Fisher Space Pen Family: interview

Fisher Space Pen is not only an icon in the world of writing, but also proof that perseverance, innovation and a touch of stubbornness can quite literally take you all the way to the moon. The company was founded by inventor Paul C. Fisher and is still run today by his family.

In this interview we meet his grandson Matt Fisher, Vice President and one of the driving forces behind the legendary brand. He shares memories of his grandfather, a particularly memorable customer story, and whether there is still anything left to invent in the world of pens.

Matt Fisher, Vice President Fisher Space Pen

Matt Fisher, Vice President Fisher Space Pen

A brief background on the famous space pen

The Fisher Space Pen was developed in the 1960s by entrepreneur Paul C. Fisher to withstand extreme environments: cold, heat and, of course, weightlessness. The pressurised cartridge made it possible to write upside down, underwater and in space. NASA began using the pen during the Apollo programme, and it has accompanied astronauts on missions for over 50 years. New Fisher models are still launched regularly today, all built around the same pressurised cartridge.

How would you describe your grandfather, Paul C. Fisher?

My grandfather was widely regarded as a savvy and tenacious businessman, a brilliant inventor and a very kind soul. He cared deeply about everyone that he worked with and that worked for him. He always addressed employees by name and regularly made rounds through the factory to keep up on how everyone was doing, even in his final days. It is thanks to him that our company has developed such a strong family atmosphere, and his spirit of caring and respect carries on in our company culture to this day.

We believe his success was above all due to a mixture of innovative ideas and remarkable perseverance. Paul was incredibly persistent, both in perfecting his inventions and in striving to have them recognised by NASA, the US government and the military. None of which was an easy feat.

Were there other attempts to invent the space pen?

Several other manufacturers, such as Schmidt, Sheaffer and Schneider, also attempted to develop a pressurised cartridge, but none came close to our quality. Over the years we’ve received many complaints from customers about the refills in their pens leaking ink, only to find upon further investigation that they mistakenly used refills from other brands. These customers are always provided with a complimentary authentic Space Pen refill for their troubles, and we never receive any follow up complaints.

Paul C. Fisher, founder of Fisher Space Pen and inventor of the space pen

Paul C. Fisher, founder of Fisher Space Pen and inventor of the space pen

Have you ever designed a Fisher Space Pen yourself?

Yes! The exclusive 45th and 50th anniversary editions of Apollo 11 are a testament to the historic significance of the missions and a source of personal inspiration. I wanted to honour the influence of my father and grandfather, whose work ethic and passion for excellence have profoundly shaped my approach. Drawing from their legacy and from these groundbreaking space expeditions, my goal was to create a unique, custom design that would resonate with our devoted collectors while staying true to the values of creativity, innovation and dedication they instilled in me.

Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Astronaut Space Pen

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Astronaut Space Pen

How would you describe the Fisher Space Pen community?

The Fisher Space Pen community is a very diverse group indeed. It consists of people from all walks of life, from writers and artists, to outdoorsmen, to space enthusiasts, to members of the police and armed forces, and everything in between.

A great deal of our customers are rather techy and are interested in the innovation aspects of our products (their ability to write underwater in particular tends to be a strong point of interest), whereas there are many others in the Every Day Carry realm who love our products for their durability, dependability, as well as our finish color options, which they will often color-coordinate with their other daily carry items. EDC community members often share pictures of their daily carry kits with others in the community, so a product’s aesthetics is a big factor for them.

“It is in our DNA to shoot for the stars"

– Matt Fisher

Is there a customer story you’ll never forget?

Certainly! We were once contacted by a very grateful customer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose business was hit very hard by flood waters back in 2008. His desk was completely submerged under thick, murky flood water that he described as more of a toxic ooze than a liquid, for around two whole days.

When he returned there was hardly anything left worth saving – except four Space Pens in a drawer. According to his testimonial, in front of two witnesses he pulled out a dry piece of paper, removed the cap from one of the pens, and as soon as the tip touched the paper it immediately began to write flawlessly. To quote the final excerpt from his message: “48 hours under floodwaters and it writes like a champ AND makes it look easy!”

Is it possible to continue revolutionizing the pen industry?

We believe to our core that it is absolutely possible, and we will always endeavor to rise to that challenge. After all, if Paul C. Fisher had believed it was impossible to revolutionize the pen industry beyond the standard ballpoint, then he would have never gone on to develop the pressurized Space Pen, so it is in our DNA to shoot for the stars and to always push the boundaries of what is possible.

Any exciting new collections on the horizon?

Yes! We intend to continue expanding our color range with new Cerakote finishes as much as possible, and we are also excited to be developing some new tactical pen designs that will include some utilitarian features as well as a potentially life-saving glass breaker feature. More on those to come!