Writing instruments

Here are photos of my Kaweco Sport, when it was brand new, and one of my (made in Toledo) Conklin Crescent Fillers.  The Kaweco Sport has been made, pretty much unchanged, stylewise, for 80 years.  Mine is only about three years old.  The Conklin Crescent Filler in this photo dates from about 1925 making it about 90 years old.

Freddy - thanks for the information on the Conklin pens.

I had no idea they made pens in Toledo - despite living half my life there.

I will have to look for a nice one to add to the collection because of the history.





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Freddy - thanks for the information on the Conklin pens.

I had no idea they made pens in Toledo - despite living half my life there.

I will have to look for a nice one to add to the collection because of the history.





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Cincinnatus, if you can get an original Toledo made Conklin Crescent filler that is in good condition and restored to writing order, with the original nib, I would suggest it over one of the modern ones (which aren't made in Toledo).  I find the writing experience much better.

Freddy - thanks for the information on the Conklin pens.

I had no idea they made pens in Toledo - despite living half my life there.

I will have to look for a nice one to add to the collection because of the history.





Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Cincinnatus, if you can get an original Toledo made Conklin Crescent filler that is in good condition and restored to writing order, with the original nib, I would suggest it over one of the modern ones (which aren't made in Toledo).  I find the writing experience much better.

Cincinnatus, another old pen company based in Toledo that I just learned about was Autofill.  The company disbanded in 1927 and I do not know too much about it. I just saw this on Facebook.  If you are on Facebook then you might find this post and the comments interesting:

Hi Freddy, my Kaweco left Bespokepost yesterday and is on the way! Here is a link to the actual box contents and pen. May have to hit you and Cincinnatus up for some tips upon receipt.

Hi Freddy, my Kaweco left Bespokepost yesterday and is on the way! Here is a link to the actual box contents and pen. May have to hit you and Cincinnatus up for some tips upon receipt.

I'm sorry, Kevin, but I cannot view the Bespokepost goodies unless I offer an e-mail address.  I'm not willing to do that (and find it offensive).  Perhaps you will post your goodies here when they arrive.

By all means, please ask questions or make comments about the Kaweco or any other fountain pen.  I look forward to your thoughts.  

There is one thing I will say before your pen arrives.  Just as in using a DE or an SE and we say "let the weight of the razor do the work; almost no pressure", know that the same applies with fountain pens.  It is capillary action that draws the ink from the cartridge to the feed to the nib, not a lot of pressure.  If you are not getting easy ink flow then ask away here before you press down too hard and ruin the nib.  One of the joys of writing with a fountain pen is not using a lot of pressure so that one's hand does not get tired quickly.

Freddy - I will have to take a look at the Autofiller Pen Company and the Conklin's that were made in Toledo.

I agree - the nice thing about fountain pens is not have press down hard on them to make them write.

Thanks for the tip Freddy and Cincinnatus, I do tend to have a bit of a heavy hand. Any cleaning, maintenance tips etc.? I had lunch today with two gents from Ireland and India respectively who used fountains with ink pots in school. Picked their brains a bit but they mentioned that cleaning could be a hassle.

What say ye?

This Conklin arrived at my mailbox this afternoon.  I believe it dates from the 1910's-1920's somewhere.  The nib may need a bit of working on (see closeup photo of the nib).  Other than that, it seems to be in excellent condition.  It is a small ring top so has no clip.

Stunning pen Freddy. I like your crescent also but this one in sterling is beautiful.

Phil

This Conklin arrived at my mailbox this afternoon.  I believe it dates from the 1910's-1920's somewhere.  The nib may need a bit of working on (see closeup photo of the nib).  Other than that, it seems to be in excellent condition.  It is a small ring top so has no clip.

Stunning pen Freddy. I like your crescent also but this one in sterling is beautiful.

Phil

Phil, it's not sterling but it may be gold plated; I am not sure.