169 replies to this topic

[Deb]

I think the defining factor about resin is that it's of plant origin. That rules casein out.

[AndyR]

Actually, given the usage (or misuse) of "Resin" (Are any pens made from Resin really?) in pendom, the term probably maps as well onto Casein as onto Celluloid, Acrylic etc...

I don't really care about how people misuse the term resin, it is not relevant to this! I wouldn't say it is any more acceptable to say celluloid pens are just 'resin' either, though I doubt many would do that.

Early coloured Dinkies were (without doubt) made from casein, which as Deb says is not a resin (though resins these days are also synthetic as well as plant based). The first point is that it is the material Conway Stewart were famous for using for most of their (original) existence, not to mention in the early years of the modern company (blue tiffany, yellow tiffany, etc). Modern Conway Stewart were sure enough of the difference then to charge a significant premium for casein pens over the same pens with acrylic (resin) bodies! My second point is that, in something as simple as this, it is just as easy to get it right as wrong. It's a shame they chose wrong.

Still only 9 out of 10!

Andy

[FarmBoy]

Sadly Mary, I can only give it 9 out of 10, for the reference on p7 to the Dinkie being 'the world's first pen to be made in volume in coloured resin'. Coloured Dinkies were originally made in CASEIN not RESIN. This probably matters more to someone with a collection of hundreds of these than many others but it is also a shame that the associated picture doesn't actually show an example of the Dinkie that is being lauded in the text. Maybe next year?


Andy

Hi,

Actually, given the usage (or misuse) of "Resin" (Are any pens made from Resin really?) in pendom, the term probably maps as well onto Casein as onto Celluloid, Acrylic etc...

It is of course at best a non-specific term, and specific terms would be better, but it does not seem singularly inappropriate for Casein, certainly no more inaccurate than for many of the other materials for which it is used.

No doubt Pendom has "resin" because of Dustin Hoffman. Folks selling $1000 plastic pens are so worried about the word... "plastic"...

Happy to hear other views.

regards

david

I once went on a run (I was a fire fighter) to pick up a non-responsive lady in her mid-50s. About half way to the ER she came around. I'll never forget her statement; " I think a bit of resin from the 60s just broke loose" She then asked if we could take her home...

Todd

[JonSzanto]

Todd, you leave my mom out of this.

[Bogong007]

This has been an informative and mostly entertaining background to to CS.

As a novice accumulator of fountain pens and looking at some of the modern offerings by CS, I had no idea the current CS was an entirely new company.
Their descriptions of some of the pens I was looking at convey a sense of a long tradition of history, place, craftsmanship and service. Wonderfully evocative marketing such as this example along with names like Wordsworth, Winston, Marlborough & Dartmoor really make me want to have a small piece of Britain on my desk.

The new Belliver model from Conway Stewart is a return to the finest traditions of CS heritage, rooted in attention to detail, a perfect size and weight, as well as a timeless design married to understated accents. From the carefully crafted resin cap and barrel to the rich gold trim and expertly fitted 18 carat solid gold nib, the Belliver was created with one goal in mind: Making the experience of writing as perfect as possible.

The Belliver name comes from the location where the Conway Stewart factory is located on the outskirts of Plymouth Devon. It is also the name of a “Tor” situated close by in the Dartmoor National Park. A Tor is a small hill – usually capped by a granite outcrop within the National Park. There are very many Tors within the park and they are a popular tourist destination with walkers trekking from one peak to another during their holidays. The spelling of the name is occasionally Bellever but the more modern usage is Belliver.

The area around the Tor has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has several good examples of ancient burial chambers and stone circles that were used for ceremonial purposes.


The granite outcrop on the top of Belliver Tor and the granite caps are the result of thousands of years of weathering which has exposed the tops of substantial Granite deposits laid down close to areas of high volcanic activity in the long distant past. The granite is of good quality and was used to construct the pillars outside the British Museum in London, and to build London Bridge.



The Belliver is sized to be ideal for the widest possible range of hand sizes and writing styles. Not so large as to be unwieldy in the hand, but still of a size to command instant attention, as well as to afford a comfortable grip. The Belliver is balanced using a solid brass barrel liner to offer just enough weight for the pen to sit easily in the hand without becoming tiring during long periods of writing. The cap is lighter in weight, allowing it to post securely on the end of the barrel if you so choose. The section is gently tapered to bolster the comfort of writing with the Belliver. When creating this new design, the craftsmen at Conway Stewart were inspired by some of the greatest designs of the company’s history. Looking to provide not merely an attractive pen, but a true modern classic that would serve faithfully as a reliable and enjoyable fine writing instrument.

The Shingle is created from hand crafted resins and the traditionally styled Conway Stewart clip ensures that the Belliver is always ready to hand in your pocket, and the cap and barrel are also adorned with hallmarked gold bands for the crowning touch of elegance. The combination is at once both warm, rich, and luxurious.

[AndyR]

I'm glad we have been able to make the history of the CS company clear!

Their modern pens should simply be judged on the basis of what you see and not as part of a venerable old company, which in any case had generally stopped making decent pens 10 or more years before they ceased trading. I can't really take issue with any of the quotes you point out above, it is all fairly obvious marketing puff and it doesn't anywhere make a direct link to what had gone been made before as earlier company literature had implied.

I also note (with no hidden agenda) that CS were apparently a 'no show' at the WES show in London last weekend, despite having booked two of the most prominent tables. At least they hadn't arrived by the time I left shortly after 12-00 and they don't appear to feature in Stef's video from later in the day. I sincerely hope this is not an indication of further troubles on the horizon.

If you still want a small piece of Britain on your desk, perhaps you should look at the offerings of the modern Onoto company. They have a similar relationship to the original Onoto pens as Conway Stewart have to the original CS pens. However, the new take on the vintage Onoto plunger filler works extremely well, giving a very large ink capacity, and it is an excellent way of drawing on the company's past within their modern models. Their pens (in my experience at least) are also backed up by excellent customer service.

Andy

[Bogong007]

"I can't really take issue with any of the quotes you point out above, it is all fairly obvious marketing puff and it doesn't anywhere make a direct link to what had gone been made before as earlier company literature had implied"
I thought "When creating this new design, the craftsmen at Conway Stewart were inspired by some of the greatest designs of the company’s history." may have raised your hackles of the modern CS merging into the old CS by implication.
It is a very clever using of the wording to avoid saying that directly.

I hope the new CS flourishes and produces good pens as I do like the style of some of their new pens.
Maybe I will purchase one in the near future and gaze at it while I richly re-imagine my ancestral home in England from here in the Antipodes.

[AndyR]

No, hackles firmly down! In the past they would have said 'our company's history' rather than 'the company's history', so while the differences may be subtle, the latest phrasing is more carefully constructed and I have no problems with it.

However, if buying a modern pen, the company history shouldn't affect your choice. Even if a company existence has been continuous, just because they made decent pens in the past doesn't necessarily mean they are making decent pens now. I wouldn't buy a Parker solely on the basis the have been making pens for over 100 years! If history and heritage is important to you, you should be looking at vintage pens anyway. These are just as easy to maintain as modern pens, they work as well or better and are generally significantly cheaper.

Andy

[Hugh]

Personally I'd avoid the "new" CS pens if for no other reason than quality control seems an issue not fully resolved, especially given the price. Secondly the use of "pre pack " administration ( by which the latest owners acquired CS) doesn't appeal to me as a business practice that inspires confidence, if you do decide to purchase I'd suggest through an authorized CS agent than from the company directly as this provides some protection if it goes "to the wall" again. Being in Sydney you can't go down town and buy one anyway !! The Australian distributor leaves a bit to be desired as well given my brief interaction with him although in fairness he's probably perfectly okay to deal with ( oldpostofficepens.com.au).


Regards
Hugh

[Bogong007]

Thanks for the advice Andy & Hugh.

I do like the look of the new CS but given the pricing I'm still researching and the approaching them with a degree of caution now.
Perhaps a closer look at the vintage ones too.


regards,

Ken