Conway Stewart (England) fountain pens

In 1905 Conway Stewart was established in East London to manufacture fountain pens. Around 1919, Conway Stewart began producing lever filling fountain pens in which ink was sucked into the sack by using a metal lever in the barrel. Their designs were aimed mainly at clerical workers and students and were therefore often bright and inventive. Although they produced pens with alternative filling systems, the bulk of sales remained lever fillers.

During the 1920s and ’30s they used the new plastics to create pens in every conceivable colour and in patterns imitating everything from Italian marble to cracked ice. Some of the prettiest were the small pens designed for ladies and known as ‘Dinkies’, many of which came with a ring in the cap so that they could be worn on a ribbon.

The next size up was known as a ‘Dandy’. A vast number of model number/colour/pattern more... combinations were made making these pens a popular collectable item.

The firm suffered financially in the 1960s, due to the popularity of cartridge pens and the dominance of the Biro, and in 1975 the business was wound up.

In 1998, a new company was registered under the name of Conway Stewart based in Plymouth, Dorset to produce pens for the upper-end of the pen market. The range is characterised by the use of precious metals, enamels, and special edition pens. less...