Sheaffer Pfm V Arrives! Flex?

[njagota]

Haven't posted in ages folks, and its always to solicit advice and comment. I always read giving respect to the knowledgeable. Ok, so my second to last acquisition in the quest for a representative model for all Sheaffer inlaid nib pen lines arrived a brown valor is on its way!).

 

It came from an eBay member in France, which added length to the anticipation process. Which was admittedly intense. When the hand delivered package arrive 15 minutes ago, I could not contain myself. When something can make a grown man in his 40's feel that way, its worth every penny of the 135 Euros. Been saving for this for a long time! When I was finally able to get through the box and endless layers of bubble wrap, I beheld a pristine looking PFM V. Almost a dead ringer for my unused Legacy 1, save for the gold end cap.

 

The cap, barrel, and section are ding and scratch free, zero plating loss, and the snorkel retracted and extended save for being slightly askew by 10 degrees or so. Keep in mind that I have never owned a snorkel filler prior to this. Putting the dry nib to the nearest cheap copier paper revealed the smoothest nib I own. Yes! When I applied pressure to the nib, however, to my pleasant surprise the nib has flex. Fine to broad or extra broad is my guess based on the tine spread. I have only a couple of vintage flex pens (waterman 42, Parker Jack Knife). This is not as flexy as those, which I would say are full flex.

 

Thanks for allowing me to indulge my excitement. Now for the trickier stuff:

 

How is the flex possible? I had read that these are stiff nibs, albeit smooth. Were they made this way also as an option, or were all flexy? The main thing is can I write flex with it safely, or will that ruin the seal or spring it?

 

Also, the pen does not exhibit an ounce of "whoosh" from the snorkel. I take that is needs some servicing, which I would like to do myself if safe. I unscrewed the barrel and looked inside. There appears to be a spring inside the barrel. Un-corroded from what I can see of it. Also, I can see that the edges of the extension tube are sharp when peering inside the barrel. I don't see any gaskets/seals anywhere. on the pen.

 

I have no idea how to further disassemble the section from the metal sack holder to investigate further. Can someone recommend a restoration regimen that I can undertake to make the filling functional, or perhaps provide a link?

 

Thanks in advance, and happy collecting!

 

Regards, Nimesh

 

UPDATE: The nib clearly reads 18k whereas I thought that these all came with 14k nibs. Thoughts?

Edited November 27, 2014 by njagota

[kirchh]

I suggest starting by Googling "snorkel repair". That should give you a good set of leads.

 

--Daniel

[njagota]

Thanks Daniel,

 

To elaborate to anyone reading, the reason I asked for link suggestions is that I am unsure which ones will give me incorrect advice. I was able to pull the steel snorkel system from the section easily. Now its a matter of uncrimping tool and safely removing the sac.

[lmarine0510]

Haven't posted in ages folks, and its always to solicit advice and comment. I always read giving respect to the knowledgeable. Ok, so my second to last acquisition in the quest for a representative model for all Sheaffer inlaid nib pen lines arrived a brown valor is on its way!).

 

It came from an eBay member in France, which added length to the anticipation process. Which was admittedly intense. When the hand delivered package arrive 15 minutes ago, I could not contain myself. When something can make a grown man in his 40's feel that way, its worth every penny of the 135 Euros. Been saving for this for a long time! When I was finally able to get through the box and endless layers of bubble wrap, I beheld a pristine looking PFM V. Almost a dead ringer for my unused Legacy 1, save for the gold end cap.

 

The cap, barrel, and section are ding and scratch free, zero plating loss, and the snorkel retracted and extended save for being slightly askew by 10 degrees or so. Keep in mind that I have never owned a snorkel filler prior to this. Putting the dry nib to the nearest cheap copier paper revealed the smoothest nib I own. Yes! When I applied pressure to the nib, however, to my pleasant surprise the nib has flex. Fine to broad or extra broad is my guess based on the tine spread. I have only a couple of vintage flex pens (waterman 42, Parker Jack Knife). This is not as flexy as those, which I would say are full flex.

 

Thanks for allowing me to indulge my excitement. Now for the trickier stuff:

 

How is the flex possible? I had read that these are stiff nibs, albeit smooth. Were they made this way also as an option, or were all flexy? The main thing is can I write flex with it safely, or will that ruin the seal or spring it?

 

Also, the pen does not exhibit an ounce of "whoosh" from the snorkel. I take that is needs some servicing, which I would like to do myself if safe. I unscrewed the barrel and looked inside. There appears to be a spring inside the barrel. Un-corroded from what I can see of it. Also, I can see that the edges of the extension tube are sharp when peering inside the barrel. I don't see any gaskets/seals anywhere. on the pen.

 

I have no idea how to further disassemble the section from the metal sack holder to investigate further. Can someone recommend a restoration regimen that I can undertake to make the filling functional, or perhaps provide a link?

 

Thanks in advance, and happy collecting!

 

Regards, Nimesh

 

UPDATE: The nib clearly reads 18k whereas I thought that these all came with 14k nibs. Thoughts?

look at Richard Binder's website. It has a very detailed explanation with pictures on how to fix a Sheaffer Snorkel.

[brim]

Nice pick-up, I love my PFMs! Pics are always encouraged ;-)

 

Servicing a snorkel isn't massively difficult, but does take some care. Binder's site is a good starting point. You'll also likely need to pickup a new sac, O-ring, and gasket. Anderson pens has a nice PFM Repair kit (that's comes with a set of directions!) that makes it pretty simple.

 

The 18k nib is interesting, was possibly originally sold in France?

[Happy Harry]

An 18ct nib is for the French market where it's the minimum standard to classed as "gold".

[jar]

TTBOMK There were no Sheaffer PFM flex nibs so I would be very hesitant to even try that.

[Ernst Bitterman]

There's a quantity of springy inlaid points in the world; I've got Targas and Imperials that fit that bill. They might provide a little line variation, but I wouldn't lean on 'em too hard. I know that Sheaffer persisted in officially flexible points into the Snorkel era (rare as they are) but there's no sign of it in the '59 PFM advertising.

[njagota]

Thanks Ernst and jar,

 

That makes me feel better. I might have gotten careless and leaned a little hard. What Sheaffer (or other) pen line and era that has the most readily available flex? Now I'm very interested in getting a really nice daily flex writer that is smoooooth, presentable, but I wont give me too much heartache if lost or stolen due to price and difficulty in replacing.

 

Nimesh

[jar]

Thanks Ernst and jar,

 

That makes me feel better. I might have gotten careless and leaned a little hard. What Sheaffer (or other) pen line and era that has the most readily available flex? Now I'm very interested in getting a really nice daily flex writer that is smoooooth, presentable, but I wont give me too much heartache if lost or stolen due to price and difficulty in replacing.

 

Nimesh

 

Forget brand and buy instead from someone that specializes in such things. For flex my first stop is usually Mauricio Aguilar. Talk to Mauricio and explain what you want and he'll find just the pen for you.

[welch]

I doubt that any US pen maker from 1960 -- the PfM time -- offered flexible nibs. There was no market. A few people did calligraphy, but those I knew were artists and they used dip pens. I think Mabie-Todd offered flex pens to the UK market into the early '50s, but the UK and US markets were similar. German companies might have produced genuine flexible nibs longer, but a Mont Blanc 32 (one that I have) from about 1960 has a soft nib -- similar to a mid-40s Eversharp Skyline soft nib -- but not a "wet noodle".

 

The trend seems to have been toward stiffer nibs and quicker writing.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Sheaffer inlaids Already have the propensity to seep over time even with Normal use.

 

Even in my unlearned opinion, the method the nib is attached with to me Does Not seem compatible with the nib being flexed.

 

I can see some of them being soft enough to enable Some light line variation, but IMO it's not worth increasing the chance of a future, rather involved, repair.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Florida Blue]

I have a Sheaffer PFM V from 1968 (or at least I think so since the cap is inscribed with that year) and the nib does have a bit of spring to it. No where near flex or even semi-flex, but it does have a springiness to it.

 

Bruce's description of "soft" would also be apt.

 

I'm assuming that your nib is going to be softer than the average Sheaffer inlaid nib since it has a higher gold content, but also more easily sprung.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Florida Blue

[njagota]

Omg. Thanks for the heads up on the inlaid nib. It wouldn't have crossed my mind. I just received my valor the next day. And it too has a soft nib.

 

What a stunning pen by the way. A superb writer in all ways. What a nice change from last new pen I purchased, the pilot 742 FA, which was a slight disappointment.

 

Collection milestone: I now have a representative of every sheaffer inlaid nib line from the PFM onward, unless the taranis counts. Very satisfying!

 

Thanks all!