Sheaffer Prelude

[pajaro]

I have been thinking of trying this pen: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171013640236?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_5964wt_2095

 

What do you think of thes pen with an extra fine nib?

[Ron Z]

I like these pens in the matte finish. I have a number of the nibs in stock, and find the extra fine nib to be a true extra fine, with a little tooth to them. But then again that's the nature of the Sheaffer, and indeed any, true extra fine or needle point nib. The nib looks like it's one of the earlier US made nibs, so should be of decent quality. The price is quite good, especially so since it includes the shipping.

[whoelse]

Very nice. Anyone heard about the rubbery coating degrading issue when age on the grip section?

 

I like these pens in the matte finish. I have a number of the nibs in stock, and find the extra fine nib to be a true extra fine, with a little tooth to them. But then again that's the nature of the Sheaffer, and indeed any, true extra fine or needle point nib. The nib looks like it's one of the earlier US made nibs, so should be of decent quality. The price is quite good, especially so since it includes the shipping.

[pajaro]

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking this pen would be a better pen than the Parker Sonnet. I like the color very much. I just picked this listing because it was there and low priced.

 

The trouble with the Sonnet is that the nibs are unpredictable. Fines write like wet mediums, mediums write like dry fines, but then start to skip, gold are more so than steel. The broader Sonnet nibs keep writing, but they are too broad. I might try this Sheaffer to see if it's any good.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I have several Prelude pens, and find them to be excellent. Definitely a contender for a full size work horse & casual carry that can handle some rough & tumble encountered during heavy use.

 

They are a bit heavier than the Sonnet, and have a slightly prescriptive shape to the section, as opposed to the smooth section of the Sonnet. I find the Prelude becomes back-heavy when the cap is posted, though I imagine you'd be reluctant to post the cap on a laquer-over-metal pen.

 

My experience as to the nib characteristics is consistent with that of Moderator Ron Z, but limited to Prelude nibs that were made in the USA.

 

The EF is firm-rigid, so isn't so delicate as to go out of alignment if used at pressure greater than necessary to write. I touched-up the top of the EF nib to enable use inverted (when I need a very dry line.)

 

Enjoy!

 

Bye,

S1

[Ron Z]

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking this pen would be a better pen than the Parker Sonnet. I like the color very much. I just picked this listing because it was there and low priced.

 

The trouble with the Sonnet is that the nibs are unpredictable. Fines write like wet mediums, mediums write like dry fines, but then start to skip, gold are more so than steel. The broader Sonnet nibs keep writing, but they are too broad. I might try this Sheaffer to see if it's any good.

 

The engineers who designed the Sonnet left Parker and went to Sheaffer, and designed the Prelude. You can see the similarities between the two - but I think they got it right the second time. I've owned one Sonnet. I own several Preludes. I don't like the Sonnet nibs at all, and the tendency for the nib to dry out because the ends of the inner cap crack when riveted in drives most people nuts.

 

The sections on this version of the Prelude are not rubber coated, they're just plastic. The barrel is a matte finish but not rubber coated. I assume either an epoxy paint or powder coat.

[whoelse]

"The sections on this version of the Prelude are not rubber coated, they're just plastic. The barrel is a matte finish but not rubber coated. I assume either an epoxy paint or powder coat." - This is good news to me.

 

I heard about the the designer of Sonnet and Prelude are the same but he was engaged from a separate company to do the job so he didn't join Parker or Sheaffer something like that. I am sure Sheaffer expert can clarify that.

 

 

 

The engineers who designed the Sonnet left Parker and went to Sheaffer, and designed the Prelude. You can see the similarities between the two - but I think they got it right the second time. I've owned one Sonnet. I own several Preludes. I don't like the Sonnet nibs at all, and the tendency for the nib to dry out because the ends of the inner cap crack when riveted in drives most people nuts.

 

The sections on this version of the Prelude are not rubber coated, they're just plastic. The barrel is a matte finish but not rubber coated. I assume either an epoxy paint or powder coat.

Edited September 21, 2013 by whoelse

[Ron Z]

I am sure Sheaffer expert can clarify that.

 

Richard Binder and I were told about it when we visited the Sheaffer service center just before it closed in 2008.

[mhosea]

I've found Preludes to be extremely reliable writers. I own a couple. I agree with Ron on the relative merits of the Parker and Sheaffer designs. The snap ring on the end of the Sonnet section in particular is a failure waiting to happen, while the Prelude's molded-in snap ring is bulletproof. My only complaint is that some little bit of ink always seems to wind up on the nib and in the cap somehow. I don't know, but I think what happens is that uncapping the pen creates low air pressure momentarily (because it seals so well), which sucks a little bit of ink out at the moment the pen is uncapped.

[kurazaybo]

I own several Preludes, they are really nice pens. I've noticed that "vintage" pens with the USA engraving on the ring have smoother nibs. I even got a secondhand Prelude with a 18k nib, which seems to have been retrofitted at some point, as Preludes apparently never had gold nibs, in particular not 18k ones.

 

The nibs seem to be the same size and shape as the Agio, no nonsense and modern calligraphy and 300 pens. I have been trying to put an itallic nib on the Prelude with no success (ink flow problems). As someone commented, it is common for the preludes to have ink creep on the nib and the cap. The section is hard plastic. Great pens for the price.

[Harlequin]

The NNS nibs can be swapped out with the Preludes- which means the Connoisseurs can also be swapped out with the Preludes. The Connoisseurs all had gold nibs, so that may be where yours came from.

[Lyander0012]

Personally, I've noticed that the matte finish Preludes start to smooth over after a few months. I no longer have my first Prelude (loooong story), but upon my buying a new one in the exact same colour and finish, since I found the Prelude to be a really nice EDC and I have a thing with being sentimental, I suddenly noticed that my old Prelude was a lot glossier and smoother than the store-new one. In point of fact, the difference was so obvious that I did a really quick double-take, which the store clerks thought rather funny.

 

The finish turned marble-smooth after about eight months, but it's such a gradual thing that you'd have to have a new one to compare it to in order to notice any real difference.

 

That aside, the Prelude is a great pen, and you can't go wrong with it. I went for an M nib myself, though, so I can't comment on how well the EF writes.

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin