Who Invented the Sharpie Permanent Marker?
The Sharpie marker is a common tool for people ranging from business people to autograph collectors. From its beginnings in Worcester, Mississippi, to its current status as the best-selling marker in the world, the story of Sharpie is a classic success story.
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History
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The Sharpie marker was created by the Sanford Manufacturing Company in 1964. Sanford was started by Frederick W. Redington and William H. Sanford, Jr. in 1857 in Worcester, Mississippi, as a manufacturer of ink and glue. The company moved its headquarters to Chicago in 1866, and narrowly escaped the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, only to burn down in 1899. The company rebuilt and continued its success as a manufacturer of ink until deciding to enter the growing marker market in 1964 with the introduction of the Sharpie marker, created by Sanford's design team.
The First Marker
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The Sharpie was a refinement of an earlier invention, the Magic Marker felt-tip marker. The Magic Marker was invented by Sidney Rosenthal in 1952 in New York City and manufactured by his company, Speedry Chemical Products of Richmond Hill. The Magic Marker became popular among schoolchildren, artists and others and sparked a boom in marker sales, leading to the development of the Sharpie.
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Sharpie Innovations
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The Sharpie marker was distinguished from earlier markets such as the Magic Marker by its pen-like shape and ability to write permanently on a variety of surfaces--stone, wood, glass, metal, plastic and paper. The first Sharpie marker was the black fine-point still available today. In 1979, the Extra Fine Point was introduced in four colors. The Ultra Fine Point, the most pen-like of the line with its narrow barrel and hard plastic nib, was introduced in 1989. Since the original black-only Sharpie, the color palette has expanded to include 49 colors in shades ranging from turquoise to berry.
Popularity
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Sharpie is one of the most well-known markers in the world. By the end of 2002, 200 million Sharpies had been sold. It is a particular favorite of celebrities and autograph collectors and is often seen at autograph signing events. A stainless steel premium Sharpie marker with refillable inkwell was introduced in conjunction with the 2009 Academy Awards.
Celebrity Fans
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According to Sanford North America President Howard Heckes, many celebrities request personalized Sharpie markers. Ex-president George W. Bush was a fan. Bush reportedly preferred Sharpies to all other writing instruments and had a personalized version with his signature and "The White House" imprinted on it. Sharpie made news in 2002 when San Francisco 49ers' player Terrell Owens, after scoring a touchdown during a game against the Seattle Seahawks, took a Sharpie marker from his sock, autographed his touchdown-scoring ball and passed the ball on to his financial adviser.
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