HughC
May 20th, 2013, 11:23 PM
I have been able to locate a bit of info but all dates should be viewed with a ? .
It appears that Snorkel production began in 1954, several years after the Aust. plant opened in Melbourne. I've based this on several things, firstly no Aust. Snorks with the early section appear only later sections introduced in the US in '54. Secondly in Feb. '54 two Sheaffer vice presidents visited Aust. , one being John Sheaffer and the other Grant Olsen. The latter died Mar. '54 in a BOAC crash in Singapore en route to the US. A number of Aust. Snorks turn up with a gold filler tube, in US models a sign of early first models, so it may well be the case that the Aust. versions are also first models. Here's one
2859
At best guess it seems production continued until 1962. To date I've found only standard colours and none of the "new"colours although I have found a pre '60 sage green early Imperial so I wouldn't rule them out. Likewise no models higher than a Crest, I doubt an Autograph or Signature model would have been offered and I've not seen a Masterpiece. I would think a gold plated model could be "out there". Other than that the models are the same as the US.
2860
This shows the colours (pastel green, pastel blue, burgundy, grey and black), note the matching colour section on the grey as it's the only matching section I've seen which is a late model feature. I've found most nibs tend to be medium with a high percentage of stubs. Of the ones pictures there are 2 stubs, a broad, 3 mediums. None of the nibs carry a nib code common on US nibs.
Any further info. , pics, catalogues, ads etc. would be greatly appreciated so please add !!
Regards
Hugh
It appears that Snorkel production began in 1954, several years after the Aust. plant opened in Melbourne. I've based this on several things, firstly no Aust. Snorks with the early section appear only later sections introduced in the US in '54. Secondly in Feb. '54 two Sheaffer vice presidents visited Aust. , one being John Sheaffer and the other Grant Olsen. The latter died Mar. '54 in a BOAC crash in Singapore en route to the US. A number of Aust. Snorks turn up with a gold filler tube, in US models a sign of early first models, so it may well be the case that the Aust. versions are also first models. Here's one
2859
At best guess it seems production continued until 1962. To date I've found only standard colours and none of the "new"colours although I have found a pre '60 sage green early Imperial so I wouldn't rule them out. Likewise no models higher than a Crest, I doubt an Autograph or Signature model would have been offered and I've not seen a Masterpiece. I would think a gold plated model could be "out there". Other than that the models are the same as the US.
2860
This shows the colours (pastel green, pastel blue, burgundy, grey and black), note the matching colour section on the grey as it's the only matching section I've seen which is a late model feature. I've found most nibs tend to be medium with a high percentage of stubs. Of the ones pictures there are 2 stubs, a broad, 3 mediums. None of the nibs carry a nib code common on US nibs.
Any further info. , pics, catalogues, ads etc. would be greatly appreciated so please add !!
Regards
Hugh