The Sheaffer Triumph--The Most Underrated Vintage Pen?

[Tas]

send it for repair to Ron Zorn, he will restore it to perfection.

 

Thank you. I'll look him up.

[JonSzanto]

Thank you. I'll look him up.

 

You'll find him right here.

[eharriett]

It's funny. I see this thread. At last year's Ohio Pen Show, I hear vendors saying their Snorkels are decreasing in value, and I've heard others say Sheaffers seem to be going down in price. It appears to be a great time to be a Sheaffer collector.

[georges zaslavsky]

My Vac Fill autograph says hello

[vicpen123]

I don't care much for the exotic filling systems as I am a c/c type of guy.

 

But the conical TRIUMPH nib (to use Richard B's spelling) is a masterpiece of elegant and stylish design.

 

I have a Snorkel Valiant with this nib.

 

Any pen with this nib is worth having (subject of course to cost).

[jmccarty3]

It's funny. I see this thread. At last year's Ohio Pen Show, I hear vendors saying their Snorkels are decreasing in value, and I've heard others say Sheaffers seem to be going down in price. It appears to be a great time to be a Sheaffer collector.

 

That is excellent news indeed!

[JonSzanto]

Not to throw water on this direction, but I don't think I've seen any big dip in PFM prices. There are always going to be pens that hold value.

[eharriett]

Not to throw water on this direction, but I don't think I've seen any big dip in PFM prices. There are always going to be pens that hold value.

That’s true. I don’t own one of those, and It hasn’t been on my radar. But you are right, they seem to remain quite high.

[GlenV]

The fat touchdowns can be really smooth writers, those from 1949-50. I recently sacrilegiously swapped a late 40's nib into a 1250 and is as smooth and nice a writer as any. The nib was missing a tip on the original sadly, this is the only touchdown that I have gone into the nib unit, and I will continue to avoid it. If you are good at fixing stuff you can learn to do a vac filler just fine, I don't believe they are inferior to the 51 which is a great pen of course, but neither of them are normally flexible and 51's are still popular. The value will have to be recognized of these.

[eharriett]

This is true. People still talk of the 51s as the greatest of all pens. Although I have two here and both are among the worst of all writing experiences for me. Either poor nova or they just dont speak to me. I dont know which. On the other hand: the triumph nibs are butter smooth

[Glenn-SC]

And they regularly sell for about $40, often less. I have seen desk sets in excellent condition sell for as low as $15. I hate to say it, but they dangerously approach the value of the gold content. Why isn't there more interest in these pens? I'm surprised that these Sheaffers don't have a larger following. It does not seem to attract nearly the interest as Parker Vacumatics, Parker 51's, Sheaffer snorkles, or Sheaffer balances. Why is this? Does anyone on this forum focus on these?

 

It can be disappointing when "our" favorite pen does not turn out to everyone else's favorite pen.

Pen collectors vote with their wallets.

That doesn't make your pen "bad" or the other pen "better", the other is just more popular.

Like what you like, buy what you want to spend your money on.

There is no need to justify that what you like is "better than" or even "just as good" as something else.

If others don't like your pen, be happy that you can get it cheap.

[eharriett]

Here here!!

[Glenn-SC]

I don't believe they are inferior to the 51 which is a great pen of course, but neither of them are normally flexible and 51's are still popular.

 

Don't base nib flex as a standard of greatness or popularity.

I see few people who really seem to care about nib "flexibility".

If they did, pens like the Pilot Falcon would be sales leaders instead of options.

The value will have to be recognized of these.

No, they don't.

[sanesan]

Here's an interesting Sheaffer brown autograph with 14k band/clip and correct 2000 imprint. I believe they are more common in black and less common in brown. I was quite pleased after this came back to me, with the seals replaced. The vac-filler is very reliable and the triumph nibs, although hard as a nail, are great writers once tuned properly.

 

[Tonhao5]

I wholly agree with the sentiment that Triumphs (and snorkels) are much underappreciated, even though they featured proprietary and innovative technology. But history rarely remembers second place. Like someone else said here, good for the few of us who can get it for cheaper!

[Addertooth]

And to avoid being remiss, there are two key generations of the Vac Fill pens. Those which the barrel had the piston making direct contact, and those which had a cylinder cartridge in them. The first type you may have a prayer of removing the head gasket and repacking it (with a lot of random luck on your side). The second type does not have a removable head gasket, and may only be drilled. Picture included of the second type, which is mid-repair awaiting a new piston seal and head seal kit.

 

 

[eharriett]

And to avoid being remiss, there are two key generations of the Vac Fill pens. Those which the barrel had the piston making direct contact, and those which had a cylinder cartridge in them. The first type you may have a prayer of removing the head gasket and repacking it (with a lot of random luck on your side). The second type does not have a removable head gasket, and may only be drilled. Picture included of the second type, which is mid-repair awaiting a new piston seal and head seal kit.

 

I can attest to this. I just got a couple back from a wonderful repair by Gerry Berg. One of each. The second type is certainly a pain.

[Addertooth]

No Triumph pen was harmed in the making of the earlier photo. Seals and head gasket washer came in today. The nib was ultrasonically cleaned to ensure good flow. It was all put together, filled with ink, and put through a few shots. I like the way quill desk pens rest in my hand. They somehow awaken my artful sense. This desk set has an interesting feature, the trumpet holder in the base is threaded, and screws down to the pen like a classical cap. I normally hate moving desk sets around, as the pens frequently wobble in their holders.

Edited August 2, 2019 by Addertooth

[Addertooth]

And let's not forget their smallest cousin. A white dot brown striated clipless Triumph Tuckaway.

 

 

 

[georges zaslavsky]

Another Sheaffer Autograph slightly different from my first one and purchased again from Terri Moris