Advice on Sheaffer snorkel/triumph nib models

[kbrede]

Hi, I've done some research on these pens but I'm still a little confused. I'd like to purchase a Sheaffer with a snorkel and a triumph nib, to write with. The snorkel to try a different filling mechanism and the triumph nib for the looks.

These are the different models I've found:

Special
Statesman
Valiant
Sentinel
Signature
Autograph

What are the differences in size of these pens? Are the pens mostly the same size in length and width? I haven't come across a picture showing them side by side.

What are some ballpark prices for the different models? I'd prefer purchasing restored but there don't seem to be a lot of them for sale. What features are worth more than others? For example would a two toned F5 nib be more expensive than a Palladium-silver F4?

EDIT: Also, are the TM models thinner in body or does that just refer to the nib?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Kent

[mhosea]

All of them are the same length and width. You're missing some models.

http://vacumania.com/website/sheaffersnorkelguide.htm

They've "decoupled" from their original price structure. The prevalence of the colors, rather, plays a much larger role in pricing. Prices are all over the place, but if the pen clearly needs cleaning and restoring, and if it is a common color, I would have expected to pay anywhere from $25-$45 when I was buying these a couple of years ago. I think I got one for $15 once. Restored prices depend on the seller's reputation and/or how good their photography skills are. Common colors can go for up to $100 or more, I think. Danny Fudge ( http://www.thewritepen.net/services.html ) does Snorkel restoration for $20 plus shipping (presumably both ways), so unrestored tends to be the better deal, but buying vintage pens on eBay carries some risk that more stuff will be wrong with it than the seller knows about (most sellers can't even tell a Snorkel from a Touchdown TM). Buy one from Richard Binder, OTOH, and you'll probably pay more than $100, but it will be right, and if it isn't, he'll fix it for you.

[kbrede]

All of them are the same length and width. You're missing some models.

http://vacumania.com/website/sheaffersnorkelguide.htm

They've "decoupled" from their original price structure. The prevalence of the colors, rather, plays a much larger role in pricing. Prices are all over the place, but if the pen clearly needs cleaning and restoring, and if it is a common color, I would have expected to pay anywhere from $25-$45 when I was buying these a couple of years ago. I think I got one for $15 once. Restored prices depend on the seller's reputation and/or how good their photography skills are. Common colors can go for up to $100 or more, I think. Danny Fudge ( http://www.thewritepen.net/services.html ) does Snorkel restoration for $20 plus shipping (presumably both ways), so unrestored tends to be the better deal, but buying vintage pens on eBay carries some risk that more stuff will be wrong with it than the seller knows about (most sellers can't even tell a Snorkel from a Touchdown TM). Buy one from Richard Binder, OTOH, and you'll probably pay more than $100, but it will be right, and if it isn't, he'll fix it for you.

Good to know they are all the same size. Thanks for the advice on getting a restore done. I think I might go that route.
Kent

[HughC]

Statesman, Clipper and Sentinel are the most common triumph nib Snorkels. Personally I prefer the metal caps ( Clipper and Sentinel ) as users because of the durability factor, the models vary only in what the nibs made from and from a user point it doesn't matter.

Regards
Hugh

[mrcharlie]

There is another Snorkel reference page on penhero.com with a bunch of photos, along with a page about Snorkel nibs and nib codes.

[Frank]

PenHero is a great reference for Sheaffer Pens!
(Not to mention other models!)

[david i]

A wee bit of eye candy.

Mint-in-box-in-sealed-cellophane Mandarin

Couple Demonstrators.

Fiesta, with Demo gripping section.

regards

david

[mhosea]

The demo gripping section on the Fiesta is cool. I like it a lot better than the full demonstrators.