Eversharp Symphony 1948-1952
by Jim Mamoulides 5/14/02 - Updated 12/14/10
The Meteoric Rise and Fall
Eversharp Symphony 1st Generation model 500 Red c1948 - original Loewy design - note unique features
The 1940s was an up and down decade for Eversharp. In 1941, the company introduced the Henry Dreyfuss (1904-1972) designed Skyline models, which became the company’s most successful pen ever, carrying the company to industry sales leadership by 1945. Dreyfuss was a prolific industrial designer. He designed telephones, aircraft, the Polaroid Land Camera, and streamlined trains, including the 20th Century Limited, which is a strong influence for the Skyline pen. His influence on ergonomics is traced to his design books, Designing for People, 1955 and The Measure of Man, 1960. This shows strongly in the design of the Skyline.
Eversharp Symphony advertisement 1949
In spite of sales leadership in those heady times, Eversharp began a series of missteps that precipitated the company's eventual exit from the pen business. The first was the short-lived Fifth Avenue line, a hooded nib pen designed to compete with the popular Parker 51. In addition to a uninspiring cap design, the pen's barrel shape forced a small ink capacity and a combination that doomed it to low sales.
The second mistake was the nearly fatal blow. In 1945, Eversharp embarked on a rushed attempt to enter the ballpoint market, spending millions to obtain the rights to make the Biro ballpoint from the Eterpen Company of Argentina. The "pen that killed Eversharp" was called the "CA" pen as the ballpoint cartridge used “capillary action” to flow the ink to the steel ball. The earliest CA ballpoints were styled like the popular Skyline pens. Later models followed the Fifth Avenue line styling. In the company's haste to get the pen to market, it was not extensively tested, and the first year very high sales quickly turned into massive returns, due to flaws in the cartridge design. This caused the company to effect a massive recall. This failure was a huge loss for the company.
Eversharp 3rd Generation "Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy c1950 pencil and fountain pen with an Eversharp Skyline
The Attempt to Rise from the Ashes
In hopes of recreating the success of the Skyline, which was winding down its popularity by 1948, Eversharp enlisted famed Paris, France born industrial designer Raymond Loewy (1893-1986) to design a new pen line. Loewy emigrated to the United States in 1919 and started his own design company in 1927. Loewy, like Dreyfuss, designed numerous other consumer goods, emphasizing streamlining and modern materials. These designs influenced numerous household items, including the Coca Cola bottle, the Lucky Strike logo, toothbrushes, radios, electric razors, the Studebaker Avanti (the only car design exhibited in the Louvre) and the streamline Electrolux vacuums, which may have inspired the Symphony's original “slipper” cap, as it is commonly referred to by collectors. Eversharp had high hopes that engaging this famous designer would help recreate the magic and success of the Dreyfuss-designed Skyline.
Eversharp Symphony model 701 (left to right):
2nd Generation Burgundy with Loewy "slipper" Cap
3rd Generation Blue with "bullet" Cap
The Symphony shows the hand of Loewy, but is still very much in the Eversharp family. Side by side, the Symphony obviously draws heavily on the Skyline for its functional engineering, and some design basics. In some ways the pen is an evolution more than a blank canvas design. The barrel shape is strongly similar to the Skyline, though the end taper is less pronounced. The Symphony, like the Skyline that preceded it, is a decidedly modern in design but very conventional in execution, with a practical and proven lever-filler, conventional open nib section and breather-tube feed system, unlike the forward thinking engineering of Sheaffer’s Vacuum-fill and Triumph nib pens and Parker’s Vacumatic filler and hooded nib 51.
All Symphony pens are streamlined metal capped pens. The first year, or "1st Generation" pens are notable for the “slipper” cap, the original Loewy design, where the cap has slightly offset halves, with a pronounced “step” edge at the top of the bullet shaped cap where the clip is, giving it the appearance of a slipper. If viewed from the side, the bottom half of the cap (opposite from the clip) extends farther than the top half, giving it the distinctive asymmetrical “slipper” look.
Eversharp Symphony nib detail showing Eversharp Banner c1949
Eversharp advertisements touted, "You write better with this new Eversharp because... it's the world's only pen with all these advanced writing features!" These included the “Magic Feed” unique to Eversharp, “Positive Flip-Fill” Eversharp’s easy to use and large capacity lever-fill system, and “Special Breather Tube” which equalized ink flow and allowed the pen to be used at high altitudes.
1st Generation, 1948: The Original Loewy Design
Eversharp Symphony 1st Generation model 500 Red fountain pen and model 1500 pencil Set c1948 - the original Loewy design
The Symphony went through three "generations" over the production run of the pen. The earliest Symphony, model 500, introduced in 1948, sold for US $5.00, and has the original Loewy "slipper" cap in stainless steel, with no trim other than the gold filled clip. These pens and the matching pencils also have a "V"-style clip, which has a peaked, rather than round top and the clip has a crease running from top to bottom. The clip is stamped with the word "Eversharp" down the length.
The nib and feed were nearly identical with the Skyline, having the Eversharp name engraved in a diagonal banner across the nib. Eversharp offered a wide array of nib types, including extra fine, fine, medium, coarse (broad) and stub, in manifold (firm), flexible, and a semi-flexible standard nib. New pens would have stickers indicating the nib type. The original Loewy pen section has metal cap threads in a band, very similar to the Sheaffer Triumph pens. Below the cap threads on the section, and covered by the cap when closed, is imprinted "Eversharp Symphony" and underneath "MADE IN U.S.A." in block letters.
Barrel colors were black, blue, green, and red. The first “slipper” cap Symphony pens are a little smaller in the section and barrel than the later models.
Eversharp Symphony pencils - note cap buttons:
Bottom - model 1500 Red pencil, original Loewy design c1948
Top - model 1703 Symphony Deluxe Black bullet cap design c1950
The matching repeater pencil, model 1500, sold for US $3.75 and has three ornate arched or wing shapes forming the repeater press button, rather than the ring pattern on the later repeaters. The pencil also has a plain tip.
Eversharp Symphony "Sphere Point" model - note radial threaded section
There was also an oddly designed "Sphere Point" version, which had a rounded, tapered inward section and a much smaller nib. This model sold for US $3.95.
Table of Models and Prices for the Eversharp Symphony 1st Generation:
| 1st Generation Symphony | Model | Price | Colors |
| Symphony Fountain Pen | 500 |
$5.00 |
Black, Blue, Green, Red |
| Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1500 |
$3.75 |
Black, Blue, Green, Red |
| Sphere Point Fountain Pen | Unknown |
$3.75 |
Black, Blue, Green, Red |
2nd Generation, 1949-1950: The Loewy Design Is Simplified
Eversharp Symphony models 701 (top to bottom):
Burgundy with Loewy "slipper" cap c1949
Blue with "bullet" cap c1950
The 2nd Generation Symphony was introduced at Christmas 1949, now offered in three grades of trim. The visible changes were softening the edges of the cap to a more rounded design, finishing the cap in a high polish, flattening the clip, adding the words "Made in USA" to the clip top, and simplifying the section. The pencil gained a small ring engraving in the cone tip.
The standard Symphony, model 701, has a narrow inlaid cap band. The new Deluxe Symphony, model 703, has a very wide gold plated cap band that extends to the edge of the cap. The new Golden Symphony, model 705, has a 1/10 14 karat gold filled cap and clip with no band on the cap. The new line was presented with darker barrel colors, including black, blue, Dubonnet (burgundy), and green. Eversharp continued to offer a wide array of nib types, including extra fine, fine, medium, coarse (broad) and stub, in manifold (firm), flexible, and a semi-flexible standard nib. New pens would continue to have stickers indicating the nib type.
Eversharp also introduced a new budget line, model 707, with a "bullet" cap and cheap gold plating, advertised as a new "Luxury Set". This design would prove to be the precursor for the 3rd Generation Symphony design. It should also be said that this model was not offered as a Symphony model per se, but was shown both with the Symphony line in advertisements and clearly carries the features of the more expensive redesigned pens, as an entry level model. It was also advertised separately, so it may not be strictly part of the Symphony line. The nib and feed are very similar to those on the smallest size Skyline, but lack the banner on the higher line pens. This pen should not be confused with the Golden Symphony.
Eversharp Symphony Collection Posted - Top to Bottom:
"Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen and model 1707 twist pencil c1949
Symphony model 701 Blue fountain pen c1950
Symphony Deluxe model 703 Black fountain pen and model 1703 Repeater Pencil c1950
I have found examples (but not identified the model or name) of a 2nd Generation slipper cap Symphony with a brushed stainless steel cap, chrome plated clip and lever, and a bright polished wide cap band. This model has the same small bannerless nib and feed unit as seen on the "Luxury Set" pens. I suspect that this is a downmarket model from the standard Symphony and must have been priced between the Symphony 701 model and the "Luxury Set" pen. I have seen auction photographs of an all solid gold, cap and barrel, model of the 2nd Generation Symphony.
Eversharp Symphony Collection Capped - Top to Bottom:
"Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen c1949
Symphony model 701 Blue fountain pen c1950
Symphony Deluxe model 703 Black fountain pen c1950
Symphony model 701"slipper" cap Burgundy fountain pen c1949
The standard Symphony sold for US $5.00, with matching pencil at US $3.75, and the Deluxe Symphony at US $8.75. Standard Symphony pen and repeater pencil sets were US $8.75, Symphony Deluxe sets were US $12.75, and Golden Symphony sets were US $18.75. The pen was reportedly also offered with either a solid 14 karat gold or sterling silver cap, although I haven’t personally seen any examples.
The new "Luxury Set" was the least expensive model offering and was aggressively priced at US $3.75, with pen and pencil sets starting at US $5.00. It was offered with an inexpensive twist advance pencil.
Eversharp Symphony 2nd Generation brushed stainless steel fountain pen and pencil set c1949
Table of Models and Prices for the Eversharp Symphony 2nd Generation:
| 2nd Generation Symphony | Model | Price | Colors |
| Symphony Fountain Pen | 701 |
$5.00 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1701 |
$3.75 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Fountain Pen | 703 |
$8.75 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1703 |
$4.00 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Golden Symphony Fountain Pen | 705 |
$12.75 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Golden Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1705 |
$6.00 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| "Luxury Set" Fountain Pen | 707 |
$3.75 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| "Luxury Set" Twist Action Pencil | 1707 |
$1.25 |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Brown, Burgundy, Green |
| Solid 14K Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
| Solid 14K Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
3rd Generation, 1951-1952: The Loewy Design Is Abandoned
"Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen with Sheaffer Crest Touchdown and Eversharp Skyline
At some time during 1951, Eversharp dropped the Loewy "slipper" cap design in favor of a simpler, streamlined "bullet" cap 3rd Generation Symphony. This last version loses the distinctive look and follows the design cues of other brands, such as the Sheaffer Crest and Sentinel models of the late 1940s. It is likely, due to Eversharp's deteriorating financial position, this was a cost cutting move.
An Eversharp Symphony "bullet" cap collection, left to right:
Symphony Deluxe model 703 Black fountain pen and pencil set
Symphony model 701 Blue fountain pen
"Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen and pencil set
The 3rd Generation Symphony maintained the same model numbers and price points as the 2nd Generation line. There are examples of "Brushed Stainless" Symphony "bullet" cap pens, so that model also carried forward into the 3rd Generation. The "Luxury Set" model is no longer seen in 1951 advertisements. A new all plastic bullet-shaped pen dubbed the "Economy Gold Nib Set" is introduced in 1952.
Eversharp continued the same barrel colors, including black, blue, Dubonnet (burgundy), and green. Eversharp continued to offer the wide array of nib types, including extra fine, fine, medium, coarse (broad) and stub, in manifold (firm), flexible, and a semi-flexible standard nib. New pens would continue to have stickers indicating the nib type.
Eversharp "Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen and pencil set c1950 with box
Starting in 1950, Eversharp ceased using the Symphony name in advertisements, emphasizing the Eversharp brand name. Raymond Loewy is no longer mentioned, not a surprise, as the pen no longer has the Loewy designed cap. One can only speculate, but It's possible that Loewy had some royalty arrangement in the pen and these subsequent design changes voided Eversharp's use of the name, or that Eversharp could no longer afford to pay a royalty.
Eversharp "Luxury Set" model 707 Burgundy fountain pen and pencil set with Eversharp Skyline
Table of Models and Prices for the Eversharp Symphony 3rd Generation (1951):
| 3rd Generation Symphony | Model | Price | Colors |
| Symphony Fountain Pen | 701 |
$5.00 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1701 |
$3.75 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Fountain Pen | 703 |
$8.75 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1703 |
$4.00 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Golden Symphony Fountain Pen | 705 |
$12.75 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Golden Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1705 |
$6.00 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Luxury Set" Fountain Pen | 707 |
$5.00 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Luxury Set" Twist Action Pencil | 1707 |
$1.25 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Solid 14K Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
| Solid 14K Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
In 1952, Eversharp increased prices across the board and introduced a new, all plastic cap and barrel "Economy Gold Nib Set." There is no indication that the "Luxury Set" or the Golden Symphony are still offered, so I have dropped them from the table below. Eversharp does advertise a $125.00 set, which is likely the 14 karat solid gold set, so I have left that in the table below.
Table of Models and Prices for the Eversharp Symphony 3rd Generation (1952):
| 3rd Generation Symphony | Model | Price | Colors |
| Symphony Fountain Pen | 701 |
$5.75 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1701 |
$4.25 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Fountain Pen | 703 |
$10.00 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Deluxe Symphony Repeater Pencil | 1703 |
$4.50 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Economy Gold Nib Set" Fountain Pen | Unknown |
$4.75 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Economy Gold Nib Set" Twist Action Pencil | Unknown |
$2.25 |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| "Brushed Stainless" Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Black, Blue, Burgundy, Green |
| Solid 14K Symphony Fountain Pen | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
| Solid 14K Symphony Repeater Pencil | Unknown |
Unknown |
Solid 14 karat gold cap and barrel |
Eversharp "Luxury Set" (left) and Eversharp Skyline nib sections side by side
Eversharp "Luxury Set" (left) and Eversharp Skyline feeds side by side
With heavy advertising featuring the pen's famous designer, the Eversharp Symphony was not the big follow-up hit to the Skyline that Eversharp hoped for. The Symphony was the last high quality pen made by Eversharp. Production continued until 1952, when Eversharp, fading, started producing lower quality models including the cheaper and strangely named and marketed Ventura “Burp” pens. The company was sold to Parker in 1957. Parker continued to use the Eversharp name for economy cartridge pens into the early 1960s.
Performance
If you have written with the vintage Eversharp Skylines (not the new reissued models of the 1990s) you would find the Symphony to be very similar in the hand and putting words on the page. For this review, I picked a brown and gold capped Skyline to test side by side with a burgundy "Luxury Set" pen c1950 and a burgundy Loewy "slipper" cap pen from 1949.
Both the Loewy cap and "Luxury Set" pens shown in this article are fitted with very flexible medium nibs. The Loewy pen is about 5 1/2 inches long capped and 6 inches posted, while the "Luxury Set" is about 5 3/8 inches long capped and 6 inches posted. I like the lever being more to the middle of the barrel on these pens, where on the Skyline, being more toward the end of the barrel, the cap tends to wear on the lever. The front mounted clip makes them ride high in the pocket.
The nibs and feeds are very similar to the Skyline, though the later model "Luxury Set" shown here is very much smaller, more like the demi model Skyline. All of the pens fill easily with a stroke of the lever. All are wet, smooth writers with consistent lines as typical of Eversharp Skyline pens.
The pen's plastic will yield a good shine when cleaned up. The detailing is nice, but better on the Loewy and Skyline pens. The Luxury pen's cap is the weak spot, not looking as heavy gold filled as competitive and earlier Eversharp pens and is highly susceptible to scratching. The Symphony caps post very securely and deeply, as on the Skyline.
Eversharp "Luxury Set" Burgundy fountain pen and pencil set c1950 in box
The Symphony pen is very plain and clean in its design, and other than the Loewy cap, frankly not very memorable. Sheaffer Triumphs and Touchdowns from the same period aren't any more ornate, but they have a more solid feel in the hand. The gold plating on the Luxury model has an over bright sheen that is detracts from this pen. To me, these are down market pens from competitors. A noticeable drop from the Skyline pens.
Symphony pens aren't overabundant, and the "slipper" cap first year pens are the harder ones to find, and will be more collectible. Some collectors view only the first year model as a true Symphony, or at least the pen must have the "slipper" cap. Certainly the later rounded cap pens have less appeal, and Eversharp did cease calling the pen the Symphony probably as early as 1950.
The Deluxe pen with the chrome cap and extra wide cap band is the most attractive, in my opinion, and the "Luxury Set" is the least, with the gold plating reminding me a lot of some cheap Wearevers from the 1950s. The pen's quality shows more in the section and barrel, which are enough like the Skyline to be a positive, but capped, the pen loses this appeal. Expect to see Symphony pens near the bargain basement of vintage pens, in the range with Esterbrooks and above Wearevers and their kin. I think they are a collectible bit of history, but not a first choice pen. They should be easy enough to restore and they work well and are good user pens.
Follow us on Twitter: PenHero
Add a link to PenHero.com on your blog:
(Copy & paste code)
Please only use the photo provided. Use of other photos requires permission.
The provided link photo will change as we update the site.
Comments on this article
may be sent to the author, Jim Mamoulides
PenHero.com Bibliography