Please Help Identify This 1980S/1990S Sheaffer

[MilkStu]

Hi, I got a Scheaffer pen set for a birthday present in the early 1990s and didn't really understand how cool fountain pens really were. Until now that is. So found it safely tucked away in a drawer (still unused from all those years ago) and ordered some ink cartridges only to find they don't fit.

 

So I figure I've got a slimline pen of some kind that they don't make cartridges for any more.

 

I've been trying to find some information on it and have established it looks similar to a Targa, but haven't seen any photos of the same pen anywhere on the internet so hoping someone may be able to identify it, and from that, be able to tell me if the Monteverde converter will fit it (or if the Shaeffer slimline converter is a better bet, even at the scary price they sell for when you can find them).

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance

[KBeezie]

Edit: Yea looks like a slimeline, hopefully someone can confirm for sure.

Edited July 26, 2014 by KBeezie

[kernando]

It looks like that one that was made by Sailor back when they cooperated, but I leave it to someone who already knows to say what that's called, or show more information.

[sexauerw]

I found the following in my catalog collection.

 

1. An undated Sheaffer Textron catalog published in England. This catalog shows a Sentinel SJ1 Slim Fountain Pen with a matching Ballpoint and Pencil, all in solid stainless steel. These look just like your set except for color.

 

2. A 1985 Sheaffer Textron catalog published in Fort Madison, Iowa, USA. This catalog shows a Sentinel SJ-1Ballpoint and Pencil set, 2 instruments. Also an SJ-2 Duo-color Twist Action Red and Blue Ballpoints in a single instrument and an SJ-3 Duo-System Twist Action Ballpoint and Pencil in a single instrument.

 

3. A 1990 Sheaffer Price List published in England. This shows:

1. a. Sentinel - Gold colour fountain pen with matching nib and trim. Also available as rolling ball, ballpen and pencil.
2. b. Sentinel Gloss - Blue and Burgundy gloss finish with gold coloured nib and trim. Also available as rolling ball, ballpen and pencil.
3. c. Sentinel SJ-1 - Stainless steel, chrome trim. Available as cartridge pen, ballpen or special value ballpen and pencil set.

Since I do not have a complete set of catalogs, I believe it likely that other years would have seen other finishes such as the matte blue of your set. But there is no doubt at all that your set is a Sentinel from this time frame. The Sentinel Snorkel from the 1950s is completely unrelated to this series. As far as I know, the 1980 series Sentinel was actually manufactured for Sheaffer by Sailor in Japan.

 

 

[MilkStu]

Wow - such a wealth of knowledge, and so quick! Thanks so much for the replies. There's no markings or labels on the box (other than Scheaffer on the top and inside) so no clues there, but from you descriptions it sounds like a Sentinel, so thanks again.

 

The colour in my photos was a bit off, the set is actually matte black and gold and looks awesome. So the hunt begins for cartridges or a converter

[jchch1950]

Any cartridges that will fit? Thanks

[Ernst Bitterman]

Bill- do you have a price connected with the US catalogue in point 2? I've got a single and not very reliable datum for the original price on my site, and I'd like to amend that situation.

 

Actually, the UK prices wouldn't go astray, either.

[sexauerw]

It was late last night and I was too tired to scan these then. Here are the catalog and price list pages that I was looking at last night.

 

1. Page from the undated English catalog. This shows prices in Pounds Sterling. And I do have a note that has a possible date of 1985 for this catalog. The person who sold me the catalog told me that that was the date, but there is no date on the catalog itself.

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/ZzxQOM3M4zMx4D/8643649.0/800/p/Page_from_1985_%28possibly%29_Sheaffer_UK_Catalog.jpg

 

2. Last two pages from the 1985 U.S. Sheaffer Writing Instruments catalog. The first of these two pages illustrates the Sentinel line. The second page, which is the back cover, is a matrix which shows which models were available in each of the various modes. As is normal for U.S. catalogs, there are no prices.

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/ZzxQOM3M4zMx4D/8643652.0/800/p/Page_19_from_1985_Sheaffer_Writing_Instruments_Catalog.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/ZzxQOM3M4zMx4D/8643648.0/800/p/Page_20_from_1985_Sheaffer_Writing_Instruments_Catalog.jpg

 

3. Page from a 1990 Sheaffer England Price List. Prices are shown in Pounds Sterling.

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/ZzxQOM3M4zMx4D/8643650.0/800/p/Sheaffer_1990_England_Price_List%2C.jpg

 

 

[dannyboy]

Bill, what's the lovely black pen beside your emblem for the Black Pen Society?

[sexauerw]

Bill, what's the lovely black pen beside your emblem for the Black Pen Society?

That's one of my very favorite pens. It's a prototype for a forthcoming series of black resin Legend pens by Andreas Lambrou. Andy had five prototypes made with different engraving patterns, only two will be produced. I was fortunate enough to be able to buy this one as it was my favorite of the five and it was not selected for production. So it is and will remain a one-of-a-kind prototype.

 

Here is a size comparison with an S. T. Dupont Vertigo and a Pelikan M1000. It's exactly the same size and shape as the Classic Pens LM1 Flame Red and in fact has the LM1 cap band since they didn't tool up a new band just for the five prototypes.

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/MLjNzMMjzkklU4/8645699.0/800/p/Vertigo%2C_Black_Prototype_and_M1000_size_comparison.jpg

Edited July 27, 2014 by sexauerw

[Ernst Bitterman]

Thanks very much, Bill. That 1985(??) sheet I'd seen in a photocopy form, and I'm delighted to have seen all of the above in a clear copy. Moreso, to have an authoritatively dated list like the '90.

 

adding: I'm also delighted with a repetition of Sheaffer's denial of the term "Pen" without amendment to ballpoints.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Ernst Bitterman

[shea2812]

Sheaffer sentinel utilise slim Sheaffer converter/cart. I own one in grey that has slim converter fitted.

[tamiya]

Hi, I got a Scheaffer pen set for a birthday present in the early 1990s and didn't really understand how cool fountain pens really were. Until now that is. So found it safely tucked away in a drawer (still unused from all those years ago) and ordered some ink cartridges only to find they don't fit.

 

I have same vintage Sentinel, bought new in the early 90s.

 

It used to take std Sheaffer cartridges fine, the old type with both ends blunt & pierceable.

 

However over the years the plastic in the section has shrunken, both in length & volume. Cracks have formed from material shrinking away & going brittle. The threads to the body have cracked away.

 

Have several Sheaffers from that era all suffering same fate, some even shrink around the converter and I can't extract it anymore.

[bleem]

Hi, i got same Sentinel but in base (metal) color from Bill's catalog. Pen is new, so before i use it, maked some photos: