks nice but no detail about the pen in the listing, I think I saw this but passed (the blurb about G8 looks familiar) as I was saving pennies for the London Penshow. CSs are now fetching higher prices even if the do need restoration and if it has a Duro nib they are more sought after.

Let us know how you get on with it.

Andy

To an extent I agree, the basic models are still nice pens, personally I am not attracted to some of the LEs (especially the more gaudy metal bodied ones), but I tend to collect pens to use, not to accumulate wealth (a nice by product if it happens, but then I would have to sell to realise it) so have never really been attracted to the sort of pens that that look too nice to use or I couldn't leave on my desk at work.

Andy

Couldn't agree more Andy......

Andy, if you are coming to the London Pen show next week (I am one of the Organisers make yourself know.) we have a massive CS collection for sale, I think that Ian Williamson at catherdrial pens can help.

I think that I did not make myself clear, what I am saying is;- theres collecting and theres investing. I agree that when a company goes into lifestyle like MB, watches belts perfume and now a restuarant in the city they have lost the plot, still I collect early MB's and CS's (+parker summit namiki pilot sailor and all safeties and ED'S)

That's my whole point. I started this thread to try and find a pen to use..... I neither collect nor invest in pens. I buy them to write with...... (novel concept..... )

Ok buy yourself a cheap parker cartrige pen I think its called a vector, costs about £5. Get your self some wet and dry paper,the finest grade, its called nibbing paper, wet it with the cartridge loaded, sign your name on the wet and dry 20 times, the do a series of 8's followed by the lazy fox sentence. 10 times. gently rub the back of the nib a few times then the tip. You have now put on a years personal wear, I dont care how much money you spend on a pen, for comfort you will find your new pen hard to beat.

I haven't a clue where you're going with this - or indeed, what you think I'm trying to get at..... And I'm not a fountain pen novice either, I've been using them for about 40 years - again, because I like using them - different pens - I passed the cheapo Parker stage a long time ago..... If I just wanted a pen that puts ink on paper reasonably well, I suspect I'd never have joined FPN.....

Anyhow.......

If you'd like to try a nice CS without going for the really pricey models, you may want to look at the model 36. I have one of these (look at my "toe in the water" thread), and am very happy with it. It's a little smaller pen, about the size of an Esterbrook SJ, but it is very well built and has a nice medium nib. I am very happy with mine.

Should any of you CS collectors be going to the London Show this Sun ,theres a large CS collection for sale, by David wells, I believe the collection belonged to Jonathan Donahew not sure of the spelling

Probably not me........


....... I'm not a collector, you see........

I echo Aysedasi's sentiments - all my pens are in use at the office including a very rare early Columbus, various Watermans and a 20's Duofold.
None are new, some are worth money to collectors but all are functioning writing tools which is where the value lies as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway a Conway 75 is a nice reasonably priced user pen.

Don't quite get the drift of some of this - I have come into a little money by selling a toy I wasn't using, and as a result want to get a pen that's good to look at but feels good to write with, and I've come down on the side of new Nelson and Wellington (so I can pretend to be a collector!) or, and it's a big swallow here, a silver Drake. But like Ayesdasi, having used pens for far too long, I also want the pen to work. Mind you, I can leave my pens lying about at work - I work from home. My only risk is the little boy picking it up to play, or the ruddy hound stealing it and burying it in the garden. Either of which, to be fair, would probably be more painful to me than some thieving fellow pinching it!

Anyway, Ayesdasi, hope you enjoy the pen - it sounds like you got a pretty good deal to me. Hope it writes well and you get plenty of years of enjoyable use out of it.

Thanks for that Writer01 - the pen is winging its way to me all the way from Australia as I 'speak'...........

Ye Gods. Earlier today I saw someone complaining that a 100 year guarantee was a nonsense because no one could guarantee the firm would be in business still - for goodness sake don't let on. He'd be horrified to think that you could have bought your second hand pen from an antipodean who could go bust at any time! Good luck with it. Tomorrow I'm off to view (hopefully) my next pen, too.

Well my 58 arrived today. Pretty pen. Good condition. Took a while to get it started - I don't think it had written for a while - but writing fine now without skipping. Nib seems to be medium to broad (but I remember hearing it said that the nibs tend to the broader size) and that suits me. It definitely writes with a different kind of style to a modern 'iridium'-blobbed nib. No butter-smoothness here but definitely some very pleasurable feedback. The only drawback is that the pen is a little smaller than I had somehow envisaged - pretty much Estie J sized. Aside from the obvious ability to identify it as a 58, I can see nothing at all which enables me to identify it any further as a Duro or indeed to identify anything about the nib which just says 'Conway Stewart 14 kt gold' and no more.... So how do I know exactly what I've got, bearing in mind this was the seller's description and photo:-

THE CONWAY STEWART DURO NO: 58 MARBLE BLUE MADE IN UK

I also consider myself lucky with the condition of the pen, bearing in mind that it arrived in the UK safely loose in a jiffy bag from Australia......

It's close to perfect according the auction site fotos. I'm jealous.

Yes, it looks fantastic, but see here -

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=79563