Removing an engraving

[TMann]

I have a couple of pens that have engraved names on them. Pen #1 is a gold Sheaffer Imperial with a club's name engraved on the upper end of the gold cap. Pen #2 is a grey vac Parker "51". There three initials that are engraved in small letters on the underside of the plastic barrel, about 2 cm's away from the metal trim ring. (I can't remember what that part is called.) Is it possible/adviseable to try and remove the engraved names? Neither pen is a rare museum piece, and I have decided that I would enjoy using each of these pens more if the names were gone. I just want to know if it's safe for my pens, or whether it would be too risky.

 

TMann

[JeffTL]

First off, are you sure that the cap on the Sheaffer is solid gold? Trying to remove an engraving on a filled or plated cap runs the risk (certainty?) of serious brassing, if I understand things correctly. Would you, unlike me, prefer brassing to a name?

 

As for the 51, the specific plastic material is Lucite; I am not a pen repairman, but I suppose you'd need to polish it down, a process the Lucte should take reasonably well -- how well it would go would, I presume, depend on how deep the engraving is.

 

I'm not going to strongly suggest against the engraving removals, as you probably aren't going to destroy pen functionality in so doing, but I would recommend and advise that you consider not taking this action, as the damage might prove more unsightly, particularly if the Sheaffer's cap is not solid gold.

 

 

Jeff

[TMann]

First off, are you sure that the cap on the Sheaffer is solid gold? Trying to remove an engraving on a filled or plated cap runs the risk (certainty?) of serious brassing, if I understand things correctly.

Hmm...good point. I hadn't thought of that before.

 

Oh, well. I think that I can live without both of the engravings on the pens. I'd rather have that than chance doing some damage to either of them.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

TMann

[rpajares]

If you collect vintage, doesn't engraving makes a pen more vintage? I mean, it recalls the pen having had a history of its own, which IMHO gives depth to its vintage status.

 

In a word, I wish to suggest that it is nicer (and less risky for the pen health) to leave engravings as they presently are.

 

Bear in mind that I am not a professional collector, just a guy messing with pens.

[tryphon]

My personal view: I like engraved pens. It adds to the character of a vintage pen to see that it was used by someone in the past. Just guess what diverse letters it may have written over the years: happy occasions, momentuous decisions, sad times...

I dislike pens which show signs of removal of engravings and it is very hard to remove any engravings in a way that is invisible.

Just my personal view, but if I were you I would enjoy the pens as they are.

Take care,

G.

[Rique]

I´d rather leave the engravings as they are, too... I have several pens with them, and I think it just adds a touch of "history" to them, or of "vintageness", as rpajares says. On the other hand, I also have several pens that were damaged by someone trying to erase the engravings. It can´t be done - there will always be some traces left, and they look much worse that the engravings themselves.

BTW, there is an article in PenHero in favour of engraved pens (PenInHand - Musings on the Hobby - March 2002).

Edited January 15, 2006 by Rique

[Kelly G]

I would recommend leaving the engravings as they are. I think they add something to the pen's history as has been said. I picked up a couple of pens in a lot I bought at an estate auction that someone had removed the engravings with what looked to be a machete (sp?). The were otherwise nice pens; a Sheaffer Jadite Flat Top Sr. and a Diamond Medal Diplomat (I believe). I was able to sand and polish away most of the damage but the pens are not as round as they were originally - I wished someone would have left well enough alone!

 

kg

[Gerry]

The question is as old as the engravings, and the opinions are as diverse as you might expect. Try searching the previous threads on this topic.

 

I think that you'll find everything from impassioned pleas to not remove them, to very pragmatic - they're your pens, do what you want to do with them. Kinda like 'to ink or not.

 

If the presence of the engravings reduces the enjoyment of the pens for you - either remove the engravings, or sell / trade the pens with someone who would rather have engravings than not.

 

There are a few practical considerations:

If the pens are collectables - consider not removing the engravings and selling / trading them. The value of a true collectable likely drops if the engravings are removed. A special case arises if the engravings are in some way historical or the owners story can be somehow determined. These you should either enjoy in the knowledge of the history, or possibly trade / sell to someone who would derive enjoyment from that aspect of ownership.

 

If the pens are users - remove the engravings if that will allow you to enjoy using them. Consider the practicality of removal - for an engraving in precious metal, professional removal is usually preferred, and is likely expensive. For a plastic pen, a competent amateur can remove the engravings without leaving significant evidence of the existence of the engraving, allowing you to enjoy the pen without significant cost or risk.

 

The engraving itself can be a determining factor. Property of Bell Telephone is pretty disposable, The White House a bit more collectable, A Einstein probably a valuable commodity - if the provinance is verifiable. You get the drift...

 

The choice is yours - there is no *right* answer - only right answers considering your circumstances and preferences.

 

Good luck.

 

Gerry