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Vintage Market Targa Finds!


Watermonkey314

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I got quite lucky on a trip to a local vintage market and found two good condition Targas - I got the two together for $30! One is matte black, and the other is chrome with vertical lines. Both are steel-nibbed and essentially unblemished (aside from dried ink in the feeds). But how do you flush a Targa section/feed? The syringe I normally use doesn't fit too well (water comes out to the side). It seems fine by now with simple soaking, but touching the nib to a paper towel still wicks away quite a lot of inky water. I know the inlaid nib doesn't come off, but does the section disassemble any further? Can it be safely put in an ultrasonic?

 

Also, once it's cleaned, is there a way I can tell what size nib it is?

(I may post pictures if I can convince my portable all-in-one telecommunications device to behave.)

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Don't disassemble further and I don't recommend using an ultrasound with any inlaid nibs. If you must clean beyond just soaking then I use cheap transfer pipettes.

 

My Website

 

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Sometimes the nib size is stamped at the bottom of the black section. It's very small and hard to see.

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Congrats on the find!

The easiest way to clean a targa nib section is to soak in water overnight. if the water is very dirty, soak again. Next, use a pump convertor to run water through the section several times. When you wipe the nib some diluted ink will still come out of the nib. Depending on what color you want to use in the pens, use a pump convertor to run ink through the section. Now write with the pen until it dries out. This should remove any ink residue in the pen.

If at any time you feel a strong resistance to turning the convertor knob and moving the piston, there may be a blockage in the feed. Using an ultrasonic cleaner should help with this. If not then you need to send it away to a pro. Considering a new section is about $40, it is hardly worth it for a steel nib.

 

http://www.sheaffertarga.com/images/various/nibs.JPG

 

http://www.sheaffertarga.com/images/various/nib%20scan.jpg

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Congrats on the find!

The easiest way to clean a targa nib section is to soak in water overnight. if the water is very dirty, soak again. Next, use a pump convertor to run water through the section several times. When you wipe the nib some diluted ink will still come out of the nib. Depending on what color you want to use in the pens, use a pump convertor to run ink through the section. Now write with the pen until it dries out. This should remove any ink residue in the pen.

If at any time you feel a strong resistance to turning the convertor knob and moving the piston, there may be a blockage in the feed. Using an ultrasonic cleaner should help with this. If not then you need to send it away to a pro. Considering a new section is about $40, it is hardly worth it for a steel nib.

 

http://www.sheaffertarga.com/images/various/nibs.JPG

 

http://www.sheaffertarga.com/images/various/nib%20scan.jpg

Note that JAR advised NOT to use an ultrasonic. Theoretically you could loosen the seat of the nib.

 

 

D.ick

~

KEEP SAFE, WEAR A MASK, KEEP A DISTANCE.

Freedom exists by virtue of self limitation.

~

 

 

 

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It's not nearly so bad as to need an ultrasonic - it's just persistently inky. I've already got one cleaned and inked up and the other's still soaking. :D

 

PS: pen lady, thanks for tipping me off to the stamp! They're both fine nibs, but without knowing to look there I would never have seen it.

Edited by Watermonkey314
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Oh good, so glad to help. Seems like Sheaffer wanted to keep the grade of nib a huge secret!

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That's a bargain, congrats. I think the matte black, steel nib is probably my favourite looking Targa finish, and the lighter steel model is well suited to longer writing sessions. Here's where the nib marking is situated (if present):

 

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/More%20Sheaffer%20Targa%20Photos/th_MMarking.jpg

 

If it's not there, here's some M nib shots (click to zoom).

 

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/th_1003017_1000x687.jpg http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/th_1003007_916x687.jpg http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/More%20Sheaffer%20Targa%20Photos/th_SheafferTarga1001013.jpg

Latest pen related post @ flounders-mindthots.blogspot.com : vintage Pilot Elite Pocket Pen review

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That's a bargain, congrats. I think the matte black, steel nib is probably my favourite looking Targa finish, and the lighter steel model is well suited to longer writing sessions. Here's where the nib marking is situated (if present)...

 

Oh! That reminded me of something I noticed - the matte black pen is substantially heavier than the chrome-plated (steel?) one. I take it this is real, and quite possibly intentional by Sheaffer? I like the matte black one over the chrome one, but it's really top heavy when posted.

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I think the matte is lacquered brass, the chrome one possibly aluminium or much thinner stainless steel.

 

 

D.ick

~

KEEP SAFE, WEAR A MASK, KEEP A DISTANCE.

Freedom exists by virtue of self limitation.

~

 

 

 

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An excellent find, congratulations! The Targa is such a beautiful pen, and delightful to use. When I bought mine, it was also clogged. A simple flushing followed by an overnight soak in water did the trick. I've never had any really tough pens to clean, though.

 

-Evan

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  • 1 year later...

That's a bargain, congrats. I think the matte black, steel nib is probably my favourite looking Targa finish, and the lighter steel model is well suited to longer writing sessions. Here's where the nib marking is situated (if present):

 

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/More%20Sheaffer%20Targa%20Photos/th_MMarking.jpg

 

If it's not there, here's some M nib shots (click to zoom).

 

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/th_1003017_1000x687.jpg http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/th_1003007_916x687.jpg http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy19/flounder2009/New%20Targa/More%20Sheaffer%20Targa%20Photos/th_SheafferTarga1001013.jpg

 

For a more clear marking of the nib size on the underside of the section:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/monthly_10_2015/post-117288-0-94927200-1445865174.jpg

Khan M. Ilyas

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