Jump to content

Sheaffer Balance II-Levenger version


sleek_lover

Recommended Posts

Not sure why I have this pen in rotation, other than it just got there.  As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure why I ever bought the pen, other than it was a close-out and I got a great deal...

 

That said, the pen is a looker.  The barrel and cap are lustrous mix of flecks of goldish brown shot through with highlights of blue and copper.  Truth be told, I don't even remember the color name, other than it is something autumnal.

 

The furniture is a bit odd, the cap ring being a chromish affair with the Levenger name emblazoned on it; the chromed clip is a 1930s-ish looking stamping with a flattened circle at then end.  This is affixed to the cap with four prongs--I've seen sturdier work on third-tier Depression-era pens.  A HUGE white dot sits above clip; it looks out of proportion, but is the same size as the dot on my Valor.  With the cap on the pen kinda looks shoddy...

 

Once the screw-fastened cap is off, though, a whole new pen arises.  The nib is a lucious two-tone Touch Down with that cute little turned up nib-tip (mine is an M) backed against an black section.  (It is sorta like what we used to do in the "old days".  Take the crappiest car we could find...like a '53 Chev with a Blue Flame 6 and two speed hydromatic, rip out the engine and tranny, put in a decent engine---in my group that would be a 289 Ford with a Borg Warner four-speed)

 

Without getting into the politics of posting versus not posting, I am a non-poster.  The pen balances just perfectly for me without the cap (which I hold in my left hand.)  The nib is smooth and lays a sort of "middlle of the road" M line.  Again, without political bent, I am not a big flex fan and this nib suits my hand well.  I can and have written in meetings for 30 or so minutes, and done personal journaling with no fatigue at all.  But again.  my hand size and strength are different than yours...what fits and is comfortable for me may be uncomfortable as hell for you...

 

Cartridge/converter filled, a combo I like, the pen has good fit and finish, with outstanding performance characteristics.  The only negatives are cosmetic...the cheesy-looking Levenger fitments.  I rate the pen A-.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 3
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Mary P

    2

  • sleek_lover

    1

  • FrankB

    1

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

The name of the pen is the Aspen. I have the Sheaffer version (as opposed to the Sheaffer/Levenger collaboration which had silve rather than gold furniture). I love the pen. I bought mine with a factory stub and then had Richard Binder narrow and smooth the nib. Then I had Richard repair it after I dropped the pen, nib down, on to an oak floor. I enjoyed the pen for several years and then dropped it nib first into the kitchen sink. That time I had Dennis Lively repair the nib.

 

I'm not sure I understand this. You see, I'm not normally hard on pens. This is one of only two pens I have ever dropped.

 

I find both modern and vintage Sheaffer Balance pens comfortable for long writing sessions. That is saying something because I have arthritis and many pens are down right painful for me to use.

Mary Plante

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do not post this pen. I also caution against posting any Balance, modern or vintage. I would hate to guess how many Sheaffer Balance pens I've seen with cracked caps. It is simply better not to take the chance. Besides, these pens are so well "balanced" they don't need the additional weight on the end.

Edited by Mary P

Mary Plante

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am glad you like your pen. I like the Balance II's so much I got one in every color sheaffer had available. I also love Sheaffer's stub nib, and I have all of my Balance II's with them. They are just plain enjoyable pens.

 

Mary P wrote:

 

"I find both modern and vintage Sheaffer Balance pens comfortable for long writing sessions. That is saying something because I have arthritis and many pens are down right painful for me to use."

 

I think people tend to forget that Balance II's are Pelikn M-800/Duofold Centennial sized. That size, especially the pen's diameter, is quite comfortable for me and my arthritis. The shape of the section is pleasing as well. I understand that not all Sheaffer's pens are this size, but the overall shape is vintage and very useful.

 

I use my Balance II's unposted, too. They are quite comfortable and well balanced, but I still find the tapered end feels odd. Nevertheless, that one thing is my only criticism.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...