The Conway Stewart 286 belongs to Conway's pre-war and wartime numbered series, produced from roughly 1936 into the mid-1940s. A full-size lever-filler with gold-plated trim, built into the British middle market to compete with Mabie Todd Swan and Onoto on the same desk. Black celluloid with GPT is the dignified default for the model: dressy enough for a solicitor's desk, unfussy enough for daily ledger work. The nib stamp reads "Conway Stewart 14ct Gold" without a printed size, and the dimensions place it close to a #4 rather than the more common Conway #3, which puts more gold and more tipping under the writer's hand. UK flex from this period sits in a different genre from American Waterman or Mabie Todd flex: softer landings, slightly wetter ink flow, a more European feel under cursive script. This example measures 0.45mm opening to 1.88mm at 400g Semi Flex pressure for a 4.2× variation in the FM to 4B range, with a slight cursive italic character in the tipping (0.45mm horizontal, 0.55mm vertical). Very bouncy and smooth, a nib that suits a writer who already owns American Watermans and wants the UK feel for comparison. Complete ebonite restoration on the collar with preserved hallmark imprints. Trim wear: the cap band and lever box remain mint, and the clip plating shows normal wear from daily usage. Grade B-. Nib heat-set and tuned. Fresh latex sac. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Conway Stewart

• Model: 286

• Production Year: 1936

• Material: Black Ebonite

• Trim Color: Gold

• Nib Size: 4

• Nib Material: 14k gold

• Nib Grind: FM, Cursive Italic

• Nib Flexibility: 400 g

• Line Variation: 0.45 - 1.88 (4.18x)

• Pen Length: 128.37

• Pen Grip Section: 8.38

• Restorer: Heron's Mooncake

• Restoration Grade: B-