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What Sheaffers Have Joined Your Collection Lately?

NumberSix

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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Recently it's been three pens (sorry, no pix yet; I need to do that in order to ID them, but this weekend has just been too crazy).

The first was what *might* be a Sheaffer Targa (?) desk set (pen, base, and a matching mini-rocker blotter), at an estate sale I went to on Friday.  The pen barrel and hood appear to be rolled gold; the base is some sort of marble, I think); not familiar with a lot of Sheaffer models but the inlaid nib is making me think it might be a Targa.  Not sure of the nib width.

The other two?  Got them at an estate sale yesterday morning.  One I don't know how to ID -- it appears to be a c/c pen (it had a dead cartridge in it), and is a white dot model with what appears to be a military clip and to have some sort of odd fill system (a plunger filler maybe?) when you unscrew the blind cap from the back of the barrel and appears to have a two color EF (extra EF?) nib.  The third pen is a translucent dark blue No Nonsense (also with a dead cartridge installed) with an italic B nib.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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PenLovingE Mint

PenLovingE

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A couple recent pickups from Japan via Buyee. I've only fully restored the blue-grey on the far right (had a size 14 latex sac lying around) but it writes like a dream. Look for it on eBay in a few weeks or PM if interested (if that's not allowed let me know and I'll edit the post). I'm waiting on some PVC sacs from AliExpress for the others. I'm curious how they will fill and if it's worth it to have a larger choice of inks. 

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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Do you know what the one the second from the right in the photo is?  Because it looks very similar to one I just got over the weekend at an estate sale (even to the point of what might be a military clip on it).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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PenLovingE Mint

PenLovingE

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42 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Do you know what the one the second from the right in the photo is?  Because it looks very similar to one I just got over the weekend at an estate sale (even to the point of what might be a military clip on it).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

It's a Balance but I can't remember the name of the single band variant. It's a vac fill so that means 1935-1942.

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JonSzanto Donor Pen

JonSzanto

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1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

Do you know what the one the second from the right in the photo is?  Because it looks very similar to one I just got over the weekend at an estate sale (even to the point of what might be a military clip on it).

 

Well, that isn't a military clip, which would extend back over the top of the pen. It is, in fact, the last clip style used on Balances, started in use around 1935-36 and going until the end of the line in 1942. The model depends on size dimensions, it is obviously not full length, but measurements could be taken and checked against the info on Richard Binder's excellent Balance page.

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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JonSzanto Donor Pen

JonSzanto

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A Sheaffer impulse purchase last week. I've always loved the Ebonized Pearl material in the early Balance line, and one of my mini-collections (almost done) is all of the colorways of the Oversize Balance, lever-fill models. Very early in my collecting days I was fortunate to purchase a set in very fine condition, which are the fountain pen and pen on the right shown below. They make me so happy! So when I was browsing eBay and saw that known seller Robert Speerbrecher (SpeerBob) had a smaller size pencil in really beautiful shape... and then one of those "x% off" offers poked me, I just had to have it. It works well and really is in top condition (the pencil on the left). I have a couple of smaller size E. Pearl Balances that I could pair the pencil with, as well. Anyway, here my most recent Sheaffer:

 

 

20260420_145900.jpg

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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@JonSzanto Thanks for posting the link -- I'll check that out.  But your description of "military clips" was even more useful, because it sounds as if the pen I got over the weekend DEFINITELY has a  military clip on it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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JonSzanto Donor Pen

JonSzanto

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22 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@JonSzanto Thanks for posting the link -- I'll check that out.  But your description of "military clips" was even more useful, because it sounds as if the pen I got over the weekend DEFINITELY has a  military clip on it.

 

They are pretty unmistakable (see below): the clip attaches on the back of the cap and wraps over the top to the front. I'm pretty certain Binder has an article just on the various military clips elsewhere on his site.

 

spacer.png

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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bsenn Vintage

bsenn

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13 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

 

20260420_145900.jpg

 

A great photo of a gorgeous pen and pencils!

One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.

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JonSzanto Donor Pen

JonSzanto

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5 hours ago, bsenn said:

A great photo of a gorgeous pen and pencils!

 

Thank you!

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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CatchyNameHere Near Mint

CatchyNameHere

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I haven't been posting here like I thought I would, but I just wanted to share today. I really like this Sheaffer Targa. I bought it on ebay a couple of years ago and it just works for me. I think what helps is that I can use it with the notebook on my lap. My handwriting is nothing to brag about anyway, but there have been days when even I couldn't read my lap notes. This pen let's me change my grip without a hitch. Nice smooth grip section, so I just set the nib on the page and adjust. 

 

It's scratchier than my Lamy mediums, but my hands tend to be kind of numb after yard work or workouts (rare occurrence) and the feedback helps me stay legible. It also never seems to lay down too much ink for my cheap notebooks, but still lays down a thick line. Could be the inks, I suppose.

 

I tend to choose pens with more of a buttery feel when conditions are all perfect; hand, notebook, ink, etc. But I write with this thing a lot.

sheaffertarga.jpg

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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@JonSzanto That's just exactly what the clip on that one Sheaffer I just got looks like.  Thanks for posting the photo.  

Oh and the coloration on the cap looks a lot like the pen as well.  

Meant to get photos taken while the weather was still fairly nice, but ended up not doing a lot today because my sinuses were just in misery.  And just couldn't bring myself to do much of anything today except take a stab at today's NaPoWriMo prompt, clear a couple of reruns of Grantchester off the DVR, run down the hill to get lottery tickets, reheat some leftovers for myself for dinner and then manage to make it to choir rehearsal and back....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Targa Vintage

Targa

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On 4/20/2026 at 5:23 PM, inkstainedruth said:

@JonSzanto Thanks for posting the link -- I'll check that out.  But your description of "military clips" was even more useful, because it sounds as if the pen I got over the weekend DEFINITELY has a  military clip on it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

That's called the "Soldier Clip" and was made to fit regulations for having nothing protruding from your pocket.

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JonSzanto Donor Pen

JonSzanto

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2 hours ago, Targa said:

That's called the "Soldier Clip" and was made to fit regulations for having nothing protruding from your pocket.

 

Yes, I think it was referred to by a number of names. Richard Binder has an excellent article on Military Clip pens.

"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

~ Benjamin Franklin

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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Wow!  This is what I love about this forum -- the stuff I learn on here all the time!  

Thanks guys!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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samba Mint

samba

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Recently purchased five vintage Sheaffer Imperial (all NOS) Fountain pens.

From L-R:

1. Sheaffer Imperial 444, USA, F Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

2. Sheaffer Imperial, 444, USA, M Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

3. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Dark Green, USA, M Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

4. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Red, Australia, F Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

5. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Black, USA, F Steel nib (Triangular shaped inlaid nib)

sheaffer imperial-1.jpeg

sheaffer imperial-2.jpeg

sheaffer imperial-3.jpeg

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bsenn Vintage

bsenn

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5 minutes ago, samba said:

Recently purchased five vintage Sheaffer Imperial (all NOS) Fountain pens.

From L-R:

1. Sheaffer Imperial 444, USA, F Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

2. Sheaffer Imperial, 444, USA, M Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

3. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Dark Green, USA, M Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

4. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Red, Australia, F Steel nib (Diamond shaped inlaid nib)

5. Sheaffer Imperial 440, Black, USA, F Steel nib (Triangular shaped inlaid nib)

 

With converters! Very nice.

One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.

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      @asota -- Yeah, I think I have a few rolls in my fridge that are probably 20-30 years old at this point (don't remember now if they are B&W or color film) and don't even really know where to get the film processed, once the drive through kiosks went away....  I just did a quick Google search and (in theory) there was a place the next town over from me -- but got a 404 error message when I tried to click on the link....  Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth 

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