Are These Pens Worth Buying?

[gammada]

I want to buy my very first Sheaffer pen and I came across these couple. According to their descriptions, both are vintage pens (one from the 60's, the other unknown), yet I want to know if any of these pens are worth going after. Their pricing is rather cheap considering one of them is on its original blister (remains at least) and the other is aesthetically ok according to the seller.

 

The open one has a stub nib.

 

What am I looking for? first and foremost, I would like to fit a converter in them. Are they still available for these pens? Secondly, am into stub nibs lately and I understand Sheaffer stub nibs of yore where very good and quite a different experience from my current Lamy Safari stub.

 

Third, I want to know if the writing experience with one of these will be rather different than using the aforementioned german pen. Not looking at these pens from a collector perspective, am looking to expand my penmanship horizons.

 

Thank you for your kind advice!

[jar]

Nice pens and a great example of Sheaffer's student level pens but certainly not vintage. The one still in the blister pack was just called "Cartridge pen" and IIRC would have several cartridges along the torn side. As you can see it sold for a dollar with several cartridges. That version would have been later than the 60s, more likely late 70s-80s.

 

The lower one is a NoNonsense; slightly upscale from the former but still entry level. That body style was often part of a calligraphy set and so may well have an italic nib. It is more recent than the former pen but still the same general era.

 

A converter in the former is hit and miss. In the later a Sheaffer converter may well be possible.

 

BUT... neither will have anything resembling one of the famous Ft Madison stub nibs and maybe not even nib tipping.

 

They are both great examples of what a low cost fountain pen should be but that's about it.

[gammada]

 

The lower one is a NoNonsense; slightly upscale from the former but still entry level. That body style was often part of a calligraphy set and so may well have an italic nib. It is more recent than the former pen but still the same general era.

 

BUT... neither will have anything resembling one of the famous Ft Madison stub nibs and maybe not even nib tipping.

 

Thank you for the info Jar. Searching for the NoNonsense, I indeed found a couple of calligraphy sets for sale, one from the 80's (my guess), and the other from the current lineup. They both come with 3 different nibs (and integrated feeds) and the new versions even come with a few ink cartridges in what appears to be different colors. I will try to look for reviews on them to see if they're what I want.

 

Could you please shed some light on those Ft Madison nibs? What models have them? Which pens would you recommend?

[jar]

Ft Madison stubs were available on many many different models but finding them is yet another problem. Sheaffer did not mark the nib design in a consistent or permanent way so identification often becomes more art than science. An experienced knowledgeable seller is likely your best option.

 

My suggestion would be for you to contact either Sam or Mauricio as a starting place and ask them if they can help you. Sam in particular can have the person who made so many of those wonderful Ft. Madison nibs grind one for you. She is great to work with.

 

Personally I like the Triumph stubs best closely followed by my inlaid stubs.

 

http://www.fototime.com/A48357163977607/large.jpg

[jvcn]

Though the calligraphy sets are far from the quality of early Ft. Madison nibs, especially in 14k, they are one of the best and most consistent low cost writers. If you get one set, I would focus on earlier sets from the 80s and 90s over the more recent ones. I have both and the earlier ones are far better writers with better quality control. The new ones also have a stupid cutout on the side of the pen which is non-informative (doesn't really let you see how much ink you have left) while hampering your ability to hold the pen comfortably.

 

I have two early sets and often use them with smooth italic fine nibs as daily writers. It's quite easy to take the large Sheaffer cartridges and refill them with any ink you want.

 

If you want to try the really good Sheaffers, then try to find a way to get a restored Touchdown or lever filler with the Triumph nib mentioned.

Edited September 15, 2015 by jvcn

[Sasha Royale]

NoNonsense is not "vintage", but very usable. It has a lot of surface for artwork and advertising. I like it. It has a converter available.

 

The Sheaffer cartridge pens were student pens. They were inexpensive and basic. No converters were available. Even the ones that fit are too long for the pen barrel. Live with it ! Use cartridges.

 

The cartridge "punch" is very substantial. In place of the old Script cartridge, I use an International Standard short cartridge. I punch a pilot hole, into the flat end, with a push pin, and it installs very "snuggly" onto the pen section. Although it will stay put for the first few re-fillings, I dropped a "stretched" spring, from a ballpoint pen (See ? They are still good for something.) into the pen barrel to hold the cartridge in place. Voila !

[amk]

The first generation NoNonsense pens are a delight, and quite collectable, albeit not as collectable as (say) Sheaffer Balance or PFM. The nibs are crisp, and the pens well designed and made. There's a choice of calligraphy nibs and 'regular' nibs.

 

The more modern ones have a rubberised dimpled section which, to my mind, isn't as nice as the originals.

[pajaro]

The first pen, the cartridge pen with the steel cap might take a Chinese converter like the one in a Jinhao X-450. I put one of these converters in one of the rounded end pens from the 1960s, and it works.

 

The NoNonsense pen takes the current Sheaffer twist converter.

 

One of the best stubs I have had was on a Sheaffer Cadet Touchdown filled pen. The steel stub nib, labeled "S 1" unscrews from the pen the same way Esterbrook nibs screw into Esterbrook pens. I have two samples of the S1 nib, and they are equally good, giving line variation and being like a cursive italic. The pens were about $15 each NOS, and the NOS S1 nibs cost me $18 each. Ebay.

[Pincel]

Only for sentimental reason.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Nice pens and a great example of Sheaffer's student level pens but certainly not vintage. The one still in the blister pack was just called "Cartridge pen" and IIRC would have several cartridges along the torn side. As you can see it sold for a dollar with several cartridges. That version would have been later than the 60s, more likely late 70s-80s.

 

The lower one is a NoNonsense; slightly upscale from the former but still entry level. That body style was often part of a calligraphy set and so may well have an italic nib. It is more recent than the former pen but still the same general era.

 

A converter in the former is hit and miss. In the later a Sheaffer converter may well be possible.

 

BUT... neither will have anything resembling one of the famous Ft Madison stub nibs and maybe not even nib tipping.

 

They are both great examples of what a low cost fountain pen should be but that's about it.

 

The NN nibs, nice as they are, definitely do not have tipping. I have the Sheaffer cart pen, too, and both are sturdy writers if the OP can get a good price on them.

[ac12]

The one that I call a "school pen" the first pix with the steel cap, is a GOOD writer.
I recently got a used one, and it wrote so well that I put it into my everyday carry use. My only decision, is what ink to load into it after I use up the Sheaffer blue cartridge.

[ThirdeYe]

The first pen, the cartridge pen with the steel cap might take a Chinese converter like the one in a Jinhao X-450. I put one of these converters in one of the rounded end pens from the 1960s, and it works.

 

The NoNonsense pen takes the current Sheaffer twist converter.

 

One of the best stubs I have had was on a Sheaffer Cadet Touchdown filled pen. The steel stub nib, labeled "S 1" unscrews from the pen the same way Esterbrook nibs screw into Esterbrook pens. I have two samples of the S1 nib, and they are equally good, giving line variation and being like a cursive italic. The pens were about $15 each NOS, and the NOS S1 nibs cost me $18 each. Ebay.

 

I've had great luck with those old TipDip pens (is that what you're referring to, with the Cadet?). I have 3 of them, two are Craftsman models and the other is a Cadet. One of them claims to be a flexible nib, but it's not really any softer than the regular nibs, IMO. They are fantastic writers, though, trumping pens I've paid 10x more for.

 

To the OP, those inexpensive Sheaffer models are usually surprisingly good writers for the price. I have a few of those old cartridge pens, including one that is still on its original blister card, just like yours. I also have that exact same No Nonsense. Great writing pens, though not very valuable monetarily.

Edited September 20, 2015 by ThirdeYe

[pajaro]

Only for sentimental reason.

 

They write and start with no fuss. They beat out many more expensive pens that give trouble starting and generally end up being put up.

[Pincel]

 

They write and start with no fuss. They beat out many more expensive pens that give trouble starting and generally end up being put up.

 

I didn't learn to write with a fountain pen with these when I was young. My school pen was something else. For nostalgia sake, I will rather buy the one I did use back then. Sorry, not these.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I have both. I buy them every time I see them. I have four of the school pens and four of the NoNonsense pens. I have 2 extra nibs for the NoNonsense pens. I left a NoNonsense pen loaded on accident for 3 months without use. Started right up. These are my carry pens. I am a bus driver and facilities tech(maintenance man). To many chances for breakage to carry the more expensive pens. (None are over $50).

 

I have a bunch of these cartridges. I use one until it no longer seals and then load a new one. If interested, and you are in the US, I may be able to send a couple of cartridges.

[pajaro]

 

I didn't learn to write with a fountain pen with these when I was young. My school pen was something else. For nostalgia sake, I will rather buy the one I did use back then. Sorry, not these.

 

So, buy the one you used. It doesn't seem to be relevant. They asked about these.

[jonperry]

Get them - although you probably already did so by now. The school pens and NoNonsense are great writers, particularly if your primary goal is to improve your penmanship. Like Fuzzy_Bear, I buy them whenever I see them.