Only three years after the end of World War II, 1948 proved to be full of energy, change, and forward-thinking. Nations were eager to work together to prevent further conflicts. The Treaty of Brussels was signed, and the World Health Organization was established.
Fashions were changing as materials became more available after war rationing, and Parisienne designs began to emerge after the occupation. Young people were reading the stories of Pippi Longstocking, the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, while the literary voices of Alan Paton, Graham Greene, and Pearl S. Buck spoke to adults.
It was also a good year for inventions. The Polaroid camera was introduced. Velcro started making connections in our lives. Long-play vinyl records increased one's time on the couch listening to the likes of Bing Crosby, Patty Lee, and Ella Fitzgerald.
It was into this milieu that Fisher Pen Company emerged. Paul C. Fisher, founder, was just 35 when he started the company to manufacture pens and pen parts. At the time, Paul owned Fisher Armour Manufacturing Company, a machine shop in Chicago, Illinois. He was approached by Milton Reynolds of Reynolds Pen Company about setting up a production line to manufacture a new pen. After studying the samples Reynolds provided, Paul returned them, saying, "They aren't any good, the concept is faulty, and I'm not interested in the job."
But the universe often plays its hand in things. One of Paul's best friends, Seth McGrath, was given a job at Reynolds Pen Company, and Paul ended up helping design and set up the company's production line anyway. He was not paid for his work, but he did get Reynolds's parts business.
Shortly thereafter, Reynolds Pen Company went bankrupt. By then, Paul's interest in the ballpoint pen industry had grown, and with Reynolds's permission, he started Fisher Pen Company as a division of Fisher Armour Manufacturing.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-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.
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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.
