Sheaffer Pen Corporation (United States) fountain pens

The American Sheaffer Pen Corporation specialises in manufacturing writing instruments, particularly fountain pens. The company was founded in 1912 by Walter A. Sheaffer in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Sheaffer's first pen, the Sheaffer Triumph, was introduced in 1913 and featured a new filling mechanism that allowed users to fill the pen with ink without having to dip the nib into an inkwell. The Triumph was a commercial success and established Sheaffer as a major player in the pen industry.

Over the next several decades, Sheaffer continued to innovate and expand its product line, introducing new pen designs and filling mechanisms. In the 1920s and 1930s, the company developed a series of pens with sleek, streamlined designs that were emblematic of the Art Deco style of the era. During World War II, Sheaffer supplied pens to the U.S. military and also developed a waterproof pen that could be used by more... troops in the field.

In the postwar years, Sheaffer continued to grow and expand, opening a new manufacturing plant in Fort Madison and launching a series of new pen models, including the popular Sheaffer Snorkel, which featured a retractable filling tube that prevented ink from spilling or leaking.

In the 1960s, Sheaffer introduced the Sheaffer PFM (Pen for Men), a high-end fountain pen that was designed to compete with European luxury brands such as Montblanc and Pelikan. The PFM was a commercial success and helped to solidify Sheaffer's reputation as a premier manufacturer of fine writing instruments.

In the years that followed, Sheaffer continued to introduce new pen models and designs, and the company also expanded into other areas, such as ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, and mechanical pencils. In 2014, the company was acquired by A.T. Cross, another American writing instrument manufacturer, and the Sheaffer brand continues to be sold today under the Cross corporate umbrella. less...