Sheaffer Connaisseurs

[Barry B. Gabay]

This model, in all its variations, is one of my favorite modern fountain pens. Made between mid-1980s and late 1990s, the series had several versions. Connaisseur Type I came in black, burgundy, green, and blue and had a flat cap band. Type II was available in the same colors, but had a wider, rounded cap band which extended over the end of the cap for greater protection of the cap lip. Sheaffer teamed up with Levenger and produced a Connaisseur in the Seas collection. Seas Type I had various colors named after particular seas. Its clip and trim resembled the Connaisseur II. Then, came Seas Type II with a different clip, a metal cap crown, and a wider, flat cap band. The Connaisseurs had 18K nibs, while the Seas versions had 14K nibs. They were c/c fillers. They had straight sections in Connaisseur I and most Connaisseur IIs. Straight and scalloped sections also came on Seas I. All Seas II have scalloped sections. My photos do not present a complete set of any of the Connaisseur versions. For an authoritative and comprehensive description of the Connaisseur (and Grande Connaisseur) read the late Dennis Bowden's article in Pennant, Summer 2006. Unfortunately, I can not find it at the moment. Photo 1, L to R: Connaisseur Type I black, Type II burgundy. Seas I, Seas II. In photo 2, the green Seas Type I has a Grande Connaisseur section & nib. The other photos show details which I believe are self-explanatory. Enjoy the photos and stay healthy.

[Chrissy]

Thanks Barry, they are fabulous pens. :) I really like the look of them. :) However, they are rarely seen on ebay.co.uk.

[penwash]

Thanks for sharing this Barry. I've probably seen them at pen shows, but I've never hold / write with one.

How are they in terms of writing experience? Do they feel substantial and well-finished?

[Barry B. Gabay]

Hi Penwash,

The Connaisseur is a moderately large fountain pen (#6-size-nib). Though of substantial size, it is quite light weight. Though it accepts all modern Sheaffer converters, I use mine with cartridges because that is my preferred filling method.

They are very well made. I have owned some for more than 20 years and their trim has lost barely any plating.

Enjoy your weekend.
Barry

[FredRydr]

Thanks, Barry! I trimmed my mini-collection of Connaisseaurs down to just my favorite, a black "Type IV" with wide band and Sheaffer factory stub nib. Last week I posted a photo of the top half of it in the pen photos subform, (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/32367-Analog-Camara-with-analog-writers?p=303134&viewfull=1#post303134) since it has been in rotation for quite a while, filled with Oster Caffe Crema. Note Richard Binder's comment about this version on his Connaisseaur page. (http://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/connaisseur.htm)

Note also that the Sheaffer Vintage model (yes, that is the name!) is essentially a Connaisseur with a marble pattern cap and barrel and gold-plated steel nib, and likewise accepts converters and cartridges.

[jar]

Another fan here. But quiet. Don't tell everybody.

http://www.fototime.com/3A4A5574614BD90/medium800.jpg

[Barry B. Gabay]

Hi Chrissy, On ebay.co.uk, I see more Grande Connaisseurs listed than Connaisseurs. Hope you & yours are all healthy. Barry

[penwash]

Hi Penwash,

The Connaisseur is a moderately large fountain pen (#6-size-nib). Though of substantial size, it is quite light weight. Though it accepts all modern Sheaffer converters, I use mine with cartridges because that is my preferred filling method.

They are very well made. I have owned some for more than 20 years and their trim has lost barely any plating.

Enjoy your weekend.
Barry

Barry, please call me Will :)

Do they made these in ebonite? I would imagine if they do make one with woodgrain ebonite, it would look very impressive (and very difficult for me to resist).

[Barry B. Gabay]

Hi Fred,

Your Type IV is right rare with its wide cap band. Don't think I have ever seen one in the flesh. I remember that you are partial to Sheaffer stub nibs. Binder's Connaisseur page is very informative. I found the first link below just now. I believe the photo in it is from one of the Dennis Bowden articles in Pennant. The second link is from my Bookmarks. I think it was made by Gary Ellison, a very friendly guy and UK Sheaffer authority. However, I can not get it to open now. One of the great aspects of this website is learning so much from so many genuine people. Thanks, Fred. Hope you three are all healthy. Barry

PS I think of the Vintage as a high-end No Nonsense rather than a modified Connaisseur. Of course, all three models are all based on the same profile with interchangeable caps, barrels, sections, and feeds.

https://www.penparents.org/Sheaffer/sheaffer-connaisseur-fountain-pen The translation of this article from English to something else then back to English is very curious. Sounds like me trying to check into a hotel or order in a restaurant with a phrase book in my hand.

http://www.sheaffertarga.com/Connaisseur/connaisseur%20reference%20list.html

[Barry B. Gabay]

Hello Will, Nice to meet you. I have never seen a reference to an ebonite Connaisseur. A woodgrain ebonite would certainly be a beauty. One can always wish. Best wishes, Barry

[NumberSix]

I never heard of these pens until recently, when I came across one on pen_swap. It looked nice and had a gold nib, so I decided to give it a go.

It's a lovely big pen, burgundy with gold trim. Very nice wet Medium nib and comfortable in the hand.

[Ron Z]

Richard Binder also has a very nice article about them on his website. I should post a picture of the ones I have... Barry knows what I'm talking about.

[FredRydr]

...I should post a picture of the ones I have....
I'd like a black chased one.

[Ron Z]

...I should post a picture of the ones I have....
I'd like a black chased one.

Picture or the pen? I have both. Richard and I both were able to by one when we visited the Sheaffer service center before it closed in 2008. Pick the pen, pick the nib, pick the box, off the shelf. Rather cool. Along with the Persimmon orange Prelude, it will be one of the last pens that I sell....


As for the chased pattern Connaisseur, this is one that I sold a number of years ago.
https://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen2250.jpg

...and just for fun, one of the pens I put together, starting with a No Nonsense Vintage. Trim and buttons came from a dead Connaisseur, I added the white dot.
https://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen2410.jpg

Here's the orange one that I made. I turned the ends from cast acrylic rod stock. I had to gold plate the clip.
https://www.mainstreetpens.com/pix/OrangeConn.jpg

[FredRydr]

...I should post a picture of the ones I have....
I'd like a black chased one.

Picture or the pen? I have both....it will be one of the last pens that I sell....
Can't blame you.

Ron, do you add weight (to the barrels) as well?

Nice dot. :)

[Ron Z]

I do put a brass plug in the end of the barrel since it makes a difference in the feel of the pen. The dot is OEM.

I should add that Richards page on the pen has an exploded view.

[FredRydr]

Ron just posted and sold in the classifieds this black lacquer Sheaffer Grand Connaisseur with a stub nib.

https://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen2967.jpg

Is this a metal version painted with black lacquer? Where is the "S" imprinted, or is that the chalk mark?

I have the same black Connaisseur with stub nib, though my impression is the cap and barrel are precious plastic. My pen has no "S" notation and a mono-color nib. Note the wider cap band.

70944

Aren't these lovely pens?! I had other colors, but black is the most elegant.

[Ron Z]

This is the black lacquer version. Details were in the listing. If you look at the picture, you'll see the seam where the brass ended, and the plastic threads begin. The weight of the pen (and individual parts) were significantly heavier than the plastic counterpart. The S is the chalk mark on the section - also described in the listing. The larger, two tone nib unit with a metal thread bushing was used in the Grand Connaisseur.

[FredRydr]

Thanks, Ron, for the additional insight on the Connaisseur range of pens. For posterity (before you remove your listing), I add here some of your commentary for that lacquered brass pen:


The Sheaffer Targa site says that these were made between 1988 and 1996. I've never handled one before this one. The tip off is the weight. The plastic Connaisseur weighs 24.7 grams, this one 40.5, so it feels substantial in your hand. The nib is a mint and chalkmarked 1.1mm stub. These were made in both the USA and UK. This one's cap band is marked "England."

[Chip]

To celebrate the publication of a book with a focus on water, I bought a Sheaffer/Levenger Mediterranean fountain pen, fine nib.

https://i.imgur.com/5k9d8SP.jpg

It's a wonderful, smooth writer: I signed thousands of books with it. The color is still deep and brilliant. Never had a bit of trouble with it.

I have a fairly large collection now and it's still a favorite.

[Barry Gabay]

Hello Chip,

Congratulations on your book publication. Beautiful photo. The nib & section on your Sheaffer-Levenger Seas is from the Sheaffer Balance series. Same size as the scalloped section as Type II Connaisseurs. Note that the scalloped Connaisseur and Levenger Seas sections had a gold-plated ring on the section lip. Also, the "Feather Touch" monotone nib is characteristic of Sheaffer Balance pens from the same era. At the end of production, I believe Sheaffer was using whatever sections and nibs fit the Connaisseurs and Seas. I have seen several new-in-box Grande Connaisseurs with the smaller-size Connaisseur nib, but in two-tone (platinum chevron over yellow gold) and scalloped sections without the longer metal housing. All, like yours, seem to have been standard factory production at the time.

Congratulations again on your book's success. That is a very big deal, sir!

[FredRydr]

...The nib & section on your Sheaffer-Levenger Seas is from the Sheaffer Balance series. Same size as the scalloped section as Type II Connaisseurs. Note that the scalloped Connaisseur and Levenger Seas sections had a gold-plated ring on the section lip. Also, the "Feather Touch" monotone nib is characteristic of Sheaffer Balance pens from the same era. At the end of production, I believe Sheaffer was using whatever sections and nibs fit the Connaisseurs and Seas. I have seen several new-in-box Grande Connaisseurs with the smaller-size Connaisseur nib, but in two-tone (platinum chevron over yellow gold) and scalloped sections without the longer metal housing. All, like yours, seem to have been standard factory production at the time....
I happen to have one of each inked in my pen rack, as usual:

71065

You can see the Balance II has a concave cylinder section, while the Connaisseur has a pinched cylinder section with a lip at the business end. Nonetheless, the threads are the same and the sections are easy swapped (not that I need to since both are factory stubs).

[lilycollins]

I understand since the machine parts are quite primitive, we can't ask them to serve more functions.

wordle (https://wordle2.io/)

[Stands on Feet]

Strange spam reported.

[Chrissy]

lilycollins has been adding strange spam to many old posts and has been reported many times without removal. I think it might be a bot.

[Doctox]

Such great pens. I weep for their demise. So sad.