Invented in Toledo — the Conklin Self-Filling Fountain Pen
This is one of my favorite examples of a technology that was invented and innovated in Toledo,OH — Conklin’s self-filling fountain pen.
U.S. Patent No. 685,258 issued in 1901 to Toledo inventor and entrepreneur Roy Conklin. The patent describes a relatively simple invention that revolutionized the fountain pen industry. The so-called ‘self-filling’ fountain pens of the day had an internal resevoir that stored ink. Pressing a bar on these pens emptied the resevoir; releasing it filled the pen with ink.
Conklin noticed that inadvertent presses on the bar had the same effect as the intended type. He solved this annoyance by adding a simple rotating lock that had to be aligned just right before the bar could impact the resevoir.
Conklin’s invention was a success by any measure. The Conklin Pen Manufacturing Company grew as a result, launching its signature Crescent Filler line based on the technology. The company held offices in several downtown buildings over a span of decades. Several inventors at the company, including Mr. Conklin and others, received numerous patents for inventions in the fountain pen arts.
Conklin pens drew high praise from writers. Even Mark Twain swore by them…and not only for the lock on the filling mechanism. Mr. Twain valued them because they helped him avoid swearing while writing:
“I prefer it to ten other fountain pens because it carries its filler in its own stomach and I can’t mislay it, even by art and intention. Also I prefer it because it is a profanity-saver: it cannot roll off the desk.”
– Letter to Conklin pen company, 1 October 1903
The company continued production of its innovative and visually distinctive Crescent Filler pens until the 1930s, when the line was retired in favor of lever-filler models.
This article is a modified version of an article originally published at blogs.bnip.com on February 1, 2014.
