Hey everyone!

I am thinking of buying (hopefully) a Sheaffer Balance, sometime in the next few months.

What can you people tell me about the variations/styles of the Balance, with regards to nibs, sizes, styles, dates of manufacture etc?

What should I look out for and what should I check for when buying one? Also, how much might I expect to pay for one?

Check out richardspens.com under reference pages. You will find the info you need with special attention to the clips used on Balances and the nins, sizes and material/colors produced.

I didn't realise that Richard had an article on the Balance. Thanks!!

Read this...



That makes me want one even more!

Do all Sheaffer Balances sport the white dot above the clip?

In terms of colour, I'd be interested in lime green (Don't have a green pen in my collection yet), or perhaps black mottled with green or something like that.

Something like this...



...looks appealing. But what colour-combination/pattern is that one? I tried to match it up to the list of colours given by Richard but I don't think I can match it.

The colour is Marine Green marble. The barrel on the one pictured does show some signs of discolouration as the green tends to go a browinsh green with age.
For what it's worth it's my favourite colour combination!
Pearce.

Another color I find very attractive is the one in greenish gray with red veining. They usually run a bit higher than the green ones. Pearl and black is another color. I don't particularily
care for that one. Later pens come in more colors and some of the newer ones are solid colored, some striped and/or have gold filled caps.

They do not all have the dot; neither of the ones I've got have it.

Mr. Bitterman is correct as usual; not all have the white dot. But all are really attractive super nice pens.

Looks to me from photos I've seen that the material used for striated & marbelled all have a tendency to turn brownish - the only way to avoid it is to go black or solid colour. It doesn't bother me much personally I just want it to write with

Just put in a silicone sack and if long as you stay away from those highly saturated, nice color inks, you are ok. I can't tell if the discoloration proces completely stops, but that is the safest way to use your balance.

oldie but goodie

These are really great vintage pens to use on a daily basis. The nibs are often very smooth and quite rigid, for the most part. You can get them in a variety of colors, though some can be quite expensive. They also have a very easy, ergonomic feel when you're writing too.

Check out the fountain pen review forum for some reviews- I know there are a few there.

These are my favorite vintage American pens.

David, you're a wonder!!

3rd and 9th from the left - what colours/patterns & sizes are those two?

Same pen you showed- early color Marine Green (marbled). That one in pic is OS with solid gold trim (Autograph model).

These are available in large variety of sizes and trim levels, couple hiding on my website now, lots more varieties out there

d

9th pen is marbled Grey Pearl.

--Daniel

Hmmm...

Wonder if it is time to post the 20 images of some... nice... Balances

d

Of course! (says another Balance fan)

Thanks, David, Glenn, for those excellent pictures!!

Now I know what I want. Just need to keep saving.

And pray that by the time the next Melbourne Pen Show rolls around (November, this year!!)...someone will have a Balance that I want.

If not, I'll just toddle off to Melbourne Vintage Pens and pester Peter to see what he has.

By the way, what can I expect to pay for a Sheaffer Balance in good condition, restored and ready to write with? $100-something? $200-something?

My limit with this stuff is about $250. Absolute top limit would be $300, no higher, unless it's something absolutely amazing.

Shangas,
The last Balance I got was the Golden Pearl Striped Sr in the picture.
I found it at an Antique Store for $9.50.
I think Sherrell Tyree charged me $30 to restore it.

Well that's promising!

Shangas - as with most vintage pens there is a wide variability in price depending on size, condition, and as Dr. I would say, cachet. I find the balance to be a great pen generally speaking. My favorite size is the Over Size (of course it is, it's the most expensive). I have a couple of OS models in Black that were relatively reasonable in price - about $90.00 US average for the two.
I've picked up several smaller models on ebay and from antique shops and auctions for a lot less. The more desirable colors in the OS models can get pricey - several hundred+ and if you add the more obscure trim and excellent to near mint condition - add on a few more hundred dollars.
the OS Balance is at the top of the list for me for my favorite vintage pen - along with the Sr. Duofold and Vacumatics. You'll find vintage Sheaffer nibs to be among the best.

Good Luck in your quest.

I must go and get my eyes and brain checked.

I just remembered that there's also the Sheaffer Balance II line of fountain pens in existence! Where can I find out about these pens, or, what can you fellows tell me about them? I may consider buying one of these over one of the more traditional ones...what are the pros & cons of each? (With regards to vintage Balances, I'd like to buy a lever-filling one, if I bought one at all).



Found photo on another page in the FPN

Well, the modern Balances are "modern" writers. They have modern feeds that hold a decent amount of ink too. The bodies are generally modern plastics (don't know about all the LEs). Most of them are cart/conv fill pens (except there is a lever-fill variant). Their prices do vary widely by which one you get- the lever-fill LE is quite expensive, whereas the basic, common, single-color ones are not as much. As size goes, they're pretty big compared to the standard vintage ones. The section/grip on these is an hour-glass shape. Lifetime dot, is usually a raised bump on the cap.

Vintage- These are not C/C fill, but are rather lever or plunger fill. Celluloid is the most common material here, but the earlier ones also can have hard rubber sections. With these you do get discoloration in certain varieties. The feeds vary on these- later ones have rounded "comb" feeds, but earlier ones have flat, notched feeds. The sections on these vary a bit, but usually are pretty flat where you grip it (as opposed to a rounded hour glass).

Both varieties generally give good service. The modern ones are a bit less fragile, but the vintage ones are the "originals" so-to-speak. It really depends, I think, on what kind of size and style of writing you want. You can get a basic entry-level Balance II for less that $75 easily. Other variants will be more. If you want a true vintage item, then the prices vary. For less than $100 you can get a decent user, but watch out for the usual cracks in the celluloid and make sure your lever fill mechanism is in good order. Plungers are bit trickier and these are ones you'll probably have to send off to fix. On the other hand you can get some really nice colors in the vintages that you don't see in the modern ones. I like both, but prefer the vintage ones.

This doesn't cover everything, but is a starting point for some general information. You'll certainly find different nibs and the like, but for much of what you'll find this should get you started.

Try here too:

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=55429

It has been my experience that Balance II pens can be problem writers. 3 out of the 3 I have are balky starters and/or skippers. Compared to vintage oversized balances, they are a little longer in length and little less in diameter. I have one vintage balance with a marvelously flexible nib.

I have three Balance II's and a slew of vintage Balances. I prefer the vintage models because of the filler systems - lever and vac fillers and I think Sheaffer vintage nibs may be the best of the lot. I prefer the feel of celluloid to modern plastic. I believe the vintage feeds to be better.

It is my opinion that a well restored OS Balance may be the best fp you can own - from a writer's perspective. That is, of course a very subjective opinion and we're all entitled to our own.

What I know for sure is that when I want a highly reliable, comfortable, good looking fp that holds a ton of ink - I grab the OS Balance - which is easy, since it's usually in my pocket.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

Well my main objectives when buying a fountain pen, any kind of fountain pen, including a Sheaffer Balance, is that the pen be used for writing and that the pen *IS* a good writer.

So it looks like I'll stick with the vintage variety.

=====

Ray, thanks for the review there, I wandered right past it! I've just finished reading it, and I think I'll still go with a vintage Balance. If there are two versions of a fountain pen, I'd much rather own the original, not some cheap, modern copy.

I wouldn't call the Balance II a "cheap copy"- they're nice pens. It's just- if you're used to vintage and you want a Balance, then a vintage Balance is a great option.

OK. Some vintage Balance...

Marine Green OS



Quite uncommon Autograph (solid gold trim) Black/Pearl OS



Exquisite 3 piece set (standard pen) Autograph (solid gold trim). One of only two Autograph golf pencils i've seen



Just superb color





Mint Jade OS (bit of a close up). True mint



Carmine OS with "Jeweler's" extra-wide cap-band. Rather scarce



Exquisite (and not my) OS brown stripe AUTOGRAPH. ONly one i've ever seen in this color



Uncatalogued and in some cases quite scarce cap-bands



"Reverse Trim" (white-on-black non Junior) AND uncatalogued double cap-band t'boot



Mint Canadian Junior



Not so common Black/Gray "Grey Pearl" with uncatalogued wide lined band



Oh yeah, and one of the most uncommon Combos- Marine Green in Lifetime Trim




Anyway, this is tip of iceberg. I do rather enjoy collecting Balance.

regards

david

Awesome Doc! I've been waiting like eight days for you to post those pictures. I was starting to think you were just teasing about posting them! I hope you enjoy showing those pictures as much as I enjoy looking at them. Thank you.

Tim
(trying not to envy... 'cause God said not to covet...
but I really dig that Carmine and Roseglow!)

Yes- some nice shots.

At first I really didn't care much for Black and Pearl, but the more I see it, the more I like it.

Thanks ever so much for those photographs, David!!

I think I can safely say: "I want a marine green lever-fill Balance!"

I've never owned a green pen before, green never really appealed to me, but with the M/G balance, I think it looks nice.

Shangas,

That "Group Picture" you posted are my pens.

I have four "duplicates" to the ones shown; a Crimson, Cobalt, and Amber Glow and a Tiger Eye.

The Balance IIs can be very nice pens.

I haven't checked their availability lately ...

Please don't sue me for breech of copyright... They are such lovely pens...

I would just like the acknowledgment.

I took the photo and posted it because they are such nice pens.

(I could have watermarked it but I thought people would rather see the pens than my name!)

How rare are the milled wide cap bands?
Also, what were the different lines?

Relatively uncommon. Hard numbers do not exist based on available info.

regards

david