Conway Stewart Sac

[TwizzlerNibs]

I recently won an auction containing a bunch of beautiful Conway Stewarts.

 

I'm in the process of getting them ready for the San Francisco pen show and sale in general.

 

I opened one up late last night and instead of the usual flakes felt something solid, I pulled gently and got a very fun little surprise.

 

Included also is a photo of the whole lot, mostly English celluloid, just for eye candy!

 

[eachan]

The rubber in the original 50s and 60s Conway Stewart sacs generally seems to decay in that way. I've found some old sacs stamped "Waterman" mummified in a similar way and the occasional Swan.

[chunya]

A nice selection of pens you won. Well done.

That has happened to me a few times before (but never ever had one with the maker's name) and what always surprises me is just how heavy the solid sac seems.

[JohnUphill]

When you start to sell those, I hope one or two end up here in Southern Illinois.

[northlodge]

A nice selection of pens you won. Well done.

That has happened to me a few times before (but never ever had one with the maker's name) and what always surprises me is just how heavy the solid sac seems.

 

Until recently I had a box of NOS Conway Stewart ink sacs. They had lost most of their elasticity, but were not solidified like the one in the picture.

 

It was noticable that they were heavier (?thicker latex) than the modern replacement that is available.

[PaulS]

I've had one drop out in that sort of petrified condition and same colour too - better I suppose that way that when they disintegrate into a sticky mass and take ages to extract.

 

yes, great collection of C.S. - the herringbone patterns are always eye catchers.

Edited August 15, 2018 by PaulS

[CS388]

Congratulations, TwizzlerNibs. Some very nice pens in that lot.

Always been a fan of Conway Stewart pens, both for their appearance and their writing qualities.

 

I like the sac, had the same thing happen recently (different brand) - took me by surprise.

 

Good luck.

 

[chunya]

#39 looks like a Swan celluloid from the 1920s .... were they 142s or something? It certainly is an interesting colour, I know they did coral and also orange (I think)

[PaulS]

agree that's a very nice pen, and looks early. According to the John Brindle list it might be a Swan 172/51, which is described as 'Tangerine ringtop ladies - self-filler with two black bands near ringtop with two gold bands inlaid in black band'. No idea of date but would imagine somewhere in the late 1920s or very early 1930s.

Edited August 15, 2018 by PaulS

[peterg]

I've got a Waterman's sac which I replaced that hasn't fossilised. It is still pliable but got screwed up around the neck