No-Nonsence: Seeking Info

[k3eax]

Hi all, I was given a black and well used Sheafer No-Nonsence. I'm rather curious as to its original selllling price and during which years the pen was maketed.

 

I must say, the pen is a rather nice writer and it has become my everyday carry.

[Barkingpig]

Thanks to Mr. Jim Mamoulides' site PEN HERO.COM,

 

I was able to confirm my 50+ year old memory of first purchase & guessed $2.00.

 

According to the site (8-29-03, with later updates)

 

"Originally offered in hang card blister packs for $1.98 with 2 cartridges."

 

I also remember the cartridges were perhaps 49 cents for 5 & therefore the pen was relatively inexpensive compared to the cartridges required to maintain it. I remember them in most drugstores where we would find ourselves after school & easily purchase a new model when it was available or merely try a new color of ink.

[Mr.Rene]

great economic pens...several finishes and wide nib size options...

[Sailor Kenshin]

Depends what vintage. Some sold for as little as two dollars; other, later editions, as much as ten.

 

Pics would help!

[joss]

Jim (PenHero) indeed mentions $1.98 for the basic NoNonsense version:

http://penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer/SheafferNoNonsense.htm

 

While the white dot version (aka Guys 'n Dolls) sold for nothing less than $9.95, according to the 1970 advertisement in this thread:

www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/175139-the-guys-n-dolls/

[OCArt]

Many of these were sold as calligraphy sets with extra nibs of various widths and it's pretty easy to find other nibs. Sheaffer still markets a similar pen called something like "inkview" but I don't know if the nibs will fit the older pens.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Many of these were sold as calligraphy sets with extra nibs of various widths and it's pretty easy to find other nibs. Sheaffer still markets a similar pen called something like "inkview" but I don't know if the nibs will fit the older pens.

 

The section's quite different on the new onew, with a cushioned grip, so I don't know if you can do the old NN section swap.

Edited June 24, 2019 by Sailor Kenshin

[Tweel]

I think the Viewpoint nib + feed is smaller in diameter than the original.

[BaronWulfraed]

Many of these were sold as calligraphy sets with extra nibs of various widths and it's pretty easy to find other nibs. Sheaffer still markets a similar pen called something like "inkview" but I don't know if the nibs will fit the older pens.

 

The older calligraphy sets (in solid colors) were NoNonsense pens. I think the first "Viewpoint" versions may have been NoNonsense "demonstrator" (transparent colors) and were then replaced by some German made model with a completely different section design.

 

The Balance II and Connaisseur (and hence Levenger Seas) sections are compatible with NoNonsense.

[sansenri]

quite a nice pen, I have a couple of the later transparent ones, the nibs are stiff but work very well.

(so many different colours were made that some people have huge collections!)

[corgicoupe]

PeytonStreetPens has Fine, Medium, & Broad nibs for $12,

[Barry Gabay]

I paid $1.98 for a blue or tan one in bubble pack with 2 Skrip cartridges in 1974. I still have a couple of those original dark blue No Nonsense fountain pens. They were at the time, the world's most reliable student-grade fountain pen.

[Ron Z]

I paid $1.98 for a blue or tan one in bubble pack with 2 Skrip cartridges in 1974. I still have a couple of those original dark blue No Nonsense fountain pens. They were at the time, the world's most reliable student-grade fountain pen.

 

You too? I bought a tan one at Jamesway on my way to my freshman year of college in August 1974, and refilled the cartridge with a syringe for years. It didn't take any time at all to figure out that was cheaper than replacement cartridges. I still have the pen 45 years later, though I did replace the nib because it had a huge flat spot.

[pajaro]

I bought one a long time ago for drawing. My wife has it now.

[Barry Gabay]

After Ron's recent post, I hunted and discovered that I still have 3 of the original dark blue NN fountain pens and one of the tan ones. Those first-generation NN were truly great writers with their ebonite feeds, steel nibs, and screw-in plastic sections. The second-generation plastic feeds are just as reliable, and are the same feeds found in the later, high end Connaisseur, Grande Connaisseur, and Nostalgia fountain pens. The NN even accepted the squeeze Sheaffer converters in use at the time. Over the years, I have continued to use them on a regular basis, always keeping 1 or 2 filled in the pen cup on my desk. The View Point & Vintage versions have all of the features of the second generation. Photo which demonstrates that some of us just can't say, "No."

[Tweel]

The jeweler who made our wedding rings* has one of those blue NNs. I think he said he bought it in the early 80s, as far as I can see it's the only pen he uses, and although it looks like it's been through a rock tumbler, it just keeps plugging along.

 

 

* How nerdy is this: I chose 14K yellow gold for our rings specifically as an homage to fountain pens! If I could have had them made from actual "Sheaffer gold" I would have loved it.

Edited June 28, 2019 by Tweel

[Ron Z]

* How nerdy is this: I chose 14K yellow gold for our rings specifically as an homage to fountain pens! If I could have had them made from actual "Sheaffer gold" I would have loved it.

 

I'm sure that if you had asked, a number of people could have supplied enough dead Sheaffer nibs at scrap value to do it.

[Tweel]

That would have been a good idea.

[Ron Z]

....then have the Imperial fish net pattern engraved and blackened on the pens,.

[terim]

PeytonStreetPens has Fine, Medium, & Broad nibs for $12,

 

Thanks for the mention! Those are actually the italic nibs Sheaffer put in their calligraphy sets. But we do have NOS clear No Nonsense pens for $22 or $15 if you don't mind a few scratches picked up in storage.