1920s Conklin Crescent-Filler 20 Fountain Pen - SUPERFLEX

Vintage: 1920s

Make: Conklin

Model: Crescent-Filler 20

Color: Black chased

Materials: Hard rubber

Filling System: Crescent filler (resacced and guaranteed to fill to capacity). To fill simply rotate the knurled lock-ring on the barrel to the open position and depress the metal crescent once with the nib submersed. 

Length: This full-sized model measures 5 5/16” capped.

Nib: Super-Flexible Conklin Toledo #2 nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF/F line that widens to a 4B+ (approx 2.5mm) under light pressure.

Condition: There is a professionally heatstamped personalization ("DORR WELLS") on the left side of the cap that blends into the chasing. Hard rubber is close to factory black with little discernible oxidation. Chasing is sharp and deep with little discernible wear. Hard rubber has a smooth, lustrous surface with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes. Gold-filled trim is clean with no brassing or other notable wear. Manufacturer imprints on barrel are slightly weakened but still fully legible. 

Details: Something about the 100+ y/o obsolescent design of Conklin’s Crescent-Filler appeals to me. It’s the pen once touted in adverts by none other than Mark Twain. "I prefer it to ten other fountain pens,” writes Twain, “because it carries its filler in its own stomach, and I can not mislay even by art or intention. Also, I prefer it because it is a profanity saver; it cannot roll off the desk. Based on its imprint (with “Conklin” sans possessive “’s”), this example was manufactured in the 1920s. It’s made of black chased hard rubber with gold-filled trim including Conklin’s patented rocker clip. An interesting detail of this example is that, unlike all the other Crescent-Fillers I've seen, the section is threaded (not friction fit) and imprinted with an arrow pointing in the direction it unscrews.