Thursday, March 12, 2009

Wahl Eversharp and The Empire

In the early and mid 1900’s Wahl Eversharp were one of the big US writing instrument manufacturers. Back in those days international commerce was very restricted, and so to tap into overseas markets many US companies set up subsidiary factories in the UK, Europe, etc.
To facilitate sales within the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories of the Empire, Wahl Eversharp had factories in the UK and Canada. Here’s a very nice and shiny gold filled old pencil from Wahl Eversharp Canada.Like many Eversharps of this time, the body and top of the pencil are reminiscent of Greek and Roman columns. In this case a plain unadorned body and a capital that looks somewhat Ionic inspired, but hey, I’m no architect.Engraved around the top of the body is “Wahl Eversharp”, “Gold Filled” and “Made In Canada”. I note that no patent is claimed.

As usual the pocket clip looks rather pathetic and annoyingly spatulate. To my eyes these sort of pocket clips detract from the pencil, but I guess they saw things differently back in those days.
The mechanism is a screw mechanism, taking 1.18mm leads. It’s propel only, meaning it’s a one way trip for the graphite - once advanced, the lead cannot be retracted back into the tip. As usual the very end of the tip is base metal rather than gold filled.
A plain but very beautiful old pencil. Just a pity about that damn pocket clip.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful commentary, just tell it like it is Dave, - "annoyingly spatulate" - brilliant. Give me the Graphgear1000 any day.

2 1/2P

Glen Mullaly said...

I agree about the pocket clips, always the most annoying design feature.

From the above-featured Victoria, B.C....

Glen

jgodsey said...

is it wrong that i find that soooo sexy?

Kiwi-d said...

Possibly, but it is a mighty fine lookin' thing.

Anonymous said...

YAHOO!
I have two of these and have had no end of trouble finding leads for them.

Now I know the proper size!

Thank you!

Tom
http://techlawguy.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I have a wahl eversharp gold filled pencil and the box and the ribbon to put around your neck in good condition

Paul said...

Hi, Do these pencils have any other mechanism, or do you just line up the long thin plunger with the lead, hope it all stays in place and twist away?? (ie no holder, like on a yard-o-led?

Kiwi-d said...

Paul - see Wahl Eversharp here
http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com/2006/08/refilling-mechanical-pencils.html

Anonymous said...

thankyou this is the firs correct answer i got about the size