Hi folks,

Is this a balance. How much do they go for if I want to bid? Any suggestions? Feathertouch meaning flex (not crazy about flex nibs)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...mMakeTrack=true

Daniel

Daniel;

While it is balance shaped this is post balance. Sheaffer dropped calling them balance in the early 40's if I remember right - when the triumph came out in '42 - and this pen is late 40's or early 50's. I think this is a vac fill too (hard to tell from the pics) which dings the value. I wouldn't bid more than $30-40 as it will probably cost that again to get it repaired to working condition. It will also be a 14K solid nib not plated as stated in the ad.

Roger W.

Roger

Hmm, seems too much of an effort and cost to get it going, thanks for the info

Daniel

I find it hard to identify -- the shape looks more like first year Touchdown to me, but I could very easily be wrong. If it is a Touchdown, they're easier to get fixed, and if it's a lever fill, they're easier still.

Feathertouch is the name Sheaffer put on nibs on non-white-dot pens that didn't have the lifetime guarantee. It is unlikely to have more flex than a bridge girder. It is a plated nib, in a sense; it's 14k gold, plated with one of the platinum-group metals, which is the lighter coloured stuff over the tines.

If you had a reason for your interest in it, I'd have thought it would be worth putting in a bid of, say $20, which would get you reasonable vfm even if it's a vac-fil and needs repair.

Best

Michael

Michael, liked the way you put that. How much do youreckon for getting a new sac or repairing it?

Thanks

Daniel

The pen is a 1950s TIPdip model, contemporaneous with the Snorkel and similar to the Cadet but with a better nib. (The Cadet has a Nº 3 nib.) It's a Touchdown filler, using components the same as those in the Touchdown TM. I would sell a pen like this for about $65.00 fully restored, with my usual warranty.

Hi Richard,

Sorry, but meaning you dip the pen in the ink to fill it, or does it have a sack and squeeze filler. Am new to shaeffers so thanks for bearing with me, I like the look of the pen, very classy and vintage looking, but is it generally also a smooth and reliable writer? I checked out your great site and did not come across the specifics on this one.

Thanks

Daniel

Richard;

When I saw the cap I thought tip dip but the nib and section are not tip dip. Tip dips had steel nibs and solid sections. Now this pen may have been modified and it may have a touchdown filler but, in answer to the original question, it is not a balance.

Roger

Dear Daniel,

Your pen is most likely a Sheaffer Touchdown Admiral c1950-1952. I don't see a lever on it, so the acid test would be to unscrew the end of the barrel - there is a cap there, and extend the plunger. If it looks like a rod, it's a late 1940s Admiral Vacuum filler, if it looks like a silver tube, it's a Touchdown Admiral.

Touchdown pens use a rubber sac that is compressed using the pneumatic action of depressing the plunger. The sac fills as it recovers from the brief vacuum created.

Either way, you're going to invest at least $35 to get it into working condition.


Sheaffer Touchdown Admiral Black and Burgundy 1950-1952

They were inexpensive quality pens when new, and can be nice writers. Consider the total acquisition cost when buying.

You can learn more about the Sheaffer Touchdown Admiral here:

Sheaffer Thin Model Touchdown Pens 1950-1952

FWIW, Sheaffer basically stopped using the Balance name in 1941.

Cheers,

Jim Mamoulides
www.PenHero.com

Feathertouch refers to Sheaffer nibs that have their forepart plated with platinum. Two-tone Lifetime nibs are Feathertouch nibs even though they are not stamped as such.

--Daniel

I wouldn't invest more than about $15-20 in it, at least without more information. Restoring a touchdown is not that hard to do yourself, a vac-filler is more challenging - probably not your first repair project.

There have been comperable or better pens in the marketplace here for under $50, some well under $50, and fully restored at that. Decent, working Admirals can be had for around $35-$40 if you look around. I have sold them for that much.

John

Thanks for the info folks, will keep a look out for a working model

Have a great weekend

Daniel

I'm back with another one, the seller has just informed me that the pen is cartridge type, what does that do to the above theories

Daniel

Tells me the seller has no idea what he is selling....