1953 SHEAFFER BALLPOINT WITH SLIP-ON CAP

[sztainbok]

The 1953 Sheaffer catalog, shows a ballpoint pen with slip-on cap as part of a set that includes a Snorkel fountain pen and a mechanical pencil. It's shown in the Autograph, Crest, Signature, Sentinel, Valiant, Clipper, Statesman, Sovereign, Saratoga and Admiral trims.

It has an interestingly shaped grip section, (see picture from the catalog) and I have not been able to find an example of this ballpoint. I am interested on finding a black signature example.

I have not seen any reference to this ballpoint anywhere else and I don't know for how long it was produced. Perhaps someone has some information on the history of this model.

 

[sztainbok]

This model doesn't appear in the 1951 or 1955 catalogs.

The 1951 catalog shows the Stratowriter ballpoint and the 1955 catalog a retractable model

[PPPR]

There is a photo of a Sentinel BP with the indented grip in Gostony and Schneider's The Incredible Ball Point Pen: A Comprehensive History and Price Guide. The example in the photo is dated ca. 1954 and found on pg. 137. No other information is provided.

[joss]

Hi,

 

These ballpoints are scarce and were produced for a relatively short period, possibly from late 1951 to early 1954. It is the second version of the Sheaffer TM ballpoint pen and a significant downgrade in terms of appearance and feel due to its smaller dimensions (length and girth) compared to the first version. However, it is an interesting example of design changes to ballpoint pens in the 1950s.

The pen is shown first in a Sheaffer ad from November 1951 as part of a 'Threesome' gift set (FP, BP and pencil in a luxury box), and is then shown throughout 1952 and 1953 ads. Interestingly, none of the many Sheaffer ads from 1954 show the 'Threesome' gift sets anymore; only 'Twosome' sets (FP and pencil), as if the accompanying ballpoint pen was no longer available. In early 1954, coinciding with the introduction of the Parker Jotter ballpoint, Sheaffer introduced the Fineline retractable ballpoint pen. However, this was a lower-end model and was not intended to accompany the Snorkel fountain pen. The high-end 'Clicker' ballpoint pen was introduced in 1955.

 

The picture below shows the TM2 ballpoint with other 1950s Sheaffer ballpoints. From left to right: Snorkel FP, a black and a blue TM ballpoint 1st version, a blue TM ballpoint 2nd version, a 1955 'Clicker' and a 1957 'Feathertouch/Skripriter':

 

 

[sztainbok]

Thank you both for the information and pictures. I recently got a "clicker" ballpoint pen with the Admiral trim and it had a feathertouch sticker on it. I thought the sticker was missplaced because I was under the impression that feathertouch only applied to the bi-colour Sheaffer nibs of the mid 1930's but I noticed you refer to one of the ballpoint pens as a feathertouch model.

[joss]

That's a good-looking clicker. The all-metal ballpoint in anodised aluminium (pen on the far right in my picture above) was initially named Feathertouch, and was later renamed Skripriter, but Sheaffer ads from the mid-1950s also used the name 'Feathertouch' for retractable ballpoints that resemble the Clicker. So it is possible that the sticker is correct for this ballpoint.

[Brian-McQueen]

@joss, the Clicker is actually shown in the 1953 catalog near the back as a standalone piece.  It has a cap pattern that doesn't match any other pen.

 

@sztainbok if you find a signature ballpoint of this style, you've really found something special.  I spent several years searching diligently for the ones I have.

[3rdlakerobert]

I'll risk censure for hijacking the thread because these ballpoints are just so interesting--to me anyway.

 

I began this collection when Lazard (there's a name from the past) posted photos of some ads for Snorkel triples, and I happened to see the ballpoint on eBay the same week. I now have Clickers in most of the original Snorkel colors in both Admiral and Sentinel models. Just missing a gray Sentinel.

 

Note the sage and vermilion examples on the left end. The burgundy examples (center) are the new burgundy.

 

I definitely remember the first one, this one:

 

It came in that box and was quite different from those in Lazard's ads. Note the white button, the squiggly lines in the cap pattern, and the lack of a trim piece on the end, like the green Sentinel in the group photo. I think Brian suggested it might be a prototype.

 

Recently I came across another with the box, the only Crest version I've seen, and note the black button:

 

Finally I'll toss in this photo of a gold-filled Clicker-type pen from England.

[Brian-McQueen]

Ah, you're the one who got the red ballpoint from Speerbob!  I was sad I missed out on that one.  The burgundy one with the white button is the original Clicker illustrated in the 1953 catalog.  It came in all 5 original Snorkel colors.  It's not a prototype.  We should make a new thread on the different ballpoints.

[joss]

13 hours ago, Brian-McQueen said:

@joss, the Clicker is actually shown in the 1953 catalog near the back as a standalone piece.  It has a cap pattern that doesn't match any other pen.

 

Ah, thanks for correcting that! The Clicker indeed has a whole page to itself in the 1953 catalogue - how could I have missed that ..

So the Clicker and the TM 'wavy section' ballpoints existed alongside each other for one or two years.

[joss]

11 hours ago, 3rdlakerobert said:

Finally I'll toss in this photo of a gold-filled Clicker-type pen from England.

 

I think that this is the pen that Brian identified as the 'Registered White Dot' ballpoint, it is from 1957:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/365957-help-with-identifying-a-strange-vintage-sheaffer-pen-please/

[sztainbok]

On 6/24/2025 at 12:16 AM, Brian-McQueen said:

Ah, you're the one who got the red ballpoint from Speerbob!  I was sad I missed out on that one.  The burgundy one with the white button is the original Clicker illustrated in the 1953 catalog.  It came in all 5 original Snorkel colors.  It's not a prototype.  We should make a new thread on the different ballpoints.

Thank you Brian for sharing your Pennant article on Snorkels. 

Page 14 of the 1955 catalog, describes Sheaffer's Retractable Ballpoint, in the Sentinel and Valiant trim, however they don't have the white dot. Snorkels in those trims have a white dot, so I would assume they were not ment to form threesomes with Snorkel sets.

There is no mention to "clicker" in that page, perhaps we should not use that word to describe dose models.

[sztainbok]

On page 16, the same 1955 catalog shows a threesome deskset with a Snorkel pen that can be combined with ballpoint and pencil. Interestingly the ballpoint is described as Stratowriter and it no longer has the wavy grip section.

I have a deskset just like the one shown in that page and I have the ballpoint fitted with a current Sheaffer ballpoint refill.

 

 

I agree that the evolution of Sheaffer's ballpoints deserves a new thread. My favourite ballpoint pen is the Sheaffer's with the reminder clip. 

[3rdlakerobert]

There is a black Clicker on eBay now, a BUY IT NOW for $8 plus $7 postage. Seller is Jud's Pens, who is reliable, and who says the clicker mechanism is working. Item # 146676386363.

 

[sztainbok]

34 minutes ago, 3rdlakerobert said:

There is a black Clicker on eBay now, a BUY IT NOW for $8 plus $7 postage. Seller is Jud's Pens, who is reliable, and who says the clicker mechanism is working. Item # 146676386363.

 

Thank you, I am actually looking for the ballpoints with slip on cap and wavy grip section