Ebay Fp Identification Request

[69Boss302]

Got this pen for a buck. There is no obvious, to me anyway, pen maker identifiers on this pen. The seller did not know anything about it.

 

Can anyone hazard a guess? It sure ain't pretty, has a crack and is obvious that is has shrank over the years. But if I can, I will restore it to useable.

[LamyOne]

Hello 69Boss,

 

I am by no means anywhere remotely close to an expert; I'm not even in the same state as an expert; however, the nib, section and the rest of the pen make me think Sheaffer. Especially the nib and grip section. Hopefully others more knowledgeable will chime in.

 

Great deal any way you look at it.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 5, 2014 by LamyOne

[Buzzie]

Aloha - I can't help you with the maker; however, I can attest to the pleasure of acquiring and restoring pens of unknown maker. I have bought and restored many dozens of uber-low-cost auction pens, and I simply love it. I don't sell, I just pick up pens with colors and shapes and/or unusual characteristics and then dive in. With help from FPN members, I have a "routine" of cleaning, polishing, re-sac, assembly, nib rehab, and a million other hints from members.

 

I take my little bag of tools and supplies and grab a hand full of antique pens that have somehow survived decades, and I head for the beach. While sitting a few feet from the Pacific Ocean, I dig in to the Catch of The Day pens. By now, I have about a 90% success rate including some really worn and abused pens.

 

I hope you stick with it even if this jewel's restoration doesn't meet your expectations. After all, it's just a first try. Best wishes!

 

Post a photo or scan of the rescue results (maybe writing sample, too) - we'd love to see it. Aloha

[69Boss302]

Thanks Lamy and Buzzie.

 

I've made more pens than I've done repairs so this is still new. I've resacked and polished the small collection of Esties that I have but have not done anything beyond that. I have high hopes that I won't make this pen any worse than it is now.

 

P.S...I found an Ink-O-Graph(?) that looks similar in the clip and color but this one has zero maker marks whereas the inkograph does. Perhaps a knockoff or subset of that line?

Edited October 5, 2014 by 69Boss302

[Roger W.]

Not one bit of this is a Sheaffer. Some inexpensive third tier pen.

 

Roger W.

[KBeezie]

Not one bit of this is a Sheaffer. Some inexpensive third tier pen.

 

Roger W.

At first glance it looked like some Stratford to me, especially the nib style/shape, but I can't confirm it, just that it looks familiar. I also don't recall ever seeing Sheaffer just using some generic "Warranted Iridium Point" nib like a lot of the store brands or no-name pens do.

 

But I agree with you, the general shape and nib doesn't really remind me of a sheaffer at all. Plus it would most likely say Sheaffer on the nib and/or clip. (my MiLady balance doesn't say it on the clip, but it does say it on the nib and the barrel imprint).

Edited October 5, 2014 by KBeezie

[69Boss302]

I was able to get the pen apart. The nib is corroded on the tip and underneath where it sat against the feed.

 

I put the barrel on my lathe, went through the micromesh up to 4000 and then with meguiars plastx as per my usual routine when making acrylic pens. The barrel came out nice. I would do the same with the cap but the clip has been epoxied at some point. The J bar appears to be brass and is maybe 60mm?

My attention now has turned to repairing the crack in cap and polishing it to match the barrel.

Then to find a replacement nib, c clip for the lever and pen sac.

Edited October 5, 2014 by 69Boss302

[69Boss302]

Fixed the crack in the cap with medium thick CA, a new #16 sac, polished the brass J bar, cleaned the rust off the lever C clip, polished the brass band on the cap, sanded and polished the body, reshaped the nib but it needs to be replaced. The nib has been corroded by, what I assume, old acdic ink.

 

 

[LamyOne]

Hello 69Boss,

 

BEAUTIFUL JOB! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

You got that old shaker looking showroom ready!

 

It is surprising this pen has a steel nib, (it must have really been a "cost cutter"), most vintage pens, (aside from Esterbrooks), used gold nibs because gold is corrosion proof and all of the old inks were quite acidic - some have pH ratings of 1.2, (even recently - within the last few years - Omas Blue had a reading of 1.8)!

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 6, 2014 by LamyOne

[69Boss302]

I forgot to add a writing sample of the ol corroded gal.

 

Thanks Lamy. I like to fix things that were previously deemed unworthy. Next is a Parkston with an Esterbrook 312 Judges Quill.

Edited October 7, 2014 by 69Boss302

[Bo Bo Olson]

[Ernst Bitterman]

I've seen that shape of clip on some Eagle/Epenco items that admitted what they were. This doesn't mean any more than a possibility that this thing is of that breed.

[69Boss302]

Thank you Ernst. I'll have a look at that line too.