mg357
Absent Comrade
Dear Smith and Wesson i have a rather odd World War 2 question what kind of writing pens would have been available to American service members during the war?
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world war 2 writing instruments
- Thread starter mg357
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Mostly those pen - cils
jlrhiner
US Veteran
Fountain pens were most surely available, and it would be practicle to say ball point pens were available also. How common they were, I can't say.
goldenlight
Member
The ball point pen was NOT available to US service personnel.
The earliest real 'working' ball point pens went on sale in the USA in Oct of 1945 for the then princely sum of $12.50
I'm sure that's well over $100 in today's money.
And the design was stolen from Argentina, and sold in the USA, in violation of the existing patent.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Gen. MacArthur's big red Parker pen was used to sign the Jap surrender documents in Tokyo Bay, if memory serves. Parker had an ad about it a few years ago.
Besides Parker (with various models), Sheaffer was probably popular, and Waterman. My father had a Sheaffer fountain pen when I was a kid, and may have carried it in the war. Mont Blanc was also making pens, but mostly not for US GI's.
The first I recall about ball points becoming popular was in the 1950's, when Art Linklater (sp?) was advertising Paper Mate pens on his TV show. I think it was called, "People Are Funny", one of the first shows that I recall.
As late as 1960 or so, kids here were trained in school to use fountain pens.
I own some modern fountain pens and a couple of Parker 75's that date from the 1960's. But I seldom use them. They're just too messy to clean, and when the nibs wear down, are very hard to replace, as the pens have been out of production for years. The Parkers that I used in elementary school (7th grade) were either Model 51 or 61.
The WW II GI used pencils or whatever fountain pen he could afford. That'd also be so for our allies and their European enemies. The Japanese may have used some special brushes or calligraphy pens.
This is a good question. I hope that someone can shed more light on the matter, without posting copyrighted pics. If I understood the new standards on the board, a link to a suitable photo is still okay.
Look for ads about pens in old issues of, "Life", "National Geographic", etc. Libraries often have them. Parker may have the MacArthur pen on their site. They've featured it in the past. I think it was called a Big Red. Something like that...
T-Star
Besides Parker (with various models), Sheaffer was probably popular, and Waterman. My father had a Sheaffer fountain pen when I was a kid, and may have carried it in the war. Mont Blanc was also making pens, but mostly not for US GI's.
The first I recall about ball points becoming popular was in the 1950's, when Art Linklater (sp?) was advertising Paper Mate pens on his TV show. I think it was called, "People Are Funny", one of the first shows that I recall.
As late as 1960 or so, kids here were trained in school to use fountain pens.
I own some modern fountain pens and a couple of Parker 75's that date from the 1960's. But I seldom use them. They're just too messy to clean, and when the nibs wear down, are very hard to replace, as the pens have been out of production for years. The Parkers that I used in elementary school (7th grade) were either Model 51 or 61.
The WW II GI used pencils or whatever fountain pen he could afford. That'd also be so for our allies and their European enemies. The Japanese may have used some special brushes or calligraphy pens.
This is a good question. I hope that someone can shed more light on the matter, without posting copyrighted pics. If I understood the new standards on the board, a link to a suitable photo is still okay.
Look for ads about pens in old issues of, "Life", "National Geographic", etc. Libraries often have them. Parker may have the MacArthur pen on their site. They've featured it in the past. I think it was called a Big Red. Something like that...
T-Star
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Texas Star
US Veteran
http://www.emsresponder.com/article/photos/1241768272793_MacArthur (B+W) Signing 300.jpg
Here is a photo of Gen. of the Army Douglas MacArthur signing the Jap surrender documents before the Japanese delegation approached to sign, as well as various Allied generals and admirals.
This is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, an official US military photo, and is believed to be in the public domain. However, I am posting only a link to see it.
Alas, I cannot find a closeup of his pen. It may have been a Duofold, certainly a large red Parker fountain pen.
There are probably some pen collectors here who can be more specific.
Good luck with your query.
T-Star
Here is a photo of Gen. of the Army Douglas MacArthur signing the Jap surrender documents before the Japanese delegation approached to sign, as well as various Allied generals and admirals.
This is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, an official US military photo, and is believed to be in the public domain. However, I am posting only a link to see it.
Alas, I cannot find a closeup of his pen. It may have been a Duofold, certainly a large red Parker fountain pen.
There are probably some pen collectors here who can be more specific.
Good luck with your query.
T-Star
Faulkner
Member
My grandmother, who was a farmers wife in that era, was very well educated and an avid writer of newspaper articles, church news, and was a very faithful sender of letters and cards. When she died in the early '90's she left a trunk full of her writings, journals, and other documents. Everything she wrote was in pencil. I can remember getting a birthday card from her when I was a pre-teen and I asked her why she wrote in pencil and she said it was because back in the day it was hard to get access to ink pens, and if they could they couldn't hardly afford them. So she always wrote with a #2 pencil, kept it sharp, and even when pens became affordable she still preferred lead pensils.
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Texas Star
US Veteran
File
arker-Big-Red-Duofold.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Found it on Wikipedia. Parker's Big Red Duofold. (See my prior posts in this topic.)
The design dates from the 1920's and it must have been a good pen to stay in production for years. It is a big pen, about seven inches with the cap in place and ready to write.
I don't know when MacArthur got his, or whether he had more than one.
The photographer states that ths is his own photo and that he specifically releases the rights to it, and that the photo is in the public domain.
T-Star
arker-Big-Red-Duofold.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFound it on Wikipedia. Parker's Big Red Duofold. (See my prior posts in this topic.)
The design dates from the 1920's and it must have been a good pen to stay in production for years. It is a big pen, about seven inches with the cap in place and ready to write.
I don't know when MacArthur got his, or whether he had more than one.
The photographer states that ths is his own photo and that he specifically releases the rights to it, and that the photo is in the public domain.
T-Star
deadin
US Veteran
It is my understanding that the "ball point" pen was developed during WW2 for use in high altitude bombers. It seems that regular fountain pens didn't take the pressure changes well. Whether or not they were actually issued during the war, I don't know.
Walter Rego
Member
I have a lot of photos that my dad took while stationed with the 15th AAF in Italy, and the writing on the backs of them was clearly done with a fountain pen.
I was just a kid during WWII, and I have to say with certainty that the only writing implements I saw during that period were dip-em ink pens, fountain pens and pencils, notwithstanding kids' crayons.
I remember well the first ball point pen I ever saw; I got one for Christmas in 1947 or 1948. It was a really messy thing that wrote with blotches every now and then. Thank gosh they've improved since then. By the middle 50s, the ballpoints had pretty well taken over the pen market, although the "prestige" pens were still the fountain pens. These allowed for more artistic expression because you could vary the width of the line you wrote with the pressure.
John
I remember well the first ball point pen I ever saw; I got one for Christmas in 1947 or 1948. It was a really messy thing that wrote with blotches every now and then. Thank gosh they've improved since then. By the middle 50s, the ballpoints had pretty well taken over the pen market, although the "prestige" pens were still the fountain pens. These allowed for more artistic expression because you could vary the width of the line you wrote with the pressure.
John
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This is what I have heard. Also that fountain pens froze in the high altitude.
I'd heard that they were developed very late in the war, and saw little or no field use.
deadin
US Veteran
I used to hate those "penmanship" classes in grade school where you had to draw the little continuous circles between the lines.
It was even worse when they gave us actual dip pens to use. I would invariably "stub" the point and it would spit little ink dots all over the page.
So I would not only get marked down for not staying between the lines, I also got hit for a messy paper.
It was even worse when they gave us actual dip pens to use. I would invariably "stub" the point and it would spit little ink dots all over the page.
So I would not only get marked down for not staying between the lines, I also got hit for a messy paper.Texas Star
US Veteran
My father's wartime photos were also labled on the back with a fountain pen. However, he was an engineer with a college degree, and may have been more interested in what he wrote with than were some.
I suspect that officers were, in general, more likely to have prestige pens, and to care about them. Cultural, educational, and financial backgrounds continue to influence what people write with. What bugs me is how few stores still stock refills for even good ball pens, like my top-of-the-line Parkers, my T-Ball Jotters, and my Cross. What I could once find at the grocer or drug store, I now have to buy at an office supply.
Cartridges or bottles of ink for my fountain pens are even harder to find. I've all but quit using them. But I refuse to walk around with a Bic or other disposable pen in my pocket!
T-Star
I suspect that officers were, in general, more likely to have prestige pens, and to care about them. Cultural, educational, and financial backgrounds continue to influence what people write with. What bugs me is how few stores still stock refills for even good ball pens, like my top-of-the-line Parkers, my T-Ball Jotters, and my Cross. What I could once find at the grocer or drug store, I now have to buy at an office supply.
Cartridges or bottles of ink for my fountain pens are even harder to find. I've all but quit using them. But I refuse to walk around with a Bic or other disposable pen in my pocket!
T-Star
jlrhiner
US Veteran
Interesting pen story;
When I was in the Navy, I had duties as Petty Officer of the Watch for the aux engineering spaces, (a/c, reefers, aircraft elevators, steering gear, windlass, etc.) I was always arriving at where I was going pen less. I would loan out those little cheapie govt jobs and never have one when I needed to sign something. My Senior Chief (ENCS) was listening to me complain one evening and told me to go out and buy a nice pen and I would never loan it out. When we hit Hong Kong, I was wondering around in a shop and saw a sterling silver set of Cross pen and pencil. (Not chrome, solid silver barrels). He was right, 40 years later I still know exactly where they are. It also started a pen fetish that continues to this day. I have about 45 fountain pens, i absolutly love the art deco styles from the 30's. I even have one that came with ink pellets that you put in the barrel, filled with water and shook with vigor until dissolved. Saved you from transporting liquid ink.
The ball point issue is that there were ball points out there during WW2. (The first patent was issued @ 1940) As to how plentiful they were, I can't say.
When I was in the Navy, I had duties as Petty Officer of the Watch for the aux engineering spaces, (a/c, reefers, aircraft elevators, steering gear, windlass, etc.) I was always arriving at where I was going pen less. I would loan out those little cheapie govt jobs and never have one when I needed to sign something. My Senior Chief (ENCS) was listening to me complain one evening and told me to go out and buy a nice pen and I would never loan it out. When we hit Hong Kong, I was wondering around in a shop and saw a sterling silver set of Cross pen and pencil. (Not chrome, solid silver barrels). He was right, 40 years later I still know exactly where they are. It also started a pen fetish that continues to this day. I have about 45 fountain pens, i absolutly love the art deco styles from the 30's. I even have one that came with ink pellets that you put in the barrel, filled with water and shook with vigor until dissolved. Saved you from transporting liquid ink.
The ball point issue is that there were ball points out there during WW2. (The first patent was issued @ 1940) As to how plentiful they were, I can't say.
Gutpile Charlie
US Veteran
As I think back to the first ball point pens I ever saw, it was in about 1947 or 1948. I can still remember the first one I ever saw. It was a "gimme" or give away advertising pen. It made an impression on me.
When I was in college, 1959 through 1963, the fountain pen was my "instrument of choice" for taking class notes. I just never warmed up to ball points. The pens I used were inked from a plastic cartridge, (a little smaller than a .357 case). The nib of the pen contained a pointed tube that punctured the cartridge when you put it in the pen.
When I was in grade school, we learned to use a fountain pen. I can remember the brand name. It was Esterbrook. It was the kind of pen that had the rubber, balloon bladder and had a lever on the side. You opened the lever, dipped the pen in the ink bottle and the let the lever down. Does that ring any bells. We each had to buy a bottle of washable blue ink, which the teacher collected and then filled our pens!
When I was in college, 1959 through 1963, the fountain pen was my "instrument of choice" for taking class notes. I just never warmed up to ball points. The pens I used were inked from a plastic cartridge, (a little smaller than a .357 case). The nib of the pen contained a pointed tube that punctured the cartridge when you put it in the pen.
When I was in grade school, we learned to use a fountain pen. I can remember the brand name. It was Esterbrook. It was the kind of pen that had the rubber, balloon bladder and had a lever on the side. You opened the lever, dipped the pen in the ink bottle and the let the lever down. Does that ring any bells. We each had to buy a bottle of washable blue ink, which the teacher collected and then filled our pens!
Jim Watson
Member
I had a number of Esterbrook fountain pens in school in the 1950s and 1960s. My Mother really liked them and had used them for years.
I don't remember ball point pens until about 1956-57.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
I've picked up several Esterbrook s over the years, mostly at garage sales. Un fortunately, almost always the bladders are rotted or they were the cartridge type (later ones) and have suffered from years of neglect. I got one for a dime. ("I don't know why anyone would want that old thing!") Sheesh, people.
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