Recently, I won an eBay auction for a Snapfil fountain pen with no cap. I had gotten a matching cap a few months ago in a box of ink bottles and pen parts. After several months of searching, I finally have a Snapfil fountain pen!
Background




Snapfil pen ad from the Chicago Tribune — July 14, 1918. Note the writers hand at the bottom with the lack of a posted cap, showing the unique shape of the pen.
Snapfil Filling Mechanism



Snapfil Fountain Pen Imprint Reads:
GENERAL MANUFACTURING CO.
SIOUX CITY SNAPFIL IOWA, U.S.A.
PAT. AUG. 1, 1911 — PAT. JUNE 4, 1918






New to my Collection
Restoration






Snapfil Ad from the Atmore Record in Atmore, Alabama — September 9, 1920
Additional Resources
Origin of the Sheaffer Balance –Discovered at Last? – by Daniel Kirchheimer
Profile: William Houston, the Snapfil Pen, and What Happened in the Meantime – by Richard Binder
Richard’s Collection – Snap! It’s Filled! – by Richard Binder
Houston Pen Co 1915 Catalog – From the PCA Archives
Snapfil Filling Instructions – From the PCA Archives
Snapfil Fountain Pens/Houston Pen Company – by Phil Munson
Great article, Nathaniel! I was aware of other pen manufacturers from long ago in Iowa but was not aware of this one (by proxy, anyway.)
As a collector of fountain pens made in Sioux City (Houston, General Manufacturing, Jiffy and Snapfil), I thoroughly enjoyed your article!!
– I am Roger from … Sioux City, Iowa
I’d love to see your collection! It’s a bit of a drive, but the Iowa Pen Club meets in Ankeny and I am sure they’d love to have you come visit sometime once they return to in person meetings. Right now, they are meeting on Zoom.