Sheaffer Desk Set With 1940 Pontiac

[Joed423]

Hi, all,

 

Newbie here. Long time usng fountain pens, though. I learned Palmer penmanship in the '60s using Sheaffer cartridge pens and a hand-me-down Esterbrook. My carry-around pen is a 1933 Sheaffer oversize autograph in Marine Green that I got at a flea market in 1983.

 

I've been lurking the forums of late, largely to figure out what to do with some Sheaffer desk pens and bases that have been in my bottom desk-drawer junk box for about 12 years. The forum info was enough for me to finally figure out what goes with what--and to get me all hot and bothered about wanting to get a few more!

 

That said, I picked up the following on ebay today: http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/281425487297?roken=cUgayN I'd like to restore it, but could use some guidance. The car is a 1940 Pontiac Torpedo DeLuxe Eight, in all likelihood potmetal that was either bronzed or painted. The sockets are the run-of-the-mill '35-'39 dry-proofs (or so it seems). Has anyone ever encountered something like this before? What's the best way to refinish the plaque and the car, if at all? And does anybody have a couple of the sockets and pens they'd care to sell? All advice is welcome!

 

Joe

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/B4wAAMXQydtTL0KQ/$_57.JPG

 

[MKeith]

 

Nice piece you found. Sometimes the best restoration is to leave it in it's patina state. Someone that might help are Sam and Frank Fiorella at Pendemonium. Few know more about Sheaffer products than they do.

Edited August 29, 2014 by MKeith

[OakIris]

I rather agree with MKeith - I don't see a need to restore the finish on the car or the plaque, the patina is lovely, in my opinion, and adds to the history of the piece.

 

The folks at Pendemonium will be a great resource for you and may have just the desk pen set socket/s you are looking for; here is Sam's email address (as posted on their website) sam@pendemonium.com They can probably give you an idea of what Sheaffer desk pens would match the age of your desk pen stand, too, and I bet they would do a search amongst their sources for the pen/s and or holders you need if they have none in stock. You might also check with Teri of Peyton Street Pens; I haven't seen desk pens for sale on her site, but she does seem to have a lot of NOS and near mint Sheaffers for sale so she must have some "secret" sources, too.

 

I also did a quick search on eBay for Sheaffer desk pen sockets and it came up with this page from The Pen Shop: Desk Pens for Replacement I have never purchased from that shop, but the seller has thousands of sales with 100% positive feedback. There may be something there, or in one of the many other eBay shops, that will work for you.

 

Have fun! I hope you are successful and will post back here with photos of your "new" desk pen set complete with pens and good sockets!

 

Holly

 

 

[Uncle Red]

Check out Peyton Street Pens too. Teri has a timeline of Sheaffer pens on the site.

[inkeverywhere]

I agree, patina is everything in that piece! All in all what a great find.

 

Greg

[LamyOne]

Hello Joed,

 

When I look at that piece, I cannot help but think - Top Salesman's Award - or perhaps even someone in the design department, (can you make out the name of the signature? I couldn't; try googling that name - that may take you somewhere). It is a shame Pontiac no longer exists, as they might have been able to give you some background info on the piece. That said, you may want to contact antique car clubs - especially ones that focus on GM or Pontiac - they may prove to be a weatlh of information, along with the Sheaffer pen experts.

 

Just my two cents.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited August 30, 2014 by LamyOne