| tr> | | | | especially red. The high quality pens had 14k solid gold |
| High quality writing instruments have been around for | | | | points and gold pocket clips. |
| centuries and continue to exist; from the first pencils | | | | Men’s pens were had a clip, while ladies were |
| in 1584, to the quill pen, to the reign of the fountain | | | | slightly smaller and had a ring top so they could be |
| pen from 1925 to 1940. | | | | attached to a chain, a vest pocket, or a watch chain. |
| These high quality and highly functional writing | | | | But competition was fierce and quality writing |
| instruments were being made around the world in | | | | instruments were everywhere, so to stay |
| beautiful styles and with an elegance and class not | | | | competitive the manufacturers were forced to |
| previously seen in a writing instrument. | | | | produce a pen that had fashion appeal. So along |
| The early fountain pens were not effective at | | | | came pens such as the Duofold with its striking red |
| providing a consistent and even supply of ink. You | | | | orange colors, Bakelite, tortoise shell, and horn. |
| would have either too much ink which caused blots | | | | Sheaffer introduced a line of pens in 1924 that were |
| or too little which caused skips. | | | | made from celluloid which were an instant hit even |
| In 1870 Waterman developed a 3 channel feed which | | | | though they were expensive. Within 5 years they |
| meant the ink flow was controlled during writing, | | | | were the #1 selling pen. Celluloid was available in |
| making the pen a choice as a portable writing | | | | unlimited colors and patterns which made it perfect |
| instrument. Today collectors refer to these pens as | | | | for the Art Deco times and styles. |
| eyedroppers because of how they were filled. | | | | Many of the pen manufacturers ran into trouble |
| Eyedropper pens leaked because the caps | | | | during the 1930s but Parker, Wahl-Eversharp, |
| didn’t fit really secure and the joint became | | | | Waterman, and Sheaffer all kept their heads above |
| worn from use, so in 1907 Waterman came up with | | | | water and Parker did especially well. |
| a solution. It worked like a lipstick tube with a barrel | | | | In 1932 Parker introduced a vacuum filler system |
| that twisted and a point that could retract into the | | | | which eliminated the need for an ink sack. Parker |
| barrel. It was called the safety pen. These pens | | | | continued to work towards new innovations and in |
| remained popular well into the 1920s. | | | | 1941 introduced the fast drying Parker Superchrome |
| Parker and Sheaffer developed their own | | | | ink which required some design changes to their pen. |
| advancements; Parker with the button filler and lever | | | | Sheaffer created two filling systems; the touchdown |
| filler, and Sheaffer with similar systems that also | | | | and snorkel which remained popular into the 1960s. In |
| included what was called a blind cap. | | | | fact just recently they have been reintroduced to |
| During the war the pen market continued to grow at | | | | the market. Waterman introduced the disposable |
| an incredible rate. Pens were made from ebonite or | | | | cartridge for the fountain pen and perfected it during |
| vulcanite, which was a hard rubber material that was | | | | WWII. But the final achievement in fountain pens |
| very easy to work with. Pens were decorated with | | | | belongs to Parker who in 1956 introduced the capillary |
| engravings, swirls of color, wood grain, and even | | | | filling system. |
| mottled colors. Black was the most popular base | | | | High quality writing instruments have been demanded |
| color but sometimes other colors were produced, | | | | by civilization for centuries. |