Vintage Sheaffer Identification Help Requested

[TheDutchGuy]

Acquired an old Sheaffer at a pen show. By todays standards, the nib (which appears to be steel) would be an EF. Its very smooth and pleasant, a great writer. Any info about model and history would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

 

 

[BaronWulfraed]

No doubt one of the many Balance models

 

If all I had to go by was the first photo, I'd even have guessed a Balance II from the 80s (or early 90s). BUT... I don't think the Balance II ever came in lever filler, and mine doesn't have the imprint on the side. The section shape of the Balance II is also different (being compatible with the NoNonsense and Connaisseur).

 

Can't provide an age for yours (well, maybe if I took the time to page through the older Lambrou books) but as it looks so much like my Balance II (an attempt to resurrect the feel/style of the original), I'm certain it is a Balance.

[TheDutchGuy]

Thanks. Based on your suggestion that it’s a Balanced pen, I did some checking. It would appear to be a late-‘30s Balanced Lifetime f/pen or Lifetime 1000 f/pen. My only doubt is in the nib; the models I just mentioned seem to have had two-toned nibs. My pen seems to have a mono-toned steel nib.

[JonSzanto]

Definitely a mid-30s Balance based on the clip, which is referred to as a "radius" clip. Seeing as you don't give any measurements, it is complete guesswork to know precisely which model it is. However, you will probably be able to determine for yourself if you go to Richard Binder's page on the Sheaffer Balance, which gives details about how to accurately interpret which model and time period your pen is. Are you absolutely certain that is a steel nib? I have a hunch it is gold. See if it will be attracted by a magnet, which is an easy check for steel.

[TheDutchGuy]

Thank you! It’s a full-length standard girth pen in ‘jet black’. There are no numbers imprinted on the pen. About the nib: I’m not certain what it is made of. There isn’t a 585 or 14k indication. It does have the word ‘lifetime’ imprinted on it though. The radius clip would put the pen somewhere between early 1936 and 1942, when production was ceased.

 

It’s a wonderful writer! My only gripe with the pen is that operating the lever can be painful; its edge is quite sharp and easily slips under the fingernail.

[TheDutchGuy]

 

Now that I have spent a few months with this pen, I must say that Im very impressed. This is one helluva pen. Its funny how different modern pens are from vintage ones. I love some of my modern pens, and here on FPN I mostly write about modern pens, but whenever I grab a vintage pen, the difference is remarkable. This old Sheaffer is no exception, they just dont make em like this anymore. It writes so well and has so much mojo...

 

 

^The pens only drawback is that ink tends to darken in the pen over time, more so than in my other pens. Curiously the ink does not dry on the nib, theres no crud, it always writes well straight from the first stroke, but somehow water seems to evaporate from the ink faster than with my other pens.

 

(Sorry about the lack of apostrophes in this post - the cause is a misunderstanding between the iOS in my iPad and the forum software.)

Edited September 1, 2019 by TheDutchGuy