For your consideration, we are pleased to offer for sale this beautifully restored circa 1936 Conklin Nozac Fountain Pen in the highly desirable Grey & Red Marbled Celluloid, fitted with a smooth-writing 14K Conklin Toledo Medium nib. One of Conklin’s most iconic Depression-era fountain pens, the Nozac remains celebrated among collectors for its innovative piston-filling system, vibrant celluloid patterns, and substantial yet balanced writing feel.
This example has been completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, serviced, and restored back to proper operating condition. The nib, feed, and section were ultrasonically cleaned, while the cap and barrel were carefully hand cleaned inside and out. The gold-filled Conklin rocker clip, double cap bands, and 14K Toledo nib have all been hand polished to restore their original warmth and brilliance without compromising their vintage character.
The Grey & Red marbled celluloid remains exceptionally vibrant, displaying rich depth and contrast throughout the cap and barrel. The material retains excellent visual clarity and warmth, especially under natural light where the layered marbling becomes particularly striking. The cap and barrel are free from chips, cracks, or repairs, and the cap threads securely to the barrel with a proper firm fit. The barrel transparency has ambered over time, which is entirely typical for Nozacs of this era and consistent with vintage celluloid aging.
The barrel imprint remains visible, though somewhat lightly, reading:
“THE CONKLIN PEN CO. TOLEDO OHIO U.S.A. NOZAC REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.” on one side of the barrel, and, "U.S. PATS: 1902809-10-11"
There are no monograms or personal engravings present on either the cap or barrel.
The original deteriorated cork seal has been professionally replaced with modern rubber O-rings for long-term reliability and functionality. The piston-filling mechanism has been fully serviced, tested with water, and now operates properly as originally intended. The piston knob retains clearly visible “FILL” and “EMPTY” imprints at the end of the blind cap, a wonderful surviving detail often worn away on lesser examples.
The fountain pen measures approximately 5 3/8 inches capped, 6 1/4 inches posted, and weighs .61 ounces, offering a comfortable and balanced writing experience that feels substantial without becoming overly heavy in hand.
Fitted with a 14K Conklin Toledo nib, the point measures approximately .89mm when tested with digital calipers, placing it in the heavy Medium to light Broad range. In actual writing use, the nib produces a smooth Medium line measuring approximately .65mm with moderate pressure and flexes comfortably to a Broad line approaching 1.07mm. The nib delivers an expressive and enjoyable vintage writing character with excellent ink flow and responsiveness. The writing sample provided in the listing was completed using the actual pen offered for sale, dipped in Faber-Castell Cobalt Blue ink.
Condition overall rates Very Fine+ to Excellent. While the barrel imprint is lighter than some examples, the combination of vibrant original color, excellent structural integrity, properly functioning piston filler, strong trim, and smooth expressive nib makes this an especially desirable survivor. Collectors seeking a properly restored Nozac with excellent presentation and dependable functionality will recognize the appeal of this example immediately.
An exceptional opportunity to acquire one of Conklin’s most historically important fountain pen models in a beautiful and increasingly difficult-to-find marbled celluloid finish, restored carefully and ready for many more decades of writing enjoyment.
