Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-24
MILLIONS OF PENS.
The Process by Which the Little Stee
Writing Implements Are Made.

About million gross of steel pens arr
worn out every year in the United
States. What becomes of them? Twen.
ty years ago most of the steel pens used
In this country were imported. Now
comparatively few are imported. and
there are several factories in the coun-
try in which they are made in large
| quantities. One factory is in Connect
icut. another is in Pennsylvania. and q
large one is in Camden. At present the
importation of foreign pens is mainly
confined to high-priced articles.
1t was at first doubted that steel pens
could be made in this country, but it
was soon learned that the requisite
| skilled labor could be obtained for high
wages. and the success of the pioneers
led one manufacturer after another into
the business. until now the field is pretty
well supplied. Most of the work on
these little instruments is done with the
aid OF very nice machinery worked by
women and girls. The steel used is i'm
ported, because it is believed that the
quality is more uniform than American
steel. This uniformity of quality is
necessary because of the yery delicate
tempering required in the manufacture
of the pens. That mysterious quality
of steel which gives different grades OF
elasticity and brittleness to different
colors of steel is quality that requires
expert manipulation on the part of the
workman who does the tempering. He
must know the nature of the material
with which he works, and with that
knowledge must exercise celerity and
skill that seizes upon the proper instant
to fasten the steel at heat which in
sures the requisite quality.
First the steel is rolled into big sheets.
This is cut into strips about three inches
wide. These strips are annealed; that
Is, they are heated TO a red heat, and
permitted to cool very gradually, so
that the brittlenesS is all removed and
the steel 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 a sheet of thin
paper Next the blank pen is cut out
of the fiat strip. On this the name of |
the maker or of the brand is stamped.
The last Is very important factor.
There are numbers that have come to
be valuable property to manufacture
ers. Many clerks say they can not
work to advantage unless they have
particular styles of pens. The result is
that by passing the word from one
writer to another A market is soon
created for favOrite style. Each steel
pen has therefore to be stamped with
sufficient reading matter to identify it
thoroughly. The stamping is done
with very nicely cut sharp dies, that cut
deep and clean. so that the reading
matter will not be obliterated bv the
finishing process. Next the pen is
nodded in form which combines grace
fulness with strength. The rounding
enables the pen to hold the requisite
nix, and to distribute it more gradually
han could be done with fiat blade.
The little hole which is cut at the end
If the slit serves to regulate the elastic
ty, and also facilitates the running of
he ink. Then comes the process of
and tempering. The steel is
heated to cherry red, and then
plunged suddenly into some cool sub
tance. This at once changes the quail
ty of the metal from that of a soft,
ead-like substance to a brittle springy
me. Then the temper of the steel
must be drawn, for without this process
would be too brittle The drawing
onsists of heating the pen until it =,
caches certain color. The quality of }
he temper varies according to the color +,
0 which the steel is permitted to run. ,
is the quick eye for color and the
uick hand to fasten it that constitutes :
he skill of the temperer of steel. When
ne steel is heated for tcmpering it is
right. The first color that appears is
straw color. This changes rapidly to
lue- The elasticity of the metal varies
nth the color. and is fastened at any
olnt by instant plunging in cold water. !
The processes of sitting, polishing,
ointing, and finishing the pens are q
perations requiring dexterity. but by :
ing practice the workmen and work
omen become very expert. There a
ave been few changes of late years, .
nd the process of manufacture is much !.
lie same that it was twenty years ago, . ),
I'D the prices are rather uniform, rang q
g from Is cents to 81 gross. accord u
o to the QUALITY Of the finish. The J y