Sheaffer's "Dry-Proof"

[FredRydr]

In the early 50's, I doubt Sheaffer was paying marketing consultants thousands of dollars to come up with a brand for their Snorkel desk pens. Dry-Proof It's to the point.

73328

73329

[jos]

That is a very nice desk set! This set (desk base and blotter) already appears in the 1940 Sheaffer catalog (page 15) (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q20Z7Z6fHsf4u5WyOrNMBpAC_174s41Q/view) (available from the PCA library (https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/reference-library/)), albeit with white (opal) top surface for both items. The Dry-Proof socket was introduced in 1935 and refers to the airtight seal of the socket, as explained by Roger Wooten here: https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/pennant/additional-resources/sheaffer-the-dry-proof-socket-base/.
The Snorkel-era socket on the base might thus be a later replacement, also because the decal on the base refers to the 1930-40s #3, #5 and Lifetime Sheaffer pens with open nib.

[FredRydr]

Jos, thank you very much for that information and links. The rocker blotter came to me separately from an antiques co-op south of Columbus Ohio during a foray away from the pen show. I never used that set before it sold.

My older Sheaffer Triumph Vac-Fill desk pen (always filled on my desk) has the same feature with the threaded tulip/trumpet. A quarter turn is all it takes to keep it sealed and wet. Alas, the Triumph's base lacks the Dry-Proof label.