Sheaffer Snorkel Demonstrator C1952-1959

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Demonstrator. I generally date them c1952-1959, but I really think they were only made at the beginning of production for dealers and once made, were probably not re-run - what would be the need?

http://penhero.com/Temp/SheafferSnorkelDemonstrator_1280_03.jpg

This demonstrator has a Triumph 14 karat two-tone 14 karat gold nib with platinum mask, clear plastic cap and barrel, gold-filled clip and 3/8" wide gold-filled cap band. It's essentially a clear plastic Valiant. Produced for dealers to demonstrate the inner workings of the new Snorkel filling system. Not marketed as a for sale model. Produced only in clear plastic.

Some demonstrators can be found with regular production caps. It's my belief that these are replacements. Many demonstrators have cracked plastic, possibly because the clear plastic is less able to deal with stress, and the clip spring would be a pressure point that if it broke, a cap swap would solve.

Anyone have other ideas? Want to show your demonstrators? Please do!

Thanks!

[Vintagepens]

Some Snorkel demonstrators were produced at the beginning of production, but most were made somewhat later. It's only a small minority of extant demonstrators that have the gold Snorkel tube, early sac housing, and early nib unit.

While it's possible that Sheaffer cranked out and stockpiled enough demonstrators early on to supply its dealers and representatives for all the years the Snorkel remained in production, it seems equally possible that there were multiple production runs.

Edited June 18, 2017 by Vintagepens

[3rdlakerobert]

These links seem to be all I can do to get photos into this reply:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1497832872__dsc_0009.jpg

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1497832918__dsc_0010.jpg

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1497832937__dsc_0011.jpg

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1497832960__dsc_0013.jpg