Fountain Pens for the Million the History of Conway Stewart: 1905-2005
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Fountain Pens for the Million The History of Conway Stewart: 1905-2005 Stephen Hull This book is the second in a series that will cover some of the most important English pen manufacturers and their products. It covers 100 (effectively 80) years existence of one of the best- known and best-loved of the English pen makers who were founded in 1905, went into liquidation in 1975 and re-surfaced in 1994. Fountain Pens for the Million The Author In 300 pages and 140 sections, over 10 (chronological) chapters, this work contains much hitherto Stephen Hull was born in Preston, Lancashire in unpublished material, such as who (including one 1950 into an armed services family and, from the The History Of English and at least two US pen manufacturers) age of eight, attended private boarding schools in made Conway Stewart’s pens during the early Cheshire and Wiltshire. years, how the company struggled to make pens during WW2 and why the company went bust In 1969 he was sponsored by Ford Motor Co Ltd, in 1975. as a salaried employee, for a ‘thin sandwich’ 1905-2005 Business Studies degree at North East London As well as being a volume of history, it is also Polytechnic, from where he graduated in 1973 a reference book, with 30 pages of appendices with a BA Hons (Marketing). providing great detail, for example, on the hundreds of known pen and pencil model numbers He spent another 10 years, in various sales and Stephen Hull and the specifications of the many Dinkie models marketing positions, in the automotive industry, made during the 50 years of the pen’s existence. followed by 25 years, in similar roles, in the construction equipment and access equipment There are more than 700 full-colour images (most industries. at actual size) of pens, pencils, ink pencils and other items, as well as dozens of adverts and Steve is married with two grown-up children and leaflets, shots of the factories and personnel and has lived in the beautiful Thames-side town of some personal reminiscences of relatives of the Marlow, Buckinghamshire since 1983. founders and former directors and employees. His other interests include cricket, philately and late 1960s/early 1970s west coast, progressive and psychedelic music. Also available The Neptune Pen; A History of Burge Warren & Ridgley by Stephen Hull and Mike Bryan; Shelley & Peacock, 2009 Cover illustration – Shelley & Peacock Some Conway Stewart products, 1906-2002 17 Kingsley Drive Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 3QR [email protected] ISBN 978-0-9563444-1-0 1919 -1929 The Roaring Twenties 35 The Pixie, the Universal and the Duro-Point Conway Stewart again exhibited at the 1922 BIF where the full range of pens, now ranging in price from 10/6 to 5 guineas ('presentation' models with solid gold overlays) and (again!) consisting of 200 models, was on display. For the first time the new Pixie and Universal fountain pens and Duro-Point pencils were exhibited. The Pixie and Universal (retailing at 7/6 and 5/- respectively), both in chased black (and probably red/black mottled) vulcanite, were less expensive versions of the lever-filling Speedy Phil, while the Duro-Point was an all-new 'magazine' pencil, "per- fectly balanced, with fine leads - always sharp, and a rigid point". The Pixie, with inlaid cap tops in various colours "to make these pens specially adaptable for office use where different coloured inks are used" was relatively short-lived, whereas the Universal, "the best value ever offered", continued in production in various guises for many years. Stand at the 1922 British Industries’ Fair, where Conway Stewart’s first pencil, the Duro-Point, and the Universal and Pixie pens (note straight The Duro-Point pencil was the first of a long line of pencils lever) were launched sold by Conway Stewart. It was also the first of their products to be available in a wide range of coloured plastics and retailed, with detachable, unmarked nickel-plated pocket clip, at 2/6. The propel/push-repel mechanism was patented by two Germans, Frederick Bina and Francis Barrey, who made the mechanisms and assembled the complete pencils at their factory in Islington, north London from barrels and other parts supplied by Conway Stewart. Bina and Barrey would continue to supply pencils to Conway Stewart (but not exclusively) for the next 45 years, during which time they registered at least 20 UK patents relating to pencil mechanisms [see Appendices I and IX]. Patent abridgement (1921) of Barrey and Bina’s first pencil mechanism Trade Advert of April 1922, the first to feature the Pixie, Universal and that was incorporated into the first of Conway Stewart’s pencils, the Duro-Point, alongside the No 200 Speedy Phil Duro-Point 125 Chapter 5: 1939-1948 War and Post-War: Restrictions and Rationing The Pen of Pens Fortress Shoe Lane Limitation of Supplies Orders from the Board of Trade Purchase Tax The Blitz A Brave and Vigilant Fire Watcher Further Restrictions Export and Overseas Distributors Improved Supply? The Fountain Pen Manufacturers' Association Approved Model Range Pencils and Other Products Munitions' Production Anticipated Post-War Trade Marking Time! Changes to Approved Model Range A British Intelligence Report on the German Fountain Pen Industry in 1946 Howard Garner Retires Continuing Restrictions Unfair (?) Competition and the Last of the 'Austerity' Models New Dinkie Factory 167 Chapter 7: 1955-1962 Golden Jubilee A Celebration Lunch The 22 Floral Export Canada – ‘Senior’ Dominion Le Tigre John Fry The Numbers Book Colour Numbers Repairs Another Speedy Phil and the First of the Herringbones The First Conway Ballpens Death of Stanley Jarvis 'Points Off' Some More Herringbone Models The First Injection-Moulded Models The AGM of April 1962 Last of the Marbled Pens 1949-1954 New Products And A New Factory 148 The New Range The Conway Stewart pens, 1949-c1958; from left - 24; 18 pencil; 24; 27; 37 pencil; 27; 28; 28; 58; 33 pencil No 30 Set (24 Pen and 18 Pencil).