Sheaffer Desk Pen Set

[niksch]

I developed an interest in Sheaffer Desk sets. I'll never amass the collection of Roger Wooten, but I have an interest in a particular sampling of them anyway.

 

Could someone help me identify the pen set in this US Army Press Photo? (credit is to vintagepressphotos, eBay) The subject of the photo is Major General George J Nold, the Deputy Chief of Engineers. Photo dated August 1955. I would think the pens are much older than that.

 

Also, please disregard the fact the General is holding the pen upside down.

 

[niksch]

I found this photo of a base, and it looks very similar...but the gold rings on the sockets are in the center of the socket; the gold rings on the set in the photo are more near the top of the socket.

 

[Roger W.]

The one you picture is a lovely S139 from 1937. By the time you get to pieces issued in the 1940's it is hard to give them a model number as catalogs were suspended during the war. We know the one in the OP is post 1942 from the sockets. Based on models just prior to the war it is likely a T160 which is a little larger than the S139 but, is done in the brown onyx rather than the Italian marble. It is an older set as 1953 sets are of a different style socket entirely. If the General was preferring a thin line he is holding the pen correctly as Sheaffer nibs wrote on either side (though he could be just striking a pose). Double sets are much less common than single sets and are usually pen/pen rather than pen/pencil. Desk sets are just not advertised during the war and this type socket is last used in 1947 so you are looking for a desk set essentially issued during the war or slightly after.

 

Roger W.