Rarity: In this update I have attempted to classify the relative rarity of the models according to the number of times I have recorded them. Also where many different colours were made for the same model, I have shown which colours are less common and consequently more desirable.
* = 0 to 1 record
* = 2 to 4 records
* = 5 to 10 records
* = above 10 records
* = more desirable
Sources: This list is compounded from lists provided by private collectors, my collection, Lambrou - Fountain Pens of the World, Stephen Hull (SH), Journal of Writing Equipment Society Vols. 29, 50, and 52), Bonhams catalogues, Phillips Catalogues, Cooper & Owen catalogues, Ebay and Pen-Bid auctions, Dealer web-sites, and miscellaneous additions. Special acknowledgment to my brother Daniel (who unearthed lots of the rarer models), David Wells, Graham Jasper, Tina Seiringer, Andy Russell and Barry Rose for their contributions to the list, and particularly to Stephen Hull who also undertook the extensive research into the manufacturing dates of the various models.
Picture Sources: In this last update I have included pictures of pens that are not in my collection. Many of them I "grabbed" from Ebay sales. I know this may be considered as an infringement of copyright but my feeling was that I was acting for the benefit of the general public and not for personal gain. Furthermore I must admit that some of them are so much better than mine as to give me an inferiority complex. If anyone takes objection to me using their pen-picture please e-mail me and I will of course remove it, or if acceptable, will gladly acknowledge the owner.
Some terminology:
The pen and its parts:
Top: upper part of cap (domed, shallow domed, peaked, flat).
Clip: Earliest clip = ball clip with no logo, fixed internally through a slot in the cap, and sometimes with vertically scrolled lettering "Conway" down the clip. Old style clip = fixed clip = stepped clip which always terminates in a ball, as opposed to washer clip. The upper stepped section of the fixed clips are either rounded or squared. The rounded model is earlier (c1925) and consists of a separate logo plate with teeth on each side that pierce the lower plate and serve to staple the clip into the cap. The clip itself is V shaped in cross-section. The later squared model has the logo imprinted on the single clip unit. The cross-section of the clip is slightly curved. Washer clips have either a ball (introduced 1932), or diamond shaped tip (introduced 1935); the cross-section of the clip is slightly curved for the ball clips and V-shaped for the diamond clips. Later post-WW2 clips are held in place by a pointed screw-in stud (metal or plastic) and sometimes a metal cowling.
More info about clips & pictures
Lever:flange lever = old style lever = lugged lever; shield lever, sometimes called lollipop lever = lever with CS shield (round shield or diamond shield) at tip; straight lever = lever without shield; boxed lever = lever inside lever-box). Pressure bar is usually floating , or j bar when specified. (All Dinkies have j-bars).More info about levers & pictures
Bands: serrated = pattern along edge of a band, proud = band higher than surrounding surface.
Hatched =basket-work = candy-stripe; burgundy = plum (darker); measles = white spots on blue or green background; HR (American term) = hard rubber = Vulcanite (English term); mottled HR =wood grain; marbled is frequently described as pearl in Bonham's catalogues; lined = striped; patterned = lozenge shaped = candle flame; moiré = silky sheen; RPT=RPF=CPT (R=rhodium as opposed to chromium); pressac =aerometric type; etched = chased = machine pattern finish; knurled = rows of indentations or serrations around the top of the cap; pearl = shiny appearance; harlequin = intermingled white/red/blue green/black patches as in circus clown; ripple = mottled HR (sometimes) = wavy stripes; toothpaste = wavy colored & cream.
Letter suffixes:
A = toothpaste?; C = ??; J = ??; L = long, & L = lanyard (but some 526S and 526C are also boxed with silk lanyards); M = mottled; P = ?? possibly denotes special cap-band for engraving initials; S = striped = toothpaste; R = Ring-top; T = tan (Red vulcanite).
Nibs: CS = Conway Stewart, C = Conway.
Patent: dated 28 August 1917 is revealed on the lever of an advert from the same period. Most probably the patent was not imprinted on the lever, but clearly it refers to the spatula lever which is anti-dated by the straight lever, namely pre 1917.
Patent No. 235447 (1925) on mottled Vulcanite and chased black Vulcanite pens, imprint transverse on barrel, protects the flange lever designed to prevent the lever from being accidentally raised. In the patent itself it is referred to as the "stop-guard lever".
Patent No. 297194 (1932) on Duros 20, 30, 40, 50 and 56, and Nos. 100, 226, 266, 485- imprint on barrel, protects button filler with patented presser-bar mechanism.
Patent No. 304922 granted in 1929 to protect the ink pencil design. (e.g. on No. 100 - imprint on barrel).
Most of the following information I received from David Wells who took the trouble and expense to investigate the patent numbers and purchase photocopies of them. The patents not only enable us to date the manufacture of models more precisely, but also sometimes enable us to attribute Custom made pens without identification signs to the Conway Stewart Company.
David writes: "The ink pencil patent was issued to Arthur Stanley Jones of London. So only the remaining 2 patents were actually issued to Conway Stewart! The first for the "flanged lever", which I guess we will have to call the "stop guide lever" now, as this is how it is referred to in the patent. The other is for the retained pressure bar mechanism as fitted to the button fillers. Of more interest in this patent is the suggestion of differing mechanisms to operate the pressure bar." All patent numbers on Conway Stewart pencils were not issued to CS.
10* Chased black vulcanite. Dimensions- length: 10cm; barrel+section: 9.5cm; cap: 3.4cm.
10M* Mottled vulcanite
11M* Mottled vulcanite Container in cap for ink pellet, c1920. Dimensions - length: 12.6cm; barrel: 11.3cm; cap: 5.2cm .
11* Chased black vulcanite (long & short) (c1922). Dimensions - length: 11.9cm; barrel: 11.3cm; cap: 3.4cm .
12* Mottled vulcanite "Commercial Size"
13* Chased black vulcanite Dimensions - length: 13.2cm; barrel+section: 10.5cm; cap: 3.4cm.
14* "Giant size", (c1918)
19* Safety
700 Dinkie, Black Vulcanite .Ivory top over burr on cap and burr on barrel. Dimensions - length: 8.5cm; Cap: 3.3cm; Barrel: 7.7cm.
Duro Pens
1 The Duro Pen: Imprint usually without number. Black, flat knurled top, lollipop or
flange lever, with or without rounded or squared stepped fixed ball clip, or flat top with washer clip. Nib, Duro 26 or CS no number. Advertised as No. 1 and
No. 2 but these refer to the two sizes.
No.1: Extra large size: Washer clip. (mid thirties) length 16.2cm. Original price 21/-.
No. 2: ) Standard size. Fixed clip or no clip. In advert-flyer circa 1933, and advert 1931, Dimensions - length:
14.1cm; barrel+section: 11cm; cap: 6.5cm. Original price 15/-.
Stepped clip with oval plate (c1925)
Red Vulcanite* flange lever, no band on cap, wide band on barrel engraved "E.N. Hall From Valley Branch ANA No 5 1/9/26, imprinted "Patent Applied For"
Red Vulcanite*, lever, no band
Red Vulcanite*, flanged lever, no band
Mottled Vulcanite*, flange lever, 1 band
Black Vulcanite*, flanged lever, 1 band
Black Chased Vulcanite*, lollipop lever, no band
Black Vulcanite*, no clip, 2 bands
Green measles*, no clip, 2 bands flange lever (also no band version).
Black Vulcanite, no clip, lollipop lever, 1 band.
Not assigned
Red Vulcanite*, fixed clip, shield lever, no band (c1924)
Red Vulcanite*, fixed clip, flanged lever, 2 bands (c1927)
Red Vulcanite*, fixed clip, lever, 2 bands
Red Vulcanite*, flanged lever, fixed clip, 1 band
Black Chased Vulcanite*, lever, fixed clip, 2 bands
Mottled Vulcanite*, flanged lever, fixed clip, 1 band (c1927)
Mottled Vulcanite*, lever, fixed clip*, 1 band
Cracked ice*, BF, no band
Grey Jazz*, no band, or 2 bands, flange lever
2 The Duro Pen: (c1928-1941 SH). Early = flat top (slightly domed), 5 tiered knurl, flange lever, fixed clip, band(s) proud. Late = flat-top, shield lever, washer clip, ball or diamond. (No.2 Pocket Model - advert-flyer c1933). Nib CS No.6 or Duro 40. Dimensions - length: 11.4cm; barrel+section: 8.7cm; cap: 5.6cm. (Original price 15/-) (Boxed in sets No 103/104 with Conway 2 pencil)
3B The Duro Pen: (Late 1920s?). Ring-top. Ring on brass knob set into top. Top 5-knurled with medium band. Nib CS, flange lever. Dimensions - length: 12cm; barrel+section: 9cm; cap: 6cm. (Only one recorded so far)
5 The Duro Pen: (1929).Flat knurled black top, 2 narrow cap bands proud, hallmarked 18ct, 1929, no clip. Barrel with flange lever. Nib CS 6. Dimensions - length: 11.5cm; barrel+section: 8.8cm; cap: 5.5 cm. Set with Conway 2 pencil. (Only one recorded so far)
Plain green-hint of pink*, flange lever, fixed clip, 1 band
Jade green
Grey Jazz
8 The Duro Pen: (1930-33 SH), Black 5-knurled flat-top, flange lever, no clip, 2 narrow bands. Dimensions - Length: 11.4cm; barrel+section: 8.7cm; cap:5.6cm. (Original price 12/6)
Blue measles*, flange lever, no clip, 2 bands
Black Vulcanite* (nib CS No.5,)
Green measles
Mottled Vulcanite
Jade green
Grey Jazz
Marbled black & pearl
20 The Duro Pen: BF, (c1928-38? SH) Flat top, black top & blind cap, ball or diamond clip, 2 bands unless otherwise, nib CS Duro 20. Dimensions - Length: 13.1cm; barrel+section: 10cm; cap: 6.1cm. (Original price 17/6) (Original price 19Rs 8a) S.A. 27/6. Several pens recorded with black caps. Probably replacement caps from Conway Stewart repairs.
Marbled Blue/black*, ball clip,
Marbled green/black*, no bands, diamond clip
Marbled burgundy /black*, diamond clip
Marbled burgundy/black*, ball clip, 1 band
Marbled red/lilac* -faded (possibly burgundy?)
Cracked ice*, diamond clip
Dark reversed cracked ice* Light reversed cracked ice* Marbled grey/black*, diamond clip
Red Vulcanite*, ball Duro clip
Mottled Vulcanite*, diamond clip
Mottled Vulcanite*, ball clip
Black, diamond clip
Black Vulcanite*, Ball clip,
Mottled (chocolate) brown* (only the barrel)
Black Vulcanite cap*, plastic barrel, diamond clip, no band
Marbled green/black* veins
Marbled brown black top* White marble, black inclusions*, black top
Tortoiseshell*
Red Vulcanite*, ball Duro clip, 2 bands
Mottled Vulcanite*, diamond clip
Apple-green swirls with black veins and cream inclusions* Marbled blue/black* Marbled plum/black Burnished copper/black Possibly a lighter version of the above.
Marbled blue/black* (possibly faded)
Lapis blue*, not Duro clip
50 The Duro Pen: (1932-41 SH), BF, Flat back top and blind cap, ball clip or diamond clip or Duro imprint on ball clip, 2 narrow 1 broad band, 2 bands, or no band. Nib CS Duro 50. Dimensions - Length: 11.5cm; barrel+section: 8.8 cm; cap: 5.7cm. (Original price 12/6) (Original price 13Rs 8a)
Mottled Vulcanite Jade or Grass green/black veins milky swirl . (The barrel and section in my collection was purchased at the London Pen Show. It is identical to the one owned by Steven Hull but is not imprinted. Both are obviously samples from the Conway Stewart factory and possibly never marketed). The only other CS I have seen in this colour variation is a Duro-Point No.1 and a No. 479 pen.
Chased black Vulcanite*, oversize, fixed CS clip & CS 6 nib, (c1920)
No number: Chased black Vulcanite* Dandy (?) size No clip, flat top
No number: Red Vulcanite* "Duro Pen Regular", washer ball clip with CS diamond logo under knurled flat black Vulcanite top. Black Vulcanite barrel end. No number. Large CS Duro nib. Dimensions Length: 14.2cm; barrel + section: 11.5cm; cap: 6.3cm.
No number: The Conway, chased Vulcanite*, no clip, round top, screw cap (c1910)
21: The Conway Stewart Security (screw) Cap Safety Pen chased Vulcanite* "pocket size 5/6"
24:Red Vulcanite*, Conway Stewart, no clip, nib CS no number Dimensions Length: 14cm; barrel+section: 10.8cm; cap: 6.4cm. c1920
24M: Mottled Vulcanite* Conway Stewart, no clip, nib CS(c1918) from India
25: The Conway Stewart Security (screw) Cap Safety Pen chased Vulcanite* (c1918)
27: The Conway Stewart Security (screw) Cap Safety Pen* "Large Size" (c1918)
28: The Conway Stewart Security (screw) Cap Safety Pen*, 9ct band on cap, ( c1918)
36: Chased Black Vulcanite* barrel, plain Vulcanite cap, The Conway Stewart, no clip c1919
36: Chased Black Vulcanite barrel*, gold bands, plain HR cap, The Conway Stewart, no clip
37: Black chased Vulcanite*, The Conway Stewart (short)
37:Black chased Vulcanite*, The Conway Stewart (long)
40: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "Popular 3/6" (c1918)
41: Black Vulcanite** chased cap, pull-off cap (c1918)
42: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "well known design 5/0" No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
43: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "Standard 5/6" No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
44: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "Commercial 6/6" No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
46: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "Super quality 10/6" No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
50: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "Giant size 15/0" No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
52: Vulcanite chased cap, pull-off cap "RG band on cap 6/6" (c1918)
54: Black Vulcanite* chased cap, pull-off cap "2 RG bands on cap 7/6" (c1918)
100: The Conway Stewart Stylo ("De Luxe") plain Vulcanite* Dwarf size (no cap?) (c1918)
102: The Conway Stewart Stylo ("De Luxe") plain Vulcanite* Long (no cap?) (c1918)
105: The Conway Stewart Stylo ("De Luxe") Engraved (=chased?) Vulcanite* long (no cap?) (c1918)
108: The Conway Stewart Stylo ("De Luxe") Engraved (=chased?) Vulcanite* Large (no cap?) (c1918)
134M: The Duro Pen, Mottled Vulcanite*, ball clip, no bands, (c1926)
134T: Chased black Early The Duro pen, Black Vulcanite*, ball clip, no bands
134T: The Duro pen, Red Vulcanite*, fixed clip, no bands
134T: The Duro pen, Red Vulcanite*, fixed clip, 1 medium band
136M:The Duro Pen, mottled Vulcanite*, 1 band, fixed clip, (small)
144T: The Improved Duro pen, Red Vulcanite*, c1926, ball clip, 1 band
220: Filigree silver or rolled gold on Vulcanite*, "15s 0d" pull off cap No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
222: Engine turned silver or rolled gold on Vulcanite*, "15s 0d" pull off cap No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
224: Crocodile silver or rolled gold on Vulcanite*, "15s 0d" pull off cap No.4 Warranted nib (c1918)
see also ED Nos. 91, 92, 93, 112, 113
Red Vulcanite*, domed knurled black top, no bands, fixed CS clip, flanged CS lever. Nib CS. Dimensions - length: 13.7cm; barrel+section: 10.8cm; cap: 6.3cm. (Actually this is a custom pen since the name Conway Stewart is not imprinted on the pen).
12* Conway Stewart: (1956-63 SH), 1 band, GPT, (narrow cap top, narrow band = early), (narrow cap top, wide band = later), (wider cap top, clip with muffle, wider band = latest), nib CS 3N or C 3N, round shield on lever, J pressure bar, brass stud. Dimensions - length: 13cm; barrel+section: 9.6cm; cap: 6cm. (matching pencil The Conway 25, Nippy No.3?)
15* Conway Stewart and Conway: (1952-63 SH) short and long models, no band and 1 band, Chrome trim or GPT. Nib CS 1A, or C 1A, round shield on lever, J pressure bar, black plastic stud. Dimensions - Length 12.4-12.9cm; barrel+section: 9.3-9.9cm; cap:5.9cm. (Matching pencil Nippy No. 3)
Conway Stewart, no bands, short clip CPT: (Original price 14/-): IMPRINT
22* Conway Stewart: (1955-57 SH) nib CS G. Dimensions - Length: 12.2cm; barrel+section: 9.1cm; cap:6cm. (Generally believed that only one production run of around 2,000 were made; therefore although it regularly appears in auctions it is considered rare by some. Many items suffer from yellowing, the original ivory color being much more desirable).
(Little Lady) floral design button filler with CS nib, patterned band
Floral design, Ivory, Grecian band
23* The Conway Stewart: (c1949-1952 SH) diamond clip, 3 bands. (Possibly export model to
Australia and New Zealand where most seem to be turning up. Slightly
smaller diameter than CS 58). Nib CS 5 or 3. Dimensions: Length: 12.7cm;
barrel+section: 9.5cm; cap: 5.8cm. Also apparently a trial model with a no-
band cap with peaked top fitted on to a standard barrel. Appears to be
genuine and not a Frankenstein pen, because of the perfect color match which
does not exist in other no-banded peaked-top caps that fit the 23 barrel. IMPRINT
24* Conway Stewart or The Conway Stewart: Early "The" Conway
Stewart with number on second line and 2 cap bands closely spaced; later Conway
Stewart with two cap bands close together or widely spaced. Black or aluminium stud, diamond clip,
nib CS 5. Dimensions: Length: 13cm; barrel+section: 9.8cm; cap: 6.2cm. (Matching
pencil The Conway No. 18)
27* (The) Conway Stewart, (c1952-63? SH) wide band, diamond clip, nib CS 5, (matching pencil The Conway No.37). The Conway Stewart, number on 2nd line - early; Conway Stewart, number on 1st line - late. Dimensions - Length: 13cm; barrel+section: 9.7cm; cap: 6cm. (Original price 25/9, 27/6). Also a button filler model with peaked cap and no band (Cracked ice owned by David Wells). Probably a trial model and one of a kind.
28* Conway Stewart, (1949-63? SH) 1 narrow band, diamond clip, nib CS 5, (matching pencil The Conway No. 25), The Conway Stewart, number on 2nd line, short clip - early; Conway Stewart, number on 1st line - late. Dimensions - Length: 13cm; barrel+section: 9.7cm; cap: 6cm. (Original price 24/6) Also recorded: "The Conway Stewart Manifold 28", with flat-top and Duro manifold nib and diamond washer clip.
Not seen in original:
Grey hatched, 2 bands
Light blue marble (possibly faded?)
35* The Conway Stewart (1935-42 SH) flat top, diamond clip, 3 bands (narrow-medium-narrow) or 1 band, nib CS 35 or Duro 40. Dimensions - length: 12.5cm; barrel+section: 10cm; cap: 5.8cm. Here's a coloured ADVERT for the 35 pen; and here's the IMPRINT.
Lapis* (no cap) (I have seen this pen and although very beautiful, it has the same degradation, as the Duro 30 Lapis. Perhaps the reason why neither has an original cap is because the caps degraded more rapidly? The Duro 40 Lapis in my collection also shows cap degradation.)
Reversed cracked ice* Marbled copper/gold
Marbled green/black veins 3 bands
Cracked ice*, 3 bands
Reversed cracked ice, sage green*, 3 bands
Marbled blue/black, 3 bands
Black plastic, 3 bands, (short)
Black, BHR 1 band Long)
36* Conway Stewart, (1955-63? SH ), diamond clip, 3 bands (narrow-medium-narrow), lever with floating bar or j bar, nib CS 5N. Dimensions - length: 12.6cm; barrel+section: 9.8cm; cap: 5.7cm. (Matching pencil The Conway No 23). IMPRINT
45* The Conway Stewart: (1943-46 SH) diamond clip, 1 narrow band, peaked top, nib CS Duro 40. Dimensions - length: 13cm; barrel+section: 10cm; cap: 5.8cm. I only know of one example of both the "autumn leaves" and "reversed cracked ice" variations both of which are in my collection.
47* The Conway Stewart: (late 1930s?). Peaked top Duro nib. (looks like a 45 or 55 but with a single wide band, like 217) Nib CS Duro 40. All recorded so far from Australia. IMPRINT
