Hi All:

Got home last night and found my new Targa. It is the full size stainless model with a medium steel nib. I got it for $20.00 shipped, which I thought very fair. I have it inked up with PR Blue Suede and have been using it at work all day. Received two comments from people who have never mentioned any other fountain pen I use at work. I really like the clean lines of this pen and the nib is not as firm as I had feared. This will not be my last Targa!

Targas are great pens. You will write with yours for the rest of your life and enjoy every sentence you put on paper.

Clean lines are one of the Targa's greatest design assets. Sheaffer's superlative inlaid nib is another.

Congratulations on a great purchase!

Great Pen, you won't be disappointed with it. I use three of them regularly, along with a couple snorkels too. I've used a Targa since they first came out in the late 1970s, wonderful pens.

Targa's used to be in my collection, just loved them.

I got a Targa a couple of months ago, based on all the FPN folks who said it was their favorite pen. Now I have three, stainless/steel nib, black matte/steel nib and black-and-gold/gold nib. Generally, I don't like the modern, straight-line look, and most of my pens are balances or vacs. But there is just something about the Targa. Have you noticed that the cap goes on with almost pneumatic smoothness? The weight of the metal body feels substantial in my hand, but the relatively slim shaft is comfortable to hold. What got me to reply to your post, however, was the comment about the people at work. I have dragged in everything from gold filled Parker 51s to beautifully restored tortoise-shell balances. But the only pen that consistantly gets compliments is my plain Targa. People just like the way it looks and feels. I wonder why they stopped making it...

Sheaffer produced the Targa for quite some period of time -- about two decades if I recall correctly. I suspect they could go back into production if they found enough retirees in Fort Madison who would come back to work. However, don't even bother to sell me a Bic with Sheaffer stamped on it. Been there. Done that. Never again.

kpfeifle,

Where oh where did you find that deal?

Just some thoughts that this has dug up at my end.......

(1) I read they sold off all of the Ft. Madison manufacturing equipment. So, as I understand it, they no longer own the tools and dies necessary to make the pen.

(2) I understand that it was not that popular and quite a few people are still finding NOS units about the world.

(3) The design has never been attractive to me and I think it appeals to a rather small number of the people left who would pay the retail price necessary to justify the capital expenditure to put it back into production.

(4) I have a suspicion, really reading between the lines, that it would be very difficult to drag any of the retirees back to work on a new Sheaffer pen. From the few interviews I've read they didn't seem to be overly fond of the company.

Sheaffer still manufactures the Inlaid nib units (for the Valor and Legacy) in Fort Madison. If the Targa is revived, the nib unit would most likely be made there. Sheaffer has been unable to find a nib manufacturer who can successfully recreate the Inlaid nib unit.

Cheers,

Jim Mamoulides
www.PenHero.com

Where did you get your Targa? I have been thinking about getting one, but the cost has held me back.
Donnie

I was just lucky to see it at that price on the green board. Turned out it needed a new converter, but Swisher had it for 4.00.

Hi Donnie--just use the search function on the FPN blue bar. I have found and purchased three Targas that way in the last few weeks and haven't paid more than $40 for any of them. Good luck! Steve