Who Made Private Labeled Pens For Jewelers, Etc.?

[BamaPen]

I have a vintage, about 1922, BCHR ringtop pen imprinted REUTHER on the barrel.  It was made for the W.F.Reuther Jewelry Company of Decatur, Alabama.  

 

I understand that it was fairly common for jewelry stores and perhaps stationary stores to have pens imprinted with their name for resale in the store.

 

My Reuther pen is a very standard BCHR ringtop lever filler with a Warranted 14K 3 nib.

 

I am wondering what manufacturer may have specialized in providing privately labeled fountain pens in the 1922 era.

 

Here's a picture of the Reuther:

 

[kirchh]

At first glance, it looks quite a bit like a Craig (Sheaffer sub-brand).

 

--Daniel

[BamaPen]

At first glance, it looks quite a bit like a Craig (Sheaffer sub-brand).

 

--Daniel

Daniel,

You really nailed this one! I looked at a picture of a Craig ringtop and other than the nib and feed, which are Sheaffer items, the two seem essentially identical - same chasing pattern, same indicta area, same long thin lever, same shape of the section lip, same combination of gold ringtop and silver colored lever, same capped length.

 

I'm surprised that Sheaffer would have made private label pens in this era.

 

The Craig pictures and info are on the Peyton Street Pens web site, so I won't reproduce their pictures here. Here's a link to that page of their site:

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/craig-sheaffer-fountain-pen-ringtop-bhr-fine-feather-touch-nib-superior-restored.html

 

John

[kirchh]

The Craig and your pen are more alike than you realize -- the nib on Teri's pen is a much later replacement. The original nib would be a WARRANTED-marked item.

 

It seems reasonable that Sheaffer would have done some private-label business with their secondary line; it wouldn't cannibalize sales, and it would open up another avenue.

 

I might have some other Sheaffer-made private-label pens based on Craigs; if I get a chance, I'll do some hunting around.

 

--Daniel

[BamaPen]

snip...

the nib on Teri's pen is a much later replacement. The original nib would be a WARRANTED-marked item.

...snip

 

 

--Daniel

I did notice that the Craig nib was a Sheaffer Feather Touch 5 which did not appear until around the mid 1930s. What do you think about the feed? I don't know much about early Sheaffer feeds.

John