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Just Got These Two Beauties Writing!

softmoth

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softmoth New

softmoth

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Hi, here's my first post. I have had a few cheap starter pens, and these are my first vintage restorations. Both needed a new sac and fixing bent tines, and write nicely now.

 

fpn_1522445603__img_20180330_151455999.j

 

The Sheaffer is engraved "MALCOLM TO KATHYRN 1924", and has a Lady Lifetime nib. I found it on an auction site for $14. There's heavy brassing on the trim and the plastic is highly discolored, crystalizing and pitted, so it'll never look pristine. But it's still attractive and I think I can get it a bit cleaner. The nib was severely bent, with tines curled down and against each other. I straightened them the best I could without resorting to pliers or other more forceful methods. They're still a bit wrinkled and uneven, but I got the tips lined up half way decent and it writes pretty well. I suspect a pro would make it much nicer, but I'm not sure it's worth the $30 in this case.

 

The Esterbrook SJ has a 9556 nib, and is in good shape. I tried removing the nib unit, but the collar stuck and I pulled out the nib and feed. I read that I still might be able to twist out the collar intact with more soaking and patience, but since it's working now as is (I stuffed the nib and feed back into place, with no leaking or other issues) I am going to leave it alone for now. Its tines were bent down slightly, but a little pressure aligned them pretty well.

 

fpn_1522447740__img_20180330_160646126.j

 

I find them a lot more comforting to use than my new Chinese pens. Despite being fine writers, the finish, fit, design and nostalgia just aren't there. I think fixing up ~$15 vintage pens offers the best value, for my taste anyways.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Tim

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OCArt Donor Pen

OCArt

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Nice job! I can tell that you're hooked!

...............................................................

We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

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Madeline Rare

Madeline

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Welcome and thank you for the lovely photos of your new acquisitions! I'm with you on the vintage pens. I just got a brand new fountain pen that writes like silk (a Pilot Custom 74. known for its smooth writing), and I like it a lot but it doesn't yet have a story of its own. Whereas "MALCOLM TO KATHYRN 1924" is already half of a novel! Enjoy your new old pens and welcome to FPN!

Moderation in everything, including moderation.

--Mark Twain

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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Nice job on the the repairs. (Oh, by the way -- Esterbrooks tend to breed like rabbits; ask me how I know.... :blush:)

A lot of people think engravings detract from the value of a pen, but I think they're kinda neat (after all -- if you're buying a vintage pen the odds are good that you weren't the first owner). And having an engraving like that one just makes me wonder what the story behind it was (birthday present? wedding gift? someone graduating from high school or college?). I have a few vintage pens with engravings on them, but only one where I have tentatively traced the pen's history to a jewelry store in Canonsburg PA in the 1940s (the location is now an antiques store, and I keep meaning to bring the pen -- a Wearever lever filler -- in to show it off, because it's not a bad writer). I tried with one of the other ones, a Parker Vacumatic Red Shadow Wave, but came up empty; the third pen just has initials (so probably nearly impossible).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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PAKMAN Ancient Artifact

PAKMAN

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Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!!

PAKMAN

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northstar Donor Pen

northstar

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Hello and welcome to FPN.

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous  Who taught by the pen

Taught man that which he knew not (96/3-5)

Snailmail3.png Snail Mail 

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Henricum_Tropen Collectors Item

Henricum_Tropen

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Hello Tim and welcome to FPN, from Cape Town, South Africa.

To sit at one's table on a sunny morning, with four clear hours of uninterruptible security, plenty of nice white paper, and a [fountain] pen - that is true happiness!


- Winston Churchill



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Bisquitlips Collectors Item

Bisquitlips

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Glad you are among us! Welcome!

"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it."  - Selwyn Duke    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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softmoth New

softmoth

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Thanks everyone!

 

Madeline & Ruth, there's a story behind the engraving, I agree! I found that 1924 is the first year Sheaffer made the Lady Lifetime nib (1924-28) and the beginning of the famous white dot. Maybe Kathyrn had admired one in the store and Malcolm gave it for their anniversary, or a birthday? Probably we'll never know, but we can imagine how happy she was to write with it.

 

I spent a bit more time on it, got the tines more straight and it's even nicer to use now.

 

Thanks again for all the encouragement, everyone.

 

Tim

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DaveT Vintage

DaveT

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Tim, Hello and welcome from Indiana. Nice job on the getting them working again!

Please visit my store A&D Penworx.

Brands we carry: Benu Pen, Conklin, Kaweco, Monteverde, TWSBI - Diamine, J Herbin, KWZ- Clairefontaine, Field Notes, Rhodia, Whitelines

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omarcenaro Extremely Rare

omarcenaro

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Welcome! You will find lots of great information here and many suggestions to expand your collection.

Cheers,

Ozzy

None of us knows how long he shall live or when his time will come. But soon all that will be left of our brief lives is the pride our children feel when they speak our names.

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Sasha Royale Museum Piece

Sasha Royale

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Welcome !

 

We should all function as well at age 90. Good job.

Auf freiem Grund mit freiem Volke stehn.
Zum Augenblicke dürft ich sagen:
Verweile doch, du bist so schön !

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softmoth New

softmoth

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Sasha, your comment reminds me that my grandmother would have been two when that pen was made. I am sure she would have loved its green color when it was new, although her mother was severely devout and eschewed any jewelry or decoration, and I imagine great grandma writing her sermons with a dip pen with grandma in a nearby crib. :)

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oneill Vintage

oneill

Posted
Posted

Hi, here's my first post. I have had a few cheap starter pens, and these are my first vintage restorations. Both needed a new sac and fixing bent tines, and write nicely now.

 

fpn_1522445603__img_20180330_151455999.j

 

The Sheaffer is engraved "MALCOLM TO KATHYRN 1924", and has a Lady Lifetime nib. I found it on an auction site for $14. There's heavy brassing on the trim and the plastic is highly discolored, crystalizing and pitted, so it'll never look pristine. But it's still attractive and I think I can get it a bit cleaner. The nib was severely bent, with tines curled down and against each other. I straightened them the best I could without resorting to pliers or other more forceful methods. They're still a bit wrinkled and uneven, but I got the tips lined up half way decent and it writes pretty well. I suspect a pro would make it much nicer, but I'm not sure it's worth the $30 in this case.

 

The Esterbrook SJ has a 9556 nib, and is in good shape. I tried removing the nib unit, but the collar stuck and I pulled out the nib and feed. I read that I still might be able to twist out the collar intact with more soaking and patience, but since it's working now as is (I stuffed the nib and feed back into place, with no leaking or other issues) I am going to leave it alone for now. Its tines were bent down slightly, but a little pressure aligned them pretty well.

 

fpn_1522447740__img_20180330_160646126.j

 

I find them a lot more comforting to use than my new Chinese pens. Despite being fine writers, the finish, fit, design and nostalgia just aren't there. I think fixing up ~$15 vintage pens offers the best value, for my taste anyways.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Tim

FYI. Look on ebay for Jinhao /Baoer same co, who make very affordable pens for around the 2$ to 20$ if

you are looking to start a collection They are made from Brass Tubing and are great to start to work with pens.

any problems you may have will be found on FPN all you have to do is look on there for a solution someone has had your problem before Trust Me, Oneill

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