Found An Oversized Balance

[Hanamizu]

Haven't had a lot of luck lately finding old pens in the local antique stores, but I keep trying. Anyway yesterday I was just leaving a shop looking at a case on my way out the door and there was a pearl and black large white dot Sheaffer. Price tag said $10. I asked to look at it and could find no problems--no chips, gouges, and an intact, very large Lifetime nib. Of course the pen's body was discolored, but the cap, with two bands, looks pretty good. When the clerk wrote up the ticket she took 25% off, so I left the store only $8 poorer.

 

The pen is about the same size and girth as a PFM and looks to have the second clip variation which dates it to around 1931 or '32. All I need to do to get it writing is put a new sac in it. I tried using an 18 since I don't have 20s on hand, but the section just kept spitting them off.

[pen lady]

Lucky find. Try Ron's suggestion, run some sandpaper over the nipple to roughen the surface a little. Make a loop of the sandpaper and twist the nipple in the loop. You might have to hold the sac in place for a few moments till the shellac sets up and stiffens.

[Hanamizu]

I tried two or three things to make the #18 fit, but the section was just not having it. I even put in a soft-jawed vice to hold while the shellac hardened, I came back an hour later to find the section had been 'spat out' by the sac. Will wait until I get the #20s.

[mitto]

Yes, I would advise not to modify the section nipple for the wrong size sac to fit. Wait until you get the right size sac.

 

Congrats on the sumguyish deal.

[pen lady]

Lightly sandpapering the nipple is not meant to modify it's size, just to roughen the surface enough to give a little grip (or "key" as the carpenters say) to the shellac.

[Kelly G]

A couple of things, and my apologies if they are too elemental.

Be sure to flush the section well with tepid water, there will likely be ink residue in the feed and nib.

Be sure your shellac is fresh. Old shellac will not dry or dry quickly. The shelf life of shellac is something like five years. If you buy a can, it should be dated.

 

Finally, great find! OS Balance pens are usually great pens and you can't go wrong at that price!