Pens In Mad Men

[Ernst Bitterman]

The promised ink-bottle picture, for comparison's sake:

http://ravensmarch.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/quinkoldbx.jpg

 

I should think it's not later than mid-'50s from the way the cap screws on, but I wouldn't swear to it. It is, I find when not working from memory, not SUPER Quink, either :embarrassed_smile: Oh, human fallibility!

[wspohn]

 

That watch looks like a Gruen. Hard to find info on those guys. If that is a Gruen its a slim line or "veri thin" possibly precision (i see a seconds hand). Which would put the 420ss movement in it, so its time period would be correct (roughly the 30's - late 50's

I may be as nuts about watches as I am about Fountain Pens! :blink:

 

Me too.

 

Very fancy lugs on that watch!

 

Psst - wanna buy a 24 hour Panamerican.......

[teenytina]

It seems as we are supposed to look out for Cross products.

 

http://www.cross.com/companyinformation/event_007.aspx

 

Everything suddenly feels much less interesting.

 

You know what, this does make sense. The Cross pen I have is out of nostalgia to the one my dad had (a simple gold Cross ballpoint with a black top). Mine's an FP of course

[OcalaFlGuy]

First, I'm a Cross fanboy. Second, I enjoyed Cross's puffery on why they were chosen for the show. Third, I also can't see Sheaffer, Waterman or Parker being all hep to the idea of giving some TV show a slew of pricey vintage pens they'd likely never get back (or back in one piece).

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-ain't NO TV show gettin' one of my P-51's thank you very much

[georges zaslavsky]

very interesting thanks for shareing

[Mille]

The promised ink-bottle picture, for comparison's sake:

http://ravensmarch.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/quinkoldbx.jpg

 

I should think it's not later than mid-'50s from the way the cap screws on, but I wouldn't swear to it. It is, I find when not working from memory, not SUPER Quink, either :embarrassed_smile: Oh, human fallibility!

 

You are a star!

 

But back to the original question. Did they put an sixties bottle of Quink in the drawer?

[Ernst Bitterman]

The promised ink-bottle picture, for comparison's sake:

{that picture}

I should think it's not later than mid-'50s from the way the cap screws on, but I wouldn't swear to it. It is, I find when not working from memory, not SUPER Quink, either :embarrassed_smile: Oh, human fallibility!

 

You are a star!

 

But back to the original question. Did they put an sixties bottle of Quink in the drawer?

Nope. Parker's bottles in the 1960s, if not somewhat more like the thing I've shown, would have been a rhomboid-shaped bottle of the sort Super Quink actually did appear in. Pierced ovals, not script Ps, and a rather lighter overall colour scheme.

[subbes]

Just bumping this thread to note my pen-spotting during seasons 1 and half of season 2.

 

So far I've spotted a P51 (used by Don in a meeting), the (Cross?) FP Don leans on very heavily while adding an inscription to O'Hara's book (as noted above, and I actually groaned in pain seeing Hamm treat that nib so badly), and the clear tail of an Esterbrook desk pen jutting into frame.

 

I also saw a stand-up ad/impulse buy stand of Eversharps on the counter of the diner in Season 1, which may have been an anachronism as Eversharp was bought by Parker in '57.

 

I've also seen a ton of Jotters & the ilk, plus the desk sets in the offices of the execs which I've not seen in use yet.

[Mille]

Just bumping this thread to note my pen-spotting during seasons 1 and half of season 2.

 

So far I've spotted a P51 (used by Don in a meeting), the (Cross?) FP Don leans on very heavily while adding an inscription to O'Hara's book (as noted above, and I actually groaned in pain seeing Hamm treat that nib so badly), and the clear tail of an Esterbrook desk pen jutting into frame.

 

I also saw a stand-up ad/impulse buy stand of Eversharps on the counter of the diner in Season 1, which may have been an anachronism as Eversharp was bought by Parker in '57.

 

I've also seen a ton of Jotters & the ilk, plus the desk sets in the offices of the execs which I've not seen in use yet.

 

Pete Campbell has used his desk set at least twice.

[esaitchkay]

Mad Men is a brilliant show!I've always wondered about the watches (the hamilton electrics etc etc.) and cars that seem to make the show have such an authentic feel, but never came to think about the FP's until now. good post OP! will definitely keep an eye out for what FP's they use too now!

[subbes]

Pete Campbell has used his desk set at least twice.

 

I saw Pete use his gold desk set in S4, but I came to the conclusion that it was a ballpoint pen set.

 

Between seasons 3 and 4 (for obvious reasons) a lot of the desk appointments changed and I haven't spotted ANY Esterbrook desk sets in Season 4 or the first few episodes of season 5.

[inky7712]

What's a Mad Mens?

[CDKeth]

Surely it would not have taken the production team a great deal of effort to source sufficient 'vintage' pens in New York City?

 

I work as a camera assistant on TV shows and films. It's not that it would have been too much trouble, it's that the cost would have outweighed the benefit of fancy 100% accurate pens. Sorry to be the one to say it, but nobody who watches Mad Men cares if the pens are proper for the people and period. It's television, not a documentary. Details like that have to be "good enough" so more budget can be allocated to things that matter more such as the very expensive wardrobe, the sets and dressing, and the cost of paying a crew for 60 or 70 hours a week to shoot the show.

Edited August 1, 2012 by CDKeth