What Are Some Iconic Fountain Pen Ads?

[putteringpenman]

I recently moved into a new house where I have a dedicated room for my office. I'd like to decorate my office with some iconic fountain pen ads.

 

I was thinking something like this:

 

 

I prefer Pilot, Platinum, Lamy, Parker, Pelikan, and Montblanc pens, but any brand with an interesting advertisement works!

 

What iconic ads do you recommend I use?

 

Thanks for your help!

[ardene]

How about this: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/228205906091519864/

[PaulS]

looks like I should have collected cigars instead of pens. I've always thought the nouveau and deco poster art from the Continent to be more eye catching/appealing than those from an English language source. Perhaps some wallpaper made up from these posters could be a good idea.

 

On second thoughts there could be a down side ……………… might give you neurosis seeing pix of all the pens you either couldn't afford or find.

 

good luck in your search.

Edited June 13, 2019 by PaulS

[DCirjan]

I love this one for its collage-like avant-gardish air ...

[sciumbasci]

I love this one for its collage-like avant-gardish air ...

That marvellous ink bottle tho 😍

It is a shame nobody has ever cloned it - preferring instead much more generic bottles

[putteringpenman]

Thank you for the ideas!

[inkstainedruth]

I always liked the WWII era Parker ad where they have an open letter to customers explaining that they'd like to be making and selling pens, but they've switched factory production over supporting the War effort.

Not on your original list of brands, but I'm really a total sucker the Albert Staehle ads for Carter's ink with the white cat and her ink-colored kittens. My favorite one is the kittens playing baseball, and Mama is the umpire (the theme of the ad is "SAFE!" as one of the kittens is sliding into a base, implying that the inks are well behaved and not going to damage your pen).

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/450078556484621879

I have that one, and one where there's a coupon to send away for a print (I really need to get that one framed *with* the actual print, which I found in an antiques mall a few years ago -- the print wasn't in the best condition and the framing job is HORRIBLE). I still need to get the one with the mother cat hanging socks out on the clothesline (and there's a kitten in each sock).

You might get some ideas for other great ads by searching on Pinterest (no you don't have to sign up -- just click on the X in the upper right hand corner when you get the sign in popup).

I got at least one of the Carter ads on eBay, and I've got some listings for the clothesline Carter's ad on my watch list -- so that's another place to look.

I don't normally collect ephemera -- but those Albert Staehle ads he did for Carter's are just adorable....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[wbpeoria]

I really like the Sheaffer Lifetime ads from the 1960s, in which they predicted the future. My favorite is their 1964 vision of e-mail.

Edited June 19, 2019 by wbpeoria

[inkstainedruth]

Hah! They predicted the Palm Pilot!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[SwipedFromTruman]

Theres an ad for the Watermans Commando that calls it trigger quick comparing it to the tools of our armed forces in 1942.

[1nkulus]

The Sheaffer email prediction is great and the pen set to write it, only $15 albeit in 1964.

[welch]

Look for Parker advertising. Some classics:

 

- The Parker 51 comparing the streamlined Parker P-51 to the P-51 Mustang.

 

- Parker 51 "World's Most Wanted Pen", such as https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1949-Parker-51-Fountain-Pen-Advertisement-Memorabilia/333044972958?hash=item4d8b06fd9e:g:irUAAOSwlThcUfkh

 

- Parker 61 advertisement showing William Holden focused on a P-61

 

- Parker 61 1950's space age:"best in this world, or any other"

 

- also Parker Quink advertising from WW2...variations on "rubber is a scarce war material. Protect your pen sac by using Quink with Solv-X. Cleans your pen as it writes"

Edited June 22, 2019 by welch

[OneRiotOneRanger]

I have had my own home office for a while (my wife also has her own. No guest bedrooms, but it's just the two

of us), and my walls are decorated with pen posters. Mine are all framed - that can add some cost - but they

have made me happy.

In addition to the Pilot you like, I have, in no special order: Paul Erano's (large) Tips for Pen Collectors; a

couple of redone vintage Pelikan posters (very colorful) and a large tin vintge Pelikan reproduction; a La

Maison du Porte Plume poster - they come in several iterations, and are also very colorful; and three vintage

magazine pages: a Waterman's ad, ca. 1910, and two Parker pages from the same (WWI) era. One is entitled "From

the implements of war to the implement of peace" and the other, military themed also, shows "The Unbroken Line

of Communication."

All are framed (except the tin one) and were hung by a pro (I'm too old to do that ladder-climbing).

Besides the pen connections, mine were chosen in colors and styles I like; thought, too, was given to the

framing.

eBay - I searched under Fountain Pens Advertising - is a good source. Original material, even vintage, is

usually reasonably priced, and you can choose your time period(s).

Oh yes, I also have a New York City subway map from the 1950's and a couple of large Native American prints.

My college diploma, Army discharge, and a couple of flying pig cartoons have also found a home here.

Lots of art work throughout the house, too. Mostly with a Native American orientation.

Museum tours are conducted on an ad hoc basis not far from DFW Airport. Admission is free. And Emmie, the angel

puppy, is the welcoming committee.

 

Paul

[Krushna]

I love this one for its collage-like avant-gardish air ...

That bottle looks so good. A bit like the Montblanc ones. Pity the modern Pelikan ones are not so intuitively designed.

Edited December 29, 2019 by Krushna

[Carguy]

Apparently Im too stupid to actually get a photo of my favorite Parker 61 ad that I have framed to load here.....its the one that says He bought the Empire State Building with his Parker pen

 

Apologies for my lack of technical savvy!

 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/b4/68/9ab46881d247d8d2a4108ba154288f09.jpg

[Tasmith]

If you can go to a pen show you'll find many old pen ads for sales from various vendors.

[sansenri]

some old ads can be fascinatingly naif

[sansenri]

one about Aurora (small size image though)

(a mechanical jewel in a modern style line)

 

[inkstainedruth]

Apparently Im too stupid to actually get a photo of my favorite Parker 61 ad that I have framed to load here.....its the one that says He bought the Empire State Building with his Parker pen

 

Apologies for my lack of technical savvy!

 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/b4/68/9ab46881d247d8d2a4108ba154288f09.jpg

 

Cool ad. None of my 61s have rainbow caps.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Maurizio]

I love this one for its collage-like avant-gardish air ...

I have that ink bottle. I think I bought it at the sadly now defunct Art Brown Penshop in midtown Manhattan about 20 years ago. I have refilled it with Noodlers Old Manhattan Black. It is pretty cool and it's too bad Pelikan doesn't produce it any longer.

 

I am particularly interested in any American ads from the WWII years. Does anyone know a site or source for any of these?

 

Wow just checked that Pinterest link from above and it's pretty darn awesome. Thanks for posting it. Lots of eye candy to browse.

Edited January 23, 2020 by Maurizio