Cross Pens and Pencils

Here we have a nice collection of Cross pens and Pencils. On the left we have your standard cross ball point pens and pencils. Most of these were bought at the PX (Post Exchange) while I was in the Military. The PX always kept cross pens in stock. On the right we have three Townsend ball points and a Translucent Cross Solo Ball point followed by four pens that each have different refills like a highlighter or a felt tip. Some of these are over 30 years old. Sadly I do not use these much anymore. In their time I got plenty of good use out of them. Cross pens should be in your collection.

Beer and Soda Cans

Anybody collect beer and soda cans? Here are a few of mine. Back to pens and pencils.

WHAM-O Flexils

The WHAM-O Company started in 1948 and brought us the Slip 'N Slid, Frisbee, Hula Hoop and the Super Ball but they also gave us the little known WHAM-O Flexil Pencil. This one pictured is about 45 years old. You did not need a pencil case for this one. Just wrap it around you arm or as a kid you could wear it as a belt. Almost 2 feet of flexible pencil. You could use a regular pencil sharpener to keep it sharp and ready to write. This is a must item for every pencil collector.

Plastic Rulers

Here is a collection of plastic rulers and slid rules from the 50s to the 80s. Two of these rulers made it to the big time this week at the Pen Addict blog. It is nice to see these items up on the main screen. Thanks Brad. This set represents many different types of US made rulers, slide rules,metric rulers and stencils that have been available over the years. These are a favorite part of my collection because most of these can still be used today. Eleven of these items are made by the Sterling Plastic Company. The drafting set in the right corner also has a compass which I forgot to place in the picture. The two plastic rulers at the bottom are made by the Sterling Plastic Company and I will be showing more of them in the future. The Sterling Plastic slide rules were at the low end of slide rules but were available for those that did not want to pay big bucks for one.

Pens from the 70s and 80s

Here we have a nice set of ball point and roller balls from the 70s and 80s. In the package is a Parker Big Red Ball Point followed by a green Parker Big Red both of which use a standard Parker Jotter refill with adapter. Next is a Sheaffer No Nonsense Ball Point which uses a standard refill with adapter. We next have the Pentel P300 Roller Ball which uses the same refill as a Pentel Excalibur. All three of these pens seem to have been put out about the same time and were in competition with each other. I would think the Parker Big Red was the most popular. The Blue Pentel is my favorite of the three. The last one on the right is also a Pentel. This is the R-50 Original Roller Writer. Still sold in Europe and a best seller. This pen is a Pentel, made in France, bought in Germany then brought back to Texas and still works. All of these should be in your collection.

Sheaffer Ball Point Pen

Here is another nice collection of a great old pens. The Sheaffer Ball Point from the 60s. This pen has one of the smoothest click action of any pen ever made. You hear no click, just point out and point in. This smooth action was available on several different Sheaffer pens during the 60s. The collectors book "The Incredible Ball Point Pen" by Henrey Gostony and Stuart Schneider call this pen a Sheaffer click retractable with a super smooth action. All these still work. One should be in your collection.

Papermate Ops n Pops

Back on 15 May 2009 I posted my 1967 Papermate Ops n Pops collection. At the time I had six with the goal of ten. I now have number seven. The yellow one on the right with black squares. These pens are number two on my all time favorite pen list and as I said before it "is the 60s". This new yellow one has not seen the day of light for 40 years. I just put in a new refill and it works fine. One should be in your collection. Three more to go.