Sheaffer flat-tops, length and nib size in relation to imprinted info.

[Pepin]

Size is important, esp. length and nib size.

 

1. I notice there are two versions, one at 4.5" and one at 5.5" in length. Is the size mostly due to length of the cap? Is the length from tip of nib to end of barrel roughly similar in length, with slight variation (if so what's the range)?

2. Nib size. It seems that number 8 is the biggest. Is there a chart floating somewhere which classifies the length of all production flat-top nibs, from shortest to longest, with respect to nib imprints,5-30,5-35,lifetime,serial code, etc...?

 

 

[kirchh]

Size is important, esp. length and nib size.

 

1. I notice there are two versions, one at 4.5" and one at 5.5" in length. Is the size mostly due to length of the cap? Is the length from tip of nib to end of barrel roughly similar in length, with slight variation (if so what's the range)?

Both barrel and cap are scaled.

 

2. Nib size. It seems that number 8 is the biggest. Is there a chart floating somewhere which classifies the length of all production flat-top nibs, from shortest to longest, with respect to nib imprints,5-30,5-35,lifetime,serial code, etc...?

I'm not aware of any such chart. There are a rather wide variety of nib shapes and sizes over the years that the flat top was offered.

 

--Daniel

[Pepin]

Daniel,

 

Thank you for the info. Are the nibs in the "senior" flat tops used interchangeably with the "junior" flat tops as well, or does each have its own nib classification? In other words, will I ever see an identical nib in both the short and long version of the lifetime flat-top?

[Roger W.]

Pepin;

 

"Senior" and "Junior" are inappropriate terms for flattops as Sheaffer has a "Junior" line of pens later on and will lead to confusion as to what "Junior" is being referred. What you refer to is actually C and SC or full length clip pens "C" and short length clip pens "SC". SC's are thinner diameter generally but, C's can be thinner diameter as well as in "T" pens which are both C and SC.

 

In all there are over 84 flattop models and major variants (probably 86 or 87). These can be listed in five width classes or four length classes. In width the one class exception is Pygmy and in legth the two class exceptions are Pygmy and Short Quill. Therefore, there are generally two lengths of approximately 4.5" and 5.25" and four major diameter classes. Lifetimes, are found in three diameters. The "T" diameter is in early catalogues but, still seems to be produced years after it fell from the catalogues. Usually, lifetimes are thin or full sized in both SC and C models. Since production is critical for width these classes are much more consistant (the section must fit in the barrel, the cap must fit on the barrel) than length which varies more greatly (the section can seat more or less deeply, the cap can thread more or less on the barrel, all causing more variance in length).

 

To answer your question, there are variances in nib size though I don't have the same level of detail to share on this. I think there are two widths of lifetime nibs though "T's" may be a third size they are much less common and I've not made a study of the nibs. There are full length "C" and short length "SC" thin diameter lifetimes that would share thin lifetime nibs.

 

The above is all considering Radite pens only.

 

Roger W.

Edited May 25, 2009 by Roger W.

[Pepin]

Pepin;

 

"Senior" and "Junior" are inappropriate terms for flattops as Sheaffer has a "Junior" line of pens later on and will lead to confusion as to what "Junior" is being referred. What you refer to is actually C and SC or full length clip pens "C" and short length clip pens "SC". SC's are thinner diameter generally but, C's can be thinner diameter as well as in "T" pens which are both C and SC.

 

In all there are over 84 flattop models and major variants (probably 86 or 87). These can be listed in five width classes or four length classes. In width the one class exception is Pygmy and in legth the two class exceptions are Pygmy and Short Quill. Therefore, there are generally two lengths of approximately 4.5" and 5.25" and four major diameter classes. Lifetimes, are found in three diameters. The "T" diameter is in early catalogues but, still seems to be produced years after it fell from the catalogues. Usually, lifetimes are thin or full sized in both SC and C models. Since production is critical for width these classes are much more consistant (the section must fit in the barrel, the cap must fit on the barrel) than length which varies more greatly (the section can seat more or less deeply, the cap can thread more or less on the barrel, all causing more variance in length).

 

To answer your question, there are variances in nib size though I don't have the same level of detail to share on this. I think there are two widths of lifetime nibs though "T's" may be a third size they are much less common and I've not made a study of the nibs. There are full length "C" and short length "SC" thin diameter lifetimes that would share thin lifetime nibs.

 

The above is all considering Radite pens only.

 

Roger W.

 

Hi Roger,

 

Thank you for your time. I've learned a lot from reading your post.