In wartime, patriotism is a major factor in maintaining morale on the home front. During World War II, manufacturers capitalized on patriotism to sell their merchandise—or, as in the case of the virtually unobtainable Parker “51", to stoke demand in anticipation of the postwar future. So much of patriotic Americans' daily life was about supporting the "boys over there" that Olive Drab became a popular color. It even showed up in the pen display cases of stationery stores.
Wartime pens in America did not spring suddenly into existence after Pearl Harbor. Realizing early on that Americans would be going into battle, Solomon M. Sager reintroduced the trench pen, a class of World War 1 eyedropper fillers that made their own ink by mixing a dried ink pellet with water in the barrel; but Sager added the multiple-fill feature pioneered in the '20s and '30s. His patented Graphomatic Inkmaker featured a cartridge containing dried ink. Mounted into a plug that screwed into the back of the barrel and covered by a blind cap, the cartridge released the dried ink into solution in the water in the barrel. Shown here is one of Sager's Inkmaker pens in "Military Khaki"; the Inkmaker also appeared in Jet Black, Burgundy, Navy Blue, and Hospital White.
Sager was careful to ensure that the Inkmaker met the needs of the military, foremost of which (after eliminating the need to bottled ink in the field) was a military clip, so that the pen would not disturb the appearance of a soldier's uniform while being carried in his pocket. He also ensured that it used no potentially critical resources: the nib was 14 karat gold, the feed was plastic, the clip was made of the same plastic as the silver, and the seal at the back of the barrel was made of a flexible plastic. There was no rubber anywhere in the pen.
Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av PEN WORLD.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av PEN WORLD.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
Do you like black pens? If so, you are probably already familiar with the fun, frivolity, and fellowship associated with the Black Pen Society (BPS).
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
The Italian pen company's experiment in modernism led to a revolution in late 20th century pen design. A two-part series.
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
The six-part series on dip-less (or one-dip) fountain pens garnered some major attention through its run from October 2023 through August 2024 (Vol. 36 No. 6 Vol. 37 No. 5).
David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.