Gold flat top

[79spitfire]

Hey all! Could you help me I got excited at an antique store and ended up buying a Sheaffer Flat top in Gold with the little chevrons in it. The clip states "Sheaffer-Clip" and the barrel is stamped "Sheaffer'S" and it's a lever filler. I *gently* tried to pull the nib section out to see if the sac was ok and ended up pulling the gold sleave off it appears to be made from hard rubber. The nib is gold colored and states "Iridium Tipped USA Medium". I have not inked it yet as I suspect the sac may be failing even though it draws up water. Is it possible this is not the original nib, as it doesn't state "Sheaffer"? How would I *carefully* disasemble it to replace the sac? Is there any more that someone can tell me about it or did I end up with a worthless "Frankenpen"??? Sorry about the lousy photo, need to practice more...

[Roger W.]

As you suspect - it is the wrong nib. You need a Sheaffer Self-Filling #3 most likely. I can't really judge the condition from your photo but it dates to 1921 at the latest with the Sheaffer's Clip as "clip" is dropped by '22. Wrong nib hardly ruins the pen so don't worry about that. The section comes off before the threads (the threads belong to the barrel and the section goes with the nib if that is clearer). It is friction fit and can be carefully rocked out. I wouldn't have taken the sleeve off of the barrel but, normally they are too tight for that to happen. Take a clearer picture, these are really nice pens.

 

Roger W.

[79spitfire]

As you suspect - it is the wrong nib. You need a Sheaffer Self-Filling #3 most likely. I can't really judge the condition from your photo but it dates to 1921 at the latest with the Sheaffer's Clip as "clip" is dropped by '22. Wrong nib hardly ruins the pen so don't worry about that. The section comes off before the threads (the threads belong to the barrel and the section goes with the nib if that is clearer). It is friction fit and can be carefully rocked out. I wouldn't have taken the sleeve off of the barrel but, normally they are too tight for that to happen. Take a clearer picture, these are really nice pens.

 

Roger W.

 

Thanks! The sleeve coming off was an accident, I thought I was removing the nib section from the barrel and not the pen from the sleeve when it came off! The seller tested it and it is 22k gold plated. Closer examination shows the flat spot for the engraving has never been used. A quick search for "Sheaffer self filling #3" turned up this pen:

 

#8753

 

It is similar to this one, but the feed is smooth on the bottom (no fins) and it has the chevron pattern etched into the barrel. Mine also has "Sheaffer's" etched or stamped into the metal directly below the black section. So was it worth the $40 I spent? Not that it matters, I'm happy to have a "real" Sheaffer's pen that was made when the "old man" was still alive!!

 

P.S. I'll see if I can get better photos tomorrow!

Edited April 6, 2010 by 79spitfire

[Roger W.]

We'll take it the the seller doesn't know how to test gold content as these are not plated but, rolled gold and are a gold layer of 14K gold. I'm sure if David reread his description he wouldn't call it plating loss either but brassing - where the top layer of gold has worn thru to the underlaying brass. It is an important distinction as rolled gold has a much thicker layer of gold than that achieved thru plating.

 

Yes, even if yours has substantial brassing and considering the need of a proper nib $40 is very reasonable. If yours has little brassing then it is an excellent deal.

 

Roger W.

[79spitfire]

We'll take it the the seller doesn't know how to test gold content as these are not plated but, rolled gold and are a gold layer of 14K gold. I'm sure if David reread his description he wouldn't call it plating loss either but brassing - where the top layer of gold has worn thru to the underlaying brass. It is an important distinction as rolled gold has a much thicker layer of gold than that achieved thru plating.

 

Yes, even if yours has substantial brassing and considering the need of a proper nib $40 is very reasonable. If yours has little brassing then it is an excellent deal.

 

Roger W.

 

No brassing that I have noticed, small ding in the end cap of the barrel, and another on the cap near the clip at the top edge where the end cap is. Looks to me like a good restoration candidate, but if it's potentially a valuable or rare pen I think I'd need to get a pro to do it. What do you think?

 

More pics:

[Roger W.]

OK, better picture - I'm going to assume that your little chevrons are connected as in draped chasing so this might be a 36GC (gold filled (which came with 3 nibs) G - a particular style of chasing (that's what it says) C - clip). A number 3 self-filling nib can be found. I'd say the pen restored is $150. All metal Sheaffer's in good condition are valuable and uncommon though, not rare. The draped chasing is a common chasing for a metal Sheaffer.

 

 

Roger W.