Black Moores

Two Moore pencils from the 1930s came my way, but instead of colorful celluloid, they are as black as a raven's wing.

The smaller, 4.5" middle twist pencil does have a tiny top of yellow marble with a black dot like a bird's eye in the center.  Made in the early 1930s, this pencil still has the Moore 1925 patented ball clip marked Moore with the Os intertwined. The pencil uses 1.1 mm lead.  There is gold-tone trim, and an imprint on the top half which reads "THE MOORE PEN CO. BOSTON, MASS. USA." It has the thirties-era streamlined shape, introduced by Sheaffer in 1929, but it is a chunky version, all of 3/8 inch thick.

Keeping up with the trend, the Moore Mastercraft was introduced in 1937-- much more streamlined and slender, with a pointed metal jewel at the top holding a newly-designed clip. 

A Mastercraft pencil is a pleasure to hold, and uses the more modern 0.9 mm lead.  Measuring 5", this all black Mastercraft is a man's pencil, while the lady's  Mastercraft is a petite 4.25 inches.  You can follow the link to see it in a previous post.

Its only mark is "Moore" inscribed on the clip.  In the photo below you can see the bullseye-style metal jewel.  The gold trim is untarnished.  A ribbed band divides the middle twist pencil in two.

 You can see a 1940s man's Mastercraft in striated celluloid in this previous blog:  

Mastercraft During the War