The other day at work I was carrying two pens: my new Montblanc 149 with a broad nib and a 1950 Sheaffer Statesman TM* Touchdown in black with a 14k fine nib. I use the 149 for signatures and notes in meetings and I use the Statesman for quick telephone notes and things of that nature. Both are black with gold trim, and they both have white dots (or, in the case of the Montblanc, a white "splat") so they kind of look like large and small versions of the same pen when viewed by those who are unfamiliar with them.

I bought the 149 last year with some reservation due to some comments I've heard, but I am a complete Montblanc fan now that I've used my 149 for months with no problems--the nib is very smooth, the inkflow is generous, and the size fits my large paw perfectly.

The Statesman was a gift to me from a coworker--it had belonged to his late father, and when he heard that I used fountain pens exclusively, he gave it to me. He said he couldn't use fountain pens because he tended to write too heavily and bend the nibs. This little pen is a little longer than my index finger and almost disappears in my hand, but the nib is glass-smooth, it never fails to write, and the Touchdown filling system works perfectly.

So, when I went to lunch with a friend the other day I paid for the meal with my debit card. When the cashier handed me the receipt I first pulled out my 149 but then returned it to my pocket and pulled the little Sheaffer out instead, removed the cap and signed away. It's filled with the mossy-green Noodler's Zhivago ink and it looked pretty nice on the paper. The cashier watched me and my sleight of hand exchanging pens and commented, "I've seen pens before like the other one before, but that little pen is so neat! Can I see it?" Wow. That was terrific. A little $10 Sheaffer Statesman, fifty-eight years old, upstaged my brand-new $700 Montblanc 149. I showed the Sheaffer to her and explained quickly how it works, and she thanked me for taking the time to do so.

Somehow, the high esteem I already held for the little Statesman raised dramatically that day, and now I carry it with just as much pride as one of the most expensive of my pens.

Sheaffer, the great American pen company, really knew how to make pens, didn't they?

I've got a Valiant TM Touchdown in the 1950-51 series and it's quite nice. It has a genuine, understated look- part of why I like the vintage items. As a writing pen I'd take the Sheaffer over the Montblanc. I've used both and prefer the Sheaffers.

Vintage Parker is worth a look too- they put out a quality product (especially the flat top Duofold).

Ah what a lovely story.Thank you for sharing it with us.

Just like you I am totaly in love with my MB 149 its a great pen,great design and wonderful writer.
I am also a big Sheaffer Snorkel fan (thats basicly a sheaffer TM with a tube sticking out when you fill the pen).
They make a great collection.I am not too big on its writing charectaristics though.I find the nibs smooth but without too much character.Out of the Sheaffer family my favorite writer is the Targa and after that the PFM.

The Sheaffer TM Touchdowns are vastly underrated, in my opinion. I have a couple dozen of them and they write better than most pens, especially if you like a fine nib. They're incredibly smooth.

Thank you for a good story, fitzharry.

MB 149's and 146's are about the only MB's I use consistently, but I do love them. The 149 especially has a size that I find very comfortable to use. My MB's are as dead on reliable as my Pelikans, and they are some of my workhorses.

The Sheaffer incident shows that no pen should be despized for its size, cost or source. Among vintage and some recent model pens, Sheaffer is right in there with the other major players and holds its own. Sheaffers have their own style and panache.

I prefer my TM snorkels over OS pens! The Triumph nib combined with the classic looks, more comfortable grip (I don't like a huge diameter grip), and cool filling system make this the winner in my book. Like goodguy, I do prefer the Targa overall, though.

Not to put down the 149, however. A truly classic pen that I will someday own - preferably with a Binder cursive-italic.

I have to agree with you on Sheaffer's "panache." For some reason the Sheaffer pens I use always remind me of the 1950s and the style of that particular decade.

My office work pens generally consist of my Sheaffer Legacys (or the Montblanc 149) and now the aforementioned Sheaffer Statesman. And, just today, I received my first Sheaffer Snorkel, a Valiant in pastel green (new in box--I had to remove the price stickers myself!), with the 14k gold Triumph nib in medium. This pen is writing wonderfully and I can't wait to take it to the office tomorrow. Looks like another Sheaffer day Tuesday!

Nice story Fitzharry. I also use a sheaffer when I at home, it is a cheap no nonsense that I converted into an eyedropper, it is a very consistent and smooth writer.

Someday soon I must buy another Sheaffer. Perhaps a Balance. I loved the Sheaffers I owned as a kid. I wish I still had them. That was a fun story to read

The irony of my own internal response to the story: Schaudenfreude is a German word....