Sheaffer Pen tours planned
The Hawk Eye
Sheaffer Pen will open its doors to the public one last time for tours Oct. 8.
The historic pen manufacturer is scheduled to be shuttered by the end of 2006 by its parent company, Paris–based Bic Corp.
Fort Madison specialty store Pendemonium, 619 Avenue G, is helping coordinate the tours, and advance reservations must be made by calling the store at (888) 372–2050. Cost of the tours, which will include an Oct. 7 reception at Pendemonium and receptions Oct. 8 at Lost Duck Brewing Co. and Ivy Bake Shoppe, will be $20.
Tours, expected to last about an hour, are scheduled to start at 7:30 and last throughout the day Friday.
An expert in Sheaffer pen repairs will be on hand Oct. 8 and 9 at Pendemonium to mend broken writing instruments.
For a complete schedule, visit www.pendemonium.com/sheaffer_tour.htm on the Internet.
Sheaffer's history dates to 1908, when Walter A. Sheaffer patented the first self–filling fountain pen. Bic purchased the plant in 1997 and announced plans earlier this year to close the facility.
It remains unknown if the Sheaffer brand will be manufactured at another Bic facility, discontinued or sold to outside investors. There are 120 workers at the Fort Madison plant.
Company spokeswoman Jill Klimack said Wednesday that, to date, no layoffs have taken place and Bic has yet to finalize closure plans.