Recommended J-Bar Size?

[spaceink]

Hello, I have a couple of lever fill Sheaffers coming in the mail (a 350 and a Craftsman) and am wondering what J-bar size is recommended, should I need to replace ones I find in them? I have a couple of 54mm J-bars but am wondering if I'd need something larger like a 62mm.

 

I did a search and couldn't find exact answers, and so thought I'd just ask the forum.

 

Thanks.

Edited November 17, 2014 by spaceink

[kirchh]

Hello, I have a couple of lever fill Sheaffers coming in the mail (a 350 and a Craftsman) and am wondering what J-bar size is recommended, should I need to replace ones I find in them? I have a couple of 54mm J-bars but am wondering if I'd need something larger like a 62mm.

 

I did a search and couldn't find exact answers, and so thought I'd just ask the forum.

 

Thanks.

 

Note that there is no Sheaffer model designated as a "350". That number, when found stamped on the barrel of a Sheaffer, is the price of the pen (in cents). It doesn't identify the model per se.

 

Sheaffer pressure bars (they didn't have J-bars, strictly speaking) are pretty hardy and don't generally need replacement, but on occasion they do deteriorate. I suggest being patient and finding a correct replacement pressure bar rather than using a J-bar, which will not function as well in the pen.

 

When the pens come, if you find the pressure bars have failed, you can post pictures and other information here to determine what sort of replacement you'll need.

 

--Daniel

[spaceink]

Thanks from a Sheaffer newbie. Good to hear that the Sheaffer J-bars are hardy. Had a recent experience restoring a recently arrived Esterbrook, where the J-Bar basically disintegrated on my removal of the sac, and so perhaps am just overly paranoid.

 

But it also makes me nervous that regularly available J-bars may not work very well as replacements. Am crossing fingers.

Edited November 17, 2014 by spaceink

[kirchh]

Thanks from a Sheaffer newbie. Good to hear that the Sheaffer J-bars are hardy. Had a recent experience restoring a recently arrived Esterbrook, where the J-Bar basically disintegrated on my removal of the sac, and so perhaps am just overly paranoid.

 

But it also makes me nervous that regularly available J-bars may not work very well as replacements. Am crossing fingers.

 

Sheaffers didn't have J-bars, strictly speaking. J-bar refers to a particular, simple design for a sprung pressure bar; it usually indicates a single piece of springy metal bent to form a generally J-shaped element. There are some 2-piece replacement pressure bars that are sold as J-bars, though I prefer to maintain the more specific definition so the term has more, well, specificity.

 

--Daniel