Old Sheaffer Repair Saga

[pen lady]

Scene 1

 

I'm amassing stock for my table at the Toronto Pen Show. Last year I bought an over-size black Sheaffer Lifetime flat-top on eBay. I knew it needed a part but I was going to the L.A. Pen Show in February and I hoped to find what I needed there.

 

Scene 2

 

L.A. Pen Show, me with disassembled Sheaffer in a baggie, burrowing through boxes piled high with dead pen parts, when eureka, there it was, the part I needed.

 

Scene 3

 

Back at our rented condo in Oceanside that evening, checking out all my purchases, I realized I'd lost the nib, feed and section from the O/S. Truthfully, I sat and cried. Then I got busy trying to contact the parts guy. By roundabout means, I e-mailed him and "no" he hadn't spotted the baggie with the nib etc., but promised that if he did find it, he'd contact me. I spent far too much time and energy feeling stupid, then got on with life.

 

Scene 4

 

Back home, slowly restoring the pile of pens I'd bought, 2 weeks ago, up popped an e-mail headed "Missing Sheaffer Nib". The parts guy, Richard Lott, had found everything as I'd described it when going through one of his overstuffed boxes at the Chicago Pen Show. Pen lady does "happy dance". Richard is truly a good soul. The package arrived from him arrived soon after. Sometimes it all works out - or does it?

 

Scene 5

 

There was still a problem, with a new sac installed, bubbles came out from the nib when the lever was depressed, but no ink was going in. Huh? I removed the sac, re-shellaced it in place, let it dry overnight, still nothing. So there I was, lips clamped round the section, blowing. The sac inflated, sort of, then I remembered something. I don't think anyone does this, but you are supposed to brush soapy water over propane BBQ hoses each year to test for leaks. Latex sac, propane hose? What's to loose. Drop of dish soap, and water, puff again, bubbles from a pinhole at the end of the sac. Never had that happen before.

2nd sac installed and the old Sheaffer is working fine. Phew!

 

So, if anyone is at a major pen show and you need parts and nibs, go and find Richard Lott. Chances are he'll be as busy as all-get-out but he'll help you if he can, he's a very excellent fellow. BTW, his brother Robert of 5 Star Pens is no slouch either, it was he who helped me contact Richard. You'll usually find them shoulder to shoulder at shows. Lott brothers, you rule!

Edited May 21, 2016 by pen lady

[gweimer1]

I spend more time at Richard's table than anywhere else at both pen shows I attend (Columbus and Chicago). I joke with him that I should just give him all my money when I walk in to make it easier. Each show, I have a list of items I need. This year, I even brought a container for the parts - and empty Altoids tin. Just last month, I bought a bag of pens really cheap, with an Imperial II that had a funky nib, and found a replacement at Richard's table the next day.

 

You also need to go back several times, because he has so much, you will easily miss something. There are some parts that I noticed are becoming harder to find, and that his bin is getting lower after a couple years.