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Thread: Very bizarre jade half-balance

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    Default Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Below is a Sheaffer that was on eBay recently. This is one of the well-known (to Sheaffer collectors) "half-Balances", with a Balance style cap and a flat top barrel. But that's not what makes this pen exceptional: it bears the flattened ball clip and is jade. Jade was ostensibly discontinued in 1932, yet the clip here was introduced in late 1934 or 1935 according to Richard Binder's website. Hence we must conclude either that jade lasted at least into 1934, or that the flattened ball clip was introduced in 1932 or earlier. If we choose the former conclusion, we can gather that half-Balance lasted at least into the mid-1930s. Thoughts welcome!
    s-l1600.jpg

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Could it be that someone had a cap and a barrel and put them together after the fact or that the pen had a damaged cap and went for repair and got the cap that was available?

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Interesting mystery.

    Another possibility is that this pen was purchased prior to 1932, but after 1934 got sent back to Sheaffer for repair and got a "new style" clip instead.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by Dinkhart View Post
    Hence we must conclude either that jade lasted at least into 1934, or that the flattened ball clip was introduced in 1932 or earlier. If we choose the former conclusion, we can gather that half-Balance lasted at least into the mid-1930s.
    Why do you not include the possibility that it's the cap from a Balance on the barrel from a flat top?

    --Daniel
    “Every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion. The ego puts its own interest first and twists every argument, word, even fact to suit that interest.”
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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    By the way, it is well-known that Jade pens were manufactured well into the late 1930s, though the barrel of this pen was made before the fall of 1930.

    --Daniel
    “Every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion. The ego puts its own interest first and twists every argument, word, even fact to suit that interest.”
    ― Paul Brunton, The Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by kirchh View Post
    By the way, it is well-known that Jade pens were manufactured well into the late 1930s, though the barrel of this pen was made before the fall of 1930.

    --Daniel
    I hadn't considered that this could be a Balance cap on a flat top barrel, a rather obvious oversight on my part. I was also unaware that jade pens were produced past 1932. I'd love to see some other examples of post-1932 jade Sheaffers if anyone has any. Also, how can you identify the barrel as being made before fall 1930?

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by Dinkhart View Post
    I hadn't considered that this could be a Balance cap on a flat top barrel....
    Um...the eBay listing title states: "Sheaffer White Dot Jade Balance Top, Flat Bottom Fountain Pen Lifetime Tip" suggesting the seller knew.

    Be careful out there.

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by kirchh View Post
    By the way, it is well-known that....
    Daniel, you really must stop spreading those rumors.

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Dinkhart View Post
    I hadn't considered that this could be a Balance cap on a flat top barrel....
    Um...the eBay listing title states: "Sheaffer White Dot Jade Balance Top, Flat Bottom Fountain Pen Lifetime Tip" suggesting the seller knew.
    That's just an (accurate) description of the appearance of the pen. There's no information there regarding how the pen came to be--i. e., whether it was found that way, put together, or what.

    --Daniel
    “Every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion. The ego puts its own interest first and twists every argument, word, even fact to suit that interest.”
    ― Paul Brunton, The Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by Dinkhart View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by kirchh View Post
    By the way, it is well-known that Jade pens were manufactured well into the late 1930s, though the barrel of this pen was made before the fall of 1930.

    --Daniel
    I hadn't considered that this could be a Balance cap on a flat top barrel, a rather obvious oversight on my part. I was also unaware that jade pens were produced past 1932. I'd love to see some other examples of post-1932 jade Sheaffers if anyone has any. Also, how can you identify the barrel as being made before fall 1930?
    Jade (and black & pearl) Sheaffers with mid-to-late 1930s features are found occasionally. It is important to understand that the catalog history of a pen brand is only loosely correlated with the manufacturing and sales history. New models/colors tended to be given to dealers slightly ahead of advertising, and old models often continued to be made long after they were no longer being promoted. Therefore, appearance in ads/catalogs gives only definite minimum date ranges for the offering of an item, but the actual date range can extend out both earlier and (in some cases, much) later.

    The barrel has a lever with a pin-through-barrel fulcrum; that feature was supplanted by the fall of 1930 with the internal C-ring arrangement.

    --Daniel
    Last edited by kirchh; June 15th, 2018 at 01:45 PM.
    “Every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion. The ego puts its own interest first and twists every argument, word, even fact to suit that interest.”
    ― Paul Brunton, The Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Fascinating. Have you seen jade pens with the post-flattened-ball radius clip?

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    Default Re: Very bizarre jade half-balance

    Quote Originally Posted by Dinkhart View Post
    Fascinating. Have you seen jade pens with the post-flattened-ball radius clip?
    First, let me caution against the implication that any particular style of feature--or entire pen model--abruptly replaced the previous style. Often, there is significant overlap, as well as the staggering of new feature introductions across a line, with the top of the line typically getting newer features or feature styling before the models below them, often with several steps in that progression. So, while the introduction of the "radius" clip occurred after the start of the flat-ball clip, there was great overlap due to model line stratification as well as a hierarchy based on older/newer colors. Top-of-the-line pens and newly-introduced high-line models got the "radius" clip in '35, but low-line pens and old colors continued to bear the flat-ball clip for another seven years or so.

    Late Jade pens appear to have continued to be fitted with the flat ball clip at least into 1939. Late Black and Pearl pens were issued with the "radius" clip. I wouldn't conclude much from that other than what those bare facts indicate.

    --Daniel
    “Every discussion which is made from an egoistic standpoint is corrupted from the start and cannot yield an absolutely sure conclusion. The ego puts its own interest first and twists every argument, word, even fact to suit that interest.”
    ― Paul Brunton, The Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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