Made in the USA

[phountain]

Are any fountain pens still made entirely in the USA? I mean feed, nib, and all.

If not, who and when was the last pen made?

 

It came up in a conversation with another collector.

 

Curious.

[RLTodd]

I think Cross was the last to make nibs in the States.

 

Everyone else has just given up on it.

 

 

 

[EventHorizon]

I think Bexley is also.

[gylyf]

I think Bexley is also.

 

Bexley uses Bock nibs. Best,

David

[DaleR]

I agree on Bexley...My Bexley came with a Schmidt nib.

 

Dale

[Ray-Vigo]

If you want Made in USA, go vintage. Of the modern pens I have, the best is a Pelikan 400. I go Pelikan with the modern stuff, but American (mostly, aside from a Pelikan 140) with vintage. Get a restored lever filler Sheaffer-- simple, usually inexpensive, and often very reliable.

Edited March 28, 2009 by Ray-Vigo

[Bill Smith]

To get made in North America, you have to go vintage or pre owned. The last manufacturing facilities were Cross and Sheaffer and now they are off shore. Waterman became French sometime in the 1950s if I have my facts correct and Parker stopped North American production I guess late 1970s/ early 1980s.

[all my hues]

Are any fountain pens still made entirely in the USA? I mean feed, nib, and all.

If not, who and when was the last pen made?

 

It came up in a conversation with another collector.

 

Curious.

 

 

Edison Pen Company is US made. Well....the nibs aren't (they come from Germany/China). Neeevermind.

[Jay9498]

Are any fountain pens still made entirely in the USA? I mean feed, nib, and all.

If not, who and when was the last pen made?

 

It came up in a conversation with another collector.

 

Curious.

 

I believe it ended with Sheaffer closing its Ft. Madison doors. Cross went offshore after Sheaffer; however, I think I heard their nibs were imported before Sheaffer closed its USA operations. Therefore, Sheaffer was the last to make a complete pen. Can anyone confirm the information on Cross nibs?

[Johnny Appleseed]

Even Sheaffer was sourcing several of their pens from China and other countries before they closed the doors in Fort Madison. When Sheaffer closed their US shop, it was the end of their last pens to be made in the US.

 

John

[mtmowl]

...Waterman became French sometime in the 1950s if I have my facts correct and Parker stopped North American production I guess late 1970s/ early 1980s.

 

And since then Paper Mate, Waterman,and Parker have become owned by Newell Rubbermaid, of Atlanta Ga.

 

This doesn't make them American made, though.

Mike

[DRP]

I'm going with Sheaffer for a complete pen.

 

It should be mentioned that Sheaffer made entire pens elsewhere -- Britain and Australia) but at Sheaffer owned facilities. Some parts were also made in Canada at various times.

 

Under Bich/Bic ownership, Sheaffer began outsourcing various parts for several years in anticipation of shutting down Fort Madison. However, a few pens were made entirely in Fort Madison until quite late.

 

Valor pens still use Fort Madison made Sheaffer inlaid nibs which were stockpiled before Fort Madison was shut down.

 

Now that the dollar is weak against the Euro, Bich/Bic probably wish they still had Fort Madison because the exchange rate favors U. S. manufactured good requiring highly skilled labor.

 

Too late now.

[zabo]

Didn't Sheaffer reopen Fort Madison facilities?

I thought I read that few months ago... :hmm1:

[MSA]

Conklin ?

[WendyNC]

Didn't Sheaffer reopen Fort Madison facilities?

I thought I read that few months ago... :hmm1:

 

They have moved back their service department, at least. You probably read it here.

 

 

[Tweel]

So what happened to Hampton-Haddon? Was everything trucked back to Fort Madison from Philadelphia?

 

-- Brian

 

[pengoddess]

So what happened to Hampton-Haddon? Was everything trucked back to Fort Madison from Philadelphia?

 

-- Brian

 

 

Hampton Haddon is still the distributor for Sheaffer dealers in the US, but no longer the Service Center. Yes, the parts were trucked back to Fort Madison.

 

Sam

[pengoddess]

I'm going with Sheaffer for a complete pen.

 

It should be mentioned that Sheaffer made entire pens elsewhere -- Britain and Australia) but at Sheaffer owned facilities. Some parts were also made in Canada at various times.

 

Under Bich/Bic ownership, Sheaffer began outsourcing various parts for several years in anticipation of shutting down Fort Madison. However, a few pens were made entirely in Fort Madison until quite late.

 

Valor pens still use Fort Madison made Sheaffer inlaid nibs which were stockpiled before Fort Madison was shut down.

 

Now that the dollar is weak against the Euro, Bich/Bic probably wish they still had Fort Madison because the exchange rate favors U. S. manufactured good requiring highly skilled labor.

 

Too late now.

 

The Valor nibs would have been the last gold nibs made at Sheaffer and I'm pretty sure in the USA. The last gold pour at Sheaffer was in 2008. But the Valor is iffy as last pen made in USA since the cap and barrels were produced in Italy. I think that the 2008 production of Sheaffer Legacy-Heritage pens would have been the last complete pens made totally in USA.

 

I may be off on this, but if memory serves correctly, Cross' gold nibs were made by Namiki and/or Pelikan for several years before the plant closed in RI.

 

Sam

 

[halcycraig]

Hello Everyone!

I am wondering if anyone can help me identify this fountain pen. The only mark on it is an imprint on the barrel that says 'Made in USA'.

Thanks for any help at all you can give me...greatly appreciated.

Jo

[rbrummer]

Perhaps a late American Mabie Todd Swallow based on the clip?