Targa Desk Set Question

[sexauerw]

Here's a question for Roger W. I have a black glass desk set with a Targa ballpoint/pencil set that I'm pretty sure was not what originally came with the base. What pens did come with this base?






Next up is another Sheaffer desk base with a Targa ballpoint. This one is white onyx with a Sheaffer tag on the back side and a cryptic tag on the bottom that just says MCI (or perhaps MC1). Is there any info available on this base?





Then I have two more Targa desk sets. I don't have any questions about these as I know that one of them is definitely not made by Sheaffer and I doubt that the other one is. So these are just for show.

The Radius One base is metal and pretty heavy. There are some scuff marks on the finish visible on the face. The bottom is thickly padded so that the felt keeps the metal edges well off of the desktop.





This wood desk set has no markings whatsoever. The inlays appear to be six aluminum bars, three natural finish and three
black anodized. I should have shot an end view that would have shown that they extend about 5/16" down into the wood.
That would also have shown that the fixed holders are set at a 45 degree angle. This pen/pencil set is significantly shorter
than any of the others above.

[Mags]

Are these Targa or the slimline whitedot series ballpoint sets? I seem to recall those names on 80's models.

[da vinci]

I didn't even realise such things existed! Thanks for pics of your wonderful desk sets.

[Roger W.]

Bill;

A 4501-J now there is something I can since my teeth into. This set originated in the mid 1950's and labelled to that time period (might be a little early for Targa - LOL). So it was originally a snorkel base however, if you see enough of my posts, you will know that bases stayed in inventory until needed and then were matched with pen and socket. I don't have anything official on that besides seeing that it is a practice that occurs too often to be wrong in the over 350 Sheaffer bases that I have. The snap fit socket was standard from the mid 1930's all the way through modern desk bases so it is easy to snap in the current pen and socket to a piece of marble or jet glass (the "J" is for jet glass). The white onyx is obviously Sheaffer production with the last two looking like 3rd party production. 3rd parties making desk bases is nothing new as Silver Crest did Sheaffer pen and socket bases back in the 1930's. I can't tell you much about Targa era bases and I don't have much on ads about them either.

Roger W.

[sexauerw]

Are these Targa or the slimline whitedot series ballpoint sets? I seem to recall those names on 80's models.

I'm calling them Targas because of the distinctive top ornament, which I've never seen on any other pen. However, I have never seen any literature anywhere describing these ballpoints or pencils so I cannot claim to know what the correct name is. If you, or anybody else reading this thread, can produce any documentation on these writing instruments it would be very helpful if you would post a copy on this thread.