Sheaffer Pen: RIP

Sheaffer is not out of business, but it has been cut loose once and for all from its Iowa roots by its parent company, BIC. Earlier this month its Fort Madison factory was auctioned off, complete with equipment (auction company listing here).

Incidentally, there is a lot of incorrect information online about Sheaffer's origins. Walter A. Sheaffer was the proprietor of a successful Fort Madison jewelry store when he put his hand to inventing. His first pen patent was granted in 1908 for a lever-filling mechanism (which in hindsight likely should not have been granted, not being sufficiently novel). He only went into the penmaking business in 1912, however. The new enterprise was a huge success, and soon became one of Fort Madison's largest businesses. Some specialized articles on early Sheaffer history are available at the Vintage Pens archive.

ADDENDUM: Looking at the Sheaffer website, I see that they have stolen one of my copyrighted pen images for their history page! Time for a polite but firm note.

Posted by David on February 19, 2007 10:05 AM