Conklin, Cross, Delta, Esterbrook

Conklin Pens

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Conklin All American

Color: Orange
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca. 2015
Nib: Steel, Flex (ish)
Working? Yes

A big, fairly heavy pen, in a stunning orange marbled resin. (Still love orange pens…) Luscious writer, though like most Conklins & Monteverdes (or most brand new modern pens, really), it takes a bit of TLC when new. Totally worth it! I’m less thrilled with Conklin’s ‘omniflex’ nib; it is a bit too stiff to flex easily, and it seems to lack the ‘spring’ to open up and then close again. I have another omniflex on a Duragraph, and the tines never quite seemed to come back together.

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Conklin All American

Color: Tortoise
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca. 2016
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

Another of Conlklin’s big, hefty All American line, this one in a really lovely tortoise resin that has a lot of depth to it.

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Conklin All American

Color: Yellowstone
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca 2017
Nib: Steel M
Working? Yes

I like big pens, and I like Conklins; what can I say? This has a very unique yellow, pearl, and black swirl that should be tacky, but somehow manages to not be. I actually ended up with two of these (no, I did not forget I bought the first one, and then score another on sale, why?), and both are stunners.

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Conklin Duragraph

Color: Orange
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca. 2014
Nib: Steel M
Working? Yes

Have I mentioned I have a thing for orange pens? This could, at first glance be a Delta Dolce Vita, which is why I fell in love with it. My first Duragraph, and a very solid pen all around.

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Conklin Duragraph

Color: Forest Green
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca 2014?
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

The Duragraph line is a great modern take on a classic vintage look. And for a mid-range pen, they deliver as workhorses, and this one is no exception. This one is usally one I ink up around the holidays with a rich green like Noodler’s Polar Green or Iroshizuku’s Syo-Ro for a cooler green.

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Conklin Endura

Color: 'Jungle'
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca 2014
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

This is a bit of an odd bird, no longer made. It’s an Endura, with a subtly faceted barrel, and a stunning multi-colored resin I have named ‘jungle,’ though I think the original designation was ’emerald green,’ but that hardly does it justice. Another Conklin line, like the Duragraph, that is a direct descendent of their vintage line (though no vintage pen dreamed of colors like this!).

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Conklin Endura

Color: Burgundy Marble
Material: Resin
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. ca. 2010
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

I think this is a modern Endura, but I have not been able to find any mention of one in this finish. Conklin had a run of non-faceted marble resin Enduras a few years ago, but they are no longer being made, and the only example I can find is in a different finish Suffice to say, it’s a modern Conklin modeled on their vintage flat-tops, and it’s gorgeous!

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Conklin Mark Twain Crescent

Color: Zebra (Black and white)
Material: Resin
Filler: Crescent
Date c. 2013-14
Nib: Anodized black steel, M
Working? Yes

Funky ‘cow’ patterned Mark Twain Crescent filler. Nice nib with a hint of feedback, and a lovely writer. Bit of a bear to flush efficiently, though.

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Conklin Crescent 'Mark Twain'

Color: Blue Demonstrator
Material: Resin
Filler: Crescent
Date c. ca. 2015
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

I snagged this darling for a song, and while it hasn’t gotten much use, it’s a gorgeous pen. One of Conklin’s re-imagined crescent filling pens, this demonstrator has rose-gold hardware that set off the sapphire resin beautifully!

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Conklin Mark Twain Limited Edition Rose Gold Demonstrator #343/1898

Color: Clear/Demonstrator
Material: Resin
Filler: Crescent
Date c. c. 2014
Nib: M 2T Steel
Working? Yes

I’ve wanted a Crescent-filler forever, and I adore demonstrators. This was therefore inevitable! Add in the rose-gold trim and I was in love. My first bona fide numbered LE, too! Gorgeous pen in a really stunning finish. I love the crescent fillers; my only (very small) quibble is that they can be a bear to flush thoroughly, but no more so than any vintage lever-filler.


Cross Pens

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Cross Botanica

Color: Magnolia
Material: Laquer over brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 2014
Nib: 18K F
Working? Yes

I love Cross pens, and I think they don’t get anywhere near as much love as they deserve, or at least the ones from 1980s-2010s or so; I haven’t tried the newer ones. Since I adore my trusty Townsends, and I love henna art, I leapt at this beauty. This first run model has a 18K nib, and is esentially a top of the line Century II with a jaw-dropping finish. It’s a hefty but slender pen, and it writes as I would expect from a high-end Cross. My only quibble is the converter is not the same as my Townsend, but that’s minor. Overall, I adore this pen. Now discontinued, and the later run with steel nibs are just not as impressive, but if you find one of the first run with the 18K nibs, pounce on it!

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Cross Spire

Color: Gold
Material: Brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 2010
Nib: M 14K
Working? Yes

A very slim but elegant pen from Cross. Much like the Classic Century, it takes proprietary slim cartridges. Cross doesn’t offer a converter for these, but I managed to gerry-rig a ‘squeeze’ converter from a cartridge and a pen sac. LIke a true cross, it writes beautifully, but it’s a bit slender for my preferences.

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Cross Townsend

Color: Black
Material: Black Lacquer
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 1995
Nib: M 14K / B 14K
Working? Yes

(B nib shown) Both of these are fantastic! In fact, all my Cross Townsends are great writers, smooth and elegant. They are big and weighty, but I like a pen with a substantial feel. They work beautifully posted (cap posts with a very satisfying ‘snap’), or unposted is one prefers a lighter pen. The M was one of the first new, top-end pens I ever got, in fact. It took me through much of my undergrad career, and once I started collecting seriously, it got siblings very quickly.

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Cross Townsend

Color: Cardinal Red
Material: Lacquer
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 1995
Nib: XF 2T 14K
Working? Yes

Another wonderful Townsend pen. This was probably the first X-fine nib I ever really came to love. The Cardinal red lacquer is gorgeous; no photo I have seen does this pen justice.

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Cross Townsend Medalist

Color: Chrome
Material: Chrome over Brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 1998
Nib: XF 14K
Working? Yes

I am slightly less fond of the bright chrome; it seems a little brash. I don’t know why; just the deep, rich black, red & brown lacquers seem so much more elegant. Still, like all my Townsends, this is a superb instrument.

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Cross Townsend

Color: Sienna
Material: Lacquer
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 1998
Nib: F 14K
Working? Yes

And another fantastic Townsend. Like the Cardinal, the Sienna lacquer is gorgeous; the photos I have just don’t do it justice.


Delta Pens

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Delta Dolce Vita

Color: Orange
Material: Resin
Filler: Piston
Date c. ca.
Nib: 14K F
Working? Yes

The pen that started my love of orange resin pens! I finally got my Dolce Vita! And just in time, for Delta closed its doors in 2017. They have since reopened, and one of their founders went on to launch the Leonardo brand (of which I am pleased to have a lovely example), but I am happy to have gotten this one from the ‘original’ Delta. Naturally, it’s a luscious pen, both to use and to hold.

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Delta Journal LE

Color: 'Horn' (Cafe au lait swirl)
Material: Resin
Filler: Piston
Date c. ca. 2012
Nib: 14K Rhodium plated F
Working? Yes

Suprisingly, I think I love this Delta even more than my DV! It’s a limited edition, and it’s just a delight. One of the smoothest fine nibs I have ever used, it’s just a dream pen. Don’t confuse this with the matte finish line released a couple years later. I think they used the same resin, but the matte version is a C/C fill with a steel nib. I checked recently to see if I could find other finishes, but these are now selling upwards of $500! I’m so happy I nabbed it when I spotted it a couple years back, for a LOT less than that!


Esterbrook Pens