Conklin 25P



The 20 series is the smallest of Conklin's Crescent Filler pens. The 25P is the "pocket" or short version of this series, and the 5 digit probably indicates that it is a slim version, sort of like Waterman's 52 1/2V. I have three model 25P pens. Two have gold trim and the third is plain.
25P number one The first three pictures below show my first 25P as it was when I got it. The cap and barrel were badly oxidized on one side, but still black on the other, plus there were a pair of black stripes, one around the cap and one around the barrel. I think this pen may have been displayed with elastic bands around it and left in one position for quite some time. The #2 Toledo nib was quite dirty, and the ink sac was completely hardened. A gentle application of heat helped to loosen the section from the barrel, and the old ink sac came out in one piece. I drove the nib/feed out of the section and treated them to the ultrasonic cleaner plus some extra cleaning. At some point in their past, someone has tried to do something to the nib/feed with pliers, and there are some permanent marks right on the wings of the nib and on the edges of the feed, but these seem to have no impact on their functionality. It is interesting that the chasing pattern on the cap continues uninterrupted onto the gold cap end. The nib is a Conklin Toledo 2, fine with some flex

	I decided that this pen was an ideal candidte for re-blackening. I am aware that this is a controversial process in the fountain pen collector community, but this pen had not aged gracefully and its color was a pretty awful shade of brown/green, and very uneven. I used Pensbury Manor Potion #9, following the directions carefully. First, I cleaned the barrel, cap, and crescent lock with a 50/50 solution of household ammonia and water, then rinsed thoroughly and allowed it to dry overnight. I then applied Potion #9 with an artist's brush and let it sit overnight. I buffed it with a lint free cloth and reassembled the now-black pen. The pix below show the result. I like it!

	So far as I can tell, there was no immediate impact to the chasing or the imprint. The pen writes nicely with a somewhat flexy nib. I count this as a successful rescue.
25P number two BCHR Crescent Filler with plain ringtop, 1/4" gold cap band. Imprint on barrel is worn. Chasing on barrel is faint, cap is better. No gouges or cracks. It is missing its lock ring, so I have substituted one from a Spors crescent filler until a suitable replacement can be found. The nib is fine with some flex. I re-blackened this pen using Pensbury Manor Potion No. 9
	The pen is currently at a repair shop being fitted with a new lock ring. Here is a picture of the cap and barrel during the re-blackening process.
25P number three This is the base model 25P. It has no gold trim at all, only the ring for the ringtop. This pen has good sharp chasing and no gouges or scratches. It is fitted with a Conklin Toledo 2 nib that is fine with some flex. The cap is engraved "EMILY D SMITH". It was not oxidized at all when I acquired it, so needed no re-blackening.