Sheaffer Valiant And Statesman Snorkels

[corgicoupe]

I havequestions about two Snorkel pen & pencil sets that I have, both in the original boxes, and both with little foil price tags. The black Valiant set with the 14k nib does not have the "W A Sheaffer Pen Co" along the length of the barrel, but has "Sheaffer's MADE IN USA" on the cap. The pencil has "SHEAFFER MADE IN USA" AROUND THE TOP OF THE BARREL. The little foil price tags have VALIANT $6.50 for the pencil and VALIANT $17.75 for the pen. The instruction sheet has W-38 1-54 PRINTED IN USA.

 

The smaller instruction sheet with the black Statesman has W-38R 3-55 PRINTED IN USA. A previous owner had written July 1, 1957 on the sheet, so I assume the 3-55 is a date. The pen has the expected PdAg F4 nib, and has the "W A SHEAFFER PEN CO" imprinted along the length of the barrel. The pencil has the full "W A SHEAFFER PEN CO" imprinted around the top of the barrel. Neither has anything on the cap. The foil price tag for the pen has STATESMAN $15.50 [probably because of the nib] but the pencil has $7.25 [no Statesman] Why is it priced higher than the Valiant pencil? There is also a price foil saying: Shaeffer's Statesman Snorkel Ensemble $22.75, [which is no price break for the set].

 

I would appreciate any comments and opinions on these two sets. The Statesman is surely from the mid 1950s, but what about the Valiant. Why no marking on the barrel?

[3rdlakerobert]

I don't pay much attention to the imprints on Snorkel pencils, so I can't be of help there, but your Valiant with the imprint around the cap is probably from the latter half of the Snorkel production run. Inside the pen, you should find a sac protector with four lugs, all of equal size. Four equal size lugs indicates it was made in the latter half of Snorkel production.

 

If instead the sac proctor has three lugs of the same size and one that is larger (about twice the width of the others) that would be a sign that the sac protector is from a pen that's an early example.

 

I think I commented on this topic in another thread, in which I said I believe imprints around the cap just above the cap band, or around the top of the barrel just below the thread ring, were only on pens from the latter half of the production run and uncommon. I've never seen an early Snorkel with an imprint around the cap or barrel. Imprints on early pens are along the barrel or missing entirely.

 

In an email conversation with our moderator in January this year, I counted exactly 50 Snorkels in my collection, only 3 of which have imprints around the cap or barrel. Since then I've come across 2 more. All are on pens with characteristics of late production (color mostly, 1 script nib).

 

I wish I could be more specific about the years when I say "latter half" of the production run. I'd be interested if anyone has documented the years when changes in the color offerings occurred (the so-called "new" colors). I think Jim (moderator) has a general idea from studying the advertisements in magazines. Other significant changes were the advent of color-matched sections, script nibs in the PdAg nibs, changes in the design of the sac protectors (mentioned above), and removal of the "5" from Admiral nibs. There are probably others.

 

Sorry. I admit I get carried away about Snorkel details. Probably haven't told you much about your two black pens. I can say that Sheaffer's prices for sets were usually just as you point out--no bargain. You got a free case--that's it. I think they always followed that pricing scheme.

 

As far as the prices for the pencils, it's hard to say why yours are different. The non--white dot pens came with pencils that have smaller cap bands and the pencils that came with white dot pens had two-piece, two-tone nose cones. So I could understand a price difference for wd vs non--wd pencils. But your pencils are both part of a white dot set so they should be priced the same. It's always possible there was a price increase, but the higher price is on the pencil that was made earlier--that doesn't make sense. Are you sure your foil tags are correct for your pens? sometimes they get swapped around. Do your tags all say "Snorkel" and the model? I think earlier foil tags--from the Touchdown pens--only said the model.

[corgicoupe]

I tried to unscrew the section from the barrel, but hand twisting was not enough. Perhaps I should get the rubber grippers, or maybe give it a dose of USC.

 

Regarding the pencils...the Statesman does have a two-tone nib; the Valiant is one gold color.

 

The Valiant box was most likely intact, as it was given to me by the widow of the owner who died in the early 1990s. The foil price tags both have Valiant on them. There was, interestingly, a repair notice from Sheaffer dated Nov 1, 1974. Mr. Mullarkey apparently sent it in with the case. Interpreting the repair sheet, the pen barrel may well have been replaced, the nib was adjusted, and the pen and pencil were reconditioned and cleaned for a total cost of $3.00!!! The barrel replacement could well explain the lack of an imprint.

 

I will stop searching for information and enjoy using both pens, and perhaps even the pencils. The Statesman set was purchased for $25, in the case.

 

Thanks for your help.