Pls Help Id This Touchdown ...

[ceac]

Hi All,

I have been searching all over the net, but can't identify this Sheaffer Touchdown pen. Hope you can help.

- no white dot

- steel nib

 

Cheers,

Cees | Netherlands

[pen lady]

Oh good, I'm glad it's not just me. You see I have one of these mystery TDs too. Mine is burgundy and though it has no sign of a barrel imprint, the nib is marked made in Canada and the pen came to me as a gift from my Auntie Joy in England. I've never been able to identify a model either - join the club!

[ceac]

I have a Burgundy one as well Guess Ernst Bitterman will be able to solve the mistery and we just have to wait until he is back online again....

[Ernst Bitterman]

I think... not, that's not tentative enough. I think it's one of the very earliest Imperial models, from before the whole swarm of Roman-numeral-bearing, (mostly) inlaid-point sub-types appeared (about 1960 or so). I lifted this image from a previous discussion of the matter here, but this is easier than trying to unearth that thread:

http://ravensmarch.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/c1960-imperial.jpg

Edited October 2, 2014 by Ernst Bitterman

[ceac]

TNX Ernst !! this still leaves me with a question though ... in the ad you included it says thtat the nib is Gold .... I see no 14k/18k marked on my nib ..

[jar]

TNX Ernst !! this still leaves me with a question though ... in the ad you included it says thtat the nib is Gold .... I see no 14k/18k marked on my nib ..

 

Sheaffer did not always proof mark gold nibs at least in places it could be seen.

[Ernst Bitterman]

It's likely gold; Sheaffer expected people to make some broad assumptions until about the time this pen came out. Of course, they also played on those assumptions a little with the Target (which became the Imperial III), which had a point that looked just like that, but was PdAg with gold plating. One could try over-polishing the lower part of the annulus and see it it turns silver...

Edited October 2, 2014 by Ernst Bitterman

[Happy Harry]

It is indeed an early Imperial ,the original nib (as pictured was not two tone) was 9ct and not market. The nibs seem to have been rather prone to damage as I've seen a number that have broken tines, your nib is most likely a replacement from one of the later Imperials hence palladium silver with a gold mask. Produced in 4 color ( blue being the one not mentioned so far) they are a well made pen. Barrels, sections, filler cap and cap are interchangeable with the early 50's TM TD although the barrel is slightly longer and sage green wasn't used as a color.

[pen lady]

Ah so it seems we're getting closer to an answer. However, the pen in Ernst's advert has a smooth clip, both mine and the original poster's pens have Sheaffer's on them. Does that make a difference?

[Happy Harry]

It's correct with Sheaffer's on the clip as in this photo, the chalk mark is clearly seen. With the release of the Snorkel WD models retained a plain clip while non WD models had Sheaffer's on the clip, why the ad. varies is odd given it's the same cap as used on none WD Snorkels.

 

http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/uploads/1349134253/gallery_278_28_40767.jpg

Edited October 3, 2014 by Happy Harry

[Ernst Bitterman]

Even if other examples weren't available, I'd have argued that the lack of a mark on the clip was just artistic licence-- even in the more known Imperials, they put the name on the clip or applied a white dot. To do neither would have made no sense at all. I've seen an expanded version of that ad somewhere. If I can track it down, it might be instructive to see what level of detail appeared on other models.

[pen lady]

Thanks for all your help Ernst. So, given that my pen and the original poster's have two tone nibs, is it safe to assume that they are later examples of an early Imperial? And if that's the case, what sort of year are we looking at please.

[Ernst Bitterman]

The extent of my knowledge is that this was something that appeared sorta 1960 and went out of production kinda 1961 when the familiar Imperials got started. My knowledge in this is shallower than usual.

[ceac]

TNX all you have been of great help !! ... I'll log it as a sorta round about give or take kinda 1960/1961's early Imperial

 

@pen lady: looks like there is an early end to our Unknown Sheaffer Touchdown Society

 

Enjoy your weekend!!

[pen lady]

Kinda sorta looks that way. But at least I can correct my index card for Auntie Joy's pen. And Ernst, I'm thinking very late 50's because the inlaid nib Imperials came out (according to Pen Hero) in about 1961 (ish!) This has been fun, thanks all

 

Cheers from the not-so-flat-bit of Canada!

Edited October 3, 2014 by pen lady

[Happy Harry]

A begin date for this is a bit iffy, it can be no earlier than '59 and it appears in ads with the Cadet 23 in '61. The first of the common Imperial the III started life as the Target in '60 before having a name change, this in light of this model is interesting. Given these are relatively difficult to find ( I've probably 6 and see only a handful every year) it would support a short run and not very popular. So at most could have run from sometime '59 to sometime '62 but I'll suggest Ernst with '60/'61 is about as good as it gets.

 

As I said earlier the original nibs seemed weak where the iridium joined the gold, I've seen many (and own a near mint example) that are missing part of the tip that leads me to conclude a manufacturing weakness with this particular nib, the tougher two tone nib would be the logical replacement and I've seen a number examples ( and also own one) some of which are clearly replacement as the pen and nib have different countries of origin, mainly Canadian nibs on Australian bodies. I tend to think the two tone a replacement rather than a late model change but that's with a ?

 

As an aside there's also a Golden Imperial, a slip cap TD model with a gold plated cap and I've seen a steel slip cap TD model as well.