C. 1925 Sheaffer´s Catalog

[Lazard 20]

I make this catalog available for those who enjoy these things.

 

click here for download: Sheaffer´S Catalog

 

http://s4.postimg.org/dcycm71rh/image.jpg

http://s28.postimg.org/63r77ga59/image.jpg

[PenHero]

Very nice! Thanks! Where did you get such a clean copy?

[gregamckinney]

Tremendous generosity and as Jim mentioned super, super quality. Thank you very much Lazard 20!

[Tweel]

I love the strange "code" names for their pen models! I wonder what internal office mechanics at Sheaffer led to their adoption. The use of dictation machines to transmit orders, and a subsequent need for audio clarity..?

[kirchh]

I love the strange "code" names for their pen models! I wonder what internal office mechanics at Sheaffer led to their adoption. The use of dictation machines to transmit orders, and a subsequent need for audio clarity..?

 

These are telegraphic codes, which were crafted to comply with international regulations for such codes. At one time, these codes had to be actual words, but that regulation was revised (in 1903, I believe) to allow codes that were pronounceable, even if they were not real words; that's what you're seeing in the catalog. The pronounceability requirement was also later dropped. Five-letter telegraphic code "words" were standard for a time.

 

--Daniel

Edited August 24, 2015 by kirchh

[crescentfiller]

Lazard, THANKS once again for your generosity--and your friendly online presence!

 

All the best,

Daniel

[Tweel]

 

These are telegraphic codes... Five-letter telegroahic code "words" were standard for a time.

 

--Daniel

That's definitely a nice bit of evocative historical color. And what was their use (telegraphed orders?) and utility (e.g. "27BC" is shorter than "Habla")?

[kirchh]

That's definitely a nice bit of evocative historical color. And what was their use (telegraphed orders?) and utility (e.g. "27BC" is shorter than "Habla")?

 

Likely for placing orders via telegram. Telegrams were priced by the word, I believe, so sets of codes were developed in many industries and within companies for compressing messages into as few "words" as possible. In the case of Sheaffer's model designations, the telegraphic code words were not necessarily more compact than the actual model symbols, but they complied with the standards and conventions then in wide use.

 

--Daniel

[3rdlakerobert]

Wonderful example! Thank you Lazard!

[saskia_madding]

Thank you so much! I'm definitely going to make some stationery for myself with the artwork from this document.

[Keyless Works]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful catalog!

 

Thank you so much! I'm definitely going to make some stationery for myself with the artwork from this document.

 

I would love to see what you come up with.

[tmenyc]

 

Likely for placing orders via telegram. Telegrams were priced by the word, I believe, so sets of codes were developed in many industries and within companies for compressing messages into as few "words" as possible. In the case of Sheaffer's model designations, the telegraphic code words were not necessarily more compact than the actual model symbols, but they complied with the standards and conventions then in wide use.

 

--Daniel

Daniel,

I agree, and it's the same logic that got us VIN on your car -- a numerical means of describing the car's model, submodel, manufacturing plant, and order of manufacture. VIN has been intact for many years, and I believe its pre-WWII versions were originally derived from telegraphic codes.

 

Tim

[Ernst Bitterman]

That's definitely a nice bit of evocative historical color. And what was their use (telegraphed orders?) and utility (e.g. "27BC" is shorter than "Habla")?

 

 

 

Likely for placing orders via telegram. Telegrams were priced by the word, I believe, so sets of codes were developed in many industries and within companies for compressing messages into as few "words" as possible. In the case of Sheaffer's model designations, the telegraphic code words were not necessarily more compact than the actual model symbols, but they complied with the standards and conventions then in wide use.

 

--Daniel

 

I'd imagine that there was some anxiety about keeping numbers out of the telegraphic codes, too, so a buyer didn't complain "I wanted one 788BC pen, not seventy-eight 8Cs!" There's more clarity in 1 LONGR or 78 KABUJ.

[kirchh]

I'd imagine that there was some anxiety about keeping numbers out of the telegraphic codes, too, so a buyer didn't complain "I wanted one 788BC pen, not seventy-eight 8Cs!" There's more clarity in 1 LONGR or 78 KABUJ.

 

Actually, my recollection is that numbers were also encoded as pseudo-words.

 

--Daniel

[Roger W.]

Ernst;

 

A customer wouldn't be involved in the telegraphic part of the process. That would be between the dealer and Sheaffer. That the dealer got the right pen would be determined by the customer looking at it as they wouldn't likely know anything of the code - catalog or telegraphic. The catalogs are dealer catalogs and not what retail customers would see.

 

Roger W.