Stephens' No. 21

[Andrea Ferguson]

Hi I've joined to try to get more information about my late father's pen.

 

The nib says

Stephens'

Warranted

14 ct

270

 

The barrel

Stephens' No 21

Made in England

Prov. Pat.

 

I'll attach photos

 

Thanks in advance 

Andrea

 

 

[Andrea Ferguson]

Here is the writing on the barrel...

[Beechwood]

Hi and welcome

 

You may have more certainty of an expert response in the Great Britain and Ireland forum, I would report your own post and ask if a Mod could move it.

 

Your pen was made in the late 1930s, it looks in very good condition to the point where I would say that it has seen very little use for an 80+ year old pen.

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!!

[Mechanical]

Welcome!

 

There are some members with Stephens’ pens and hopefully they’ll see your query.  

 

This thread has a bit on Henry Charles “Inky” Stephens  https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/51445-stephens-pens/#comment-492938

 

 

And here is Inky Stephens wikipedia article  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Stephens_(Conservative_politician)

 

And there’s also some information in this thread located in the Great Britain & Ireland Forum https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/341894-stephens-pens-info-thread-with-photos/#comment-4140423

 

 

 🙂  

 

 

[Andrea Ferguson]

7 hours ago, Beechwood said:

Hi and welcome

 

You may have more certainty of an expert response in the Great Britain and Ireland forum, I would report your own post and ask if a Mod could move it.

 

Your pen was made in the late 1930s, it looks in very good condition to the point where I would say that it has seen very little use for an 80+ year old pen.

Thank you so much! I've done what you suggested.

Andrea

[Andrea Ferguson]

2 hours ago, Mechanical said:

Welcome!

 

There are some members with Stephens’ pens and hopefully they’ll see your query.  

 

This thread has a bit on Henry Charles “Inky” Stephens  https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/51445-stephens-pens/#comment-492938

 

 

And here is Inky Stephens wikipedia article  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Stephens_(Conservative_politician)

 

And there’s also some information in this thread located in the Great Britain & Ireland Forum https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/341894-stephens-pens-info-thread-with-photos/#comment-4140423

 

 

 🙂  

 

 

Thank you!

[Mark from Yorkshire]

Welcome from the UK, and also thank you for adding another brand to my radar to look out for in antique shops and brick a brac second hand shops. Happy writing please enjoy your new to you pen that was your fathers.

[Andrea Ferguson]

10 hours ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

Welcome from the UK, and also thank you for adding another brand to my radar to look out for in antique shops and brick a brac second hand shops. Happy writing please enjoy your new to you pen that was your fathers.

Thank you.

Unfortunately I think it's not working. I'm fairly sure the sac will be perished after all this time. I don't remember him ever using it 😔

[Beechwood]

Hi

 

Replacing the sac is straightforward but if this is your first pen than I would ask a specialist such as:

 

https://pensplus.co.uk/pages/repairs-and-service

 

The pen needs a light polish and a good clean around the nib and feed, it will soon look like new. Pens Plus also sell a range of bottled ink.

 

Your pen has a special connection but some people who buy an older pen in need of work can be disappointed when they find that the cost of repair exceeds the market value of the pen.

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

[Andrea Ferguson]

2 hours ago, Beechwood said:

Hi

 

Replacing the sac is straightforward but if this is your first pen than I would ask a specialist such as:

 

https://pensplus.co.uk/pages/repairs-and-service

 

The pen needs a light polish and a good clean around the nib and feed, it will soon look like new. Pens Plus also sell a range of bottled ink.

 

Your pen has a special connection but some people who buy an older pen in need of work can be disappointed when they find that the cost of repair exceeds the market value of the pen.

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

Thank you.

[northlodge]

On 10/25/2024 at 9:57 AM, Beechwood said:

Hi

 

Replacing the sac is straightforward but if this is your first pen than I would ask a specialist such as:

 

https://pensplus.co.uk/pages/repairs-and-service

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

Andrea,

 

This pen is not the easiest to repair, and on this occasion I would disagree with Beechwood's recommendation. If you want it working then you need someone who knows their way around this unusual pen.

 

As for details of the pen:

 

It was made in Liverpool c.1938, by Lang/Summit. The 21 model was the top of the range, you will also see  similar pens No 56, 76, and 106 - if has been suggested these reflected price points.

The pen was probably over-engineered (I think they are great), but the start of WW2 probably killed off the model as the factory was given over to making Lee Enfield ammo. When production resumed the Stephens pens were your standard leverfill models.

 

I will stop there.... 

[Beechwood]

I am aware that the above person prefers to disagree with almost everything and acquiescence is a strange land, I have serviced this pen myself without issue but I stand by my suggestion that for a person new to pen repair that an expert repairer should be employed such as Pensplus.