Sheaffer Balance Ii

[andyk]

Hi,

 

I think these pens are undervalued in the UK, I sold an uninked Crimson Glow (crack free) a few weeks ago highest bid was £64.78, I had hoped for a little more, but that's the fun of Ebay. Not sure that the BP adds much to the potential selling price, but as always a couple of keen bidders can make a huge difference to the final price.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[linnicky]

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/linnicky/CD124F48-0690-4CBB-B33D-7D3B20C48CC6-13604-000007D7D008444F_zpsy3yufmqr.jpg

 

Is the Levenger Aspen cap band like this? Or just another broken cap ?

Thanks.

[Ron Z]

Its a broken cap. The cap lip is missing, and there is a crack above the band as well.

[linnicky]

Thanks. What a pity for such a gorgeous pen! Maybe Sheaffer should design the cap band like this instead.

[Ron Z]

The problem is the stress placed on the threads when you tighten the cap down. I've handled many of these pens, and the jade, and red, and the blue... They usually break in the lower part of the threads, on the ones with 2 cap bands between the threads.

[Gkatona3]

I know you folks are fountain pen devotees but thought it was worth a try -- I have a Sheaffer Balance 876 Amber Glow roller ball. I have lost the cap and would like to replace it -- so far I found one for $150 -- for that amount I would rather just buy a new, different pen since this one is not one of my favorites -- but I thought I would ask here if anyone could help....

[Vintagefox]

It has just been pointed out to me that the pen my father in law just gave to me because he was going to throw it out is indeed a cracked Balance II

The cap is badly damaged but after a cleaning it writes like a dream. Does anyone know what this color is called?

 

 

Edit: I just took the tape off the cap... mistake. it is totally shattered. I'll need to find something that'll fit on the body. Does anyone know what cap's would maybe work on this. I don't care if it matches

Edited November 13, 2016 by Vintagefox

[jar]

It has just been pointed out to me that the pen my father in law just gave to me because he was going to throw it out is indeed a cracked Balance II

 

The cap is badly damaged but after a cleaning it writes like a dream. Does anyone know what this color is called?

Amber Glow.

[3rdlakerobert]

I've worked with all this old Sheaffer material and know it to be very heat sensitive. If sometimes the material became overheated in the manufacturing process, the result would be a tendency to crack. Perhaps some got overheated and others didn't.

 

Anyway, this (below) is one of the pens I made from the stuff. And BTW, in the pen making craft, the common term for the material Sheaffer used in this line was "cebloplast," which I understood to be cellulose acetate as opposed to the more well known celluloid that was I believe was cellulose nitrate.

 

[Ron Z]

That marbled Sheaffer plastic is awful to work with because it will melt as easily as it will turn.

 

If you like the nib, the simple solid color Balance II rollerball pens can be turned into a fountain pen quite easily. These sections also fit into the Connaisseur and No Nonsense pens.

[alfredop]

I have a marbled blue one which is not cracked, I'm thinking to glue some tissue paper in the lower region of the cap (without covering the threads) to add robustness, do you think that this could be a good idea?

 

Alfredo

[Ron Z]

No, I don't. The acrylic is a compressed acrylic so stesses run all through it. It will crack if it wants to, no matter what you do.

[alfredop]

Well, maybe I'm lucky and the pen will survive without problems. It's longevity, maybe, is already a good sign.

 

Alfredo

[mehandiratta]

I've worked with all this old Sheaffer material and know it to be very heat sensitive. If sometimes the material became overheated in the manufacturing process, the result would be a tendency to crack. Perhaps some got overheated and others didn't.

 

Anyway, this (below) is one of the pens I made from the stuff. And BTW, in the pen making craft, the common term for the material Sheaffer used in this line was "cebloplast," which I understood to be cellulose acetate as opposed to the more well known celluloid that was I believe was cellulose nitrate.

 

pen 1c.jpg

this one is a beauty...

amazing polish and finish...