Solid Gold Skyline

[olson131]

Several years ago, I purchased a solid gold Skyline. Does anyone know anything about them? How many were made? Value? I did a Google and found references to this pen but little information.

[UptheWahl]

I don't know the number that were produced, but it was substantial. From my experience, the solid gold Skylines are one of the most common solid gold pens ever produced. Remember, these were being produced during World War II, and gold was not a strategic metal, so it was available to Eversharp.

 

As to value, do you have the matching pencil, and is it in the original box? Sets go in the $350 to $500 dollar range, depending on condition. I have never broken one down to determine the actual gold weight -- it could well be worth more in melt value than as a pen.

 

I have always believed that the relative popularity of this expensive pen ($125 during WWII)and the frequency in which they are found in mint or near-mint condition can be attributed to parents giving them to their sons (and daughters) as they went off to war (as advertising suggested), with the instruction to "Write home every day." Of course, they were promptly stored away, as no one wanted to drag such a beautiful piece of pocket jewelry through a war, and they surface when the kids or grandchildren go through their relatives' mementos.

 

Cliff

[mikerx]

Excellent response! I'd add that the value at our favorite auction site sees these sets bringing $700-800 due to the surge in gold pices. Not that I think this is reasonable, but it's an observation. I'd love to add this set to my collection for $500 at this point!

 

Mike

[olson131]

I don't know the number that were produced, but it was substantial. From my experience, the solid gold Skylines are one of the most common solid gold pens ever produced. Remember, these were being produced during World War II, and gold was not a strategic metal, so it was available to Eversharp.

 

As to value, do you have the matching pencil, and is it in the original box? Sets go in the $350 to $500 dollar range, depending on condition. I have never broken one down to determine the actual gold weight -- it could well be worth more in melt value than as a pen.

 

I have always believed that the relative popularity of this expensive pen ($125 during WWII)and the frequency in which they are found in mint or near-mint condition can be attributed to parents giving them to their sons (and daughters) as they went off to war (as advertising suggested), with the instruction to "Write home every day." Of course, they were promptly stored away, as no one wanted to drag such a beautiful piece of pocket jewelry through a war, and they surface when the kids or grandchildren go through their relatives' mementos.

 

 

 

Cliff

 

 

Thank you and you may be right. No, I don't have the matching pencil and box..I just bnought it off a display at an antique show.

 

World War II also had an abundance of Parker pens (I collect them) and I believe Shaeffer made a pen during the war that had a "short" clip in military style. And I believe you when you said there was an abundance of the Eversharps in gold compared to others as I am not sure there were many other gold pens during this time. I did read somewhere that there were two clip styles, one with Wahl-Eversharp and the other with just Eversharp or something like that because at the time Eversharp was trying to establish its' own brand name.

 

My Dad and uncle both were in World War I and both used Parker vacumatics to write home but they were graduation presents from college. I still have my Dad's and it writes beautifully.

 

Again, thanks for the reply and information.

[olson131]

Excellent response! I'd add that the value at our favorite auction site sees these sets bringing $700-800 due to the surge in gold pices. Not that I think this is reasonable, but it's an observation. I'd love to add this set to my collection for $500 at this point!

 

Mike

[olson131]

Excellent response! I'd add that the value at our favorite auction site sees these sets bringing $700-800 due to the surge in gold pices. Not that I think this is reasonable, but it's an observation. I'd love to add this set to my collection for $500 at this point!

 

Mike

 

Thanks for the response. I only have the pen and without box, etc. I think I paid $500 for it. I did have it weighed by a jeweler and it came in at an ounce total (nib, section,sac, etc.) I also read someplace that the gold, if not pure, would be prorated. I also read that while the gold might be worth more than the pen, it would be a shame to melt it down just for the money.

 

The pen is smooth all over, I think it is labeled as a "Command Performance" and I don't see too many on the market. I think I bought it with naivete' being enamored with the "gold" as it is the only solid gold pen I have come across in antique stores, flea markets, etc., which is where I bought most of my pens at that time.

 

The pen does have a small dimple on the tip of the barrel and it seems to me to be accidental it would be difficult to accidently put a dimple there as the rest of the pen is ding-free. Also, it is the way I bought it and I am sure it would have to have a new sac to be used (but that is probably true of any pen 70 years old.

 

Again, thanks for your reply.

 

Chris

[UptheWahl]

Most Skylines have a clip stamped "Eversharp." There were a few stamped "Wahl" instead. The assumption is that Eversharp was trying to preserve the Wahl tradename. In the teens all pens produced by The Wahl Company were marketed under the Wahl brand and pencils were marketed under the Eversharp brand. Then in the 20s, pens were sold under the Wahl-Eversharp trademark. After the company was reorganized during the depression, continuing as Eversharp, Inc., it focused on the Eversharp trademark. I probably see well over 100 Eversharp Skylines for every Wahl Skyline I come across. I'm not sure I have ever seen a solid gold Skyline with the Wahl stamping on the clip.

 

Yes, the gold Skylines were marketed using the Command Performance model name.

 

Cliff

[Vintagepens]

I would estimate that $500 is around current gold value. The weight of the pen is not all gold, and the gold is 14K -- so only 58.5% pure gold. And when you sell for scrap, you do not get full spot rate.

[Rick Krantz]

All of the solid gold pens become a little bit more rare each time gold rises in value. Same for the waterman 100 year and Taperites, as well as the skylines.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Rick Krantz

[BenMawhorter]

Hey there...just thought I would way in....Dad and I being antique dealers as well as pen folks deal in a lot of Gold scrapping. The value in the solid Gold skylines once taken apart is only about $300. We have scrapped about 6 badly damaged 14K skylines over the years and the gold overlay is very thin. If no dents the set is worth more than the Gold value.....but condition is everything on this relatively common pen. If engraved and more than 4 dents....two major and a couple of dings thrown in for good measure you are probably better off scrapping the pen. If dent/engraving free you should consider the value to be around $400-$500.

 

Best,Ben

All of the solid gold pens become a little bit more rare each time gold rises in value. Same for the waterman 100 year and Taperites, as well as the skylines.