The History Of

1905-2005

Stephen Hull

Fountain Pens for the Million

Fountain Pens for the MillionThe 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.

In 300 pages and 140 sections, over 10 (chronological) chapters, this work contains much hitherto unpublished material, such as who (including one English and at least two US pen manufacturers) made Conway Stewart’s pens during the early years, how the company struggled to make pens during WW2 and why the company went bust in 1975.

As well as being a volume of history, it is alsoa reference book, with 30 pages of appendices providing great detail, for example, on the hundreds of known pen and pencil model numbers and the specifications of the many Dinkie models made during the 50 years of the pen’s existence.

There are more than 700 full-colour images (most at actual size) of pens, pencils, ink pencils and other items, as well as dozens of adverts and leaflets, shots of the factories and personnel and some personal reminiscences of relatives of the founders and former directors and employees.

Cover illustration – Some Conway Stewart products, 1906-2002

ISBN 978-0-9563444-1-0

The Author

Stephen Hull was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1950 into an armed services family and, from the age of eight, attended private boarding schools in Cheshire and Wiltshire.

In 1969 he was sponsored by Ford Motor Co Ltd, as a salaried employee, for a ‘thin sandwich’ Business Studies degree at North East London Polytechnic, from where he graduated in 1973 with a BA Hons (Marketing).

He spent another 10 years, in various sales and marketing positions, in the automotive industry,followed by 25 years, in similar roles, in the construction equipment and access equipment industries.

Steve is married with two grown-up children and has lived in the beautiful Thames-side town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire since 1983.

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

Shelley & Peacock17 Kingsley DriveMarlowBuckinghamshire SL7 3QRthepenshull@hotmail.com

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.

The Duro-Point pencil was the first of a long line of pencils 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].

Stand at the 1922 British Industries’ Fair, where Conway Stewart’s first

pencil, the Duro-Point, and the Universal and Pixie pens (note straight

lever) were launched

Patent abridgement (1921) of Barrey and Bina’s first pencil mechanism

that was incorporated into the first of Conway Stewart’s pencils, the

Duro-Point

Trade Advert of April 1922, the first to feature the Pixie, Universal and

Duro-Point, alongside the No 200 Speedy Phil

1919 -1929 The Roaring Twenties 35

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 PenIndustry in 1946

Howard Garner Retires

Continuing Restrictions

Unfair (?) Competition and the Last of the 'Austerity' Models

New Dinkie Factory

125

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

167

1949-1954 New Products And A New Factory

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)

148