Sheaffer Lifetime Ring Top

[Ceramicist]

Just bought this. Will post photos when it arrives. Does anyone have any information on this pen? I got it for $60, which I was thinking was a pretty good deal. I believe the color is outstanding.

[Roger W.]

The color is good for the earlier jade. It is a J74SR (Jade 74 sized Short Ringtop) Ringtops are a little harder to date since there is no clip information with the pen so date this to 1924 (late) to circa 1930. I can't rule out JT8SR though these are much less common (is the cap .55" in diameter?) so the educated guess is J74SR. Sheaffer flattops all have substantial gold nibs though the lifetimes are rarely flexible.

 

Roger W.

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jade5-30s1.jpg

I don't have any pics of the lifetimes; shown are the J5-30SRs in the original double band and the later single band model.

[rpk1204]

Nice find! No luck today for me - got a $5 J Harris University - missing the cap - I liked the nib and section so I'll put it in another pen where the nib is shot. Also got an almost full bottle of Parker Superchrome ink for $6. I've got a similar Sheaffer in my growing jade collection - I'll shoot a quick pic and post.

 

Randy

[rpk1204]

Here are my Jades - I love the combo - were not very popular by the tier 1 makers - it's not a lifetime but will always be in my perm collection. Got the flat-top off ebay cheap for parts and when it showed up it looked great! A quick polish and sac change - love the black trim on it. Just recently scored the little pencil. For comparison the pencil on the right is the Parker Duofold. Much more handsome with bigger gold pieces and the black accents. I've got another ringtop that had a trashed cap but a great non-discolored barrel. Waiting for the right pen to show up with a trashed barrel and a good cap.

 

Keep us posted on your acquistion!

[PAKMAN]

Nice color! I never seem to some across a Jade with that nice of body color.

[Ceramicist]

Hi, Roger. Thanks so much for the information. You are a definite Sheaffer expert! I don't know the diameter of the cap but will post here when the pen arrives.

 

 

Thanks, Randy! Sorry you didn't score today but at least you got something. I've not heard of Parker Superchrome ink. Beautiful Sheaffer jade collection! Do you display all of your pens in the lucite (?) holders? I really like how they look in there.

 

Thanks so much, Perry. It was pure luck- being at the right place at the right time (online).

[rpk1204]

Thanks Perry - I'm fussy about my jades so I keep the ones that are the least discolored. I've got 3 Parker jade Duofolds and Lucky Curves that I'll likely sell for that reason. Just got lucky on these and I love having the pencils - they can be obtained pretty cheaply, and of course, the don't discolor - cap damage is the big problem on those.

 

I think I'm going to display more of them this way - got this one to try and use for photography. They are cheap on ebay - something like $8.50 each with free shipping. If you are interested and can't find them let me know I've got it in my watch list permanently. I think the Superchrome is very corrosive from some of the research I've done, but bought it just to have some. Also scored some vintage green Sheaffer ink at a thrift store a few weeks back - use it on St. Patricks Day if nothing else....

 

Next hunt.... in Germany... leaving Thursday - stay tuned. Want to find a Pelikan!

[Ceramicist]

Thanks, Randy. I will. Right now, I'm enjoying the pure pleasure of unrolling my wraps I've made of vintage Japanese kimono silk to reveal my pens. It's like opening a present every time.

 

Have a great trip to Germany! Safe travels and good luck pen hunting. I imagine you may find quite a few treasures over there.

[pen2paper]

The picture shows such full, even color.

Wondering if the experts would recommend swapping out the typical black rubber sac for new silicone sac?

[Ceramicist]

It does, pen2paper and I only hope the color is as even and full when the pen arrives. The dealer is reputable so I don't doubt it. I've not thought of using a silicone sac instead. Why would you recommend this?

[jar]

It does, pen2paper and I only hope the color is as even and full when the pen arrives. The dealer is reputable so I don't doubt it. I've not thought of using a silicone sac instead. Why would you recommend this?

 

Rubber sacs can outgas sulfur which can accelerate discoloration.

 

The question is how much sulfur is in new rubber sacs compared to the old ones.

[Ceramicist]

Thanks, jar. I guess it can't hurt to just get silicone sacs instead of rubber and use them, right?

[rpk1204]

Curious if they glue the same with shellac or do they require something different - don't want them coming off! The sacs inside the Parkers like the 21 are virtually indestructable but I don't think they attach the same way. Not sure....

[Roger W.]

Jades are interesting. Sheaffer introduced the color in 1924 and reserved it for the big pens. Their definition of the big pens changed when they went to the limited guarantee pens so a particular model does not flow perfectly in the lower lines. Good thing about lifetimes is that they are lifetimes - came in different sizes and had the lifetime nib. When jade was introduced the lower lines were 22 Student Special, 46 Special and Secretary. 22's were always black which is one of the transitional problems as 3-25's then would only be black - only they weren't. Back to jade - it would only be on lifetimes and then not on Secretarys but on 46's in 1926 and only in the 22 diameter which changes up the line in 1930 when things were adjusted well, sort of...I should write a book...

 

Anyway, the little pens are important as they provided the data by which Daniel Kirchheimer and I dated the coding "C", "D", "F" for the plastic sourcing for radite stock that you will see marked on the butt of pens (Celluloid corp, DuPont and Fiberloid). And jade was key to this as jade 46's are listed in late 1926 but never marked for source code so we know that C,D, F pens are late 1924 through late 1926. That is the only way you can figure out the lifetimes as they were in continuous production. When the limited guarantee pens came out circa 1928 again jade was reserved for the higher lines or, in this case, everything but the lowly 3-25's which had to wait until 1930.

 

Roger W.

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jaderings1.jpg

From bottom - First style lifetime, double ringed lifetime lade 1928-9 and large "T" sized 5-30

 

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jaderings2.jpg

Same open

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jaderings5.jpg

j46SR, J3-25SR, J5-30SR (initial version), J5-30SR (late version), J74SR (initial version-continuous), J74SR ('28-'29 double banded version

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jaderings7.jpg

Jade 46SR on top first offered in late 1926 (curtailed in 1927 by limited guarantee pens) and it's eventual J3-25SR replacement circa 1930

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/Jaderings8.jpg

One of those sizing issues as these are both J5-30's but the one on the top is a "T" sized .55" diameter cap compared to the standard late issue J5-30SR single band. A typical 46 had been thicker so had the 5-30 but the 46 was split in between 3-25's and 5-30's so there weren't direct correlations when they changed the lines which they seem to try and fix with the Jade 3-25 model circa 1930 which affected all of the small line sizes including 7-30's. (limited guarantees were for $3, $5 and $7 pens for 25 or 30 years.)

[rpk1204]

My head hurts! Couldn't buy this kind of education - Thanks for posting for all of us to enjoy and learn!

[pen2paper]

yes my brain is trying to absorb too : )

Congrats on the find, posing the inquiry, resulting in fascinating, generous lesson shared - very much appreciated!

[Ceramicist]

Roger, thank you for being an amazing fount of information. The wealth of information and the photos are just incredible. Much, much appreciated!

[Ceramicist]

Roger, the cap is .75" diameter.

[kirchh]

Roger, the cap is .75" diameter.

You might want to double-check that...

 

--Daniel

[Ceramicist]

Oops. My mistake. Diameter is .55.