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Original Bic
This is probably a who-cares type of question but if one is of a certain
age and remembers the original Bic "Crystal" (note not "Cristal"): I first encountered this non-retractable ballpoint pen as a kid in the early '60s and it sold for I think 15 or 19 cents at the local drug store. The look was essentially the same as the currently available "Cristal" but the entire point and nose cone consisted of brass, unlike now where the nose cone is plastic. There were also TV ads at the time where the pen was strapped to a figure skaters' blade or shot out of a rifle to demo its quality. So the trivia question is when did Bic switch to the plastic nose cone (presumably a production cost savings) and change "Crystal" to "Cristal"? I'm assuming Bic also improved their ink over the decades as those earlier models would sometimes result in ink siphoning out into the pen housing, oozing out the vent hole and into your shirt pocket! Thanks for your time and historical comment. Sincerely, -- J. B. Wood e-mail: |
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#2
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Original Bic
On 9/15/2018 5:02 PM, Bud Frede wrote:
I don't remember them being called "Crystal" at all. They were just BIC pens (in the US). I would assume that the "Cristal" name they use now is from another language - perhaps French? I also don't remember when they switched from an all-brass tip to the current brass and plastic. I think it was the early '70s though. Hello, and thanks for the reply to my OP. Here's a link with a pic to what I remember being sold: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...oint-469610137 Besides individual packaging they were also sold in bins in drug store displays. This was the only style of Bic pen available in the U.S. for several years. Way before Bic butane lighters ("A flick of my Bic"), shavers and other ball pen types. (Just for the record my ball pen price-for-performance award would have to go to Parker who offered a silver/black retractable that's still available today. That Parker ink in that fat refill just refuses to dry out.) Sincerely, -- J. B. Wood e-mail: |
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