Keystone Pen?

[chunya]

Does anyone know anything about Keystone pens? I picked up this one at a local auction without really knowing exactly what it was I was bidding on.

 

It is stamped 1/40 14K (gold) on the overlay, and clearly stamped KEYSTONE on the lever.

It has a Swan #2 Nib and initially I thought his might have been a Swan pen with a Keystone overlay (but had never heard of the company) but I think that it's a Keystone with a Swan nib, and doesn't seem to be a Swan feed.

 

What little there seems to be out there doesn't give much away, and 'Keystone' seems to have been used by various people at various times. I found this on Richard's Pen website:

 

The Keystone Fountain Pen, a taper-cap eyedropper-filling model produced by Soper & Sievewright, fitted with a manually-operated ink shut-off (based on U.S. Patent No 663,590) to prevent leakage in the pocket and also to provide for filling by removal of a threaded plug from the distal end of the barrel. 2: A model name used by David Kahn, Inc., for one of its Wearever pens.

 

It's a nice looking pen with a fair quality overlay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

The overlay is very similar to that on a couple of Morrison ring-tops I have. And I think that Waterman also has a similar overlay.

I did a quick Google search, and found the same info on Richard's site that you did. But boy, this sure still looks like my two Morrisons....

So, is the pen in working condition, or are you going to have to get it resacced?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos (damned autocorrect -- if I wanted to say "redacted" I would have typed it.... )

Edited July 20, 2017 by inkstainedruth

[chunya]

The overlay is very similar to that on a couple of Morrison ring-tops I have. And I think that Waterman also has a similar overlay.

I did a quick Google search, and found the same info on Richard's site that you did. But boy, this sure still looks like my two Morrisons....

So, is the pen in working condition, or are you going to have to get it resacced?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos (damned autocorrect -- if I wanted to say "redacted" I would have typed it.... )

Hi inkstainedruth,

It has been so frustrating as it does look like so many other pens, and I saw an example of a Morrison with an almost identical overlay. It is working fine, I fitted a new sac yesterday and with the Swan nib it writes like a dream.

I assume it autocorrected resacced to redacted ..... with the paucity of information out there on these pens, seems that 'redacted' may be close to the truth.

[inkstainedruth]

I assume it autocorrected resacced to redacted ..... with the paucity of information out there on these pens, seems that 'redacted' may be close to the truth.

 

Good to know the pen is working, no matter what it is. Does it have any flex to the nib?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Chrissy]

I've seen similar Waterman pens to this pen. It's a very attractive looking pen. I hope it writes as good as it looks.

[chunya]

Hi Both,

 

It has a semi flex nib which is currently a teeny weeny bit scratchy and needs a little work on a fine micro mesh abrasive sheet. After that I'll feel happier about applying a little more pressure and it may even turn out to have a little more flex.

 

 

[Chrissy]

Good luck with it.