Sheaffer Company sold?

[AgedAndFine]

As a long term Sheaffer owner, with an extensive vintage collection including several yet unlinked pens, it is indeed heartbreaking to see the iconic company decline into a frequently sold marketing trademark with little link to its original models.  The modern Sheaffer made in China pens are no better than Jinhaos.   Luckily for me, the last true Sheaffer I bought before the company was sold in 2004,  a Sheaffer Balance (Millennium edition) is still a pen I still cherish.   Since Sheaffer is still a popular brand in India, I am afraid that William Penn will milk the trademark for maximum profit, sourcing production from the Chinese factory to the Indian market. RIP.

[A Smug Dill]

21 minutes ago, AgedAndFine said:

Since Sheaffer is still a popular brand in India, I am afraid that William Penn will milk the trademark for maximum profit, sourcing production from the Chinese factory to the Indian market.

 

As the new owner “should”, in that it would make logical and commercial sense. I certainly hope William Penn as a company didn't acquire the Sheaffer brand out of nostalgia or affection. It has to squeeze profits out of somebody, right? Why else be in this business?

[Yao SongYi]

10 小时前，如意莳萝 说：

 

就像新主人“应该商业”那样，这将具有逻辑和意义。我当然希望彭威廉作为一家公司不会受到伤害或喜爱而收购谢弗。它必须从正义中榨取利润，对吗？要做这个行业？

Sheffer China has sufficient supplier resources to produce high-quality pens, but cross does not want to do so. When a brand no longer pursues quality, no matter where its origin is, it will not be able to guarantee quality.

[A Smug Dill]

5 minutes ago, Yao SongYi said:

When a brand no longer pursues quality, no matter where its origin is, it will not be able to guarantee quality.

 

I agree.

[georges zaslavsky]

16 hours ago, Yao SongYi said:

Sheffer China has sufficient supplier resources to produce high-quality pens, but cross does not want to do so. When a brand no longer pursues quality, no matter where its origin is, it will not be able to guarantee quality.

I only have vintage sheaffer but what you say is true when there is no quality pursued by the brand , then quality of the brand isn't existing anymore for me. Sheaffer was an outstanding company and with this , it is quite a sad end for one of the most prestigious american writing instruments companies.

[TSherbs]

On 8/31/2022 at 10:31 PM, A Smug Dill said:

 

As the new owner “should”, in that it would make logical and commercial sense. I certainly hope William Penn as a company didn't acquire the Sheaffer brand out of nostalgia or affection. It has to squeeze profits out of somebody, right? Why else be in this business?

If it was a private purchase, he can do what he wants with his money, for nostalgia or profit or, say, as a gift to a child. Whatever, right? That is the freedom of ownership. He can purchase it just for play if he wants (if it is just his money). 

[DrBlues]

On 8/16/2022 at 10:35 PM, 1nkulus said:

OTOH, I am unaware of any 'Indian' luxury brand on the global stage.

There are a few Indian quality pen makers that I have encountered.
Currently  Ranga Pens makes fountain pens by hand, and sells them lately via email and a Google docs survey/requisition, I am very happy with my first 2 (Grand Abimanhu and Markandeya models) and am waiting for a third one to arrive. From what I have seen so far, prices start at around $60 for many of the models, before shipping (usually Fedex at a fairly low rate), and of course, various customizations, materials, nibs can add to the base price.
Lotus pens is another high end custom pen maker with some very lovely designs with prices starting at around $100.

Fountain Pen Revolution has a selection of Indian made pens - at least 4-5 brands are offered, some of them are very simple but solid and hard working pens at fairly low prices - I don't think you can find solid fountain pens with built in pistons today for such low prices (Jaipur V2 model is currently $55).

[terim]

5 hours ago, DrBlues said:

There are a few Indian quality pen makers that I have encountered.
Currently  Ranga Pens makes fountain pens by hand, and sells them lately via email and a Google docs survey/requisition, I am very happy with my first 2 (Grand Abimanhu and Markandeya models) and am waiting for a third one to arrive. From what I have seen so far, prices start at around $60 for many of the models, before shipping (usually Fedex at a fairly low rate), and of course, various customizations, materials, nibs can add to the base price.
Lotus pens is another high end custom pen maker with some very lovely designs with prices starting at around $100.

Fountain Pen Revolution has a selection of Indian made pens - at least 4-5 brands are offered, some of them are very simple but solid and hard working pens at fairly low prices - I don't think you can find solid fountain pens with built in pistons today for such low prices (Jaipur V2 model is currently $55).

 

We have been selling Ranga pens internationally since 2012, and have recently started working with Lotus as well.  These pens are very popular with our customers worldwide.

 

[AgedAndFine]

Well, perhaps Sheaffer will now be a new luxury Indian brand.  Get a Bollywood star to advertise, like Amitabh Bachan advertising the Parker Vector, and profits will likely abound.

[Pamp]

I have some lovely Sheaffer pens with italic nibs that I bought in the 1990s for italic calligraphy. I started using them a couple of years ago, again. They are such forgiving pens and will write for me, even if they sit unused for quite some time. I'm sorry to hear that the brand has gone downhill so much and has been sold.

Pam