Sheaffer Pen

[Lion]

I was at my AD today and they have a coin collecting department and in one of their display cases were two fountain pens. They had a Sheaffer and a Waterman and I inquired about them but the owner was not in. They are used and $25.00 dollars each. The sheaffer looks old and has a serial number or patent number on the nib and says lifetime. Also the Sheaffer name is etched into the pen barrel and it has a lever for filling(if I'm describing this properly). I also believe the barrel and cap are a type of resin or plastic(?)...What do you think should I take a gamble for $25.00???

[nickriebe]

I would! Im not really up on brand names so i dont really know what they are worth... what can you lose for 25 bucks! Lamys are about the same price...

[Shangas]

With such a vague description I couldn't tell you what it is or whether or not you're wasting your money. Without even a description of the pen-body I can't ID it for you. THOUSANDS of Sheaffer FPs had "Lifetime" nibs and millions of them had filling-levers. Very early pens were made out of rubber, but later pens (starting in the mid 1920s) were made out of celluloid plastic.

[MoonDogJerry]

Odds are the sac is old and dried up and will need replaced. If you do it yourself that will cost another $5 (more if you have it done). Also go through the motions of writing with it on paper without ink to see if it feels scratchy. You may need to have the nib worked on.

[TattooedGQ]

for $25 each do it....especially if they're cool looking, worse comes to worse you have something nifty to display.

[Lion]

The impulsive side of me wants to pull the trigger but.......

[daveathall]

Who dares, wins.

Be a winner Leo.

[Lion]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Who dares, wins.

Be a winner Leo.

Thanx Dave, I already decided to buy it and pick it up on Friday!!!

[TattooedGQ]

Very Cool Leo, Good luck!

[nickriebe]

Be sure to share some pics and writing samples!

[Lion]

I am going up to the AD today and buying the pen. I talked to an expert on Sheaffer pens and he said that the nib(14K) alone is worth more than the asking price of the pen. Also he said the pen was made in the 1930's or 1940's and I should scarf the the pen in a New York minute!!!

[Lion]

This morning I picked it up and inquired about the Waterman he had and he said it was already sold and the customer wanted my Sheaffer as well. The pen is still soaking to get the old ink out and I might need a new sac(sp.). I'm not experienced with these sacs and as the pen soaks the old ink is escaping through where the lever is. So does this mean I need a new one installed. Someone with more experience can jump in with the answer if they so choose!!!

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by Lion

This morning I picked it up and inquired about the Waterman he had and he said it was already sold and the customer wanted my Sheaffer as well. The pen is still soaking to get the old ink out and I might need a new sac(sp.). I'm not experienced with these sacs and as the pen soaks the old ink is escaping through where the lever is. So does this mean I need a new one installed. Someone with more experience can jump in with the answer if they so choose!!!

Looking forward to pics Leo. You should be able to determine if the sac is good by working the lever and filling it with water. Even if you have to send it to someone to be repaired you probably made a good deal. Let us know how it turns out.

[ParisDakarBmw]

Just make him a $40 offer for both.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

Just make him a $40 offer for both.

X2!

[Lion]

Guys I can't the other pen has been promised to another customer and they wouldn't even let me look at it today. Actually the other client wanted the Sheaffer but he was told it was already sold!!!

[Shangas]

This morning I picked it up and inquired about the Waterman he had and he said it was already sold and the customer wanted my Sheaffer as well. The pen is still soaking to get the old ink out and I might need a new sac(sp.). I'm not experienced with these sacs and as the pen soaks the old ink is escaping through where the lever is. So does this mean I need a new one installed. Someone with more experience can jump in with the answer if they so choose!!!

Please...please...PLEASE tell me...you are NOT dunking the ENTIRE PEN in water!

That's not good. And neither is it necessary.

Remove it at once and dry it THOROUGHLY.

If you want to soak your pen, it should be done PROPERLY in the following manner:

Uncap it. Put it nib-down in a glass or cup. Fill the cup with COLD WATER up to the top of the section (the grip where you hold the pen for writing).

STOP.

You do NOT want to immerse the pen in water any deeper than that. The reason for this is: If you immerse the pen entirely, there's a good chance of water getting into the lever, the pressure-bar and the lever-pin and causing corrosion. Leave it long enough and the lever and the pressure-bar will start getting rusty and brittle. Not what you want.

Determining the state of the ink-sac is pretty easy. Try and open the lever.

If you encounter anything other than slight resistence...STOP. A functioning pen should allow you to open and close the lever and fill the pen easily. There should be a minimal amount of resistence in this operation. If you encounter significant resistence (to the level where the lever will not open or move)...DO NOT FORCE IT. Levers are delicate things and you could damage it by trying to move it when it can't be moved. Leave it alone and send it to a repairer.

On the other hand, if the lever and sac are in good condition (and this is possible), then you should fill and empty the pen with cold water as many times as is necessary to remove all the ink from the pen-sac so that it's cleaned out and ready for use.

Some people say you should let a pen sit and dry overnight once you've rinsed it and soaked it and washed it...This is not necessary. Fountain pen ink is already mostly water, two more drops of it isn't going to do any damage.

[Shangas]

Double-Post.

[Lion]

Shahan, Thanx for the information and advice and will dry the pen out.....as you can tell I need to learn more about FP's!!!

[MoonDogJerry]

Leo as Shahan has stated, lifting the lever (usually 90 degrees to the pen) will draw water in by squeezing the rubber sac inside. When you press the lever down the sac should suck the water up into it. Usually you leave the nib in the water/ink for a few seconds for the water/ink to be drawn up. If you do this a few times and water comes up when you lift the lever, the sac is probably OK. I usually replace the sacs first when I get a fairly old pen.

[Shangas]

OPENING the lever expels AIR.

CLOSING the lever releases pressure on the ink-sac. As it reinflates to its original shape, it creates a vacuum.

The vacuum is what sucks in INK or WATER (depending on whether you're filling or cleaning the pen).

That's how lever-fillers (and related fillers such as crescents, buttons, hatchets, match-stick and even twist-fillers) work.

[Lion]

Jerry and Shahan, thanx for the education!!!