PenHero Articles

Even before the Sheaffer Valor was released in 2006, rumors were already spreading that something bigger was on the way. Like most pen companies, Sheaffer routinely consulted its dealers for feedback on new and proposed models. In many cases, strict non-disclosure agreements applied. Proposed products could still change in design, features, or pricing—or be delayed or canceled entirely. No one wanted inaccurate information leaking out before an official launch. Misinformation—especi …

Any story about Tuckersharpe pens and pencils needs to start with Percy Albert Tucker, the company’s namesake. He was the son of Percy Randolph Tucker and Sallie Ann Jackson Tucker who had a tobacco farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This would be some 25 miles south of Richmond crossing through Chesterfield county. Dinwiddie County is adjacent to Petersburg, an independent city in Virginia. Those two cities would become a locus for high volume, low cost writing instrument manufacturing. …

The Porsche Design Tec Flex line (also spelled TecFlex in company documents) marked the design studio’s very first writing instruments line when it launched in 1999. The collection included a fountain pen offered in three nib sizes—fine, medium, and broad—plus a rollerball pen, a ballpoint pen, and a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil. They were first manufactured under contract by Faber-Castell and then production was moved to Pelikan in 2011. Four versions were offered from 1999 throu …

The prototyping of the Classic Pens CP8 focused specifically on choosing two engraving patterns for the production pens. The overall pen design had already been finalized, based on the 2007 Classic Pens LM1 and named the Legend 766 full-size fountain pen. This gallery shows images of prototypes photographed before and after the CP8 release. Some patterns were considered for the CP8, while others were intended for the proposed (but never produced) CP9. Which would you choose? Read the story abou …

The eighth limited edition in the Classic Pens CP series was the CP8 Murelli, a pair of fully engraved sterling silver fountain pens and roller/ball pens. Launched in September 2008, the edition honored the Murelli family, specifically founder Robert Murelli, a master craftsman of guilloché engravings. The pens were based on the in-house Classic Pens Legend 766 full-size fountain pen and 762 full-size roller/ball pen. They featured two guilloché patterns—Flammé (flame …

As a follow-up to my article on a late-1930s Welsh carved celluloid fountain pen, I thought it would be fun to explore other pens produced by the Welsh Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Many Welsh pens feature striking, bold celluloids that make them especially enjoyable additions to a collection. I’ve arranged this small collection in approximate chronological order (best guess) with a brief description of each. Read the story about these interesting pens here: https://w …

The moment I spotted that black-and-cream carved barrel, my mind instantly jumped to those gorgeous Japanese pens with kamakura-bori decoration. The ones where intricate beautiful patterns are painstakingly carved into layered urushi lacquer, revealing stunning colors underneath. But nope. This beauty hails from… Rhode Island. Late 1930s. Made by the Welsh Manufacturing Company. And it’s one of the most eye-catching Welsh pens I’ve ever handled. Read the story about this inte …

The seventh limited edition in the Classic Pens CP series was a pair of fully engraved sterling silver fountain pens based on the Sailor 80. Called the CP7 Ocean Pens, the set featured two designs—one for the Atlantic and one for the Pacific—each with its own guilloché pattern to match the ocean theme. Classic Pens teamed up with Sailor Pen Company in Japan and R. Murelli, a specialty guillocheur workshop in Domont, France. They made 250 sets of two pens each, released in 200 …

The second limited edition in the Classic Pens CP series, the Sheaffer Crest CP2 Pushkin Pen, was released in 1993. The pen was a collaboration between Classic Pens, Sheaffer, and the Pushkin Prizes, a literary awards program for children in Ireland presided over by the Duchess of Abercorn, Alexandra Anastasia "Sacha" Hamilton (née Phillips; 1946–2018), a direct descendant of Aleksandr Pushkin (great-great-great-granddaughter via his daughter Natalya and Romanov lines). She was the …

The 1950s was a transitional time for the pen business. Where once the fountain pen was king, and commanded a fairly high price, the ballpoint pen would quickly make inroads and usurp the throne by the end of the decade. Continuous quality and cost improvements drove the rise of the ballpoint. Price and clean filling (no inky fingers) would become such market drivers that fountain pen manufacturers would once again re-think filling methods and price points to meet this new dynamic. Some would a …