Vintage Conklin Nozac

[klangbogen]

I found a vintage Conklin Nozac in an antique store today. It was black with gold flecks - 12 sided and had the word gauge. It was with a mismatched pencil. Same black and gold, but the pencil was marked Endura Symetrik. There was some brassing on the top of the clip and the cap band. Everything looked original. There was a price tag of $175 on it. Is this fair? Too high? A great deal? What would be a fair price? Do I need to go back and buy it?

Edited June 19, 2010 by klangbogen

[AllWriteNow]

I picked up a nice Conklin Nozac 7M.

The larger of the 2 sizes of Nozac. I believe.

 

Here is a good reference page from Pete's Pen Shop.

 

One note: We, the repair pro and I, are having a difficult time finding a much needed replacement part to get the pen running.

 

Of course YMMV!

 

Good Luck!

 

Steve

Edited June 19, 2010 by AllWriteNow

[Glenn-SC]

The price is good if the pen is in good shape and the piston is in good shape (not locked up).

 

Break the barrel during repair and its all over....

[klangbogen]

Thanks for the input. I did buy the pen and pencil. I was able to get a slight discount on the original price. It has the "twist like a watch" piston filler and it does operate, but sadly is not sucking up ink. The visual section is ambered, but with correct light I see the plunger moving. I was incorrect in my first post. The pen is lacking the word gauge. Could this be a first year Nozac in the standard size? The nib is fine and has a little flex. The feed is also correct. The color is not in R. Binder's website listing possible colors, but with this one and the one that appears to be the same as I found on Pete's Pen Shop website, black and shades of brown, seems to be a possible if not rare variety. Is this correct? It is very, very nice to my eye.

 

The pencil does not match the pen. It is an Endura Symetrik with the gold glitter half moon. The color is black and gold, typical for Enduras. It is in great condition. Now to find the pen to match!

 

Thanks again for your help, and thanks to Richard Binder’s always helpful website. I am pleased with my purchase.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_eIdxmbHbmPk/TCD1_-hd70I/AAAAAAAAA90/1K4-yA5YBug/s800/Conkiln%20capped.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eIdxmbHbmPk/TCD2AMwrzxI/AAAAAAAAA94/8I7PL7EcsFE/s800/Conklin%20posted.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_eIdxmbHbmPk/TCD2AH6uURI/AAAAAAAAA98/PsDY4NG20cI/s800/conklin%20pencil.JPG

[RevAaron]

Nice find! Price is decent, more than I'd personally risk at an antique store because of the risk involved- no returns and you never know what's broken or missing.

 

That's definitely an Oversize/Senior Nozac Word Gauge. Don't know anything about relative ages of Nozac specimens, but Pete Kirby at Pete's Pen Shop could tell you more. I'd also recommend sending it to him to have filler restored if that needs to be done. His turnaround has been lightning quick for me. Best-in-class Conklin repairman, IMHO.

 

http://www.petespenshop.com/

 

Nozac Seniors are one of my favorite pens. If it weren't for the prices they fetch I'd build a collection! The clip is fragile, but the pen makes a fine user as long as you keep it in a pen case or only clip it on thin fabric. Some clip damage can't be repaired, though Mr. Kirby was able to respring the clip on the Nozac I use daily.

 

A black chevron Nozac Sr is one of the three pens that never leave my rotation, in good company with a 1950s MB 146 and 1930s Omas Extra Lucens.

 

Aaron

[Brian]

Congratulations on a great find. Seems you will now be investing time while gaining an education into this "pen before its time."

[klangbogen]

Nice find! Price is decent, more than I'd personally risk at an antique store because of the risk involved- no returns and you never know what's broken or missing.

 

That's definitely an Oversize/Senior Nozac Word Gauge. Don't know anything about relative ages of Nozac specimens, but Pete Kirby at Pete's Pen Shop could tell you more. I'd also recommend sending it to him to have filler restored if that needs to be done. His turnaround has been lightning quick for me. Best-in-class Conklin repairman, IMHO.

 

http://www.petespenshop.com/

 

Nozac Seniors are one of my favorite pens. If it weren't for the prices they fetch I'd build a collection! The clip is fragile, but the pen makes a fine user as long as you keep it in a pen case or only clip it on thin fabric. Some clip damage can't be repaired, though Mr. Kirby was able to respring the clip on the Nozac I use daily.

 

A black chevron Nozac Sr is one of the three pens that never leave my rotation, in good company with a 1950s MB 146 and 1930s Omas Extra Lucens.

 

Aaron

How do you determine this is a Senior size? The pen I have measures 5 1/4" capped & 17/32" diameter at the widest point on the cap. Since it does not have imprinted numbers, would it still be considered a "word gauge"?

 

Richard

[RevAaron]

How do you determine this is a Senior size? The pen I have measures 5 1/4" capped & 17/32" diameter at the widest point on the cap. Since it does not have imprinted numbers, would it still be considered a "word gauge"?

 

I know it's a Senior by looking at it. I can tell pretty easily by the relative size of the breather hole compared to the rest of the pen, and by looking at the size of the clip relative to the cap. The pen above is definitely a Senior.

 

It can be difficult to tell at first- Seniors are 5 1/4" to 5 3/8" long and the standard size Nozac is 5 1/8" to 5 1/4" long, and 1/8" is definitely within the margin of error for most folks. I'll take a photo comparing a Senior and standard, though they're not of the same year/type/color.

 

Sorry, you're right- if there isn't an imprinted Word Gauge, it isn't a Word Gauge! I thought you said it was above.

 

Aaron

[Vintagepens]

From the color, I suspect the pen is an uncommon early Chicago-production example. Although Chicago-made Conklins are now thought of as cheapened and second-tier, the very first pens made there were of Toledo-production quality, though in some cases in colors not found in Toledo-made examples.

[klangbogen]

From the color, I suspect the pen is an uncommon early Chicago-production example. Although Chicago-made Conklins are now thought of as cheapened and second-tier, the very first pens made there were of Toledo-production quality, though in some cases in colors not found in Toledo-made examples.

This pen was made in Toledo. The barrel is stamped...

 

THE Conklin PEN CO. (Conklin is in script)

TOLEDO, OHIO U.S.A.

REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.

[Javert34]

Hello. While I have followed FPN for some time, this is the first time I have posted and find myself needing help. I just began collecting within the last three to four years and have been fortunate enough to find a couple of pens at local antique stores that have proven to be a great buy. Today while wondering through a store, I located this item sitting on an antique hutch among some other miscellaneous items. The pen was dirty enough that it was not until a cursory cleaning and soaking of the nib that I realized it was a Conklin. The nib is 14ct and appears to be in good shape.

 

Based on my research so far on-line, to include the link to Pete's Pen Shop, it appears to be a red/gray 5M as it does have the word gauge markings on the side. I wanted to see if anyone might be able to confirm that for me? It is 13.2 cm in length and the word gauge goes through 5M.

 

Along those lines I was curious if anyone might know more about it (vintage, what it is worth)? I am guessing it is early 1930s based on what I have seen, but I just don't know a great deal about the pen. I know that condition is everything and the biggest flaw I have noticed is that the gasket on the piston is gone and is in need of replacing, but the piston moves well with no binding. Otherwise, it has some brassing on the clip, and minor, superficial surface wear consistent with normal use, no teeth marks, chips or gouges.

 

Secondly, I was wondering what replacing the piston seal might entail and if there are any recommendations on who might be able to do it? FP Hospital? Someone else?

 

As the "new guy" to this great world of fountain pen collecting, my sincere thanks in advance for any help.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Javert34

[Dave Glass]

This a 5M Nozac Chevron in Red, aka "herringbone Nozac. In excellent condition with restored piston gasket, this pen is quite valuable. If the twist knob moves the piston, you can have new o-ring gaskets installed for less than $50. Let me know if you would like further advice on this excellent pen.

[georges zaslavsky]

get it restored