Conklin Endura Symetrik -- First Version?

October 27, 2011

Hello-

Is this the first version of the Conklin Endura Symetrik? Before they did away with the cut-in painted grooves?

It's marked Endura on the body and on the nib. I'm guessing it's fairly uncommon as I think they did away with those grooves fairly quickly after introducing the model.

What do you think?

TERI

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae215/terimorris239/One%20Off%20Pens/conklin_endura_rounded1.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae215/terimorris239/One%20Off%20Pens/conklin_endura_rounded2.jpg

November 18, 2011

Well it's an Endura, just as the imprint says!! It is a "changeover" model to the streamlines around ~1930, which everyone incorrectly assumes are all Endura Symetriks. The full size streamlines appeared as Endura's and Endura Symetriks with the inlaid cresent , both are the same except the imprint. There is a line of thought that those marked Endura ( usually with a pat.no.) where for export, still if a maker writes a model name on the barrel that's what it is!! The Symetrik also appears as a full size model and designated as such by the barrel imprint, minus the inlaid cresent and with a smaller nib making it a second line model, the cap is interchangeable with the higher models. This is a relatively uncommon variation, as is your pen.

In summary, an uncommon Endura with a value slightly better than the large flat tops of the same color.

November 22, 2011

Great, thanks so much for the input. I'll admit it had me stumped at first, until I read about the early days of the Symetrik.

TERI

February 10, 2012

Have been looking for info on a Conklin marked Endura w/Endura nib I picked up a couple years ago. The pen in this post is the closest I've found to mine. Main different is mine does not have the grooves. Do you think this one is another change-over model? Maybe produced after the grooved version but still pre-Symetric? Pen is a glossy black smooth plastic. It kind of looks too new to be from the late 20's or early 30's, but it does have the Conklin toledo impression on barrel. Clip and lever also look to be correct for this era. I would sure love to hear if any of you know for sure what this is.

Thanks!

Jade

February 10, 2012

Have been looking for info on a Conklin marked Endura w/Endura nib I picked up a couple years ago. The pen in this post is the closest I've found to mine. Main different is mine does not have the grooves. Do you think this one is another change-over model? Maybe produced after the grooved version but still pre-Symetric? Pen is a glossy black smooth plastic. It kind of looks too new to be from the late 20's or early 30's, but it does have the Conklin toledo impression on barrel. Clip and lever also look to be correct for this era. I would sure love to hear if any of you know for sure what this is.
Thanks!
Jade

I'm not familiar with that pen, but I would assume it is likewise a "changeover" model as you suggest. The clip is an early style, my feeling is it's a (very)uncommon pen, more so than the one in the OP.