Wahl-Eversharp
Pens and Ephemera

History forever remembers the winners, but sometimes the losers have the more compelling story. That seems to be the case for the Eversharp Skyline and the Eversharp CA. The Skyline was Wahl-Eversharp's best-selling pen of all time. In an effort to be the first to bring ballpoint pens to market in the U.S., Eversharp CA pens looked just like the Skyline but featured the new and exciting technology of a ballpoint. "CA" represented the "Capillary Action" of the new ballpoint system. Unfortunately, Eversharp nearly went broke obtaining the rights to the first ballpoint refill and to get it to market in a mostly untested state. Once released, most of the pens failed to work as promised and Wahl-Eversharp lost their shirts on the lifetime warranty. This set is in good condition, though it has a little wear. The CA still has an original, nonfunctional, refill. The pencil still works well. A great curio for vintage pen collectors.

Among the epic failures of the golden era of vintage pen is the story of the Eversharp Symphony. Designed to replace the wildly popular Eversharp Skyline, this Eversharp Symphony is a handsome pen. We love the dark-blue barrel paired with the chrome and gold-plated cap. Unfortunately for Wahl-Eversharp, its Symphony never quite caught on with the writing public. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. The barrel has some moderate wear but no cracks or nasty scars. No dents mar the cap. You will write a really wet medim--some might call it broad. It has some feedback but not hideous. 14.1cm capped.

Bullet-shaped Eversharp Skyline pens were the darling of many writers of the 1940s. They looked like they were going 100 mph when just sitting on your desk. This burgundy model is a standard size that was well loved. It has a little brassing on the clip and lever, plus wear marks on the cap and barrel. No cracks. No deep scratches. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sack and breather tube. Click the headline for close-ups. You will write a very smooth line for an extra-fine 14k gold nib. 13.1cm capped.

SOLID 14k GOLD! That is what an Eversharp Skyline Command Performance pen is made of. Not plating or fill. It is an all gold cap and barrel. We restored this incredible vintage pen with a new ink sac. The cap and barrel have a couple of very small impressions and the lip of the cap rubs against the barrel. Otherwise, there are minimal traces of damage. You will see a rather prominent series of engravings starting with the signature of James E. Gleason and a 75th birthday message. We looked him up, and Mr. Gleason was a mechanical engineer born in 1868 who invented a series of gear-cutting machines that were ultimately heavily used in manufacturing parts for cars and airplanes. Gleason would remain chairman of the board of his company until his passing at the age 95. Set includes the box and working 1.1mm pencil, also made of solid 14k gold. The pen's gold nib writes a smooth, fine line.

We love giving vintage pens a second chance. This Wahl-Eversharp Gregg has a little bit of a banana bow in it from having once been left in the sun. Nevertheless, we restored it with a new ink sac. Its insides are a bit rusty and it shows plenty of wear. It ain't gonna win any best-in-show awards, but it remains a good daily driver. The thing we find especially fascinating about this pen is its enamel "Gregg" emblem for the top cap jewel and a somewhat rarish 14k gold nib that reads "Gregg" instead of Wahl or Eversharp. To the casual observer, it is easily mistaken for a Wahl-Eversharp Symphony. Click the headline for a close-up. It writes a smooth medium line when you find it sweet spot. It gets a little scratchy outside of its sweet spot. 13.3cm capped.

Coral is one of the most sought-after colors in the world of vintage pens. We restored this junior-sized Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal pen in coral with a new ink sac. The coral is a little discolored, which you can see in contrast to its matching pencil. The pen has a 14k gold "Signature" nib that unscrews and is marked as a medium. You will write a nice medium line that is both smooth and has a touch of feedback. No chips or cracks. Light brassing on the cap bands and lever. The pencil has some light brassing but is otherwise stunning. We think it works and will update after tracking down our 1.1mm lead. Pen measures 12.1cm capped.

What makes the Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal fountain pen is it screw-in "Signature" nib system, which allowed customers to be certain they got the nib that was best for them. This lastest vintage pen, also known as a Decoband, comes with a 14k gold nib with an F marked on the inkfeed--indicating a fine point. However, when we dipped it, we found that with a little feedback it could write from an extra fine to just short of a millimeter. Fully restored with a new ink sac, this classic pen is ready for action. You can see some discoloration in the original black and pearl design. No cracks but some wear from use. Its matching pencil is in the same condition, working with a 1.1mm lead that is red! Pen measures 13.7cm capped.

Perfection in vintage pens is such an elusive target. This Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal gets awfully close. Its "Brazilian Green" or "Bronze Green" finish is stunning without much, if any, discoloration. There is no brassing on the oversized fountain pen except for a tiny sliver on the edge of the lever. Fully restored, both the vintage pen and pencil work well. Under a bright light you can see some shallow scratches on the caps and barrels. You also can see some marks where the pen's cap rubs against the barrel when it closes. Very minor wear, but it didn't just roll off the assembly line. You will write a smooth extra-fine (or fine, depending on how you define extra-fine) line with its 14k gold nib that screws in and out of the pen. You will notice it is not a "Signature" nib, but it was likely a replacement nib the store that sold it used to customize the nib for the original owner. The pencil takes 1.1mm leads. Its biggest flaw is brassing on the nose cone. Pen measures 13.4cm capped.