A long overdue introduction...

[CS58]

Thank you for the help and information I've received on The Fountain Pen Network. Here's my overdue introduction, and tale about what likely led me to this wonderful resource:
 

My first fountain pen as an adult, in 1984, had belonged to my beloved maternal Grandmother. I rescued it when the family were all clearing out the home, after both Grandparents had sadly passed on.
I thought it was real attractive, so saved it. I knew it was a Conway Stewart No. 58--much later I learned it's a desirable Tiger Eye (toffee swirl) celluloid pattern, with first imprint, circa late 1949.
It couldn't be used--needing a new sac, so I safely tucked it away.
A few years later I bought a little CS 388 at the local antiques mall pen shop. I asked the seller if he could restore 'The Conway Stewart' No. 58... It came back botched, with a split in the original 14K gold nib--so he then substituted a Mentmore nib. Then the lever tab snapped off.
This began my research journey--so I could accurately restore the pen all by myself. I'm in Australia and was incredibly fortunate to chance across a gentleman in the UK--Stephen Hull, who supplied a special fine long-tined non-Duro 58 nib (a beauty), a mint lever assembly, and an old 58 barrel for me to practice lever removal and replacement on 🙂
Stephen Hull, turned out to be a recognized expert in everything Conway Stewart (and Mabie Todd 'Swan'), so I had to have his book 'Fountain Pens for the Millions'. I ended up being lucky and even bought some amazing CS pens from Stephen imaged for the Book, in special patterns with Stub nibs, etc. Later, when I gained an appreciation for Swan's 4460 and 4660 'Torpedo Pens' Stephen sold me parts for restoration--like mint knurled self-filler knobs, etc.
In between there's been 'Dreampoint' Victorian steel dip-pen nibs, oblique holders, attempting to master Engravers Script, the Parker "51" (especially Demonstrators and the lovely stainless steel 'Flighter' version--and rare nibbed examples). As a senior, I've been building a small collection of vintage unusually nibbed Montblanc 149 pens ($only the black plastic type$), and two superb modern 149s, the Calligraphy Flex and Curved Special Editions.
 

I think I've actually given a history, not an intro--so, thank you FPN and the incredible, knowledgeable community now established here...
 

Spare "51" nibs--plus the Mentmore nib mentioned after its removal: 

 

[Mark from Yorkshire]

[AmandaW]

Welcome to FPN. Your story is fascinating,  thankyou for sharing.

 

Amanda in Western Australia 

 

[torstar]

Great intro, you'll fit in just fine hear.

 

Always best to mix a personal interest with fond family memories; I have a million things to be grateful for this time of year... 

 

 

[carlos.q]

Please receive a warm welcome from sunny Puerto Rico!

[JasonR]

That is a really fun story.  How serendipitous for you to have met him.  I'm happy to meet another Conway Stewart fan.  I'm a mere 6 months into my obsession after having used a Kaweco Sport as my only FP for many years (and even then intermittently).  Once I started learning some of the history of CS, it piqued my interest.  Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Enjoyed your story.

[inkstainedruth]

@CS58 Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA!  

You're so lucky to have a family heirloom pen!  The nearest I have is what had been my husband's grandfather's pen (a Sheaffer Balance Oversize), and I had to replace the cap when I was having it repaired because it had the cap from my mother-in-law's pen (a completely different brand and model at that) jammed on it so hard that I had to have someone at a pen show take section pliers to it!  I was afraid to try for fear of breaking the cap or section or both....  And the fact that you have dived down the "repairs" rabbit hole is really impressive.

I generally suggest that new folks click on the "New Content" button when they log in, to get a good overview of a range of topics (you can adjust how much/often it refreshes).  And to check out the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews (I'm convinced we live in the Golden Age of ink, with new companies popping up all over the globe seemingly every time I turn around).  In your case, I'm also going to point you to the Repairs forum, because the amount of knowledge there is astounding.

But I also warn them that they have found their way to a den of enablers, who will happily help them spend their discretionary budgets on pens, inks, paper, desk accessories, repair tools, ephemera and pen shows....  (My husband tells people that the "real collection" I have is the ink, and that the pens were just the gateway drug....  OTOH, I've sort of coaxed him over to the "dark side" and he's now asked me a couple of times to get him pens  -- most recently a Pilot Decimo.  
Have fun here, and remember -- the only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked.  I'm constantly amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge (and not just concerning pens and inks at that).  And humbled by the generosity of this community in the sharing of that knowledge.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[Wahl]

[OCArt]

[CS58]

13 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

@CS58 Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA!  

You're so lucky to have a family heirloom pen!  The nearest I have is what had been my husband's grandfather's pen (a Sheaffer Balance Oversize), and I had to replace the cap when I was having it repaired because it had the cap from my mother-in-law's pen (a completely different brand and model at that) jammed on it so hard that I had to have someone at a pen show take section pliers to it!  I was afraid to try for fear of breaking the cap or section or both....  And the fact that you have dived down the "repairs" rabbit hole is really impressive.

I generally suggest that new folks click on the "New Content" button when they log in, to get a good overview of a range of topics (you can adjust how much/often it refreshes).  And to check out the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews (I'm convinced we live in the Golden Age of ink, with new companies popping up all over the globe seemingly every time I turn around).  In your case, I'm also going to point you to the Repairs forum, because the amount of knowledge there is astounding.

But I also warn them that they have found their way to a den of enablers, who will happily help them spend their discretionary budgets on pens, inks, paper, desk accessories, repair tools, ephemera and pen shows....  (My husband tells people that the "real collection" I have is the ink, and that the pens were just the gateway drug....  OTOH, I've sort of coaxed him over to the "dark side" and he's now asked me a couple of times to get him pens  -- most recently a Pilot Decimo.  
Have fun here, and remember -- the only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked.  I'm constantly amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge (and not just concerning pens and inks at that).  And humbled by the generosity of this community in the sharing of that knowledge.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

 

Thank you Ruth, and thank you everyone who read and replied to my overdue intro post 🙂 
I really enjoyed and appreciated reading every reply.

And thank you Ruth Inkstainedtruth for the login tip, I'll try that out--and especially for your lovely advice re asking questions! Your message made me laugh too--and I definitely agree we absolutely live in "the Golden Age of Inks"! Yesterday, after seeing a post I went and ordered a sampler pack of six 10 ml bottles of polychromatic Oyster Inks--amazing effects and I love the names chosen for the colours. Have also dipped a lot into another recent ink discovery, Rohrer & Klingner's 'Old Golden Green' 🙂

 

Wishing everyone much joy on Xmas Day and happy times ahead for us all in 2026!
 

Mike

PS: I hope I didn't already violate policy by mentioning specific inks? I'm just excited by the beautiful polychromatic effects now available 🙂

[inkstainedruth]

Oh, no worries about that.  There's an entire sub-forum where people review inks.  

Not familiar with that one (unless it's "Alt-Goldgrun", which I have a sample of -- don't remember what I thought of it), but I do have a few R&K inks that I've liked).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[CS388]

Welcome to FPN - and apologies for late response.

Enjoyed reading your exciting pen journey, to date.

 

I have my grandfather's pen. a CS388. (It was on my desk, the day I joined FPN, hence my user name)

I'd had it for many years, before that - and been using it constantly. The section had broken and had been glued together (by me) many times, even resorting to using sellotape and other bodges, until it became too far gone to repair and was put into a desk drawer.

(This was years before the internet, so the notion of finding spare parts etc was remote)

 

Years later, in internet times, I found the replacement section, put in a new sac and serviced it and now it's back in full working order.

My pen interests have diversified over the years, so it doesn't see a lot of use, these days - but will always hold a special place for me.

 

Enjoy the forum.

Best wishes, CS388

[inkstainedruth]

Wow!  You have a family heirloom pen!  NICE!  

Of course I'm also totally jealous.... 

Ruth Morrison aka inkstainedruth

[Bisquitlips]

 

Welcome!