The story of a Pen Set?

[Massaya]

As someone who loves the unusual 1920's 30's pens with the submarine shape and lots of unusual colours, often 3rd tier. I thought FP Geeks might like to hear this story about a pen set. I saw the set for sale on E bay and liked the look of it. The thing that caught my eye was a diamond shape on the shoulder of the clip. I wondered if it had anything to do with early CS pens. The only thing I knew from the sale was the date 1933. The pen set arrived today, I was able to access the pen and put in a new sac and also put new lead in the pencil. The pen has a fine nib, which isn't my taste, but it fills ok and writes and holds ink well. The nib is clearly marked Durium. The pen and pencil both have 12 sides and are not smooth as one would suppose from the pictures. I also discovered the adverts I've attached, they describe the pen very well including the 12 sides, and I think I have the mans version of the boxed set, as mine was boxed too.
I happened to be talking to Henry Simpole about something else and mentioned the pen. He said that if the diamond was on the shoulder of the clip (and I confirm it is) then it was probably made by CS for sale by another company. Having the advert that so closely resembles the set, I wondered if the pens had been sold at the height of the depression to the US to help exports, and the company N Sharn, Chicargo was selling then to stay afloat whilst they developed the microphone that became the one used by American forces during WW2. I wondered if anyone over the pond could enlighten me any further. Either way I hope you like my pen set and the story.
1006810069100701007110072

[Robert]

Great story - - Thanks so much for the post!

[Dreck]

That's a gorgeous set. Thanks for the intriguing story that accompanies them.

[SteveE]

I have to doubt the linkage to Shure Brothers, Inc., the Chicago audio products company. I have not heard of them being known as "N. Shure Company" and don't know of a family member with the initial "N" who could have been involved. As far as I know, Shure has always been in the audio business. I know that it was common during WW II for manufacturers to make items for the military that were far removed from their normal product line, but these were usually items made for the US Government, made on the production lines that would have been making civilian items if the materials had been available.

Many years ago I worked at Helene Curtis, Inc., a hair care and personal care products company (primary products were shampoos, hair conditioners and skin lotions), and was fascinated to learn that they had also manufactured motion picture projectors for the army during the war. I haven't heard of any companies importing goods as part of a survival strategy, as international shipping would have been unpredictable during those years.

[Deb]

Beautiful pen set but I don't see anything about it that suggests Conway Stewart.

[Massaya]

Hi Steve, I think you may have misunderstood some of my references. The period the sales refer to is 1933 during the depression years, hence the need for both CS and Shure's to sell items not usually associated with them, or it could have been a branch of that family. As you noted they are specialists in audio equipment, but one of their first microphones was under development during 1933 and the depression. The patent was later issued and that was the microphone that was used during WW2. I expect you would recognise the microphone as I think it was made famous in many pictures of radio broadcasters during that period. Shures would have needed something to sell in those early radio years, whilst they were undertaking research and development that has led to their strengths in audio. Equally CS would have needed to raise money to keep going during the depression, and exports are very important to the British economy, so manufacturing pens to sell abroad would have fitted too. I think, like WW2 we owed money to the US for war materials from WW1 so exports would have been doubly important. I hope that clarifies any misunderstanding. All my surmises are just that. I have pens, that may have been manufacturd by CS (they carry the diamond on the shoulder of the clip) for sale not as CS but as third tier by another company, and I have an advert by N Sures selling pens that are remarkably similar to the ones I have.

[SteveE]

I could be persuaded to think that a member of the Shure family could have branched out into other products to keep things afloat, but none of my friends who knew some of the key designers at Shure have ever mentioned any other product lines to me, especially pens. My information is mostly hearsay, from older guys who knew the family and some of their senior design engineers. I met these gentlemen through a local amateur radio club (I've been a ham for over 50 years).

If we can ever find anything that definitively ties them together, it would be a fascinating find. I'll try asking my friends when I see them next. They are getting up there in years (nearing 90), but one can ask.

[Roger W.]

OK, google is your friend. Sydney N. Shure founded the radio company which appears to have nothing to do with this pen (guessing a little knowledge was dangerous here). When his brother joined him in 1928 they became Shure Brothers, Inc. which made microphones (per 1995 obituary). Joseph N. Shure (who may or may not be related to the radio guys) was co-chairman of N. Shure Co. which was an importer of toys and also had been chairman of Strombecker Corp. founded by his father in 1876 a manufacturer of toys (this is per the 1989 obituary). That they were involved in items in the world's fair 1933 is amply evident. I don't find corporate records for such a company so it is either in Springfield's archives or it was never legally incorporated (IL Sec. of State). Looks like this company was a general importer and likely listed pens and such along with toys that they sold. I find Vogue pens in a 1935 N. Shure catalog with Wearever so they must have specialized in low end merchandise. In 1958 the name was changed to Enesco Imports a division of N. Shure Company which brought us those damn precious moments items (oh, this company has a lot to answer for!).

Roger W.

[Massaya]

Hi Roger
Your input is fascinating. So two Shure's one with the microphones and one selling toys. It certainly seems likely that the N Sure toy seller is the one in the adverts, though the fact that I have pens with a CS symbol on the shoulder, possibly made by Conway Stewart that may be the same pens as in the advert is still a mystery. One that will probably never be solved. incidentally, for those of you that can't see it the diamond shape is just by the fingers in the picture. It is faint, but the shadow of the diamond is there. Of cause I can see it clearly as I have the pens.