Sheaffer Trz Nib Marking

[Durham K]

Hi

Can anyone explain this mark on the nib of a Sheaffer TRZ?

[Ernst Bitterman]

I would love an answer to this as well-- there's the same on a No Nonsense Old Timer which I've got. I assume it has something to do with the plating, but it's not present on a plated point in a NN Vintage.

[Durham K]

Hi Ernst

 

It is early days yet for a post, but I feel two ways about this.

1. Happy to find an obscure question.

2. Expecting the vast knowledge of FPN to be able to answer any question.

 

K

[jar]

Anyone with some Sailor pens that can look to see if it appears on the Sailor nibs?

[Ernst Bitterman]

Nothing of the sort on a Sentinel (unplated nib, which in a lame and negative way bolsters my weak supposition).

[sexauerw]

Hi

Can anyone explain this mark on the nib of a Sheaffer TRZ?TRZ.jpg

That mark is a hallmark. It attests to the purity of the gold plating on the nib. It's not usually found on Sheaffer nibs made in the USA and intended to be sold in the USA. But nibs made in the USA and intended for sale in Europe or in the British Commonwealth would normally be hallmarked.

 

In my Sheaffer Targa collection I have a total of 161 nibs. There are:

129 14K nibs (22 hallmarked)

6 18K (all hallmarked)

6 23K gold electroplated steel nibs (all hallmarked)

20 unplated steel nibs (none hallmarked)

Not all of the hallmarks are the same. Here are an assortment of hallmark photos that I just took. They're quick and dirty, I didn't bother to dust the pens and it shows. Hallmarks are used for precious metals, originally just silver but then expanded to gold, platinum and others. They are a form of certification mark that the purity indicated, such as 14K, has been assayed and found to be at least as high as marked.

 

Don't ask me why the last two photos show multiple hallmarks on the same item. I don't have a clue why that was done.

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626172.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_a.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626173.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_b.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626174.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_c.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626175.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_d.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626176.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_e.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626177.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_f.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626178.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_g.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626179.0/800/p/Hallmark%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Sterling_Silver_Cap.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626180.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Imperial_Touchdown_Masterpiece_Barrel.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626181.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Masterpiece_Vannerie_Cap.jpg

Edited July 24, 2014 by sexauerw

[hari317]

The PF has been discussed in the context of their appearance on the older Pelikan nibs as well. It is supposedly a Swiss customs mark.

[jar]

That mark is a hallmark. It attests to the purity of the gold plating on the nib. It's not usually found on Sheaffer nibs made in the USA and intended to be sold in the USA. But nibs made in the USA and intended for sale in Europe or in the British Commonwealth would normally be hallmarked.

 

 

Don't ask me why the last two photos show multiple hallmarks on the same item. I don't have a clue why that was done.

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626180.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Imperial_Touchdown_Masterpiece_Barrel.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626181.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Masterpiece_Vannerie_Cap.jpg

They look like a hallmark and a makers mark.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I don't have the facts right at hand, but that eagle head on the second one is something to do with France's gold content laws; something in the line of an official government agency agrees with the indicated content (but I welcome correction). I've got it on one of my Parker 75 points, and have seen it in connection with Watermans as well.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Ernst Bitterman

[Durham K]

That mark is a hallmark. It attests to the purity of the gold plating on the nib. It's not usually found on Sheaffer nibs made in the USA and intended to be sold in the USA. But nibs made in the USA and intended for sale in Europe or in the British Commonwealth would normally be hallmarked.

 

In my Sheaffer Targa collection I have a total of 161 nibs. There are:

129 14K nibs (22 hallmarked)

6 18K (all hallmarked)

6 23K gold electroplated steel nibs (all hallmarked)

20 unplated steel nibs (none hallmarked)

 

Not all of the hallmarks are the same. Here are an assortment of hallmark photos that I just took. They're quick and dirty, I didn't bother to dust the pens and it shows. Hallmarks are used for precious metals, originally just silver but then expanded to gold, platinum and others. They are a form of certification mark that the purity indicated, such as 14K, has been assayed and found to be at least as high as marked.

 

Don't ask me why the last two photos show multiple hallmarks on the same item. I don't have a clue why that was done.

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626172.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_a.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626173.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_b.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626174.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_c.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626175.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_d.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626176.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_e.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626177.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_f.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626178.0/800/p/Hallmakr%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Nib_Section_g.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626179.0/800/p/Hallmark%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Sterling_Silver_Cap.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626180.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Imperial_Touchdown_Masterpiece_Barrel.jpg

 

http://bulk-share.slickpic.com/album/share/DDD0TNMO2A5QAY/8626181.0/800/p/Hallmarks%2C_Sheaffer_Targa_Masterpiece_Vannerie_Cap.jpg

Thanks, that is the answer that I was looking for. FPN wins again!

K

Edited August 2, 2014 by Durham K