The Sheaffer Imperial Family

January 10, 2014

SHEAFFER'S IMPERIAL PENS IN BLUE

In Sheaffer's taxonomy, Imperials were the pens produced in the 1960s and early 1970s with a design inspired by the famous 1959 PFM and its inlaid nib.

I took the pics with an i-Phone and used original Sheaffer's advertisements from the 1963 series "What will it be like the 21st Century" as a background. They predicted 50 years ago that on 21st century Christmas we will receive such presents as a device for instant mail delivery and camera glasses !!! (email and Google Glasses? http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif )

With the exception of the blue PFM III, all pens came to my hands NOS and with chalkmarks,

From left to right:

1. 1959 PFM III snorkel pen with gold nib. This was the first model to sport the famous Sheaffer's inlaid nib.

2. 1960 Compact II, Sheaffer's first premium line of cartridge pens. The exemplar of the pic sported a gold inlaid nib and sold at $10, the same price as the PFM I

3. 1961 Imperial IV, the proper Imperial, a pen which was modelled on the PFM III but was slender and with the simpler touchdown filling system. It was sold at $12.50

4. 1963 1250 Lifetime, a cartridge pen with gold inlaid nib which was launched to mark Sheaffer's 50th anniversary 50 years ago. It was shaped like the Imperial IV and sold with the same price tag but used cartridges only. I find it amazing the advertising campaing that accompanied this pen, which forecasted that 50 years later -that is, in 2013- we would still be using the pen ... as I actually am http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png

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5. 1973 Sheaffer Triumph. In this pic I have included this small pen with inlaid steel nib that uses both cartridges and a squeeze converter.

Edited January 10, 2014 by idazle

January 10, 2014

SHEAFFER'S IMPERIAL FAMILY IN BLACK

All pens shown below came to me with their original chalkmarks. The first one on the left, the PFM I, has lost the chalkmarks since I've been using it as a frequent writer.

From left to right:

1. 1959 PFM I snorkel pen with palladium nib.

2. 1959 PFM IIII snorkel pen with gold nib.

3. 1960 Compact II. By contrast with the blue model shown in the previous post, this doesn't come with the visulated barrel. Both types were part of Sheaffer's regular production at the time.

3. 1961 Imperial IV. This particular exemplar here has a chalkmark indicating a price of $13.50, which suggests that it is probably a later production as the pen was originally priced at $12.50 in 1961.

4. 1963 1250 Lifetime

I've thought it could also be interesting to show the original pen cases:

January 10, 2014

Wow! That's an impressive collection!

January 10, 2014

:thumbup:

Simply AWESOME

January 10, 2014

Thanks guys

January 11, 2014

After getting a PFM V via eBay a few years ago (and restoring it from the ground up... Seller claimed NOS and ready to write... Yeah, no.), the Imperial line has been one of my favorite pens to use. Great hand feel and some of the smoothest nibs I've run across.

Personally, I love the looks of the metal capped versions.... I may have to add a few of the color matched cap versions to my 'family'.

January 12, 2014

Thank you for the posts. congratulations on the lovely collection.

All of my NOS Sheaffers (mostly Imperials from Teri) have been acquired to use, not to collect.

January 12, 2014

Wow, I am in Awe! I recently got a PFM I and loved the inlaid nob so much, I got an imperial shortly after. Inlaid nibs are simply amazing.

January 13, 2014

Wow...that is one beautiful set. I just got the Imperial II deluxe pen and REALLY REALLY loving it. The inlaid nib and everything about the pen is just great! I definitely want to try out that 1950s PFM III.