Eight Ball Raised Ring With No Sleeve?

[PhilProf]

I've just acquired an eight ball desk set with a raised ring on the base. All the others I have are models with flat engraved rings; on each of these the ring surrounds a black plastic sleeve which cradles the pen. My 'new' raised ring model has no plastic sleeve. Is it missing the sleeve or is there not supposed to be one?

 

Thanks for your help.

Edited February 27, 2015 by PhilProf

[Hobiwan]

I don't have one at present, but if memory serves, the "8-ball" does require a sleeve under the ring, removable for cleaning.

[PhilProf]

Hmm. Sounds like I'm in the market for a plastic sleeve. Thanks for your help Hobiwan.

[NobleDel]

If your raised ring look like these on this two pen base then, unless I'm mistaken, you should already have a sleeve in there. I just checked my base and it looks like each sleeve and ring is one piece of molded plastic. Being one piece of plastic the sleeve is the same color (silver) as the ring, not black like the later "8-ball" bases.

Edited February 28, 2015 by NobleDel

[PhilProf]

Thanks NobleDel. Your picture is helpful--nice set! The raised ring on my '8-ball' isn't as pronounced as yours, but like yours it doesn't look like a sleeve could fit within the ring and extend all the way to the top. So I'll not discount the possibility that it's there, under the ring as Hobiwan suggested. now that I know to look inside and under I'll have at it with a pen light later today.

[PhilProf]

OK. I was unable to remove the ring with the amount of force I was prepared to use, but based on the suggestions that there should be a sleeve below and under the metal ring I set to work cleaning. After removing however many decades of black and blue ink I finally hit 'bottom'. Beneath the crud there's an inner plastic sleeve over and into which the metal ring / lip fits.

 

Thanks for the advice.