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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Conklin Pen Manufacturing Co.}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Conklin Pen Manufacturing Co.}}

[[Image:Logo-Conklin.svg|center|300px|Conklin Logo]]

[[Image:Logo-Conklin.svg|center|300px|Conklin Logo]]

[[Conklin]] was officially founded in [[1898]], but its founder, ''Roy Conklin'', had been in the fountain pen business since [[1891]]. The success of the company was mainly due to the invention of the [[Crescent Filler]], the first really functional automatic filling mechanism. But after its initial period the company underwent a gradual decline, completely ceasing production around the 1948. The brand was recreated in 2000 with the production of pens that reflect the design of the old models.

[[Conklin]] was officially founded in [[1898]], but its founder, ''Roy Conklin'', had been in the fountain pen business since [[1891]]. The success of the company was mainly due to the invention of the [[Crescent Filler]], the first really functional automatic filling mechanism. But after its initial period the company underwent a gradual decline, completely ceasing production around the 1948. The brand was recreated in 2000 with the production of pens that reflect the design of the old models.

[[Image:1905-Conklin-Crescent.jpg|thumb|An AD's of 1905.]]

[[Image:1905-Conklin-Crescent.jpg|thumb|An AD's of 1905.]]

The company strong initial success was due to the creation of the [[Crescent Filler]], which was the first automatic filling mechanism truly reliable. These [[Conklin Crescent Filler|firsts models]] were made in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]] like other pens of the same period, but their innovative filling system led the company at the top of the market. In [[1904]], ''Roy Conklin'' withdrew from company selling all its shares, after that the ownership passed hands several times.<ref>for this event [http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Conklin/Conklin.htm] says around [[1907]], while Michael Fultz says [[1904]], citing J. F. Vogel as new president, J. H. Doyle as vice president and H. E. Fisher as secretary/treasurer, so we decided to use his date for citing also a lot more details.</ref> In this golden period [[Conklin]] followed a policy of trade expansion, with vigorous promotional campaigns, exporting even in Europe and South America.

The company strong initial success was due to the creation of the [[Crescent Filler]], which was the first automatic filling mechanism truly reliable. These [[Conklin Crescent Filler|firsts models]] were made in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]] like other pens of the same period, but their innovative filling system led the company at the top of the market. In [[1904]], ''Roy Conklin'' withdrew from company selling all its shares, after that the ownership passed hands several times.<ref>for this event Jim Mamoulides reports in [http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Conklin/Conklin.htm this page] around [[1907]], while Michael Fultz says [[1904]], citing J. F. Vogel as new president, J. H. Doyle as vice president and H. E. Fisher as secretary/treasurer, so we decided to use his date for citing also a lot more details.</ref> In this golden period [[Conklin]] followed a policy of trade expansion, with vigorous promotional campaigns, exporting even in Europe and South America.

In [[1916]] [[Conklin]] introduced an innovative spring clip, that can be open very easily; for its simplicity and elegance the same mechanism has been used today by modern companies like Visconti, the only patent found about it ({{Cite patent|US|1267575}}) was applied in [[1917]]. The sales of fountain pens, although declining, remained at the top of the market, also if [[Conklin]] models become to be considered a little dated.

In [[1916]] [[Conklin]] introduced an innovative spring clip, that can be open very easily; for its simplicity and elegance the same mechanism has been used today by modern companies like Visconti, the only patent found about it ({{Cite patent|US|1267575}}) was applied in [[1917]]. The sales of fountain pens, although declining, remained at the top of the market, also if [[Conklin]] models become to be considered a little dated.

This is why in [[1921]] also [[Conklin]] started producing models with a peculiar [[lever filler]] mechanism, ingeniously constructed so that only half of the lever was in the open. With the introduction of the large dimension pens trend started by the [[Duofold]] also [[Conklin]] introduced  in [[1923]] the [[Duragraph]] model. The following year the [[Duragraph]] was renamed as [[Endura]] and the production was converted to celluloid. Initial model were in black or red hard rubber, but soon they were produced in celluloid, with different colors like ''Rosewood'', ''Black & Gold'', ''Lime Green'', ''Lapis blue'' and the rare ''Blue & Gold'' present only on smaller models.

This is why in [[1921]] also [[Conklin]] started producing models with a peculiar [[lever filler]] mechanism, ingeniously constructed so that only half of the lever was in the open. With the introduction of the large dimension pens trend started by the [[Duofold]] also [[Conklin]] introduced  in [[1923]] the [[Duragraph]] model. The following year the [[Duragraph]] was renamed as [[Endura]] and the production was converted to celluloid. Initial model were in black or red hard rubber, but soon they were produced in celluloid, with different colors like ''Rosewood'', ''Black & Gold'', ''Lime Green'', ''Lapis blue'' and the rare ''Blue & Gold'' present only on smaller models.

[[Image:Conklin-Endura-Colors-Set.jpg|thumb|A set of [[Endura]]]]

[[File:Conklin-Endura-Big-Series-Colors-Capped.jpg|thumb|A set of [[Endura]]]]

The [[Endura]] was the top model of [[Conklin]], with the name put on the nib and the body, produced in three version, a short vest pocket, a standard and senior senior size. In the same time were also produced an economic model for students (that so collector are calling [[Conklin Student|Student]]), with the same shape and dimension of the [[Endura]] standard model, also produced in pastel colors.

The [[Endura]] was the top model of [[Conklin]], with the name put on the nib and the body, produced in three version, a short vest pocket, a standard and senior senior size. In the same time were also produced an economic model for students, that so collector are calling [[Conklin Student|Student]] (but mentioned in and advertisement as "''Three Fifty''" by their price in dollars, $3.50), with the same shape and dimension of the [[Endura]] standard model, also produced in pastel colors.

[[Image:1924-08-Conklin-Endura-Student.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Endura]] AD's of 1924.]]

[[Image:1924-08-Conklin-Endura-Student.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Endura]] AD's of 1924.]]

== External references ==

== External references ==

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080126091833/http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=16] Article on the company's history

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080126091833/http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=16] Article on the company's history

* [http://www.billspens.com/billspens/conklin/conklin.htm] Conklin page on Bill Aker website

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130429200151/http://www.billspens.com/billspens/conklin/conklin.htm] Conklin page on Bill Aker website

* [http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Conklin/Conklin.htm] Page on the company's history

* [http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Conklin/Conklin.htm] Page on the company's history

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=120053] A discussion on the numbering

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=120053] A discussion on the numbering

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