Although dip pen-pencil combinations date back at least to the mid-19th century, the first fountain pen-pencil combos seem to date to shortly after the turn of the century. Nonetheless, few were made up until the very end of the '20s, when they suddenly became all the rage. The fad was short-lived, however, and pretty much restricted to the USA.
While most of the quality penmakers offered combos, their products are relatively rare. Sheaffer combos are the most common; Mabie Todd and Conklin combos are scarcer, while Wahl, Waterman, and especially Parker combos were made in very limited numbers. The Schnell Penselpen must also be mentioned, since it appears to have been the product that touched off the fad in the first place. Schnells are high quality combos with a distinctive slider filler on the side of the barrel; their clips are also distinctive, being made in the shape of an airplane.
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