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Home > About Fisher Space Pen
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OUR STORY
Introduction
What is powerful enough to be at the intersection of NASA, the New York Museum of Modern Art, and Seinfeld? Something small enough to fit in your pocket yet big enough to generate thousands of customer fan letters over several decades. A product that works in virtually any condition and is still made by a family-owned company right here in the United States. Welcome to Fisher Space Pen®. This is our story.
Our History
Even though our founder, Paul C. Fisher, revolutionized the pen industry 20 years earlier with the invention of the ‘Universal Cartridge Refill’, it was his creation of the sealed and pressurized ink cartridge that literally launched the company into space in 1966. Debuting on the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, Fisher Space Pen has been on every NASA crewed space flight since. In fact, Fisher Space Pen now has its own permanent exhibit inside the Apollo / Saturn V Center at Kennedy Space Center, which proudly shares our history and products with some three million people a year.
Our products have also managed to find themselves onboard the International Space Station and have been utilized by the Russian and Chinese space programs, as well!.
"I am proud to continue the principles of accuracy and quality that my father instilled throughout our organization. I’ve tried to instill the same principles in our children and am proud to see them implementing those principles as they work their way up the chain of command within the company.” – Cary Fisher
Our Products
Fisher Space Pens are built for more than just outer space. The fact is, due to the patented sealed and pressurized ink cartridge, they will write in just about any condition and on almost any surface. Underwater or over grease. Extreme temperatures (-30 to +250 F/-35 to +121 C). Upside down or floating in a gravity-free zone. It doesn’t matter, our pens will perform. Our sealed and pressurized ink cartridges last three times longer than the average pen with an estimated 100-year shelf life. As an added bonus, we have a vast selection of over 85 eye catching designs and styles.
“It is a product that speaks to the innovation, quality, reliability & performance traditions that are synonymous with our space program.”– Matt Fisher
Our Customers
In the end, our customers’ needs are at our core, and they are the reason for our success. They come from all walks of life, working in every profession and in every condition imaginable. From outdoor enthusiasts, to contractors and tradesmen, to those serving in the armed forces, to artists and journalists...All demand performance, and the Space Pen delivers. Over the years we’ve received hundreds, if not thousands, of videos and letters from our customers, sharing their unique stories and experiences with our products. We appreciate their trust in us.
“It’s humbling to see just how many fan videos and testimonials we receive from our dedicated customers. It truly touches our hearts and we look forward to innovating new designs and components for them to utilize in any environment they wish.” –Matt Fisher
Our Family
Our founder’s legacy continues today with son Cary Fisher serving as President. Paul’s grandson and Cary’s son, Matt Fisher, is also involved in the day-to-day operation as Vice President. Our family extends well beyond the family name, however. We are proud and humbled that a large number of Fisher employees have also been with the company for decades. We believe this loyalty is the result of a longstanding culture based on mutual respect, dignity, and commitment to quality.
“Our employees are our lifeblood. We know everyone on a first name basis and treat them all with respect and dignity. Our company would not be where it is today without them.” – Cary Fisher
By the Way
Yes, our chrome Bullet Space Pen (#400) is in the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art as a symbol of elegant, industrial American design. And yes, it was the Space Pen featured in the Seinfeld episode entitled ‘The Pen’. Yet, despite our success, history and a little fame, we refuse to rest on our laurels. We continue to work hard, innovate and stay focused on our customers. It is the only way we know how to do business.
Go Inside the Fisher Space Pen Cartridge
As Seen On "Machines:How they Work" on the Science Channel
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OUR HISTORY
1948
- Inventor and Pen Manufacturer, Paul C. Fisher, founds Fisher Pen Company in Chicago, Illinois.
1953
- Paul Fisher invents the “Universal Refill Cartridge” to fit most brand name pens.
- This invention solves a big problem for stationers because, until a quality replacement refill came along, the stationers had to carry two point sizes and four colors of ink for each pen brand/model they carried.
1966
- Paul Fisher develops (Patent #3,285,228) The Sealed and Pressurized Fisher Space Pen® Ink Cartridge for the original AG7 Anti-Gravity Pen.
1968
- The AG7 Fisher Space Pen® is used on Apollo 7 Mission after 18 months of rigorous testing by NASA.
1969
- Russian cosmonauts used pencils, and grease pencils on plastic slates until adopting a space pen in 1969 with a purchase of 100 units for use on future missions.
1976
- Fisher Pen Company moves into its 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Boulder City, Nevada from Van Nuys, California.
1980
- Paul Fisher is selected as “Small Business Person of the Year” for the State of Nevada.
1981
- The Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-1) launches on April 12, 1981, heralding a new era of space exploration. NASA begins using the Fisher CH4 – Chrome Plated Shuttle Space Pen, which has flown on every manned space mission ever since.
1983
- A Fisher Space Pen is used by President Ronald Reagan to sign the Proclamation inaugurating the Air and Space Bicentennial Year to celebrate Man’s First Flight in a Hot Air Balloon near Paris, France.
1985
- Fisher Pen Company produces the Stowaway “Atocha” Pen Line to commemorate the finding of the Atocha by the American treasure hunter, Mel Fisher, in 1985. These pens were filled with genuine gold and silver from the treasure recovered from the 1622 Spanish Galleon ‐ Nuestra Señora De Atocha.
- Former astronaut, Senator Jake Garn donates his AG7 Fisher Space Pen used during his flight on the STS-51-D Space Shuttle to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.
1986
- Paul Fisher runs for Congress in the Nevada primary, converts the operating side of Fisher Pen Co. of Nevada to a proprietorship and files a dba as Fisher Space Pen Co. This company reincorporates in Nevada as Fisher Pen Company dba Fisher Space Pen Co.
1991
- The Fisher Space Pen® Chrome Bullet is showcased in the Seinfeld Season 3 Episode “The Pen” on October 2nd.
1995
- Fisher Space Pen Co. receives the Nevada Governor’s Industrial Appreciation Award as “Exporter of the Year”.
1996
- Good Morning America names the Fisher Space Pen® the “Best Stocking Stuffer”.
- Fisher Space Pen Co. is licensed to produce the 150th Anniversary Pens for the Smithsonian.
1997
- The Fisher Space Pen® is used during the Everest North Face Sky Expedition.
1998
- The Fisher Space Pen® becomes the first product sold from space. Two Russian Astronauts aboard the Mir Space Station use the Fisher Space Pen® to write the letters “QVC” on a pad while appearing live on the QVC Shopping Network.
2006
- Paul C. Fisher, the inventor who had a dream and created the atmosphere-breaking pressurized refill that makes the Fisher Space Pen® possible, died at the age of 93. His spirit and values are carried on by his son Cary Fisher, his Plant Manager Donald ‘Dock’ Wong along with his faithful employees, 26% of whom have been with Fisher Space Pen Co. for more than 20 years.
2011
- ‘How It's Made’, a documentary television series that premiered on January 6th, 2001 on the Discovery Channel, shoots segment in the factory of Fisher Space Pen Co. and episode airs July 19th, 2012.
2013
- ‘The Fisher Space Pen Boldly Writes Where No Man Has Written Before’. Smithsonian.com article - Arts & Culture
- Nevada Business Magazine does a story on Cary Fisher and Fisher Space Pen Co. as part of its ‘Made in Nevada ‐ What Happens Here Goes Everywhere’ cover story.
- Las Vegas Review Journal interviews Fisher Space Pen Co. President, Cary Fisher, as part of its ‘Nevadan at Work’ series.
2014
- AOL in partnership with Ford Motor Company chooses Fisher Space Pen Co. to represent manufacturing in Nevada on THIS BUILT AMERICA. This multi-platform series showcases the rejuvenation of manufacturing in America. Each segment tells the incredible story of a company, one from each of the 50 states, committed to American Manufacturing.
2015
- Carl Reiner presents Jimmy Fallon, the host of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, a chrome Fisher Space Pen Bullet, the same pen he gave to Johnny Carson during his first appearance on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
2016
- 50TH Anniversary of the Fisher Space Pen® Ink Cartridge.
2018
- Marks the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 7 and 50 Years in Space for Fisher Space Pen Co. The family-owned-and-operated company continues to thrive with Cary Fisher, as President, Donald ‘Dock’ Wong, Co-Owner and Head of Operations, and Matt Fisher, as Vice President.
2019
- Fisher Space Pen Co. becomes a permanent exhibit installation inside Kennedy Space Center's - Apollo / Saturn V Center.
- 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 - man’s first steps upon the lunar surface and Fisher Space Pen’s arrival to our moon.
2020
- The AG7 Astronaut Space Pen launches into space aboard the Falcon 9 Rocket during the manned NASA / SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission.
2021
- Fisher Space Pen inducted into the 2021 Space Technology Hall of Fame by The Space Foundation.
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