Eversharp I (Deja-vue?)

[antoniosz]

Over the last couple of years I have become obsessed with the transition from Evershapr to Parker and the Evershapr pens of the 50s. During my search I found this very strange Eversharp pen. It was in a lot of pens from U.K. It is 4.5" (114mm) closed and 5" (127mm) posted, with a 0.35" (9mm) dia. A small thin pen.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB4.jpg

The weird thing about this pen is the filling system. When the blind cap is removed, a plastic button is exposed. When the barrel is removed, a plastic sac is revealed which is shellacked to the button on one end and to the section on the other. A breather tube is shown here throught the transparent sac. The pen fills as a button filler. Short pressings of the button create vacuum for the ink to be sucked in through the breather tube. The stiffness (or lack of it) of the sac provides some resistance to the button.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB2.jpg

The pen is very reminiscent of the (vintage 30s) Wahl Bantam (see here fore details of this nice little pen). The advantage of this pen is that the trnasparent plastic button allows to check the level of ink. Of course some Bantams were doing the same think with striped transparent barrels.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB5.jpg

The "greek" E is inscribed on the section and the imprint on the body hint that this is a 50s pen (also the plastic).

Any information about this model would be very much appreciated.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB6_small.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB7.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/EverSharp-LB8_small.jpg

Edited December 3, 2006 by antoniosz

[JeffTL]

Sounds like the filler is a sort of large-sac-as-diaphragm crude form of a Vacumatic.

 

As for the nib, it looks like a predecessor to the Point *7 and the Big E, but with more nib sticking out; nonetheless it reminds me of the 45-series semi-hooded Parkers (45, 88/Rialto, Arrow, Vector, Reflex).

[antoniosz]

As for the nib, it looks like a predecessor to the Point *7 and the Big E, but with more nib sticking out; nonetheless it reminds me of the 45-series semi-hooded Parkers

 

Right on (I think )! Actually the lot it came with included some Eversharp pens other than the *7 and the Big E but very similar to them (including 2 14K flex nib). All these pens were from the 50s. It was the time that Evershapr was collapsing under the competition of the BP.

 

I have been interested in the details of this story because I find so many similarities with other industries. The "theme" is market pressure make companies cut cost, which in turn reduces the product quality and has an autocatalytic effect on failure. So if anyone has more info or any pointers as to where to look for more info, I would appreciate it.

[Richard]

The filler appears to be an accordion filler that has been resacked. The accordion filler has a hollow button fastened to a sac that's shaped like a tubular bellows, similar to the bellows on a concertina:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/fillers/accordion.gif

 

Pressing the button draws in a partial fill on each press, similar to a Vacumatic or a bulb filler. You can't get proper accordion sacs anymore but ordinary sacs will work, albeit not as elegantly as the originals. That's what I think has happened to this pen.

 

The overall shape of the pen, especially the nib, says to me, "Slim Ventura."

[antoniosz]

Interesting points. For whatever it is worth, the pen was found "unused" with no signs of ink and a straight rubber sac that had hardened in place. I put the transparent sac to show the breather tube. The accordion would be mostly appropriate. Actually, I just received a photo from Sam Fiorella of a Gold Starry with similar plastic (eventhough it is a different color) and the same mechanism and transparent button. That pen was an accordion filler (made in France), which lends further credibility to Richard's point..

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/goldstarry_fp_copper.jpg

 

As for the similarities with Slim Ventura, yes the nib looks indeed similar, but the pen is much "slimmer than the Slim" (shorter, thinner and smaller nib). But the visual similarities are evident.

Edited December 3, 2006 by antoniosz

[Wahlnut]

What has been written about the nib, I am in agreement with. Here is a photo of the very pen which I also have in my collection with the original accordian sac that Richard Binder mentioned.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/IMG_0610.jpg

 

This pen came to me from France. If I had to date it I would hazard a rough irresponsible guess at 1959-60 maybe a little ahead of the BIG e.

[DWL]

Thanks for sharing that info guys. I've never seen one of those models before.

 

I'm really going to dig this forum, let the information flood begin!

 

Dennis

[Oxonian]

Hi Antoniosz et al,

 

The bellows type filler was very common in France as you all no doubt know, it was used by just about everyone at some stage or another between 1930's and 60's. I have had several Soma, Stylomine and lower end Bayard pens that used it. There is a gentleman in the North of England who can do bellows sacs by the way I need to find his information if anyone is interested, he has just done a pre-war Stylomine for an FPN member.

 

One of the Eversharp's that I have has a barrel and cap that looks just like blue iridescent pen that Wahlnut has posted but it is a cartridge pen and the clip shows an Eversharp E in a diamond at the shoulder of the clip, it dates from sometime in the 60's as I bought it on a school trip to Lyons in 68 at the same time as several other pens but they were on a reduced price sale so they may be a little earlier.

 

I am not sure if this has contributed anything or just confused things even more but I hope some of it helps someone.

 

Cheers John

[antoniosz]

Thanks John.

 

By the way, I found the name of the model.

It is called Mauric by Eversharp, and as it was mentioned above there is both a cartridge and an accordeon sac model. I will post mode photos when the pen comes home.

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/mauric.jpghttp://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/mauric-2.jpg

[antoniosz]

OK, some continuation of this old tread.

First a photo of all similar pens that I have accumulated since last posting.

The pen on the right is that one that started all - the one I refered to in my previous posts.....

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-002.jpg

 

From the right to left - the next set is an FP/BP set . The pen is inscribed Mauric.

The mechanism is as I guessed earlier on with a spring that keeps the top transparent push button. Very efficient with the venting tube, and a tiny bit of flex

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-003.jpg

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-004.jpghttp://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-005.jpg

 

The next set in green marble is an FP/BP set. The pen is inscribed Mauric, and the nib is marked Eversharp. The pen is a cartridge filler (chalk marks: Cartouche - Plume d' or).

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-006.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-007.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-008.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-010.jpg

 

 

Finally the last one is the one sent to me by John (thanks) and has an unusual E (Eversharp?) on the clip. John said he bought it circa 1968.

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-011.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/azavalia/wierd-eversharps-012.jpg

 

So there you go. If you have any more info about these please let me know.

[vacuumkid3]

Well, IT can't play MUSIC, can it?? Just look to the left...that is a real accordion! I think it would just be great if I could get my hands on one of those accordion fillers! It would complete...well...let me give you an example. I collect vacuums. I have a Vacumatic and a Vac-Fil. So, there you have it! That is what I am referring to. I still have yet to design a VACUUM CLEANER-Fil. Just you wait to see what THAT looks like!

 

~~K~~

[twopens]

Antonios, there are two of these currently on ebay:

 

http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2918-eversharp-accordian-filler/