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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In 300 pages and 140 sections, over 10 (chronological) chapters, this work contains much hitherto unpublished material, such as who (including one English and at least two US pen manufacturers) made Conway Stewart’s pens during the early years, how the company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 [email protected]
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