Thompson Pens

[philm]

I picked up the pictured pen a while ago and restored it as pictured. Any information I have been able to find with relation to Thompson pens relates to Chris Thompson and his custom replica pens, created in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Most of the pictures I have seen are of Duofold replicas and Sheaffer replicas. I have not seen any with just the "Thompson" branding seen on the clip and lever below. The website for his pens is no longer active. My question, to those of you that may have seen his pens at a pen show, or who own some of his work, is if this is a Chris Thompson pen? Also, is he still active in the pen business? I seem to remember that one of the Custom pen makers passed away a few years ago, but was thinking it was Jim Hickman of Newman Pens. Thanks, in advance for any information provided.

 

phil

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/munsonhsr/Thompson%20pens/DSC_0009.jpg

[FrankB]

I had thought Chris was still active. I only have two of his replicas, both Parkers, and I bought both of them some time ago.

 

I understood that Chris' goal was to use original nibs and trim on newly turned caps and barrels. So the clip and lever would read as original, with an imprint saying it was a replica. Chris might have made some limited edition pens of his own with special clips and levers, but I have not heard about them. You say you restored the pen. I cannot imagine a pen from the 1990's needing restoring already.

 

Now, the next question is whether there was a Thompson pen company in decades past. I think I have heard of a Thompson pen company, but I am just not sure. So I hope a vintage pen person steps in here.

 

Good luck.

[George]

Im almost 100% sure Thompson was a vintage pen company. I remember seeing a pen just like that; It was vintage.

 

George

[beezaur]

Chris Thompson . . . The website for his pens is no longer active. . . . is he still active in the pen business?

 

His web is down for maintenance.

 

He still is active. I am expecting a titanium Duofold from him any day now. It had only to be engraved when I contacted him last week.

 

Scott

 

P.S. I think Chris Thompson does make pens of his own design too. Poor web site navigation prevented me from exploring his offerings much. Hopefully that will be changed soon.

Edited September 15, 2007 by beezaur

[philm]

Thanks all. It is a vintage pen...just in very good shape. I don't believe it was ever used. I have taken a picture of the Thompson #8 nib and will post it after I download it. From responses on PT, I have received pictures of another one with similar clip and an unmarked lever, but in marble. George at Lion and Pen indicated that Chris may actually have some of these that he has collected and may have additional information on the vintage roots. As mentioned, his website is down. If anyone has his email, could they b/c it to me, or if they feel uncomfortable in doing so, could they ask him if he has any information on this Company?

 

Thank you all for your responses.

[philm]

Scott, George, and Frank:

 

I corresponded with Chris who was nice enough to respond to my email. (thank you to those who sent it to me). He has several of these that he has collected over the years, but has not had any success in determining who made them. One theory is that they were made for a department store..does anyone know of a Thompson retailer? Anyway, I will keep looking. Here is a picture of the nib on the above pen.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/munsonhsr/Thompson%20pens/DSC_0008-1.jpg

[rroossinck]

Phil, thanks for posting both of these pictures. I just happened upon a red/white striated version today which I picked up with great speed (not b/c I knew anything about 'em, but b/c it was such a darn good-looking pen).

 

Problem: The #8 is TOTALLY shot. I'll take some snaps soon, but that having been said...does anyone know what will fit into that pen? The #8 is actually a fairly good-sized nib.

 

Any ideas?

 

Dr. I? You've had nearly every pen under the sun, including some oddballs. Ever run across one of these?

[philm]

It should take any Warranted #8 nib. Obviously, easier to find than a Thompson 8. By the way, the mystery of the Vintage Thompson was solved for me over at Lion and Pen. These were marketed in the Midwest, by an unknown manufacturer (to me). I was sent copies of advertisements from several Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois newspapers dating 1928, promoting these pens at local drug stores. Credit due to John Chapman for this research.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Reviving and old thread -

 

Check out the clip on the C.E. Barrett pen in this picture - C.E. Barrett pens at W-B Watches and Pens.

It sure looks like the same clip as the Thompson pens. Of course, I have also seen a very similar clip on Wilrite pens, but C.E. Barrett makes a lot more sense for the midwestern distribution of these pens. Speculative, but interesting. Too bad the Barrett pen doesn't show the lever.

 

John

[rroossinck]

John, I had noticed that not too long ago, too. I think that Mabie Todd might have done something similar as well, but I'm not positive. Either way, that helps prove the connection between these great pens and National/CE Barrett.

 

That's one of the reasons I love this hobby. There's lots of fun to be had tracking down the details.

 

How many Thompsons do you have?

[philm]

John,

 

Thank you very much for this link... as you say, it makes sense. Some days I wish I had a time machine to go back to Barrett and see where they were shipping this stuff .......

 

Phil

[heineda]

 

Try this link:

 

http://www.thompsonpens.com/index.html

 

Good Luck,

Dan

 

 

 

John,

 

Thank you very much for this link... as you say, it makes sense. Some days I wish I had a time machine to go back to Barrett and see where they were shipping this stuff .......

 

Phil

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

Try this link:

 

http://www.thompsonpens.com/index.html

 

Good Luck,

Dan

 

Wrong Thompson Pens - though I can understand the confusion. We are talking about the vintage Thompson Pens from the 1920s, not Chris Thompson's pens (which are very lovely, but were not for sale in 1928).

 

Of course, Chris Thompson does, allegedly, have a great collection of vintage Thompson pens.

 

John

 

[philm]

Try this link:

 

http://www.thompsonpens.com/index.html

 

Good Luck,

Dan

 

 

 

John,

 

Thank you very much for this link... as you say, it makes sense. Some days I wish I had a time machine to go back to Barrett and see where they were shipping this stuff .......

 

Phil

Thanks, but as John said, this is eighty years ahead of our Pens. Chris does have a great collection of Thompson's and Ryan collects them as well. Chris was the person, along with John Chapman who set me straight way back when I started this thread.

 

Phil

[rroossinck]

Of course, Chris Thompson does, allegedly, have a great collection of vintage Thompson pens.

 

He does, and he recently sent me a few pictures of some of them. These photos are used with his permission. Great collection, too!

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/cthompson1.jpg

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/cthompson2.jpg

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/cthompson3.jpg

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/cthompson4.jpg

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/cthompson5.jpg

 

In addition, I've got one or two variations on these that are pictured here.

 

http://www.roossinck.com/fpn/images/thompsonfamily.jpg

[BlotBot]

A box of M.O. Thompson pen nibs for sale, cheap. These may be dip pen nibs, I am not sure.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188075100/clearance-vintage-box-m-o-thompson-gold?ref=sr_gallery_33&ga_search_query=nib&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=11&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

 

M.O. Thompson did make dip nibs.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/124712636/mo-thompson-no-52-vintage-gold-quill-dip

 

 

Maybe the same company?

Edited May 15, 2014 by BlotBot