Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic Fountain Pen c. 1937-1938

by Jim Mamoulides, March 28, 2025

Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic fountain pen c. 1937-1938

A Conklin wish book pen

I first saw this pen in Fountain Pens of the World by Andreas Lambrou along with several other beautiful Conklins, including the striking Conklin Nozac Chevron in Red Pearl c. 1936-1937. That full page photo was like a wish book page in a catalog. Several amazing pens all in one shot!

Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic fountain pen c. 1937-1938

I’ve only found two references with images for this pen. One appears in the 1937 Conklin dealer brochure, where it is called the model 126M Pearl and Gold Mosaic Sac Pen. It also appears on an undated c. 1937 Bennett Brothers catalog page with their order number DP510, but with no model name or description. I’ve been unable to find any newspaper or magazine advertisements that list or show it, probably because Conklin was focused on promoting the Nozac line. This particular pen and pencil model may have only been made from 1937-1938 and only in this color combination.

Loaded with patents

U. S. Design Patent D96,888 awarded September 17, 1935 to Andreas Bienenstein

The celluloid brickwork wraps around the pen in a spiral to form the cap and barrel tubes and shows many shades of shimmering brown, pearl and gold. On this example at least the cap and barrel match in a way that the design appears neary seamless from one to the other. The spiral design is similar to the one shown in design patent D96,888 awarded September 17, 1935 to Andreas Bienenstein, which was one of several designs for the flagship Nozac pens, in this case specifically for the Penline models. I don't know that this patent inspired the look of the Pearl and Gold Mosaic pen, but it shows that Conklin had an interest in spiral designs at the time, including another spiral Nozac design patent, D96,890. The clip is from design patent D99,262, also awarded to Andreas Bienenstein on April 14, 1936. The lever is stamped to show patent 1,561,590, another one awarded to Andreas Bienenstein on November 17, 1925 and it is stamped PAT. NOV. 17,1925. As an homage to the Conklin Crescent fillers the tab of the lever has a crescent stamped on it. It’s also notable that the clip snaps securely into the slot when not in use – clever, thoughtful, and attention to detail.

Identification Guide and Features:

Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic fountain pen c. 1937-1938

The Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic fountain pen is about 5 inches long and sold for $3.00. The matching model 73M pencil was $2.00. The same pen in Jet Black was $2.75. The 14 karat gold nib is stamped with the Conklin Crescent at the top over Conklin in logo style over TOLEDO over 14 KT over U.S.A. instead of also having the Cushon point nibs found on higher priced Nozac pens.

• Celluloid cap and barrel in Pearl and Gold Mosaic
• Barrel imprinted TRADE next to Conklin (in logo style) next to MARK over TOLEDO, OHIO, U.S.A.
• Clip stamped with Conklin (in logo style) down the face
• Gold filled trim, including one cap band
• Threaded cap
• 14 karat gold nib stamped with the Conklin Crescent at the top over Conklin in logo style over TOLEDO over 14 KT over U.S.A.
• Nib grades offered: extra fine, fine, medium, coarse (broad), and medium stub
• Lever filler
• About 5 inches long capped
• Retail price of the fountain pen, model 126M, was $3.00 and the matching pencil, model 73M, was $2.00
• Presented in a paperboard gift box

There’s no performance section as this pen was left uninked.

Conklin Pearl and Gold Mosaic fountain pen c. 1937-1938

Why profile a single finish of 1930s Conklin lever fill pens? This is one of the most desirable finishes for 1930s Conklin lever fill pens and is very uncommon. These pens can be pricey, rivalling some Nozac models. The pencils seem more difficult to find than the pens. A prize for any collector of 1930s Conklin pens!

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References

Bennett Brothers catalog, updated c. 1937, page 268

"Andreas Bienenstein" (Obituary) The Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 1968, page 40

"Bienenstein, Andreas (Andy)"" (Obituary) The Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 1968, page 41

Conklin Dealer Brochure 1937, Conklin Pen Company, Toledo, Ohio, USA

The Conklin Legacy by Alfonso Mur, © 2013 Alfonso Mur Bohigas, Graficas Santacruz, S. A., Madrid, Spain, pages 174-181

Fountain Pens of the World by Andreas Lambrou, © 1995 Zwemmer, London, United Kingdom, pages 52-53

United States Patent 1,561,590 awarded November 17, 1925 to Andreas Bienenstein, assignor to The Conklin Pen Company, Toledo, Ohio

United States Design Patent D96,888 awarded September 17, 1935 to Andreas Bienenstein, assignor to The Conklin Pen Company, Toledo, Ohio

United States Design Patent D99,262 awarded April 14, 1936 to Andreas Bienenstein, assignor to The Conklin Pen Company, Toledo, Ohio