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View Full Version : Can somebody identify my vintage sheaffer pen?



AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 01:51 PM
Hello, I was wondering if anybody could tell me what this pen I bought is, I know it's got a short triumph nib, but I just can't find one anywhere that's the same size, shape or texture in the Imperial, Stylist or cartridge series. It has the original push button converter, but I just have no idea what it is.http://i.imgur.com/em4p4xl.jpg?1
Do tell me if you need more information.
Thanks for your time.

Jon Szanto
May 22nd, 2016, 01:57 PM
I was going to help out on reddit, but a couple more photos would be helpful (pen closed, close up of clip, close up of nib).

It doesn't say anything around the bottom of the cap? Also, when you mention "screws off", do you mean the entire black section? If what you mean is that the nib itself screws off, that isn't a good thing, as it shouldn't, and can probably lead to leaks. It looks a lot like the Lady Skipsert line of pens, but they are usually more diminutive. I figure it is mid-60's to 70's. I'll try to do a little investigation in the meantime.

It has a cartridge or converter, right?

AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 02:24 PM
Ok, I've never had problems with the nib leaking, it's pretty tight, here are some more pictures of it:
http://imgur.com/a/l13JN
and this is the clip:
http://i.imgur.com/HIuq61A.jpg?1
sorry the one from behind is a tad blurry but you can get the gist

Jon Szanto
May 22nd, 2016, 03:01 PM
Ok, I think we are getting close: it is probably one of the Lady Sheaffer series, an offshoot of their "Imperial" design pens. The conical nib is known as the Triumph-style nib. You can see a closely related model on this page (http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/resources/pen-resources/sheaffer_models_part_3) courtesy of Teri Morris at Peyton Street Pens; look for the Model 727 set, which is smooth (maybe lined?) gold-plate as opposed to your bumpy surface model. A little more digging might come up with the correct model number, but Sheaffer could be flaky at times. Certainly, as I thought, late-60's into the 70's for this pen.

P.S. Take a look at the nib and let me know whether it has "Sheaffers" or "Sheaffer" (note the dropped "s" at the end). This would kinda nail the identification.

AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 03:05 PM
Sheaffer no s.

Jon Szanto
May 22nd, 2016, 03:32 PM
Sheaffer no s.

Still, most probably Lady Sheaffer, specific model number would need to be found based on the external finish of the pen (your first photos made it appear a satin finish, but the close-up of the cap is... bumpy!). This may be ultimately difficult to pin down: the earlier "Skripsert" line had the nib/section as on your pen, but most of the references I see to the "Lady Sheaffer" pens (which very much more closely match the cap and barrel) use a later Stylepoint nib/section. I don't have one of each in hand (my wife has a earlier model) but I wouldn't be surprised if both sections were swappable between pens, and Sheaffer was known to occasionally mix-and-match stuff when they had extras. If it was simply done by some owner (swapping parts), it becomes what we call a Frankenpen, and can be impossible to definitively ID.

Nonetheless, it is from that general line of pens, from that particular time period. My wife's belonged to her mother, and after we found it and cleaned it up, it writes very nicely. Good, solid pens.

AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 03:40 PM
Well, thanks for your input, I'll look more into where the finish comes from, and if it is indeed a case where they've swapped sections around.

AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 03:42 PM
No. 908 here looks right http://www.sheaffertarga.com/Lady%20Sheaffer/lady%20sheaffer%20ref%20list.html
http://www.sheaffertarga.com/Lady%20Sheaffer/Brushed%20gold%20plate.html
So I think it is either a version of the 908 they had put a short triumph nib on, as some apparently did, or a "frankenpen" whereby someone stuck one on there, either way it looks great and the nib is fantastic so at least I have closure on that issue.

Jon Szanto
May 22nd, 2016, 03:57 PM
No. 908 here looks right http://www.sheaffertarga.com/Lady%20Sheaffer/lady%20sheaffer%20ref%20list.html
http://www.sheaffertarga.com/Lady%20Sheaffer/Brushed%20gold%20plate.html
So I think it is either a version of the 908 they had put a short triumph nib on, as some apparently did, or a "frankenpen" whereby someone stuck one on there, either way it looks great and the nib is fantastic so at least I have closure on that issue.

That was the one I was looking at (Gary's site is a huge help to Sheaffer folks!), except for the nib mismatch. But that looks it, and boy, virtually all the Triumph nibs are great, and they won't get messed up and out of alignment like a lot of nibs. Enjoy your pen!

AnFPGeek
May 22nd, 2016, 04:02 PM
Indeed I shall.

HughC
May 22nd, 2016, 11:12 PM
The small triumph nib is pre 1972 then the nib as linked too.

Regards
Hugh

Jon Szanto
May 22nd, 2016, 11:51 PM
The small triumph nib is pre 1972 then the nib as linked too.

Regards
Hugh

Hugh, where were you when I needed you? :) Anyway: do you consider it possible that they started making these pens, used up the Triumph nib sections until they were replaced in the line-up with the Stylpoint nib units? Or is this a Frankenpen?

HughC
May 23rd, 2016, 06:57 PM
The small triumph nib is pre 1972 then the nib as linked too.

Regards
Hugh

Hugh, where were you when I needed you? :) Anyway: do you consider it possible that they started making these pens, used up the Triumph nib sections until they were replaced in the line-up with the Stylpoint nib units? Or is this a Frankenpen?

Hi Jon,
Not a frankenpen, just an earlier one. You find a lot of these with both nib types.
Regards
Hugh