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The Mother Road: A Century of Spirit
To honor the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 (1926–2026), this limited-edition collection captures the dusty romance, neon glow, and unbridled optimism of the most iconic highway in history.
Affectionately referred to as America’s Main Street, Route 66 spanned from Chicago to Santa Monica, covering Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
First opened on November 11th, 1926, the 2,448-mile (3,940 km) stretch of road took several additional years to fully pave and mark.
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Earlier Trails:
In 1804 – 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark charted the northwestern region of the US acquired through the Louisiana Purchase, mapping and describing their northern route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Thomas Jefferson predicted that “Future generations would fill up the canvas that they began”. (see Lewis and Clark collection)
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In 1869, the world’s first transcontinental railroad was completed, contributing to the rapid western expansion of the nation. Prior to the completion of the track, it took months to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast, either by land or sea. (see Golden Spike collection)
Upon completion, Route 66 became a primary route for people migrating west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. The famous nickname "The Mother Road" was later coined by author John Steinbeck in his 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath.
With the mass adoption of automobiles, traveling this great distance became even faster and easier. With the addition of Route 66, the newly paved trail not only improved transportation, but became a destination for entertainment, excitement and discovery.
Motor lodges and filling stations, diners and cafes, hotels and motels dotted the trail along the winding landscape of America. Traffic along the route supported economies of communities through which it passed, and businesses prospered.
With its open roads and vast and vistas, Route 66 quickly became an iconic experience; an epic journey; a destination.
As T.S. Elliott stated, “It’s the journey, not the arrival, that matters”.
The Artistry of the Open Road
Adorned with iconic imagery, the Route 66 collection is reminiscent of a nostalgic period in American history; it embodies the spirit of American freedom, beauty and adventure. Every element of this collection reflects the architectural and cultural milestones found along the 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica.
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The Cap & Barrel: Utilizing Oscarson’s signature multi-level background engraving, the cap and barrel feature a smooth opaque “asphalt” highway, contrasted by shimmering Guilloché patterns beneath layers of translucent Hot Enamel. Each of the 8 states along the trail features a unique guilloché pattern, outlined in high relief. Intricate motifs of Art Deco diners, vintage gas pumps, and hotels and motels paint a portrait of the open road in the American West.
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The solid sterling silver clip is sculpted into the likeness of a vintage neon hotel or motel sign, welcoming weary visitors from the road.
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On the top of the cap, the iconic Route 66 highway sign is rendered in stunning high relief and Hot Enamel, hand-fired at temperatures exceeding 1,400°F to achieve a depth of color and luster that will never fade.
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An 18-karat gold nib plated in rhodium is a perfect match for the sterling silver fittings, and high relief accents, including the "End of the Trail" taken from the Santa Monica pier.
A Masterpiece of Old-World Craftsmanship
For nearly three decades, David Oscarson has transformed the writing instrument into a cathedral of glass, silver and gold.
In an era of mass production, David Oscarson remains one of the few ateliers practicing the grueling art of Vitreous Enameling. Each pen undergoes multiple firings in a kiln, fusing ground glass to a sterling silver body to create a surface as hard as stone and as brilliant as a jewel.
"This collection is a tribute to the explorers, the dreamers, and the silver-screen legends who turned a strip of concrete into a symbol of freedom."
Route 66 is the 43rd in the David Oscarson™ series and, true to the Oscarson legacy, this collection is not merely a pen; it is a masterpiece of High and Low Relief Guilloché and translucent and opaque Vitreous Hard Enamel, handcrafted to endure for the next hundred years of the journey.
Production will be limited to 66 pieces of each color variation, available as either a Fountain Pen or a Roller Ball.