Please know that the timeline is currently under construction.
The History of the Sheaffer Pen Company
1867
July 7 – Walter A. Sheaffer is Born
Walter A. Sheaffer was born on July 27, 1867 in Bloomfield, Iowa.
1908
August 25 – W. A. Sheaffer patents the Lever Filling Fountain Pen
Walter A. Sheaffer patents his design of the lever fill mechanism. US Patent 896,861.
1912
December 10 – W. A. Patents an improved design
W. A. Sheaffer patents an improvement to his earlier patent. After this he begins going into the pen business full time. US Patent 1,046,660.
Sold first lever filling pens
The First Lever filling pens were made of hard rubber with flat ends, known later as Flat top.
1913
January 1 – W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company is incorporated in Iowa
1914
New cap seal design is introduced
A screw cap with a new single-piece inner cap is produced to keep the nib from drying out
The first Sheaffer national advertisement is ran in the Saturday Evening Post
Ladies pens with ring top introduced
The “SHEAFFER-CLIP” clip is introduced
This clip (pictured below) was a long straight clip with large ball. This clip design was discontinued in 1921.
1915
Cap bands are introduced in hard rubber caps
A decorative and reinforcing clip band was added to hard rubber caps.
1916
Counter top displays and floor show cases were offered to dealers
1917
Acquired the New Jersey supplier of nibs
Production of Sheaffer nibs was moved as well as employees from the New Jersey plant, including Winfield Kay of Jersey City. Previously, all Sheaffer nibs had to be shipped in on a daily basis from the New Jersey plant. If the train was late, production was slowed or halted until it arrived.
1918
Reorganized as a Delaware Corporation
The first Sheaffer mechanical pencil, the Sharp Point, is produced
The Sheaffer Sharp Point model pencil used a propel-repel mechanism. It was discontinued in 1921.
1919
Introduced Gift Sets
With the production of pencils, matching pen and pencil sets were sold in new gift boxes.
1920
Started the Lifetime guarantee and Lifetime nibs
1921
Improved mechanical pencil design
The Sheaffer Sharp Point “propel-repel” mechanism was replaced by a new “propel-repel-expel” mechanism.
1922
“SHEAFFER-CLIP” clip imprint changed to “SHEAFFER’S”
Robert Casey develops Skrip, sold later in the year
1923
All metal Lifetime pens are introduced
1924
Radite plastic is adopted for pen bodies
Lifetime guarantee is extended to cover the whole Lifetime Radite pen
Previously, only the nib was covered by the Lifetime guarantee.
1946
June 9 – Walter A. Sheaffer Dies
Walter A Sheaffer dies in Fort Madison, Iowa. He serves as the chairman of the board until his death.