Wearever Pioneer
1950s
About This Model
Wearever was one of the most prolific fountain pen brands, manufactured in numerous models and countless varieties from the 1920s through the 1950s. They were, with Pioneers, the flagship line, with many other third tier pens from the same factories, of David Kahn's pen manufacturing empire. Ranging from poor overall quality Pioneers and Zeniths (few of which survive intact today) to the very solid and attractive Deluxes, Pennants, and Pacemakers of the 1940s, Wearevers were dime store pens that generally worked well, lasting as long as the quality of their components allowed. The top third of Kahn's quality levels included the Deluxe 100s, made from probably the mid-1930s-the end of the WWII. The Deluxes were usually of multicolored, vertically striped celluloid, with gold-colored trim and black plastic barrel and cap crowns. Their nibs were a wide range, from 14K to plate, to steel nibs with various Kahn model names. Deluxes and Deluxe 100s are found today in a range of survival -- the best are quite clean and easily restored. One needs to watch for corrosion in the metal trim and in the pressure bar.
About This Pen
With their sibling Pennants throughout the 1950s, Wearever Pioneers were ubiquitous drugstore pens, marketed at 50 cents each. In homage to the Parker 51, they featured a “hooded” nib made by an additional tab that partially covers the nib. It is in very clean red injection molded plastic with a metal cap that shows some wear; has a firm lever, Wearever’s signature clear plastic feed and writes a nice fine/medium line.
Price: $24 Sold