Nib Confusion?

[Daveeho]

Hello,

 

I recently acquired an Australian Sheaffer, it was described as a PFM, but it clearly is not! However I am confused by the nib, it seems to have the characteristics of a PFM, albeit without the USA in the thin strip near to the top of the nib. Can anyone help identify what I have so I can at least catalogue it!

 

Thank you,

 

David

[crescentfiller]

Give this a shot:

 

 

http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/?page_id=6959

 

and scroll down to the Imperial section.

Edited July 21, 2017 by crescentfiller

[Daveeho]

Hi Crescentfiller,

 

It's almost an Imperial, except they do not have the arrow point at the barrel end of the nib?

[PAKMAN]

My thought is Imperial too, not sure I've see the arrow point at the tail of the nib. My PFM 5 doesn't have the little arrow.

[Daveeho]

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/Pics/SheafferInlaidNibs05.jpg
​Hi Pakman, I found this photo which shows Sheaffer PFM inlaid nibs, just adds to the confusion :-) "The evolution of the Sheaffer inlaid nib 1959 - to present The inlaid nib appeared on the Pen For Men, or PFM, in two versions. On the PFM I and II the nib was made of a palladium silver alloy, a silver colored nib and is either hallmarked PdAg (for Palladium Silver) or carries no hallmark. All other models of the PFM were fitted with 14 karat gold nibs hallmarked 14K. The basic design and proportion of the nib is consistent across all models with the only variation being the presence or absence of a diamond shaped tab, usually marked "USA", at the peak of the nib in the section."
Frankenpen perhaps?

David

Edited July 21, 2017 by Daveeho

[Roger W.]

I have one IV with an arrow on the nib out of 23 - so it looks likely to be early. It is also a touchdown filler and a black pen for that matter.

 

Roger W.

[Chrissy]

If it's a thinner pen than the PFM, then I would agree that it's more likely to be an Imperial than anything else.

[Daveeho]

The following dimensions are from a PFM 1( thanks to FPquest.com)

 

 

• Length Capped: 5.389″ (136.90 mm) my pen 135mm
• Length Uncapped: 4.652″ (118.17 mm) 116.5mm
• Length Posted: 5.575″ (141.62 mm) 142mm
• Barrel Diameter: 0.492″ (12.51 mm) 11.8mm
• Cap Diameter (at the widest part): 0.597″ (15.18 mm) 13.0mm

If anyone has the dimensions of an Imperial it would be very useful. Thank you to all who have responded, I have found this site to be a font of knowledge that is readily shared.

The pen is a superb writer and will become my daily use.

David

Edited July 22, 2017 by Daveeho

[Roger W.]

Imperial that has the arrow on the nib is -

 

• Length Capped: 137 mm your pen 135mm
• Length Uncapped: 118 mm 116.5mm
• Length Posted: 143.5 mm 142mm
• Barrel Diameter: 11.43mm 118mm
• Cap Diameter (at the widest part): 11.68 mm 130mm

Length capped and posted can vary widely. I'm surprised that mine is measuring thinner than yours (I assume you left out the decimal point). Anyway yours is a IV. Mine has the barrel step as well.

 

Roger

Edited July 21, 2017 by Roger W.

[mitto]

I have three PFMs. A IV and two Vs. And all three have the arrows on the nibs with USA inscribed on them.

[3rdlakerobert]

I can see a change in diameter right below the joint of section and barrel.

Edited July 22, 2017 by Robert111

[Chrissy]

I can see a change in diameter right below the joint of section and barrel.

 

Yes I see that too.

[Daveeho]

Robbert 111, Chrissy,

 

What do you think the significance is of the change in diameter, I thing there is a ring missing at the junction of the section and the barrel, although the cap fits snugly.

David

[Ron Z]

Some have a trim ring there, some do not. The cap is held on by the pressure tabs, so the ring is for decoration only. The step down in barrel diameter is so that the cap edge is more or less even with the barrel when closed.