World War II and the Fountain Pen
PEN WORLD|February 2022
"From war rationing to active combat duty, fountain pens from the World War II era embody layers of history. Read the story in this first of a four-part series."
By Richard Binder
World War II and the Fountain Pen

World War Il touched almost every aspect of life. On the home front, rubber and gasoline rationing changed travel habits, creating a boom in railroad ridership. There were quotas on fuel oil. Meat, butter, coffee, and sugar were rationed. Victory VV Gardens sprang up to supply more fresh vegetables. Clothing and shoe sales were limited.

The need for writing instruments did not diminish. Instead, it burgeoned as families at home flooded the postal system with letters and packages for servicemen and women scattered around the world.

The War Production Board designated rubber, steel, aluminum, brass, petroleum, and other raw materials as critical war resources and strictly rationed them, with most of the supply going to the manufacture and shipping of war matériel and the operation of the Allied war machine.

The net effect on the manufacturers of writing instruments, especially fountain pens, was a mandated decrease in production as thousands of factories were converted to war production. In November 1942, the WPB limited the production of fountain pens to 46 percent of 1941 output.

Companies that excelled in war production received the Army-Navy “E” Award for Excellence in Production. The G. S. Parker Pen Company received the “E” Award on October 29, 1943, for the production of bomb and shell fuzes, and the W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company received it on May 13, 1944, for the production of bomb and shell fuzes, microphone and headphone plugs, and automatic radio tuners for aircraft. The Parker “51” shown above, engraved to commemorate the awards ceremony, was given to a Parker employee.

This story is from the February 2022 edition of PEN WORLD.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2022 edition of PEN WORLD.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PEN WORLDView All
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
PEN WORLD

Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)

On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
PEN WORLD

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).

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
PEN WORLD

Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show

Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
PEN WORLD

"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.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
PEN WORLD

GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit

With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
PEN WORLD

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.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
PEN WORLD

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.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
More Mail, More Dip-Less
PEN WORLD

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).

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
David Oscarson: A Reflection
PEN WORLD

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.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
PEN WORLD

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.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024