PenHero Articles

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 …

Conklin saw itself as the innovator and catalyst for the move from eyedropper pens to self-filling pens because of Roy Conklin’s crescent filling system, based on his 1901 and 1903 patents. It was so simple to use. Press the raised crescent on the barrel to squeeze the ink sac inside, filling the pen. It became the first successful mass-produced self-filling pen and was in continuous production until the late 1920s. In that same timespan, the rest of the pen industry caught up and moved p …

My pursuit of more nice examples of Arnold ‘A’ clip fountain pens turned up this eye-catching celluloid on a slender pen with two cap bands. It’s all black with cream and blue streaks in a loose spiral pattern around the cap and barrel. Like meteors streaking across a dark night sky. The effect is as if cream and blue color was dripped on a spinning black background. It's not a color I've seen on any other pen brand. But it does appear on at least one other Arnold type. Read t …

There is a phenomenon where an interesting pen, pencil, or brand seemingly starts to appear more frequently and in unexpected places. It happens at pen shows, in antique stores, and browsing eBay or internet pen dealers. Without realizing it at first, there is a pen that had been on the mind! Recently this has been happening with Pilot Short telescoping fountain pens. More seem to turn up lately. In this case it wasn't just the pen, but the matching pencil, in the box! Read the story about this …