From the hard times of the early 1930s comes this Wahl Eversharp "Dollar" pencil, advertised as a "popular priced" writing instrument in a line which included mechanical pencils for as much as $5.63 in 1930, and as little as 60 cents. The full-sized 5 & 1/2 inch "Dollar" pencil shown has a black tip, black removable top cap with eraser underneath, and gold-tone point, bands, and ball clip, while the body of the pencil is finely grained jade green "marble."
It is a middle-drive twist pencil with 1.1 mm lead.
The stock market crash of 1929 and the drought and dust-storms that plagued the mid-section of America made even a dollar too much--much too much!--to pay for a pencil.
The farmers benefiting from Hoover's 1929 Farm Relief Bill probably used wooden pencils to record and add up their seed and feed bills--they cost a few pennies.
From the dust bowl came bankrupt farmers and businessmen, out-of-work farm laborers, and migrant farm workers, all seeking a living in greener pastures of plenty. Among these was one man who chronicled the times with songs of the people, whose guitar was, famously, a machine that killed fascists. He was to be a significant influence on American music. For important documents he used a fountain pen.
I don't want your millions, mister.
I don't want your diamond ring.
All I want is the right to live, mister.
Give me back my job again.
Words by Woody Guthrie to the tune of "Greenback Dollar"
I don't want your greenback dollar,
I don't want your silver chain,
All I want is your love, darling,
Won't you take me back again?
Traditional lyrics
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