The Conklin Self Filling Fountain Pen:
In 1891 Roy Conklin was granted his first fountain pen patent and in 1898 he founded the Conklin Self Filling Fountain Pen Co. In 1901 he patents the Crescent Filler for what is now the Conklin Pen Manufacturing Co. and additional patents are issued him in 1903 and 1904.
In 1903 the company, expands its advertising and marketing, including an endorsement by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens. I have had several requests for that ad but have never been able to find it.
In 1916 Conklin develops a patented spring loaded pocket clip and by the 1920's he is exporting pens to Europe and South America. By 1921 The Crescent Filler is the top selling pen on the market. While the pen is mechanically superior to the Shaeffer Lever Filler, the popularity of the Shaeffer pen leads Conklin to design a lever filling pen.
In 1923 the Duragraph is introduced. It is a well made and efficient lever filler, which leads to the development of the Endura in 1924. In 1929 Conklin’s first streamlined pen, the Symetrik, is introduced. In 1931 the Nozac is introduced. A techonolgically advanced, streamline model with an inventive piston filling mechanism, it is followed with a “word gauge” model in 1934.
Conklin is sold to a Chicago Syndicate in 1938 and by 1955 all production of all Conklin models ceases. However, in 2000 carefully following the original designs and utilizing artisinal craftmanship, Conklin is revived as the Conklin Pen Co., Inc.
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