Just Won: Sheaffer Balance Set W/ Box – Oversize Or Not?

[lelio]

Hello, recently a vaguely described auction caught my eye, as I instantly had gut feeling this is really might be the Oversize Balance. Very nice jet black color and condition with extra fine nib boxed together with matching pencil.

 

The pencil's metal cap end seems disproportionaly small to me in comparison with the overall thickness of the rest of the pencil body. Now I think that all model sizes of balance pencils use the leads of same thickness, thus also have the same outer metal cap, from which the lead extends. So from the ratio of metal cap of this pencil and the rest of pencil's body I tend to conclude this is the oversize set. Also, the top of fountain pen cap is rather dull than strongly tapered, this is next hint I observed from comparing normal size caps and oversize caps.

 

What hints are you using to safely recognize oversize on the spot from only a picture?

 

The set will arrive in two weeks, but I am too curious to wait that long to find out. What do you think? I hope this would make an insightful exercise.

 

 

Here is the link of the auction (got if for $75 and my maximum bid was $77):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sheaffers-White-Dot-Pen-amp-Pencil-Set-Original-Box-/311174842194?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=aF7D9mSObPmgHCb%252FkprnwGxLntg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

 

 

 

[kirchh]

It's an oversize.

 

--Daniel

[lelio]

It's an oversize.

 

--Daniel

Ah, that's a relief, Daniel thank you! I am honoured to hear this conclusion from you, because by some coincidence, just few hours ago I first-time browsed your pen-repair homepage and was blown away by your amazing before-after restoration pictures. You restored caps, clips and bands, some of them in hopeless condition to minty luster. I was so hooked I viewed all of them – Sir, your craftmanship is unbelievably marvelous!

[kirchh]

Ah, that's a relief, Daniel thank you! I am honoured to hear this conclusion from you, because by some coincidence, just few hours ago I first-time browsed your pen-repair homepage and was blown away by your amazing before-after restoration pictures. You restored caps, clips and bands, some of them in hopeless condition to minty luster. I was so hooked I viewed all of them – Sir, your craftmanship is unbelievably marvelous!

 

Thank you very much for the kind words. Do keep in mind that of course, I select the most impressive examples to post on my web site, and I'm sure others do the same, so don't go by such promotional materials alone when assessing a provider of services; ask around.

 

Enjoy the set -- looks great!

 

--daniel

[crescentfiller]

"... so don't go by such promotional materials alone when assessing a provider of services; ask around."

--daniel

lelio, That's a very nice set, indeed! Those are wonderful pens and they usually write a treat, so enjoy.

Since Daniel Kirchheimer advised you to ask around, I thought I'd jump in--even if you didn't ask!

Daniel did some dent-removal/cap restoration on some rather valuable pens for me; the results were amazing. In fact, the work was so very remarkable, I almost suspect he has an endless supply of NOS caps and barrels of every model and manufacture and he just swaps them.

Alas, that is not so. He just does great work. So, if you are thinking about sending something to him, do so with confidence.

Best,

Cresecentfiller