Please help me ID these pens. My wifes grandmother gave me these pens and some ink. I would like to restore -or- have them restored. The first one (L>R) I think is a Sentinal snorkel. The next one I think is a balance. It seems to just need a new sac but I can't get it apart. The third one is missing the lever and sac. The last one seems to need a sac also but it won't come apart either. Any input on these is greatly appreciated.

OK, first one is boring so someone else can do that one. Second is a 1935ish flatball lifetime balance in ebonized pearl - lifetimes get a different clip in 1936. Third is a short quill, what people typically call "dialers" that's why the end is hard rubber - too bad about the damage, these are hard to come by. Fourth is a desk pen, post 1931 and the quill's been damaged. Heat the section a bit, it should rock out without much problem. Nice lot - did you get the base with the fourth one or just the pen?

Roger W.

Just the pen. My wifes grandmother may still have the base though. I'm going to ask her.

Nice bunch of pens. The first one is indeed a Sentinel snorkel, produced c. 1953-1959. looks like it will serve you will if you get it restored.

The others, as Roger W. said, are a pretty uncommon bunch. That ebonized pearl Balance looks like it has nice color, too. (The bodies of ebonized pearl Balances often discolor from sac oxidation).

Get these babies fixed up and you should have some great pens on your hands. If you don't want to do it yourself (and there are a few reasons why you might not want to - accidental damage being one), you can send them to a number of restorers. I recommend Sherrell Tyree of ink-pen.com because she is one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to Sheaffer restoration. Any other skilled technician should be able to do it, too, though - these are not particularly difficult filling systems to restore.

Best,
Summer Greer

Thanks for the help everyone. I Re-saced the pearl Balance and it writes great. The cap does have some discoloration, but I can deal with that.
The snokel was a challenge to say the least. I fully planned to send it away for restoration, but curiosity got the better of me. I have never had the chance to see a snorkel let alone open one up.(don't laugh I'm pretty new at this ) It had been taken apart and put back together wrong and that was the main trouble with it. It took me some time to get it staight. In the end though a new ink sac and all is well. This one writes excellent as well.