The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-30
MILLIONS and MILLIONS OF PENS
The Proccss by which tho Little Steel Writ
Ing Implements Made.

The Process by which the Little Steel Writ.
ing implements are Made.
About million gross OF steel pens arc
worn out every year in the United States,
What becomes of thcm2 Twenty yours ago
most Of tho stool pens used In this country
were imported. Now comparatively few arc
imported. and there are several factories in
the country in which they are made in largo
quantities Ono factory is In Connecticut.
another Is in Pennsylvania. and a large one is
In Camden. The manufacturers say that the
Industry has been fostered by the protective
tariff. and that il the tariff wore to be taken
off the market would DO flooded with cheap
steel pons at lower prices than ours and OF
inferior quality. At present the importation
OF foreign pens is mainly confined to high
4 was at first doubted that steel pens
%as soo SS that INF Tie bit
labor could 30 obtained for high wages. and
ns OF the I led
the eId is pretty we'll gu, snppied Most ' Of n the
work on these little instruments is done with
and girls Tho steel used is w?nnea S
because 4 is believed that the quality is more
OF quality is necessary because Of the very dol
icate tempering required in tho manufacture
which gives different grades Of elasticity and
prittleness to different colors OF stesl Is u quail
lie must know the nature of tho material with
exercise a celebrity and skill That eeizss unon
tho proper instant to fasten the stool at heat
Wild rs ths n,S br This
Is cut into strips about three inches wide.
These strips are anne,aled that is. they arc
heated to red heat and permitted to cool very
gradually 50 that the britt,eness is all re-
moved and the steol is soft enough TO be easily
worked. Then the strips are again rolled to
the required thickness. or. rather thinness. for
the average steel pen is not thicker than sheet
on. Of the fiat strip on this tho name s" Of tho tho
maker or of the brand is stamped. The last is
man SS fso ne sas tRey sana t9
SSs L ssa. sf s hnHo BY
tho word from ono writer to anothera market
Is soon S created for favorite style. Each steel
reading matter to Identify it th9ronshIy. The
s;;a1 is done With very nicely cut sharp
matter will not he obliterated by the finishing
process; NeXt the pen is moulded IN form
requisite ink, ind to Distribute it;nore I grad ii
Tho little hole which is cut Mt the end OF the
slit serves 70 regulate the elias ITCHY. and also
tho process OF hardening and teinpering. The
steal s,, y heated to Cherry red. and then
This at once changes The quality Of the metal
from that OF soft Lead Ike substance TO a brit
tie; s,prmngy one. Then ,hs tem,.er OF the steel
would be too brittle. The drawing consists OF
heating tn" rem until 1t reaches Il certain color.
the quality OF tho temper varies according to
the color to which the steel Is permitted 10 run
IL Is tho quick eye Tor color and tho uulck hand
to fasten II that constitutes the skin Of tho tenn
perez OF stoel. When tho steel is heated for
tempering II is bright. Tho first color that an
pears IL II straw color. This changes rapidIy 10
blue. The elasticity OF tho metal varies with
tho color, and is fastened ut any point BY in
slant p.unging in cold water.
lhe procosscs OF sitting polishing. pointing
and finishing the pens are operations rsauir-
men and workwomcn become very expert.
There have been few changes OF late years. and
the process OF manufacture il much the same
mat II was twenty years ago. aai tho prices
;tre rather uniform, ranging from rs cents 10
81 gross according u the quality Of tho
finish. Tho boxes sold almost un, vcrsal.y con-
tain n gross.
Fancies come and go in the styles Of pens rs
IN other :as'iOns one American major Hloilo
turns out about 80 iliIsrent patterns. some
AFRO very odd. sGca rs thu sab psas. tho
nraughtsnanS pen. which makes Two rarnilci
lines ~ once. IN" ma'l rJth pen. sui 81 tn uSe
on rough Taper aud the zen With u turned up
point that Writes y thick mark yet rams
Gaze per Tor lHuics pens that make n illr ha'r
line and yet can sprln. out to hcavy STA linz,
Already tho American steel pens have h'cpnls
famous abroad, and niany are exported Many
rnns arn male OF u.ntr metals besides Steel.
One kind IL tho German silver non Zorro .iys
pon for red Ink. Another IL an imitation god
pen made OF non corrosive metal. Theirs AFRO
pens Of all co!ors and sizes for I'll trades and
professions