I have recently bought a Sheaffer slim Targa in red lacquer, and I really like this pen.
Is there more information on the web on the different types of slim Targa´s? Any pointers?
Thanks,
-Hans.

Hi Hans,

There is a very good article on the Targa pens by Sheaffer here:
Stylophiles Jan. 2003 article on the Sheaffer Targa by Andreas Lambrou, but I think it is on Targas in general, not specifically the thinner model. In his book "Fountain Pens : US and UK", Mr. Lambrou has a fair amount of info on Targas, if I recall correctly, so I will see if I can find a list of the Slim Targa fountain pen finishes. I did not realize that they fetch a higher price than the thicker Targas, until I read that on a website while I was searching for info on your question...

Thanks! I´m familiar with the Stylophiles article, but I do not have access to Lambrou´s book. A list would be great!
Ciao,
-Hans.

Hans,
I didn't realize that there were 8 pages of information just on Targas in Mr. Lambrou's excellent book so I will do my best to summarize the various model names and numbers. Keep in mind that these are only the finishes mentioned in the book; there may be some more that are mentioned in Sheaffer catalogs from that era (but I do not possess any of those, unfortunately).

Sheaffer Targa finishes:

First series (ca. 1976):

1001 Brushed stainless steel (ss), ss nib, chrome-plated (cp) clip
1001X (as above but with 23K gp clip)
1001XG Brushed ss, 14K nib, 23K gold-plated clip
1004 Sterling silver, straight line cut pattern, 14K nib, cp clip
1004X (as above but with 23K gp clip)
1005 Gold-plated, straight line cut pattern ("fluted").
1006 Sterling silver, small squares pattern ("chequered"/"geometric" ), 14K nib, cp clip
1006X Sterling silver, small squares geometric pattern, 14K nib, 23K gp clip
1007 Gold-plated, small squares pattern.

Lacquer (Laqué) Targas (from 1978 onwards):

1030 Brown Thuya
1032 Brown Tortoiseshell
1034 Red Ronce
1036 Blue Ronce
1039 Green Ronce (from 1979)

Metal finishes-English-made "Craftsman" series from 1979:

1001 Square Cut, gold-plated
1008X Barleycorn silver-plated
1009 Barleycorn gold-plated
1013 Spiral gold-plated


(Continuing along...)

From 1980:
1028 Bordeaux (made in France)
1002 Matte black coated, cp trim, ss nib
1003 " " " , gp trim, gold nib

From 1981:
1004 Sterling silver (no hallmark, though), cp trim

From 1982:
1000 Bright Chrome (chrome-plated trim, steel nib)
1022 Laqué Noir

In 1982, the "Slim Targa" was introduced and came in most of the finishes above (I do not know which ones, though) and the same model numbers were used.

The special "Lamé" models--same shape as Slim Targa
but called "lady pens" came out this year as well:
680 Silver-plated finish, ss nib (brushed metal w/faceted band on cap lip)
681 Gold-plated finish, gold nib (ditto)

(continuing along with regular Targas, still from 1982...)
1097 Masterpiece- two types: vertical lines & plain bands, and Vannerie (basketweave)

From 1985:
675 Regency Stripe (UK)
1028 Laqué Marbled Grey
1065 (special edition from Australia with an opal on top of the cap;rare)

1031 Ruby Red (for the "Slim Targa" line)
1039 Jade Green (ditto)
(these were made in France; two-tone lacquer colours w/horizontal ring designs)

From 1986:
676 Feather (for the "Slim Targa" line only until the regular one came out in '94; gold-plated feathery pattern over black lacquer)
1021 Imperial Red (for regular and Slim line)
1027 Ivory (ditto)

From 1988:
1067 Lacqué Emerald (for Harrods of London store; only 60 made)

From 1989:
683 Diamond (Losange)-from the Medici line (more $$ than normal Laqué pens)
1020 Imperial Brass
1054 Matte Blue
1055 Matte Gray
1044 Laqué Filigree & black with gold trim
1046 (Chrome-plated version of above)

677 Savoy (for the "Slim Targa" line only, I believe; gold-plated ring pattern over black lacquer)
679 Tulle (for "Slim Targa" only, until the regular one came out in '94)

1035 Laque Amber Ronce
1083 Lacque Ivoire (white barrel with spiral engraving; only 100 made)
#??? "Leatherlook" (came as a set with a watch; one of the rarest finishes)
#??? (Targa model made of wood; rare)

From 1990:
682 Medici Filete
684 Medici Crosshatch
#??? Spiral model (see 1979 list), but in silver plate
1007 Geometric pattern with wider rectangles
1080 Cobalt Ronce
1081 Malachite Ronce
1082 Garnet Ronce

1040 Prestige Marble Gray
1041 Prestige Blue
1043 Prestige Burgundy
(The higher-priced 'Prestige' line was offered in regular and Slim Targa)

1083 Laque Spiral Black (in regular size Targa only)

More additions to the "Slim Line": in 1990:
1029 Lacqué Blue
1036 Laqué Blue Ronce
1038 Laqué Green Ronce
#??? Square Cut in silver plate
1090 Vintage (similar to Medici Line; in Slim Targa only)

(continuing on...)
1014 Foxhead (rare; only 500 made)

A special edition of the Targa came out this year (1990) for Classic Pens (the CP1 Targa)

From 1991:

'Force 10' (special edition with Palladium finish, gp trim, nautical rope pattern)
1084 Vannerie (only 500 or so made)

From 1994:
676 Feather (for regular line; previously only for Slim line)
679 Tulle (ditto)

1085 Laqué Amber
1086 Laqué Green
1087 Laqué Blue
(the above were lacquer-finished guilloche patterns)



Whew!

That's a lot of patterns! No wonder there are so many on eBay

Oh, re: the numbering system:

Gold-plated products have odd numbers
Sterling silver " " even "
but when a model is available in both, the sterling one gets the even number and the gold-plated one gets the next number up

"X" = gold electroplated clip
"G" = 14K nib on a pen (stainless steel/chrome) where a steel nib is normally used

The Lambrou book has some lovely photos of Targas and other pens made in the US and UK and is well worth the money. There is a lot of text to read, so it's an excellent reference book for people's shelves.

If anyone has anything to add to the above list (or to correct any typos/boo-boos) please feel free to post here!

Cheers,
~Maja

Hi Maja,

You seem to have a good time here . But I reckon you are at least as mad as I am...

Warm regards, Wim

Now, I don't know about that, Wim

Actually, when I checked to see how many different models were mentioned in the Sheaffer Targa section of A. Lambrou's book, my face went
but I figured I owed Hans a decent follow-up post since I said I would try to help him

I think I might be getting into Targas now....

Hope this info helps anyone interested in the subject. Some of the patterns are so beautiful.

Hello Hans
I'm new to the network and having shuffled around for a bit picked up you're interest in Targa's. I'm also a big fan of the model but having collected them for a number of years I am having to let them go. I'll be starting with a wooden prototype of which only four were ever made. It will be listed on eBay next Thursday night together with a couple of slim Targs. I'll start to list others over Christmas.
Might be some your interested in.
Regards
Hugh

Hey,
I buyed a slim targa in titanium finish.I think there's a problem on mine.Nib is not that i expected.It isnt smooth as my Lamy Vista MK nib.Im shocked?How this could be?It has some a lot of tooth to it?I flushed pen with soapy water it didnt change too much.
Any opinions about that?

Thanks

Emrecan

Hi Emrecan,

When it gets here, I will tell you what is actually wrong. It sounds like a case of misaligned tines.

Dillon

Hi Dillon,
I didnt post the pen yet sorry for that.You need to wait a little man.I looked the nib with loupe but i didnt see any misaligned tines but im not a nibmeister of course

Thanks Dillon

Emrecan