8 replies to this topic

[rpk1204]

I was out "hunting" Wed and came across two unusual pens - The first was a Conklin, and the second I suspect to be one. The first was a green crescent filler and it had a glass nib - anyone familiar with a Conklin having a glass nib - can go back and get it for $30. The second was a very long black rubber pen. It had two decorative gold bands on the barrel. Between the gold bands were longitudinal alternating strips of black and pearl MOP. The nib simply said No.2 in the style of Conklin. The price tag was $250, but it was a unique pen! Any guidance or info on these?

[david i]

I was out "hunting" Wed and came across two unusual pens - The first was a Conklin, and the second I suspect to be one. The first was a green crescent filler and it had a glass nib - anyone familiar with a Conklin having a glass nib - can go back and get it for $30. The second was a very long black rubber pen. It had two decorative gold bands on the barrel. Between the gold bands were longitudinal alternating strips of black and pearl MOP. The nib simply said No.2 in the style of Conklin. The price tag was $250, but it was a unique pen! Any guidance or info on these?

Hi,

Are you certain the glass nib pen is not a Spors?

I'd be very cautious about the MOP pen. Many no-names were made. Value is very variable but nowhere near what marked big-make pens pull. I don't claim expertise in early Conklins, but offhand I do not recall Conks with MOP. Metal, yes.

regards

david

[rpk1204]

Thanks David, I ran through about 5 antique malls quickly, however I would have recognized the Spoors name, so I don't think so. The other pen was interesting, but I couldn't find any definitive marking other than the #2 nib. Wouldn't pay that much unless I could figure out it was worth a lot more. The $30 one is fairly buried in a display so I'm guessing it will be there when I get back and can inspect further.

[Nick A]

Danger Will Robinson, Danger. Just because it is a crescent filler, does not mean it's a Conklin. Especially if it is a solid color plastic. I think the glass nibbed pen is probably a Spors or a cheap Japanese pen, I would not pay $30 for it as those are near impossible to repair/make serviceable. If the other pen has no manufacturers marks or a marked nib I'd be suspicious that it's some old school "flash" with the MOP, etc. rather than a quality pen. Without seeing it, I'm going to say $250 is quite rich for that one as well. If it were a no-name and super nice and clean with a good nib, and everything else in good to excellent condition, $50 would be the top of my range for that.

[Hugh]

Neither, imo, sound like Conklins. One thing about the "big boys" they weren't shy about putting their name on their pens !!

Regards
Hugh

[Daniel A]

Indeed, these sound like no Conklin's I have seen. The glass nibbed pen does sound like a Spoors. Skidmore also sold crescent filler pens in Toledo, but I have seen only black pens, and they are always clearly marked Skidmore.

Best,
Daniel

[rpk1204]

Thanks for all the advice! - if/when I get back I'll have time to look closer and ..duh... take some pictures - I'll post something up. $250 is very rich for my blood given the quality of many of my finds in the wild for LOTS less.

Randy

[Jerry Adair]

The glass nib crescent filler is surely a Spors. I believe the typical Spors crescent is shiny chromed steel. Conklins are gold filled. A mall in Indiana has a beer glass full of them @ $8.00 apiece. I left them there. David is right about the MOP could be a $30 pen or a $1000 pen. No marking on nib, next best is to see if it has a distinctive feed e.g. Wirt blade type. If no distinctive charcteristics I would leave it there.
Good luck
Jerry

[rpk1204]

Thanks Jerry!