Pen Model: Eversharp Fifth Avenue

Among the many fountain pens arriving new on the scene soon after the end of World War II, a few of these were final efforts to combat the sudden growth of the ballpoint pen. The Eversharp Fifth Avenue was a notable last gasp.
Issued in 1945 as part of Eversharp’s CA (for “capillary action”) line of pens, the Fifth Avenue was the first fountain pen to be marketed secondary to a ballpoint, the CA. Shopping at New York City’s Fifth Avenue stores was booming, so its name was an obvious claim to top-line quality. Sadly, the writing experience was not up to the claim, nor to the competition from Parker’s 51, which it emulated with the hooded nib and gold friction cap with an internal clutch. Its shorter gold cap appearance was innovative, but the Deco styling was a look backwards when the buying public wanted to reach forward. Adding insult to injury, it was overpriced, and it did not last. By 1948, Eversharp had dropped the line and was in deep financial stress. The Symphony, which followed it, was another styling success but unsuccessful in the marketplace.