Morriset Pen-Ink Unit

Morriset Pen-Ink Units were made with Tenite, a brand of cellulosic thermoplastic materials produced by the Eastman Chemical Company. Created in 1929 and trademarked in 1932, Tenite had been used in a wide variety of consumer, industrial, architectural, and medical applications through mid-20^th century. The units’ design is streamlined and Art Deco in style, featuring smooth, rounded edges and a tiered base.

1. The Unit:
   • The Morriset Pen-Ink Unit was designed to be convenient and dependable, with the pen constantly in ink and ready to write.
   • It included a constant-level glass reservoir that ensured the pen would always write. One inverted the glass reservoir, placing it into the Pen-ink unit. This held the ink at a constant level.
   • The case is made of unbreakable, non-inflammable Tenite, with a non-skid bottom to prevent slipping or scratching.
   • The unit is weighted to prevent tipping and came complete with a pen, Tenite reservoir, ink, and refilling funnel.
   • It was available in eight colors. Businesses (even Coca Cola) and organizations could order these units with their advertising or logo on the lid. This included branches of the armed services, government, and even Congress.
   • The inside of the unit’s cover is impressed: MORRISET PEN-INK UNIT CONSTANT FLOWING Bert M. Morris Co. Los Angeles, California Made in U.S.A. MODEL B
2. The Penholder:
   • Featured an exclusive patented design with osmirdium-tipped gold-plated stainless-steel points.
   • The pen has a self-filling vacuum ink cavity and an interchangeable point section.
   • The hard rubber comb feed design ensured the pen filled itself with sufficient ink for 500 to 1,000 words.
   • The pen point section could be easily replaced.
3. Morrisets in Pairs:
   • A spring clamp allowed for a desk set of two Morriset Pen-Ink Units.
   • These were available in matched colors or red and black, with an option for a reverse clamp for double desks.
4. The Ink:
   • Uses a special Morriset bottle of Sanford’s Blue-Black Ink, which is supplied with each unit.
   • The ink bottle lasted for months and could be refilled using the small funnel provided.
5. Public Desk Set:
   • Included a standard Morriset Unit with a self-adhering base and a 20-inch bead chain connecting the pen and case.
   • It was suitable for banks, public offices, and other public places.