Eversharp1942 "Gold Award" Full Size Skyline Fountain Pen
This is a very special edition of the Skyline model fountain pen. Unlike the standard models that used plastic for barrels and caps, Some upmarket models were offered with gold filled caps. Early on after Skylines introduction in 1941, the U.S. responded to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and thus began the U.S. entry into the World War 2. Materials needed for the war effort were restricted for domestic use. Brass and Celluloid were affected. Brass was used for shell casings and nitro cellulose, the main component of celluloid was needed for the production of gunpowder.
Perhaps surprisingly, both silver and gold resources were available for domestic use.
Celluloid was replaced with injected molded poly styrene plastic and brass normally used for pen caps was replaced by silver.
Most Skyline pen models used either plastic for cap and barrels of used sterling silver in place of brass for pen caps.
Because silver is prone to tarnishing quickly it was deemed appropriate to use a thick layer of 14K over the silver base material. Gold filling differs profoundly from gold electroplate as it is a much thicker coating usually expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the material used. Eversharp's gold filling was expressed as 1/10% 14K Gold Filled.
In 1942 silver cost less than 5 cents an ounce! and gold was federally regulated and capped at $35./oz.
The Skyline "Gold Award" was produced in 1942 as the luxury model of the line. Eversharp was already making gold filled caps so the addition of a gold filled sterling barrel as a replacement for plastic was a logical way to appeal to the higher income buyer. It is a very impressive pen and was especially so in it's day. It was perhaps the equivalent of the Rolex watch of fountain pens!
The "Gold Award" feels more substantial than the standard models because it is! It weighs about 30 grams compared to a standard model with a gold filled cap at about 20 grams. Plastic cap models weigh even less.
The over the top cap allowed the Skyline to sit low in a breast pocket thus conforming to military uniform regulations.
The Skyline was the best selling fountain fountain pen of the W.W.2 years. It even out sold the very successful Parker "51". The "Gold Award" was a luxury pen and as such carried a federal excise tax above its substantial cost.
It's no surprise that today, the Skyline "Gold Award" is quite a rare find. One in pristine condition, as this one is, is particularly so. It was also available in a mechanical pencil of similar construction.
I've attached as many photos as eBay allows but if you need to see greater detail of some aspect I have missed,
please feel encouraged to ask for this or any question you may have. I do my best to respond quickly.
The are photos of this "Gold Award" along side a standard size gold cap model and with a demi size Skyline with is slightly smaller than the standard size. A couple of photos show the length of the pen and include the length of PVC tube which will be use in the package to safe secure your new pen in shipping. Oh, shipping in the U.S. is free.
The Eversharp Skyline was created from the mind of famous industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss who patterned the Skyline pen after his equally famous 20th Century Limited steam locomotive. This locomotive was used by the New York Central Railroad for luxury non-stop service between New York and Chicago. The last photo depicts that 20th Century Locomotive. The are two photos of this pen along side the photos of this model from the authoritative
"Fountain Pens of the World" by Andreas Lambrou
The actual restoration of this pen was done by Main Street Pens. I felt it deserved professional service!
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