Sheaffer lever desk pen identification?

[John T]

So I was given this pen to put a new sac and pressure bar in. Just trying to figure out a bit of info to pass to the owner. Anyone have any idea which model this is?

 

Sheaffer white dot, lever, well the pictures will give you more info..

 

It's, so far a nice looking desk pen and will look good on her desk.

 

Thanks in advance

Edited August 28, 2024 by John T
Have to actually ask a question

[Roger W.]

It would go to a pre-dry-proof desk base but, late in that range.  That would be early 1930's.  The pen is a 74D.  This is due to the fact that desk pens were never larger than medium so not an "8" as you might expect with a lifetime.  The "D" is desk so that is obvious.

 

Roger W.  

[John T]

3 hours ago, Roger W. said:

It would go to a pre-dry-proof desk base but, late in that range.  That would be early 1930's.  The pen is a 74D.  This is due to the fact that desk pens were never larger than medium so not an "8" as you might expect with a lifetime.  The "D" is desk so that is obvious.

 

Roger W.  

Thanks Roger, it came in this basr

[joss]

Very nice! This is the Sheaffer Egyptian figure lamp #307, shown in the 1930 Sheaffer catalog (page 56, catalog from the PCA library). Pages 57 and 58 show other versions of this lamp. Is the lamp in working order?

 

[John T]

31 minutes ago, joss said:

Very nice! This is the Sheaffer Egyptian figure lamp #307, shown in the 1930 Sheaffer catalog (page 56, catalog from the PCA library). Pages 57 and 58 show other versions of this lamp. Is the lamp in working order?

 

It does in fact work. However I don't trust the wiring one bit. I am currently looking around trying to find new wire, plug, and socket that would match the original but not be a fire/shock hazard. I want it to look original but be safely usable. It's a beautiful set.

[joss]

6 hours ago, John T said:

It does in fact work. However I don't trust the wiring one bit. I am currently looking around trying to find new wire, plug, and socket that would match the original but not be a fire/shock hazard. I want it to look original but be safely usable. It's a beautiful set.

 

I rewired an identical lamp some time ago. The original wire was not there and it was difficult to get the new wire in and around all the corners of the lamp arm. I bought twisted cloth covered wire with a nice vintage look from Creative Cables. I was able to reuse the original bulb socket. Replacement light bulb sockets with the pull chain switch are still available from various sources, but fitting these to the old socket arm could be a challenge.

[Ron Z]

You can also find cloth covered extension cords to use as donors at places like Ross or TJ Maxx.

[John T]

1 hour ago, Ron Z said:

You can also find cloth covered extension cords to use as donors at places like Ross or TJ Maxx.

Thanks Ron!

[John T]

1 hour ago, joss said:

 

I rewired an identical lamp some time ago. The original wire was not there and it was difficult to get the new wire in and around all the corners of the lamp arm. I bought twisted cloth covered wire with a nice vintage look from Creative Cables. I was able to reuse the original bulb socket. Replacement light bulb sockets with the pull chain switch are still available from various sources, but fitting these to the old socket arm could be a challenge.

Thanks Joss

[Roger W.]

Love the lamps.  This style of lamp was introduced in 1928 with the Italian marble base.  This is the later 1930 Pedrara onyx base which is featured in the 1930 catalog.  These were made by Amronlite a division of Faries Manufacturing in Decatur, Illinois.  Desk lamps were very important due to the lighting at the time.  Large office spaces were lit with a few incandescent bulbs which left most of the space a little dark for doing paperwork.  Therefore, desk lamps were essential.  By the late 1930's fluorescent lamps were introduced but, the refitting of office space wasn't completed until after the war.  After the war, desk lamps are rare as there was no longer a need.

 

Roger W. 

[joss]

This is a handsome lamp indeed. At a price of $53 for the lamp and $7 for the pen, I suppose that this desk item was only affordable to the better off in the Great Depression years of the early 1930s. At 90 years old, I find it remarkable that only a little TLC is needed to prolong the life of both the lamp and the pen for another lifetime.