As a medicine for the paranoia of the last few days, I sat down to complete this series of articles, which was derived from the advertisements that appeared in the MIT student newspaper the Tech.

A technical note and a question: The MIT students have a nice setup of the archive - PDFs of each and every page and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of each page. The OCR results are garbled to a large extent, and by themselves are not really readable. They do provide, however, a collection of quasi-keywords that "tag" the PDFs and allow easy searching. For example the Google search Esterbrook pen site:www-tech.mit.edu seaches the archives for references to Esterbrook pens. For each page there is a PDF and a TXT file. They have made the PDF file to appear when a keyword exists in the corresponding TXT file. If you know who to do this (is it just HTML or more coding is involved?), I would like to hear from you.

I hope that you enjoyed this series.&nbsp; It surely was a blast for me. Half of the pleasure for making it and half for sharing it with all of you.<p> Please let me know if there are any corrections.

AntoniosZ.
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<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>1960-today</span>

<HR>

<p>
The end is near&quot;&nbsp; was the writing on the wall for fountain pens in the 60s. <br>
Despite this we get a fresh breath of air with a set of
wonderful advertisements for Esterbrook pens. <br>
They are my favorite from all ads that I posted in the series (maybe with the
Parker nail test second ).</p>
<p>
The ads are witty and sassy.&nbsp; The Ransom, the extraterrestrial&nbsp; and
the bear are enjoyable to the max.<br>
They only appear during 1960. In terms of pens that appear in these ads,we see
the <a href="http://www.esterbrook.net/101.shtml">101</a>, the
<a href="http://www.esterbrook.net/m2.shtml">M2 pens</a> <br>
and perhaps (I might be imagining) in the &quot;Ransom&quot; and the &quot;Octapus&quot; something
that looks like a J or a icicle.</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_49_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_49_Image_0001.jpg"></A>April
1960<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0002.jpg"></A>4/26/60</p>
<p>
&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0003.jpg"></A>4/12/1960
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0004.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0004.jpg"></A>4/8/60</p>
<p>
&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0005.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0005.jpg"></A>3/4/60&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_49_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_49_Image_0002.jpg"></A>
12/2/1960</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_49_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_49_Image_0003.jpg"></A>10/14/60
and 11/18/60
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_50_Image_0001.jpg">
<img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_50_Image_0001.jpg"></A>11/10/1960
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_50_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_50_Image_0002.jpg"></A>&nbsp;
11/4/60
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_50_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_50_Image_0003.jpg"></A>
11/30/60</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0001.jpg"></A>5/30/60 </p>
<p align="left">There is a passing reference made to one of the loveliest pens
(IMHO) of that period is made in an ad for mother's day gifts.<br>
The<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6415&view=findpost&p=59827">
Lady Sheaffer Skripsert line</a> comprised of a great range of enamel models
some of which cost more than the PFM of that era.<br>
I am still looking for the 14K Lady Skriptsert (if you ever see it, please let
me know).&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_51_Image_0006.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_51_Image_0006.jpg"></A>4/26/1960</p>
<p>There is only a single other ad for a Sheaffer's&nbsp; school pen during this
period.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_53_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_53_Image_0003.jpg"></A>10/3/1962</p>
<p><br>
While Sheaffer has essentially disappeared,&nbsp; Parker ads keep strong during
the 60s.&nbsp;&nbsp; The 45 at $5 is probably the most attractive to the student
clientele that read the newspaper.</p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_52_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_52_Image_0001.jpg"></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;1961&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_53_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_53_Image_0002.jpg"></A>&nbsp;1962</p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_54_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_54_Image_0001.jpg"></A>1963
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_54_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_54_Image_0002.jpg"></A>1964</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_59_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_59_Image_0002.jpg"></A></p>
<p>The free spirit of the sixties is just barely showing off in this ad below.
<br>
The motorbike is the award for a sweepstake - common practice of Parker Pen Co<br>
&nbsp;(Incidentally the motorbikes never caught up in the US but go to Europe to
see how popular they are today).</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_55_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_55_Image_0001.jpg"></A>1965</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The next two ads are interested because of a reference to the Parker 75 and
the Parker VP</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_58_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_58_Image_0002.jpg"></A>1967<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_53_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_53_Image_0001.jpg"></A>1962</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Of course a streetwise company as Parker continued to prosper because it
embraced the innovations of the era.<br>
The ads below show a Jotter and Touche (a fiber tip pen)</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_52_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_52_Image_0002.jpg"></A>1961<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_57_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_57_Image_0001.jpg"></A>1967<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_60_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_60_Image_0002.jpg"></A>1976</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_59_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_59_Image_0003.jpg"></A> </p>
<p>Similarly to earlier ads, Parker continues using popular personalities in
their promotion.<br>
Here a local sportwriter George Sullivan with a Parker 75. (Hmm from&nbsp; </p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_56_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_56_Image_0002.jpg"></A></p>
<p>A set of 3 ads shown below advertise the presence of a Parker pen doctor on
campus who gives free checkup to older parker pens.<br>
Mr. Art Roy head of the service department visited the campus at least 3 times
during 196X and 196X.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_56_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_56_Image_0001.jpg"></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;
1966</p>
<p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_57_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_57_Image_0002.jpg"></A>
1966<br>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>Who knows that Scriptos?&nbsp; I dont - but there is a single ad for them&nbsp;
in the Tech</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_53_Image_0004.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_53_Image_0004.jpg"></A>1962</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A very brief reference to some lesser&nbsp; unknown Eversharp models are made
in <br>
Eversharp Envoy (one of the late Eversharp pens, with gold fill cap and body,
often found with a flex nib) <br>
and Eversharp Pockette (a 40-50s model that stayed unsold in the Stationery
store till the 60s).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_55_Image_0002.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_55_Image_0002.jpg"></A>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_55_Image_0003.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_55_Image_0003.jpg"></A>1965</p>
<p>From 1966 to 1968 a bunch of advertisements for what FP lovers affectionately
call today the &quot;BIC stick&quot; appear in the TECH. <br>
Interesting is the fact that it is offered by the WATERMAN-BIC corporation. Yes
&quot;that&quot; Waterman, almost a year later from the development of the FPs<br>
their day of extinction is near. Or is it?</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_59_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_59_Image_0001.jpg"> </A>
1966-1968<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_59_Image_0004.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_59_Image_0004.jpg"></A>11/68</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In 1974, this Pelikan 120 ad proclaims itself as the &quot;Fountain pen that never
went out of style&quot;.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_60_Image_0001.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_60_Image_0001.jpg"></A>1974</p>
<p>In 1976 4 ads of a platignum italic FP sets makes a brief appearance. &nbsp;</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_60_Image_0005.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_60_Image_0005.jpg"></A></p>
<p>The finale of the swan songs is played in the early 80s. In 1981 we see a
brief appearance of a reference to Mont Blanc Diplomat Pen.&nbsp; Very few
similar references are also made in the later issues and the signify the
transition of the FP from a writer's tool to a jewelry item. </p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/az_Page_60_Image_0004.jpg"><img src="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/az/s_Page_60_Image_0004.jpg"></A></p>

Thanks so much for the advertisements, they bring back some memories. I was just entering adolesence during the earlier years but was always interested in pens. I remember my friend and I playing around with the Esterbrooks, sheaffer school pen and the Scripto as well as several ballpoints. Throughout my four college years however, I used a trusty Parker T-Ball Jotter(as pictured) to take class notes. That pen is still going.

For a short time in the late '60's I handled "national" advertising for our university newspaper, and I don't remember any writing instruments being advertised. Most people were already using Bics.

Antonios,

Thanks again for pulling this together. They must have had a talented cartoonist on the Esterbrook advertising staff, looks like drawings from the same person. The ads are full of personality, and certainly not the "utilitarian" motif I would have expected. I wonder if anyone has anymore information on Art Roy, the Parker tech featured in one of the ads? Might have to do some looking around myself....

I have now corrected the format that got screwed up when the software upgrade of the board occured in the spring.
This applies to all the posts of this series.

Apparently the Parker 45 tries to make "ugly look beautiful", but it doesn't really succeed. ;~)

George Kovalenko.

C'mon George. The 45 Flighter is one of my favorite pens. Beautiful lines. Even prettier than the Esterbrooks I have...

Gerry

Thank you for posting these. I must admit, the prices brought a smile to my face.
Ed