Michael Fultz, 67, Top expert on fountain pens
Matthew Kruk
Michael Fultz: Top expert on fountain pens
1942-2010 | Former state aide had one of world's largest collections,
co-founded show here
February 11, 2010
BY MAUREEN O'DONNELL Staff Reporter
The Triumph.
The Skyline.
The Symmetric.
The Ripple.
Big Red.
The world of fountain pen collecting has names as beautiful as those of
a classic car, ocean liner or train.
And in that world -- where a rumor of a rare Waterman Cardinal No. 20
can cause a frenzy -- Michael Fultz was a prince, if not a king.
Mr. Fultz, who had one of the globe's largest collections of Parker pens
and whose expertise was sought by hobbyists from Belgium to Israel, died
Jan. 27 at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, Wis. He was 67.
He carved out a new life for himself in the world of pen collecting
after working in Gov. Richard Ogilvie's administration. He headed the
Illinois Racing Board from 1970 to 1971 and then worked for the Illinois
Commerce Commission. He was general manager at Maywood Park racetrack,
and RTA treasurer from 1975 to 1984.
Mr. Fultz "was a walking encyclopedia," said Joel Hamilton, president of
the Pen Collectors of America.
He was a geek in the best sense of the word, intellectually curious,
collaborative, and generous with his vast knowledge. To get to the
stories behind certain pens, "he dug into old files and pulled old court
records, which would show old lawsuits between Parker and Sheaffer"
pens, Hamilton said.
"He would pull lawsuits, patents, advertising," said Parker pen
historian Geoffrey Parker, whose great-grandfather George Parker founded
the firm in 1888 in Janesville.
He was always willing to share his expertise and was respected for
always paying a fair price. "Whenever I had [a pen] that I could not
find information on, he was my resort," Hamilton said.
"He was a wonderful human being," said his wife, Martha McCall.
Mr. Fultz moved near Janesville to pick the brains of longtime Parker
employees, Parker said. "He sought them out, every one of them.
Sometimes it was to ask questions. Sometimes it was to buy a pen. But he
was always trying to learn more."
To him, pens were history. After all, a Parker Duofold signed the
surrender documents of Japan after World War II, Parker said. A Parker
51 was used at Germany's surrender.
Mr. Fultz not only bought and sold pens. At his Chicago Gold company, he
utilized jewelerlike skills to craft pens, often using a Parker base and
covering it with beautiful overlays of silver or gold in the shapes of
snakes or spiderwebs, or art deco and art modern designs.
He wrote for Pen World magazine and other publications. "His collection
was truly world-class," said Pen World editor Laura Chandler.
"It was one of the most impressive collections of pens outside of --
forgive the pun -- outside of the pen-ultimate collection, which is
Parker's own," Parker said.
He sold much of his stock in 2005 to Gregory Sachs, and it became known
as the Sachs-Fultz Collection.
Mr. Fultz was captivated by pens as a boy growing up in Pomeroy, Ohio.
He loved the fountain pens of his grandfather and the flourishes of his
grandmother's handwriting, said his sister Cathy Telzrow.
He attended the University of Chicago and relocated here after college.
He co-founded the grand-daddy of all pen shows -- the Chicago Pen Show.
His wife is planning a tribute at the next Chicago Pen Show, which
starts April 29 at the Westin O'Hare hotel.
Mr. Fultz also is survived by his sister Terry Boaz.
MWB
GO RED SOX NATION
Mark