FS (VINTAGE): Conklin Nozacs

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Some Conklins from my collection for sale this week!

















ALBUM LINK WITH ALL PHOTOS: https://imgur.com/a/XuvN9Vn

Condition (n.b.): All pens listed below have been disassembled, cleaned and restored with new sacs installed in the last month and seals for piston-fillers in the last couple years. Each is guaranteed to fill and write as designed without leaks or other issues. Nibs have been adjusted when necessary to ensure that all lay down a smooth and consistent line, meaning that they exhibit no scratchiness, hard starts, skipping, ink bombs, or other undesirable quirks. These pens have no cracks, chips, personal engravings, missing parts, bent nibs, misaligned tines, or threading issues.

Line Widths and Writing Samples: To provide buyers with as much information as possible, I have started to adopt the following line width standards: XXF (.1-.2mm); XF (approx .3mm); F (approx .4mm); M (approx .6mm); B (approx .8mm). Nib flexibility is determined by variation (max line width under pressure) and softness (amount of pressure). Flexibility designations based on variation generally run as follows for an XF/F nib: Semi-Flex (approx. 1mm); Flex (1.2-1.9mm); Superflex (>2mm). All line width measurements are taken with a digital caliper but should be considered approximations providing a general guide. Width may vary slightly depending on type of ink and paper used as well as amount of pressure applied. All writing samples are on Rhodia dot paper using Waterman Serenity Blue.


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1. 1920s Conklin Endura Standard (Sapphire Blue, celluloid, GPT, lever filler, 14k XF nib). This standard-sized model was the second-largest Endura, measuring 4 7/8" capped and 6 1/8" posted. Another one in the sought-after Sapphire Blue celluloid with gold-plated hardware including patented rocker clip (raises at the bottom when the top is depressed) and red annular bands. Crescent motif on the lever and nib hearken back to the Conklin Crescent-Filler (see pen #1). 14k Conklin Endura nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line (see WRITING SAMPLE: https://imgur.com/unJeG4P). Condition: Gold-plated trim is clean aside from spots of brassing on the top and bottom of the clip and portion of the cap band on the backside of the cap (see timestamp photo). Color is superb with no discernible darkening. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Manufacturer imprint on the barrel is deep and fully legible. Annular rings have been restored to their original red color. A beautiful pen despite being a little rough around the plated edges. Price: $160 SOLD


2. 1930s Conklin Sub-Endura SOLD


3. 1938-40s Chicago Conklin SOLD


4. 1930s Conklin "Nozac" Lever Filler SOLD


5. NOS 1930s Conklin "Nozac" Lever Filler w/ Sticker (gray brickwork, celluloid, NPT, lever filler, 14k F nib). This short, standard girth model measures 4 5/8" capped and 5 3/8." For more on the lever-filling “Nozac,” see description of pen #4 above. This pen retains its original price sticker affixed to the back of the cap, which reads “MED / PS / PS” and what appears to be “$5.00,” which was also the price for the 5M model below (pen #7). A 1937 advert announces a new pattern for the Penline Nozac: a striped and brickwork design patented by Andreas Bienenstein. In my experience, this pattern is a bit tougher to find than the striated examples below. This pen is made of celluloid in that pattern with a faceted cap and barrel complemented ink-view window in the section and nickel-plated trim. 14k Conklin Cushion Point nib lays down a smooth and consistent F line by the standards above – perhaps even an XF with drier ink (see WRITING SAMPLE: https://imgur.com/GQkPPEt). Condition: This pen from my own collection was the nicest example I could find in 20 years of collecting. And it looks like something you’d expect to find in a Conklin museum. Nickel-plated trim is pristine with no brassing or other notable flaws. Celluloid has a smooth, lustrous finish with no notable blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is factory deep and fully legible. (Note that this pen has been restored with a silicone sac to preserve its perfect color. Some silicone sacs are known to cause ink to seep from the nib in certain conditions, e.g. when the pen is carried or isn’t stored nib-up. If this is a concern to you, I’d be happy to install a latex on request at no extra charge.) Price: $290


6. 1930s Conklin Nozac Penline (gray pearl striated, celluloid, NPT, piston filler, 14k XXF Needlepoint Superflex nib). This non-faceted model is slightly shorter and slimmer than a standard-sized, 5M Nozac. It meaures 5 1/8” capped. Unlike the Nozacs below, this model is not faceted and lacks a Nozac imprint. But collectors have long identified it as a Nozac based on its resemblance and piston filling system. It’s made of the same gray pearl striated celluloid as the pens below with transparent striations in the barrel for checking the ink level. Nickel-plated trim and patent pending imprint on the barrel. To fill simply rotate the piston knob counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submerse the nib, then rotate the piston knob clockwise till it comes to a stop. Unlike most Nozacs, which tend to be equipped with Semiflex nibs, its 14k Conklin Toledo nib is a Super-Flexible writer. It lays down a smooth and consistent XXF that widens to a 4B+ (approx 2.1mm) under light pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE: https://imgur.com/BIUTsmK). Needlepoint hairlines, superbly responsive snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it an excellent choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Condition: This pen from my own collection was the nicest example I could find in 20 years of collecting. Fills smoothly to factory capacity. White metal trim is astonishingly clean with no notable flaws apart from a thin sliver of brassing along the bottom edge of 2/3 of the cap band hardly noticeable without a loupe. Barrel transparency is astounding with a clear color with just a hint of yellow (TRANSPARENCY: https://imgur.com/ZixOTDK). Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes apart from one circular mark on the back of the cap that can barely be felt but is noteworthy (see DETAIL PHOTO: https://imgur.com/9w4AzMM). There are no cracks there and it looks more like a very shallow chip or even a factory defect. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible. Price: $250


7. 1930s Conklin Nozac Penline 5M (gray pearl striated, celluloid, NPT, piston filler, 14k XF/F Semi-Flex nib). This standard-sized model measures 5 1/4” capped. Touted to hold enough ink to write 5,000 words, this Nozac 5M features graduated hatch marks up the transparent portion of the barrel designating how many 1,000s of words are remaining (see DETAIL PHOTO: https://imgur.com/fAPjlcs). It’s made of gray pearl celluloid celluloid with a faceted cap and barrel and transparent barrel striations. Nickel-plated trim with decorative, lined cap band (some were plain). To fill simply rotate the piston knob counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submerse the nib, then rotate the piston knob clockwise till it comes to a stop. 14k Semi-Flexible Conklin Cushion Point nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF/F line that widens to a 2B or so under moderate pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE: https://imgur.com/cmO15Ac). Condition: This pen from my own collection was the nicest example I could find in 20 years of collecting. When I first received it some 10 years ago, the original seals were going strong. But when I retrieved it from the case last week for this listing, I noticed they were starting to fail. I installed fresh seals from David Nishimura and it now fills smoothly to factory capacity. Nickel-plated trim is pristine with no brassing or other notable flaws. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Barrel transparency is excellent with orange color (TRANSPARENCY: https://imgur.com/N3xg89N)). Manufacturer imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible. Price: $360


8. 1930s Conklin Nozac Penline 8M Quick-Fill (grey pearl striated, celluloid, NPT, plunger filler, 14k XF nib). This standard-sized model measures 5 1/4” capped. This Nozac is identical to the pen above aside from the Quick-Fill filling system. A short-lived experiment by Conklin, the Quick-Fill was a plunger filling system similar to those found on Sheaffer Balances and Eversharp Dorics, which store more ink in the barrel thanks to the absence of a bulky piston-filling mechanism. It operates by submersing the nib, unscrewing the blind cap and extending the plunger, then driving the plunger home at a stroke. Much scarcer than its piston-filling counterpart, this Quick-Fill boast a greater ink capacity of 8,000 words. It features graduated hatch marks up the transparent barrel all the way up to 8M (see DETAIL PHOTO: https://imgur.com/fAPjlcs). Like pen #7, it’s made of gray pearl celluloid celluloid with a faceted cap and barrel with transparent barrel striations. Nickel-plated trim with decorative, lined cap band (some were plain). This pen is interesting not only for the “pat. pending” imprint on the barrel, but what appears to be a double manufacturer imprint, the second being stamped after the first proved to be only partial (see DETAIL PHOTO: https://imgur.com/vkI36yK). This pen is unrestored (I believe Ron Zorn of Mainstreet Pens will take these on). So I’ve dipped it for the writing sample. 14k Cushion Point nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line (see WRITING SAMPLE: https://imgur.com/vtzADJr). Condition: cosmetically near mint but unrestored, which has been factored into the price. This pen from my own collection was the nicest example I could find in 20 years of collecting. This one looks like it just rolled off the factory floor. Color is superb. Nickel-plated trim is pristine with no brassing or other notable flaws. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Barrel transparency is excellent with light orange color (TRANSPARENCY: https://imgur.com/qOdeegg). There is a mark at the base of the nib that looked like a possible crack, so I removed the nib to inspect. Turns out it’s a merely a scratch that doesn’t penetrate to the underside of the nib (see NIB1: https://imgur.com/r1Jf8M2 | NIB2: https://imgur.com/Qb2kXQf). Manufacturer (double!) imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible. An exceedingly hard to find model, especially in this condition. Price: $280


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Shipping: To CONUS locations:

• USPS Priority with tracking for $9.

Please contact me for shipping quote if located overseas (delivery confirmation required).

Order, Payment, & Guarantee: Pens are placed on hold for the first person to PM me with firm request to purchase, to which I’ll reply with payment details. If I haven't received Paypal payment within 24 hrs, then they become available to the next person. All pens are guaranteed to be in the condition in which I've described them. If I've missed something or the filling mechanism is not fully functional, the buyer may contact me up to 7 days after receiving the pen for a full refund (issued once I receive the pen back in the same condition as sold). I've sold pens online for over a decade. Please check my past listings here as well as on the classifieds and historical sales forums on FPN (username: Estragon) for some of my past offerings.
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#1 sold