And Show Us Your Rare Sheaffer's

[aircraft_electrician]

I know this is an old thread, but I finally got around to posting pictures of my most unusual Sheaffer. It's a windowed Comp II desk set with 3 pens and a Semca calendar clock.

http://www.geocities.com/aircraft_electrician/deskset.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/aircraft_electrician/deskset2.jpg

 

The really unusual thing about it is its history. It was presented to Mr. M. S. Erdtsiech as a retirement gift from the W. A. Sheaffer Pen Co. It has a brass plack on the front engraved with Mr. Erdtsiech's signature and the dates 10-23-29 to 2-28-61. I bought it from Mr. Erdtsiech's grandson who comfirmed that it was a retirement gift from Sheaffer.

 

Aside from this, the rest of my Sheaffers are pretty run of the mill.

 

Tom

[Guest PeteWK]

As the starter of this thread, its great to see the old deskset. They don't get enough play in the hobby.

 

PeteWK

[MLKirk]

There were probably zillions of Balance service pens made, but today very few remain. I have personally seen six, of which five were in C or worse condition. The sixth, shown here, is in B++ condition.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/service_pen.jpg

 

The pen above is clearly a special version, never sold commercially. snip

Hello Richard

 

This is an old thread, but it's still a very good one.

 

I was lucky enough to find a red Balance Service Pen at an antique store this past summer at a sumgai price. So you can make that 7 on your list.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j316/mikelkirk99/Sheaffer%20Service%20Pen/pb2600022.jpg

The plating is somewhat corroded on the trim with the cap band brassed nearly completely off and the end of the barrel is slightly ink discolored so it certainly isn't as nice as yours. Probably in your "C" category or lower depending on your parameters. I would be embarrassed to show my photo next to yours if it wasn't such a treasure to have. My photography pales in comparison. It is shown in as-found condition, unrestored. I'll likely just leave it alone other than cleaning out the barrel and re-sacing it. With a silicone sac, of course. Other photos are available at the following link: http://tinyurl.com/yjeco2

[solaris]

This thread makes me nervous. Extremely nervous.

 

 

This thread just confirms the extraordinary quality of Sheaffer products and the almost unbelievable beauty of its pens.

 

Now, PLEASE continue making me suffer... oh...

[kirchh]

Here's a cherry-red oversize flat-top Sheaffer loaner from the '20s. Note the relatively tiny nib.

 

--Daniel

Edited November 26, 2006 by kirchh

[kirchh]

This De Luxe Black and Pearl Balance sports the 'radius' clip not introduced until 1935 per Sheaffer marketing materials. Assuming the clip is original, this example reinforces the principle that establishing end dates for models or attributes is very tricky business...

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

Here's a Sheaffer Oversize Balance in De Luxe Black and Pearl that sports both a clip and a ring. Perhaps a special order?

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

What did a Sheaffer Balance look like part-way through its manufacture? These parts are unfinished; the cap's got its White Dot, but no clip, threads, inner cap, or cap band; the barrel has no threads, imprint, or lever slot.

 

--Daniel

Edited November 27, 2006 by kirchh

[kirchh]

This red-veined gray pearl Balance sports the attractive fishscale wide cap band.

 

--Daniel

[ebrian]

QUOTE (Univer @ Aug 6 2006, 09:10 PM)

1. Oversize Jade Univer. Marked on barrel "Univer Pen Company, New York - Ft. Madison, IA U.S.A." The nib is marked "Univer 7-40 (not 7-30!), Made in U.S.A."

Sheaffer sub-brands are very interesting, perhaps because the lack of documentation makes one think "What was Sheaffer Inc. thinking when they marketed this item?" The Univer 7-40 nibs are an example. How were these different that then Sheaffer 7-30 pens? I would doubt that these were higher quality than the 7-30 pens. Maybe the 7 in the Univer nib mens #7 size and the 40 something entirely different. Another example are the Univer 54 nibs. Maybe the numbers mean nothing and they were chosen because they were phonetically pleasing. Maybe someday documentation will be discovered to shed light on these issues.

 

 

http://showcase.netins.net/web/dytis/Univer54.jpg

http://showcase.netins.net/web/dytis/Univer7-40.jpg

Edited April 8, 2007 by ebrian

[sheafferkid]

I have a burgundy Sheaffer's Imperial IV with its original price stamp, but I guess thats just uncommon, not really rare. I really want a red veined Balance pen/pencil set though...maybe one day... Ooh, also a "Blue" (as Sheaffer's called it) Balance set would be amazing.

 

Evan

[penpalace]

QUOTE (kirchh @ Nov 26 2006, 07:38 PM)

This De Luxe Black and Pearl Balance sports the 'radius' clip not introduced until 1935 per Sheaffer marketing materials. Assuming the clip is original, this example reinforces the principle that establishing end dates for models or attributes is very tricky business... --Daniel

Daniel,

Just looking at this thread for the first time the pics of your pens that you posted are really incredible! Seeing as the Sheaffer Balance is quite possibly my favourite pen, and an OS Marine Green marble was the first true vintage pen that I bought which of course go the ball rolling.

In regards to your mentioning of the clip on this pen I have seen a couple blk/prl models with this clip, as well as Marine Green (have owned at least one), and I've even come across a couple grey/red veins. They are certainly rare, and this blk/prl does have very nice colour!

If there are any Sheaffer's that really interest you in particular maybe I can post a photo that might interest you? Let me know.

Pearce.

 

[kirchh]

QUOTE (penpalace @ Apr 8 2007, 12:42 AM)

In regards to your mentioning of the clip on this pen I have seen a couple blk/prl models with this clip, as well as Marine Green (have owned at least one), and I've even come across a couple grey/red veins.

The Grey Pearl (red-veined) pen with 'radius' clip is actually cataloged in a couple of sizes, interestingly enough.

 

--Daniel

[david i]

Not rare, but... well... not often found, esp so nice.

 

My Black and Pearl OS Autograph in Black and Pearl.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferbalanceOSnacraut50.jpg

 

regards

 

david i

http://www.removed.xyz

[david i]

Missed grabbing this one at Chicago last year by... seconds. Happily, i done got to shoot it.

 

MOST uncommon Striper Autograph.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferbalancestripauto50.jpg

 

d

http://www.removed.xyz

 

[david i]

Not sure if i posted this earlier in the thread months ago.

 

This is a realspace shot of some of my favorite Sheaffers, in varying degrees of catalogued and uncatalogued scarcity and cachet.

 

Autograph, "Deluxe" milled Band, Fishscale, Split etc etc.

 

Not sure how i ended up with coiuple hundred sheaffers, but looking at these reminds me why i like 'em

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferbalanceweirdband33p.jpg

 

 

regards

 

david

http://www.removed.xyz

 

[david i]

Yah, dis one ain't too shabby either...

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferboxspread700.jpg

 

regards

 

david

http://www.removed.xyz

 

[david i]

Oh yeah,

 

Sheaffer-made for the Greg writing system.

 

Have a few Gregs floating about.

 

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheaffergregspread50per.jpg

 

regards

 

david

http://www.removed.xyz

 

[david i]

The only Deluxe-band military "Balance" i've seen. Had t' buy it.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheaffermilitarymilledband.jpg

 

regards

 

david

 

[david i]

And, finally for now.

 

My "super Autograph" ;-)

 

Balance solid gold trim, but hallmarked 18k. Only one i've seen. iirc David Nishimura cited having seen another and Kirchheimer referenced an ad for the French market, which would make sense.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheaffer18kcap.jpg

 

regards

 

david