Posted 6 years ago
Bkandra
(1 item)
I’m desperate for ANY relable information regarding the WWII era Mechanical Pencil. It has a double (brass) propellers, with a chrome/?/stainless steel body, well made. Some have a shirt clip, some have lost the clip. I have found at least 2 sizes, the longest being 6”. References to them being made by Cross as a novelty item occasionally appear. Does anyone know the truth, or where I can get reliable data? Numbers made, where sold, by whom manufactured, how distributed........thanks ! The two I have were acquired by Mom (now 94) when she was a Secretary at the U.S. Navy Bureau of Naval Meccine in 1945, gift from a USN Submariner. Bob K.
There's one on ebay at the moment and also if you go to pencils on this site you will find it there as well. Neil
My stepfather world war 2 gunners mate 2nd class gave me a 6" long torpedo pen. It didn't have a clip when I got it. It has been misplaced somewhere in all my years of growing up. I remember using it. It was a little slick to hold on to and it had a little weight to it.
Hello Bob K; Just saw your plea for some help regarding these WWII US Navy torpedo mechanical pencils & I realize it’s over five years, hope you are still curious about their source.
During WWII US Navy yards had machine shops along with most ships including submarines. The navy yard machine shops had an ongoing side business of fabricating just about everything imaginable including these really cool pencils. There are at least four different designs that I have purchased over the years that have slight differences such as double propellors that spin as one, spin separately or are static plus slight changes to torpedo tip where lead is held. The shop workers also made beautiful metal ashtray customized with a ship design/name and small torpedo earring, pendants for necklaces & charm bracelets which where referred to as sweetheart pins, men’s tie tac’s, etc. They would trade these items for bring back war relics, a huge business that the higher ups did not try to stop because non-combatants wanted items from the war which helps explain your Grandmother receiving her’s while working at a naval base. You are fortunate to have a pair. There’s one for sale on eBay for $250.00 & another site has one for just under $150.00.
I am a Militaria dealer & collect WWI/WWII submarine history & items hence my being familiar with the trading frenzy taking place with subs returning from patrol after stopping to refuel/supply at islands such as Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, the Marshall Islands, etc., and the sub sailors trading for war booty to bring back to base. Many veteran stories of how some made enough money to start businesses after war’s end & discharge. Another interesting result of WWII side businesses was that military supply depots & quartermasters would trade clothing for war booty and it’s also what started a post war phenomenon of civilian employees taking office supplies home, a habit from being used to, as a soldier, getting most anything they needed/wanted from quartermaster supply depots, all they had to have was something to trade. Endless items & stories.
Enjoy your Grandmother’s very rare mechanical pencils.
Take care,
Richard Schindler aka/Hugozhackenabush
My Great Uncle was a machinist during WWII. He worked at Goat Island off Newport, RI where they made torpedoes during the war and worked on developing other munitions. He made four sets of earrings, a brooch that one could attach a watch to, and the mechanical pencils. He gave them to his wife, her sister (my Grandmother), my mother and his daughter-in-law. The pencil appears to be stainless steel or chrome with dual brass propellers that turn. The earrings appear duller, and I have not attempted to clean or polish them. They are a wonderful reminder of him, and such a memento of the war. I saw on Worthpoint a pen that was made at an installation in Illinois, so I now know that it wasn't just his creativity, but an illicit endeavor shared amongst these wonderful machinists!
Meant to say "pencil", not pen, in the above post!
hi there, i also have a torpedo pen/pencil from my dad. he was army air corps. can someone tell me how it operates so i can use it? thanks!
Richard Schindler aka/Hugozhackenabush - hi, may I ask how one uses the pencil. mine seems frozen and I don't want to lubricate it with something that may damage it. my Dad was 8th Army Air Corp and I have no idea how he got it. thanks for any help. Martha