Worth refurbishing older model?

[Tricia]

Hello, everyone,

 

Just bought my first CS. I bought it used and it isn't in nearly as good a shape as I was expecting. I think it's a 58 (it was sold to me as that) with a lever fill. There's nothing blatantly wrong with it, it's just a bit well-used, the rings are loose, nib needs cleaning and looks a bit off, etc.

 

Nothing I hadn't feared as soon as I offered for it. And nothing, I'm sure, that many other n00bs haven't experienced (with CS at least; I've used fountain pens for a long long time). However, I would like to bring it up to snuff, if possible, without spending a whole lot more than the pen is worth.

 

My questions are:

 

1) is it even worth bothering with

2) where is the best place to send it

3) where can I learn more about CS so I don't make this same mistake again?

 

Thanks for all your help.

Edited May 9, 2007 by Tricia

[Carrie]

Can you read the imprint on the barrel to see what model number it is? If it is indeed a 58, it should have a duro nib. When you say the nib looks a bit off are you meaning that the tines are bent or that it's not centred on the feed? As for the cap rings, I'll let someone else advise on those.

 

For info on vintage Conway Stewarts, take a look at Johnathan's Book of Numbers or David Wells' Conway Stewart site.

[Tricia]

Hi, Carrie,

 

Yes, it does say 58 on the side and it does have a Duro nib. By 'off' I mean one tine looks slightly bent out of true from the other side. If I can get the macro working on my camera, I'll try to post a pic. (That last sentence actually means if I can once again figure out how to use the macro on my camera. )

 

 

[andyr7]

Hi Tricia, we're pleased you've joined the vintage CS addicts!

 

Is your 58 worth restoring? This depends on whether you mean emotionally or financially. Personally I feel all vintage CS deserve restoration, but to know whether it is financially worthwhile in your case we would need to know the colour / pattern of the pen (which can hugely affect the value) and how much you paid. For example, you would pay around £80 or £90 for a nice ready to use example from a dealer for one of the common patterns (even less for a black one) but possibly twice this price for a more desirable colour, like cracked ice, tiger's eye or blue hatched. Loose cap rings are not a problem, most restorers can fix them, or you can do it yourself (if you have a good eye) with some slow setting epoxy resin and the tip of a pin to dispense it. Duro 58 nibs are in relatively short supply so if possible you should get the nib straightened rather than replaced, this is likely to be more cost effective, provided of course that the tip width is your preferred size. Incidentally, not all 58s were sold with Duro nibs, there are standard 58 nibs as well.

 

Where to send it? Depends which country you are in and where you might be within the country. If you are in the UK I can suggest a few people who might do the restoration for you.

 

Where to learn about vintage CS? Carrie has given you the best two web links but also look at the Writetime Conway Stewart page. The site owner is a leading CS collector and his prices are generally the most reasonable you will find anywhere on the web for fully restored vintage CS pens, often cheaper than ebay prices! The site is usually updated a couple of times each month and you can use these prices as a yardstick to see whether you are getting a bargain or not. There is also some vintage advertising and other discussion on the sadly under-used Vintage Conway Stewart blog. The scans of pre-war vintage colour CS advertising I have posted there may help you date or identify some of the earlier pens. And of course you can always ask questions here.......

 

Did you make a mistake in buying the pen? Almost certainly not! 58s are among the most desirable of the post war CS pens, they do generally perfom very nicely and seem to hold their value well if looked after.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Andy

Edited May 10, 2007 by andyr7

[Tricia]

Hi, Andy,

 

Thanks for the reassurances. The pen is just black, with a lever filler (maybe they all are? I haven't checked out your recommended resources yet). I'm in California (which, to some, is definitely a foreign country ) and I would probably not trust myself to do the work of restoring the pen. Which means I'll have to find a trusted source, though I don't mind sending it off to someone reliable.

 

Is there any way to tell what width the nib is? I don't see any markings on the nib other than DURO Conway Stewart 14ct Gold. It doesn't look very fine, which is fine by me since I prefer medium and stub nibs.

 

I'll check out those links so I'm not asking the same newbie questions you've answered a hundred times already.

 

Again, thanks for your response. It sure helps me feel less like I'm floundering about in the dark.

 

Edited to add: I checked out the sites (both the ones Carrie listed as well as Andy) and my pen is a late 58 (the number is on the first line).

Edited May 10, 2007 by Tricia

[andyr7]

CS nibs are not marked for width but if it looks OK to you in comparison to others you like, I'm sure it will be OK! All 58s are indeed lever fillers, as were about 90% of Conway Stewart vintage pens from the 1920s up to the early 1960s.

 

I would suggest that you dig out that camera and take a picture of the loose cap rings and the bent nib and e-mail the pictures to some of the highly respected US based repairers like Ron Zorn who contribute to the repair forum here. They should be able to give you an estimate for a complete restoration then you can decide for yourself whether it is financialy worthwhile to do it.

 

Good luck with it anyway!

 

Andy

[Tricia]

Thanks, Andy.

 

Good to know about Ron Zorn. I just purchased a pen from Ron Zorn, so am familiar with him and was happy with the transaction. I'll do as you suggest and take pics of the pen and ask him.

 

The CS has a lot of potential, I think, so I'm hoping I can afford the refurb costs. I have few vintage pens, so it's slow going for me as I learn.

 

Again, many thanks for your help.