I was browsing closed sales on ebay and stumbled across a terrific two page Sheaffer/WASP (W. A. Sheaffer Pen) ad for one of the most well-known Celluloid patterns, what collectors call "Circuit Board". Besides evolutionary tweaks during the 4-year (or so) run that started in the mid-late 1930s, a key collecting notion is that the pens were offered in regular and deluxe lines (deluxe with fancier cap-band and with two-tone nib).
A few "circuit-board" WASPS from my collection
A plethora of period adverts can be found, but most show the pens from the deluxe line closed, not showing the upscale nib. PCA (soon to be offered to the general public too) has an online public domain Sheaffer pamphlet/page in raggedy photocopied shape that shows the nibs open.
I had the great fortune a couple years ago to get a monstrous two page full color ad showing said pens with open nibs. A rare piece of company literature. I have not gotten around to scanning it yet.
Well, the ad I found on ebay today shows a wide range of the first generation WASP "circuit board" pens, open and closed, both regular and deluxe line. Good resolution, too, on that image. I thought I'd offer it here, as it was easy to download. For those of you who like to know period context for your pens, this stuff is golden.
The page was attributed to a Becken 1940 catalog.
I'm not sure how many Sheafferers here are into this level of study, but if any of you are... have fun
Pic to follow. I reduced it a bit to fit the screen width.
regards
David
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