The record-union., 1893-10-21
THE CHEAPEST AND BEST MEDICINE FOR
FACTS ABOUT STEEL PENS
About 600, 200, 600 Used Yearly in the
United States.

UnlC6Q States.
The number of steel pens consumed
yearly in the United States is computed
to be between three and four for each
man, woman and child in the land. Es-
timating the population at 65,000,000 the
total number of pens used yearly here is
between 195,000,000 and 60,000,0 900. In
Great Britain the computation is said TO
be twelve pens for each man, woman and
child. The figure is believed to be too
high. The importation Of pens into the
United States is about One-half the guam
tity used. The exact quantity manu-
factured here is known to a very few
only, it being trade secret carefully
kept Notwithstanding the invention of
the typewriting machine and the foun-
tain pen, the sale OF steel pens steadily
shows u yearly increase. The percentage
is the same practically as the percentage
of yearly increase in the nations popula-
ton. Even the operator Oh the type
writer is compelled to Scribble, and then
too-and this is assigned as the chief
cause of the steel penis retaining it's sale
children continue to graduate in greater
numbers from the school year by year.
A representative Of one of the largest for
eign manufacturers Of pens told writer
for the New York EUeHing Post that he
estimated that the invention OF the type
writer and the fountain pen had decreased
the annual sale of the steel pen SO per
cent, that is, had made the increased sale
that much less than it would be other
wise. The domestic manufacturers, how
ever, declare this to be true only of i'm
ported pens.
Steel pens were introduced into this
country in 1882 by Michael L. Leman,
the pen manufacturer. now dead. Their
introduction fell flat. People would not
use the metallic pen, as it was called, on
the ground of the old conservative cry
that what was good enough for their faith
ers was good enough for them. In addi-
ton, the fact that the new writing device
scratched and that it seemed that the
writing would not last any length of
time, were effective objections against its
use. The last objection is still assigned
as the reason why the Bank of England
uses the quill to-day. The great fire in
New Y ork in 1896 was the cause of the
general introduction of the steel pen here
In that fire more than 100000 quills
were burned and shortage in the pen
supply ensued.
There are pens and pens. a New York
dealer has in his shop l,60S styles. All
these he claims to manufacture. In this
pen shop, moreover, pens are prescribed.
Ii asked, the proprietor will examine his
customer and tell him what pen he should
use TO write most easily, most legibly and
ulOSt TdpluIy. Allu6uLS III peQnaQSQlD
are also cured bp the prescription of GER
tain pens. He says that from study he
has come to the conclusion that peculiar
nervous temperamentS and habits of
mind require the use OF certain styles of
pens to achieve most in writing. For
example, mind that thinks rapidly is
much Kindred if the writer cannot keep
pace with the flow of thought, and for
such man he prescribes a rapid trans
it' pen which he makes, and which
really moves with wonderful rapidly,
even on the toughest paper.
Although the pen is so small a thing
and seemingly simple to make. it takes
some time before it reaches the state
when it is ready for use. No order for a
pen that has to be made to order can be
executed in less than ten days. This is
mainly due to the many times it has to be
heated and to the securing it receives to
take off the rough edges. Pens can be
made out of eight metals steel, brass,
copper. gold, silver, platinum, amalganl
and aluminium. Aluminium pens are still
a novelty and are said to last much longer
than other metallic pen.