Eversharp Fifth Avenue
1945-47
About This Model
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 for its company before it was taken over by Parker. 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 a 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
About This Pen
This is the classic men’s Fifth Avenue, at 5¼” capped, in black plastic with gold-filled cap, barrel crown, and lever. A handsome pen, with innovative 1940s styling showing it off. The plastic is quite clean, the barrel showing almost no marking. The section shows a small amount of cap wear and the scar from its recent crack repair. The Eversharp imprint at the top of the cap is complete and, in its font and placement, a curious (and perhaps desperate) evocation of an earlier generation’s Wahls and Eversharps. There are two tiny checkmarks imprinted on the clip for which I have not found an explanation. The pen has an amusing “ME” personalization (with “ ”); it’s a little less of a mystery when the pen is paired with its matching “YOU” imprinted pencil. The pencil has defeated my efforts to get it working, but since ME needs to be with YOU, YOU will be included with the pen for no charge. The nib writes a decent medium line that’s on the dry side. However, it’s a good writer with wetter ink and looks great, so this set is a very nice addition to an Eversharp collection.
Price: $52 Sold