Sesk Sets

[macquid]

In the case of the traditionally "big four" US brands it seems like one most often comes across Sheaffer desk sets, and after that Parker desk sets appear most often, followed by Wahl/Eversharp ones. Finally, Waterman desk sets seem to be the least prevalent...

 

This obviously is an indication of the relative number of desk sets that these companies sold over the years. Any ideas regarding why Sheaffer would have sold more desk sets than Parker, Parker more than Wahl/Eversharp, and why Waterman apparently sold so relatively few desk sets?

[jar]

I would imagine that Esterbrook was likely the largest supplier since they had many government and corporate accounts.

 

Also, during the period of the Desk Set, it looks like your order pretty much matches relative market share for pens anyway.

[sotto2]

Sorry, I just had to check in here to see if a "Sesk Set" was what I thought it was. It was. Thanks.

[macquid]

I would imagine that Esterbrook was likely the largest supplier since they had many government and corporate accounts.

 

Also, during the period of the Desk Set, it looks like your order pretty much matches relative market share for pens anyway.

 

Thanks Jar... Over the past +/- six months, considering only fountain pen desk sets, desk bases, desk pens or desk set/pen parts, the period from about 1925 through 1955 and using eBay offers as a barometer, I'm seeing relative proportions between these four brands of approx. 60% Sheaffer, 30% Parker, 10% Wahl/Eversharp and only a negligible proportion of Watermans. Does this tie into their average overall market shares for the period?

Edited July 9, 2010 by macquid

[Roger W.]

Sheaffer was the leader in desk bases. The guys that held the patents on desk bases were Sheaffer, Parker and Wahl. To stop patents fights amongst themselves and to control the market those three created the Pen Desk Set Company in late 1928 (incorparated January 21, 1929). This corporation was dissolved in 1950 as desk bases were no longer important. The golden age of desk bases is from inception 1925 until the US entered the war in 1941. During that period Sheaffer had 706 different desk bases which I have documented and several more that are not documented so the number could approach 1,000. Parker seems to have appraoched the desk base market from a high end view as they have larger and more elaborate bases than Sheaffer ever produced. Wahl was concentrating on pocket pens just to keep up with Sheaffer ad Parker and by the end of the desk base era were in decline as a corporation so their effort in desk bases was marginalized earlier than the rest. There were lots of other makers but Sheaffer made sure they dominated the low and middle range so other offerings are limited at best.

 

Roger W.

[macquid]

Sheaffer was the leader in desk bases. The guys that held the patents on desk bases were Sheaffer, Parker and Wahl. To stop patents fights amongst themselves and to control the market those three created the Pen Desk Set Company in late 1928 (incorparated January 21, 1929). This corporation was dissolved in 1950 as desk bases were no longer important. The golden age of desk bases is from inception 1925 until the US entered the war in 1941. During that period Sheaffer had 706 different desk bases which I have documented and several more that are not documented so the number could approach 1,000. Parker seems to have appraoched the desk base market from a high end view as they have larger and more elaborate bases than Sheaffer ever produced. Wahl was concentrating on pocket pens just to keep up with Sheaffer ad Parker and by the end of the desk base era were in decline as a corporation so their effort in desk bases was marginalized earlier than the rest. There were lots of other makers but Sheaffer made sure they dominated the low and middle range so other offerings are limited at best.

 

Roger W.

 

Thanks Roger, VERY INTERESTING!