NO SNORKEL

[PenPal]

Hey I just purchased what I thought was a Sheaffer Snorkel (Sentinel) from eBay. It has the two town nib and all the markings of the correct pen however there is no snorkel tube... Has anyone ever seen this before? Did I buy a dud? Apparently I missed it in the pictures on the listing.

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[Chrissy]

I once had a Sheaffer Snorkel, and to be fair, I didn't have it for very long before I sold it after having it repaired to working order. So I won't claim to be any sort of expert on the subject of snorkels.

One thing that I did notice though, was that the snorkel tube came out through a hole in the feed that was specially made to house it.

Your feed doesn't look like it has a snorkel hole. So, either it's not a snorkel pen, and it's a different model, or the nib and feed have been changed on it. :)

[penwash]

If that pen has a blind cap that you can twist open and a big metal tube comes out of the barrel, you have a "Touch-down" filler, not a "Snorkel".

The Touch-down filler usually needs a new sac and a new O-ring on the barrel. All in all, an easier to repair model than Snorkel. I love the Touch-down models better than the Snorkel, which after the novelty of the syringe-like tube wears off, is more fiddly to use and clean up (not to mention to repair).

But if that is the case, the seller misrepresented the pen (either knowingly or unknowingly, we don't know).

[Chrissy]

That is interesting. Thank you. I've never seen a Touch-down filler apart from in pictures. :)

[DavidtheGnome]

If it was sold as a snorkel don't hesitate to contact the seller and politely ask if they mislabeled it by mistake. If they sell lots of pens this may happen from time to time, it happened to me trying to buy a snorkel and the seller worked with me on a return

[Jon Szanto]

If it has the tube when you unscrew the back, it's a Touchdown. If you unscrew that blind cap and there is a thin metal rod, you have a Triumph. This would all be easy to tell if we saw the back end ot the pen but you can figure it out.

The one thing it *isn't* is a Snorkel. If you purchased it based on them *selling* it as a Snorkel, you should seek a return and refund (if you wish - it's still probably a nice pen). If you bought it just as a "Sheaffer fountain pen" or some generic listing thinking it was a Snorkel, then you really don't have any options - except have it restored and enjoy a fine, vintage Sheaffer!

[PenPal]

Thank you everyone! Things are starting to make more sense! As soon as I saw it I knew it wasn't a snorkel but since I'm limited in pen knowledge it left me with NO clue what it was. I believer it may be the Touchdown that penwash and Jon mentioned. Now that we have cleared that hurtle maybe everyone can help with the next one :)

I was previously able to unscrew the cap however now it appears that I cannot! It looks like the barrel has slightly separated from the upper portion of the pen and I can't unscrew the cap. I've included a picture of what I'm referring to in case it helps. Im afraid I may just need to send it somewhere to be restored and put back into better condition :(

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[PenPal]

Here's the pictures.

Oh and here are some pictures of the back as well, this is as far as I can get it open without feeling like I'm going to break it...

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[penwash]

Okay, it has a thin metal rod instead of a big metal *tube*. So this one has a Sheaffer vacuum-filler.

Restoring a vacuum-filler is not easy especially if the nib is the conical Triumph nib.

[HughC]

Vac fill from ~1948. Will need to be professionally restored.

Regards
Hugh

[PenPal]

Any recommendations on who could do that restoration?

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[Lady Onogaro]

Probably Danny Fudge.

[Jon Szanto]

Vac fill from ~1948. Will need to be professionally restored.

The man knows what he's talking about. I'll second Danny Fudge, who can be reached at http://www.thewritepen.net/

He usually is quick to respond, but if it takes too long or he isn't taking any work at the moment, PM me for a couple more people. This one is not one you want to try to restore yourself, especially if it is a first pen project.

[PenPal]

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate your help! I sent an email to Danny so hopefully I'll hear back from him soon.

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[jar]

When it comes to Vac-fil Sheaffers I usually turn to Gerry Berg (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/user/381-gmberg/) or Sherrell Tyree (http://www.ink-pen.com/services).

[stub]

Danny Fudge doesn't do Vacs last I heard.

Gerry Berg is, of course a master and does a complete rebuild as good or better than new.

Sherrell Tyree does plugs (as does Greg Minuskin, Fountainpenrecycler and several others) instead of a complete rebuild.

There is Writeontime as well as Ron Zorn. Not sure what their turn around is like.

I have used Stacy Hills, often and with great success and satisfaction. He's done a half dozen or so of my Sheaffer vac-fil pens and all fill full and work great.

[Jon Szanto]

Danny Fudge doesn't do Vacs last I heard.

Argh, my bad, just mis-remembered.

I've had Vac-fills done by Gerry Berg, who really knows his stuff.

[PenPal]

Thank you all! The pen is on its way to Gerry Berg. I really appreciate all of your help and and suggestions! I'm looking forward to getting the pen in working order!

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