“A pen is not a pen, it's a vehicle to an end—a way of showing who you are.” This is a quote from Retro 1951 founder George Kartsotis. He started the Retro 1951 company as a private business venture in attempts of creating writing implements that were handsome, unique, and pens that are comfortable while being used. Even as a young and upcoming company, Retro 1951 started catching the eyes of other organizations due to the quality of Retro 1951 pens. One of those companies was Hammacher Schlemmer, which was so impressed with the writing implements, that they actually paid to have Retro 1951 advertisements featured in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, LA Times, and the Chicago Tribune.

Retro 1951 pens are now being sold worldwide, and their most successful style, the Retro 1951 Tornado pens, has been so well received that it has now become a sort of “mascot” for the company. Tornado pens are renowned for having a large variety of designs and materials, which give Retro 1951 pens that added element of class. Over the past years, more and more Retro 1951 pens have been finding their way into the hands of both business professionals and collectors, who enjoy using the pens and giving them as gifts.