Eversharp Skyline Photo Thread

June 24

A number of "True" Prototypes of Skyline Gen 2 Pens. There were experiments in how to make marbelized Injection molded resin pens. They required manual, dual injector lines into the mold to obtain the mixtures of resins.

June 24

Hi, Syd. So glad to see your posts and photos. I assume those of us attending the upcoming Washington DC Supershow August 1-4 will see you and one or more of your partners there? I love my Skylines of all generations, even the non-“true” ones. By the way, were the non-“true” (unauthorized) ones made by the same French source as the earlier 1990s models? I had heard that the individual who commissioned the non-authorized ones hails from El Paso, TX. (he/she shall be unnamed here).

June 25

"True /Non-True"? All 3 generations are/were authorized by whoever held the Trademark at the time. "True" was meant to separate the actual prototypes from the many supposed or mislabeled "Prototypes" which often happens when any non-catalogued pen comes up for discussion. There are many reasons why some oddball configurations were produced many of which were not really design prototypes made for corporate approval. The reorganization (called Chapter 11 today) that EVERSHARP experienced in 1939 dumped a lot of scrambled together pens that were non-catalogue but were truly authorized.

Anyway, The 1993-96 run of Skylines were both "authorized" and and "true" as far as pedigree goes.

abbreviated Trademark History:

1956- to Parker

1992- to Astro Pen

1993 - to Eversharp Pen Company (Paul Smith who used to work at Astro)

and here's where the GEN 2 pen, as you call it, comes in... as used by them to make the 1993-96ish Skylines. The reference to El Paso is slightly misplaced because that entity was one of the distributors who ordered a large quantity of pens from EPC. Separating cause and effect here, is tricky because no manufacturer wants to take a chance on production without pro-forma orders to rely on. Having enough proforma orders from distributors is what would have encouraged EPC to contract with the manufacturing source. The 1993-96 run was produced in France (since any and all runs were both true and authorized there no distinction on that here) by one company. That company belonged to Nikola Caltagirone (sound familiar?) which was one that made private label pens for many retailers - Cartier, for example. Emmanuel Caltagirone grew up in that business and is extremely well versed in sourcing and assembly. Generation 3 as were are referring to them in this thread comes out of that pedigree.

Why did they stop making the skyline by 1996? From what I learned, The manufacturing order was for maybe 10,000 pens. The number sold in the applicable accounting time frame on that venture were about 7,000 pens. As anyone involved in such numbers will tell you, depending on the mark-up, and in this case it is so, that formula is really a loser. The profit was still sitting on the shelf.

2012- Licensed to precursor of Eversharp Holdings LLC

2015 to present - to Eversharp Holdings LLC

June 26

Very informative, Syd. Speaking of the Generation 2 (1993-1996-ish) pens, I had a website under the name “Pen Envy” (later used by some unknown person on the internet for a time) and had an account with EPC (also with Sheaffer via the same sales agent), and I sold the Skylines on my site. Most of the Skyline fountain pen models retailed (SRP) at $250. At the latter, 1996-ish, point you mentioned, EPC was offering the pens at steep discounts to us retailers, and toward the end I was able to purchase them for as low as $25 per pen. Of course, I purchased a bunch of them at that price. I suppose that point coincided with the unsold 3,000 pens you described. These were pens with the Eversharp 18K and 14K nibs.

The same sales agent showed me the prototypes, some with gold nibs and some with GP steel nibs, and I purchased at least one of each, but couldn’t find any customers who wanted them, so they remain in my “collection."

I recall that the limited-edition Skyline Army FP, made from aluminum extruded from WW2 planes, sold at retail for $2,500. The pen at that price came with an aluminum model plane in a large metal box with a dog-tag that had the limited edition number on it (also on the pen). I purchased for $250 each from EPC just the pen and dog-tag, which came to me in a then-typical Eversharp box (very nice); I obtained about 6 of them. I also couldn’t find any customers for them, so they, too, remain in my “collection."

The Army model opened in the middle of the pen (in a fashion typical for most FPs) for insertion of a cartridge or converter, whereas the other models opened at the end of the barrel (blind cap style) for such insertion. Each of the FPs came with a converter. Were the converters proprietary to EPC, or were they International Standard?

I also obtained a few of the Skyline rollerball pens, but have had difficulty figuring out what current RB refill will fit properly. Perhaps you know?

July 4

Very Interesting. First the most recent rollerballs we installed wer/are Schmidt 5888. Back in the 90's, EPC may have supplied refills of their own. On the recent skyline rollerballs we installed a trim ring between the blind cap and barrel to accommodate the size of the 5888. I am not back in the workshop until August or I would go check out the 5888 in the 1990s pens for you.

As for converters, Id have to pich up a pen to see...August again. The Schmidt converters are what we used too. You might call them International Standard.

September 24

On 6/26/2024 at 11:33 AM, donnweinberg said:

I also obtained a few of the Skyline rollerball pens, but have had difficulty figuring out what current RB refill will fit properly. Perhaps you know?

Dear Don,

My first post on the forum. I'm a recent fan of Eversharp Skyline, coming at it as a fan of the designer Henry Dreyfuss.

To your question: the Mont Blanc rollerball refill is a perfect fit in the 1990's Skyline rollerball (regular size, not LeGrand or Small). Their Fine refill writes beautifully with the weight/balance of the Skyline and most paper.

If you happen to have a spare Burgundy-colored Skyline rollerball in your collection, please let me know. I'd love to pair that with my 1940's burgundy Skyline pencil.

September 25

22 hours ago, Streamline Enthusiast said:

If you happen to have a spare Burgundy-colored Skyline rollerball in your collection, please let me know. I'd love to pair that with my 1940's burgundy Skyline pencil.

Do you mean a 1940’s-era burgundy Skyline rollerball (if there was such a thing) or the 1990’s-era burgundy Skyline rollerball? I’m assuming the latter, but just trying to be sure. I’ll have to check my collection again.

September 25

I never obtained a 1990’s-era Skyline rollerball pen in burgundy, but only in black with the Sterling Silver Cap with Gold-Plated Clip.

September 25

I'm looking for a 1990's Skyline rollerball in burgundy (code: WR5G) to pair with my 1940's Skyline (normal-size) mechanical pencil in burgundy with a gold top half.

That'll be my second pairing. I already have a 1990's Skyline rollerball in black with gold cap, paired with a 1940's Skyline (demi-size) mechanical pencil in black with a gold top half.

The rollerball with the silver cap and gold-plated clip is a beauty too! Classy without being flashy. The only model from the 1990's that doesn't excite me is the yellow taxi one. Fun to see once, but it feels like a gimmick.