C. Howard Hunt
Encyclopedia
C. Howard Hunt was an American
company that manufactured Dip pen
s, now commercialized under the brand Speedball
.
. The C. Howard Hunt Pen Company invented the smooth gliding round pointed pen, which required about 15 operations in the manufacturing. Expert cutters used cutting presses to produce almost 45,000 pens a day from rolled sheets of steel. Pictured from left, workers imprint, grind and ship 25 pens per minute.
In 1936, Hunt became America's first large manufacturer of inexpensive accessories for linoleum block printing, a popular school craft. Henry Frankenfield, printmaker and art educator, developed this line.
, Hunt reduced operations, recovering with the development of the gold-plated stainless steel pen, which was boosted by the Company's invention of a special patented tip. In 1942 regulations on stainless steel stopped production of pencil sharpeners and specialty metal items. The sale of silver alloy nibs kept the Company viable during World War II.
Over the years, Hunt expanded its product line and markets through acquisitions such as Bienfang, Lit-Ning, Bevis and Data Products. Even though some of these acquisitions are no longer part of the company, they do represent an important chapter in the Hunt Story.
George Bartol, III, joined the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company in 1946. He apprenticed in the Company's manufacturing department, and succeeded his father as President in 1956. In 1969 he also became Chairman of the Board. Bartol's leadership transformed the small, family-owned C. Howard Hunt Pen Company into the publicly held Hunt Manufacturing Company.
artists to ink their pages. Some of them are Walt Simonson
, Dale Keown
, Bob McLeod
, Kevin Nowlan
, Bill Sienkiewicz
, Joe Sinnott
and Andy Lanning
(#102 pen users), George Pérez
(#100) and Joe Rubinstein (#100, 103).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company that manufactured Dip pen
Dip pen
A dip pen or nib pen usually consists of a metal nib with capillary channels like those of fountain pen nibs, mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood. Other materials can be used for the holder, including bone, metal and plastic, while some pens are made entirely of glass...
s, now commercialized under the brand Speedball
Speedball (art products)
Speedball is an American company that manufactures art materials and other stationery items. The company, first famous by its dip pens, has expanded its range of products to other art areas such us painting, sculpture and printing press. -History:...
.
The beginning
In 1899 C. Howard Hunt formed his own company and established it in Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. The C. Howard Hunt Pen Company invented the smooth gliding round pointed pen, which required about 15 operations in the manufacturing. Expert cutters used cutting presses to produce almost 45,000 pens a day from rolled sheets of steel. Pictured from left, workers imprint, grind and ship 25 pens per minute.
Speedball pen
The Speedball pen was developed and patented by sign letterer Ross F. George of Seattle. His square-tipped pen could make broad and thin lines. George took the patent to the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company in 1915. They manufactured the pens in six sizes and published the Speedball Text Book written by George. In 1925 the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company purchased the Boston Specialty Company, manufacturer of Boston Pencil Pointers.In 1936, Hunt became America's first large manufacturer of inexpensive accessories for linoleum block printing, a popular school craft. Henry Frankenfield, printmaker and art educator, developed this line.
Difficult Times
Throughout the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Hunt reduced operations, recovering with the development of the gold-plated stainless steel pen, which was boosted by the Company's invention of a special patented tip. In 1942 regulations on stainless steel stopped production of pencil sharpeners and specialty metal items. The sale of silver alloy nibs kept the Company viable during World War II.
Over the years, Hunt expanded its product line and markets through acquisitions such as Bienfang, Lit-Ning, Bevis and Data Products. Even though some of these acquisitions are no longer part of the company, they do represent an important chapter in the Hunt Story.
George Bartol, III, joined the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company in 1946. He apprenticed in the Company's manufacturing department, and succeeded his father as President in 1956. In 1969 he also became Chairman of the Board. Bartol's leadership transformed the small, family-owned C. Howard Hunt Pen Company into the publicly held Hunt Manufacturing Company.
Restructuring
A new chapter to the history of Hunt began November 14, 1997 when CEO Walt Glazer led a buyout of the Speedball division during the company restructuring. Subsequently, Hunt pens are currently commercialized under the "Speedball" brand.Artists
Hunt pens have been widely used by a legion of comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
artists to ink their pages. Some of them are Walt Simonson
Walt Simonson
Walter "Walt" Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist. After studying geology at Amherst College, he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1972. His thesis project there was The Star Slammers, which was published as a black and white promotional comic book...
, Dale Keown
Dale Keown
Dale Keown is a Canadian comic book artist from Grande Prairie, Alberta who currently resides in Toronto.-Career:Keown started working in comics in 1986 drawing several series for Aircel Comics, including Samurai, Elflord, Dragon Ring , and Warlock 5.Keown moved to Marvel Comics in 1989, where he...
, Bob McLeod
Bob McLeod
Robert William McLeod was an Australian cricketer who played in 6 Tests 1892-93. His brother, Charlie, also played cricket for Australia.-Biography:McLeod was born in Port Melbourne, Victoria....
, Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan is an American comic-book artist who works as penciler, inker, colorist and letterer.He has been called "one of the few artists who can be called 'artists's artist'", a master of the various disciplines of comic production, from "design to draftsmanship to dramatics".-Biography:Kevin...
, Bill Sienkiewicz
Bill Sienkiewicz
Boleslav Felix Robert "Bill" Sienkiewicz [pronounced sin-KEV-itch] is an Eisner Award-winning American artist and writer best known for his comic book work, primarily for Marvel Comics' The New Mutants and Elektra: Assassin...
, Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott is an American comic book artist. Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 , initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby...
and Andy Lanning
Andy Lanning
Andy Lanning is a British comic book writer and inker, known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, and for his collaboration with Dan Abnett.-Career:Lanning works primarily at Marvel Comics and DC Comics as an inker...
(#102 pen users), George Pérez
George Pérez
George Pérez is a Puerto Rican-American writer and illustrator of comic books, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.-Biography:...
(#100) and Joe Rubinstein (#100, 103).