Two Preludes, FT Madison vs China

[jar]

Well, the new Chinese Sheaffer Prelude arrived and I've had a chance to use it alongside my 18 year old Ft Madison Sheaffer Prelude and I'm impressed.

First, fit and finish is absolutely as good on the new one as on the older one. The new one is slightly heavier; the lacquer on the older one MIGHT be slightly deeper in color but if so, not by much. The older one was a steel nib while the new one has a 14K nib. Both are mediums. The older pen does have the little pearly insert in the cap crown, the new one a wider cap band. The older one has plastic section threads while the newer one has steel section threads. Both sat for two days, capped but not used, and both started immediately.

The one thing that would give away which I was using in a blind test is that the older one did have finger rest placement spots on the section while the new section is simply conic.

Other than that tell, I would find it impossible to tell from writing with one which pen was which.

The best part though is that the new Chinese pen cost about the same absolute (not adjusted) dollars as the one purchased 18 years ago.

[Blue Note]

Well, the new Chinese Sheaffer Prelude arrived and I've had a chance to use it alongside my 18 year old Ft Madison Sheaffer Prelude and I'm impressed.

First, fit and finish is absolutely as good on the new one as on the older one. The new one is slightly heavier; the lacquer on the older one MIGHT be slightly deeper in color but if so, not by much. The older one was a steel nib while the new one has a 14K nib. Both are mediums. The older pen does have the little pearly insert in the cap crown, the new one a wider cap band. The older one has plastic section threads while the newer one has steel section threads. Both sat for two days, capped but not used, and both started immediately.

The one thing that would give away which I was using in a blind test is that the older one did have finger rest placement spots on the section while the new section is simply conic.

Other than that tell, I would find it impossible to tell from writing with one which pen was which.

The best part though is that the new Chinese pen cost about the same absolute (not adjusted) dollars as the one purchased 18 years ago.

I have a Prelude that I bought in 2013. It has the finger guides you mention, but nowhere on the pen does it state where it is made. The only marking is "Sheaffer" on the cap band. I have always assumed that it is a Chinese version. Does your older one say "made in USA?" Do you know of any other way to determine the country of manufacture?

[jar]

Well, the new Chinese Sheaffer Prelude arrived and I've had a chance to use it alongside my 18 year old Ft Madison Sheaffer Prelude and I'm impressed.

First, fit and finish is absolutely as good on the new one as on the older one. The new one is slightly heavier; the lacquer on the older one MIGHT be slightly deeper in color but if so, not by much. The older one was a steel nib while the new one has a 14K nib. Both are mediums. The older pen does have the little pearly insert in the cap crown, the new one a wider cap band. The older one has plastic section threads while the newer one has steel section threads. Both sat for two days, capped but not used, and both started immediately.

The one thing that would give away which I was using in a blind test is that the older one did have finger rest placement spots on the section while the new section is simply conic.

Other than that tell, I would find it impossible to tell from writing with one which pen was which.

The best part though is that the new Chinese pen cost about the same absolute (not adjusted) dollars as the one purchased 18 years ago.

I have a Prelude that I bought in 2013. It has the finger guides you mention, but nowhere on the pen does it state where it is made. The only marking is "Sheaffer" on the cap band. I have always assumed that it is a Chinese version. Does your older one say "made in USA?" Do you know of any other way to determine the country of manufacture?

Yes, it is imprinted USA on the cap band. 2013 though would not be a US production. IIRC Sheaffer shut down the FT Madison plant in 2004.

[Wade]

Could I request the OP to post up pictures of both pens for comparison sake?

[jar]

Could I request the OP to post up pictures of both pens for comparison sake?

Sure:

http://www.fototime.com/9D815617A80453C/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/3C01097C68B9F63/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/4D7516DCEAB2DBF/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/36F87A096B9A435/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/ED1223D6F0E1D43/large.jpg

Note the "USA" on the cap band of the picture above.

[Blue Note]

Well, the new Chinese Sheaffer Prelude arrived and I've had a chance to use it alongside my 18 year old Ft Madison Sheaffer Prelude and I'm impressed.

First, fit and finish is absolutely as good on the new one as on the older one. The new one is slightly heavier; the lacquer on the older one MIGHT be slightly deeper in color but if so, not by much. The older one was a steel nib while the new one has a 14K nib. Both are mediums. The older pen does have the little pearly insert in the cap crown, the new one a wider cap band. The older one has plastic section threads while the newer one has steel section threads. Both sat for two days, capped but not used, and both started immediately.

The one thing that would give away which I was using in a blind test is that the older one did have finger rest placement spots on the section while the new section is simply conic.

Other than that tell, I would find it impossible to tell from writing with one which pen was which.

The best part though is that the new Chinese pen cost about the same absolute (not adjusted) dollars as the one purchased 18 years ago.

I have a Prelude that I bought in 2013. It has the finger guides you mention, but nowhere on the pen does it state where it is made. The only marking is "Sheaffer" on the cap band. I have always assumed that it is a Chinese version. Does your older one say "made in USA?" Do you know of any other way to determine the country of manufacture?

Yes, it is imprinted USA on the cap band. 2013 though would not be a US production. IIRC Sheaffer shut down the FT Madison plant in 2004.

Thanks, jar. I'll assume it's made in China. It has a Fine steel nib and it's a very good writer with minimal feedback and consistent ink flow. The build quality is faultless and the price was somewhere around $100. I bought it in England and paid 60BP with converter and a pack of cartridges.

[Blue Note]

Could I request the OP to post up pictures of both pens for comparison sake?

Sure:

http://www.fototime.com/9D815617A80453C/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/3C01097C68B9F63/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/4D7516DCEAB2DBF/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/36F87A096B9A435/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/ED1223D6F0E1D43/large.jpg

Note the "USA" on the cap band of the picture above.

Very interesting. Now I am confused. Mine looks more like the blue made in USA model with the finger guide section, but obviously is not. That looks like a very nice 14k nib on the Chinese one. Does the older USA version also have a gold nib? I don't see any markings to that effect.

[Wade]

Thanks for the pictures, I have a bronze coloured Prelude with black trim, purchased NOS from Peyton Street Pens, I thought it was a USA pen, your pics helped me confirm.

[jar]

Could I request the OP to post up pictures of both pens for comparison sake?

Sure:

Note the "USA" on the cap band of the picture above.

Very interesting. Now I am confused. Mine looks more like the blue made in USA model with the finger guide section, but obviously is not. That looks like a very nice 14k nib on the Chinese one. Does the older USA version also have a gold nib? I don't see any markings to that effect.

The USA one is a steel nib as mentioned in the OP.

[Blue Note]

Could I request the OP to post up pictures of both pens for comparison sake?

Sure:

Note the "USA" on the cap band of the picture above.

Very interesting. Now I am confused. Mine looks more like the blue made in USA model with the finger guide section, but obviously is not. That looks like a very nice 14k nib on the Chinese one. Does the older USA version also have a gold nib? I don't see any markings to that effect.

The USA one is a steel nib as mentioned in the OP.

Oops, yes I see that you already explained that. Cheers.

[penwash]

I bought a dark red "tortoise" pattern Sheaffer Prelude for my dad's birthday present last year.
That was from the last batch produced in the USA also.

Glad to see that the ones from China retains the build quality.

[jar]

Very interesting. Now I am confused. Mine looks more like the blue made in USA model with the finger guide section, but obviously is not. That looks like a very nice 14k nib on the Chinese one. Does the older USA version also have a gold nib? I don't see any markings to that effect.

The USA Preludes came with gold plated steel nibs but also 14 K nibs. The 14K nibs were stamped IIRC.

So an update:

I let both pens just sit capped but unused for over a week and both started immediately with absolutely no hesitation.