Sheaffer's Jade Balance

[mark e]

i recently acquired two sheaffer's celluloid jade lifetime balance f-p's 1929-30 vintage....one is oversized length, one standard length, however both have the same barrel diameter, and both are smaller diameter than as described on the richard binder reference page---which i suppose can be attributed to production vagaries, idunno

 

at any rate, as i was ridding the barrels of their petrified rubber sacs, i noticed that the oversized barrel was stamped 'pat'd-pat. pending', while the standard is stamped only 'patented', so i assume the oversize is from '29 and the other is slightly newer

 

when held to the light, the oversize was quite transparent--i could see the pressure bar, etc...and the standard one was not at all transparent...why and what is the difference...anyone?

 

oh, and the oversize has the typical discoloration from the rubber sac outgassing, and the standard one is not discolored at all....coincidence?

[Roger W.]

Oversize only refers to girth - .58" at cap. 5.25" is simply a full length pen. There are jades that were made during WWII so don't trust anyone's supposed end dates for production. Jade celluloid can vary greatly as some may have simply cured better than others therefore, some discolor more than others or not at all.

 

Roger W.

[kirchh]

Sheaffer shortened the full-length Balances (both standard girth and oversize) early on in the run. Your observation about the imprints is a good one. It seems that Sheaffer's celluloid supplier(s) (likely DuPont) was continuously working on improving the stability of that material, so there is an overall pattern seen today that grossly correlates date of production with discoloration susceptibility.

 

--Daniel

[mark e]

thanks for the info, roger and daniel---actually, the pens measure out lengthwise to be 5 3/8" for the standard and 5 5/8" for the 'oversize', but both are on the slim side and definitely not oversize thick---right at .45" diameter

 

i'll try to post pics later on tonite---they are both in good shape and will be easily restored---i believe they came from the estate of a former sheaffer's employee, but i would have to ask my source again, as i dont remember exactly

Edited September 18, 2014 by mark e