What Have I Got? How Do I Fix?

[Sailor Kenshin]

What do I have here? And how do I fix them?

 

The one in the middle is what I bought for its conical nib. It's a lever-filler and appears to be a wonderfully smooth Medium or perhaps even Broad, but the gold part of the cone has had all the lettering worn off. The seller threw in this pen on the left, which he thought was a Sheaffer, but I can now see is a Frankenpen.

 

The body is Sheaffer's, but the section is loose and seems to be a clear amber color. There's an ossified sac in there, and the nib reads Southern Pen Company, and below that is an 'A' inside a diamond, bracketed by the letters DU and LL.

 

The Sheaffer on the right was given to me. No idea of date or make.

 

Is it safe to soak any of the sections while still attached to the pen? And where's a good place to find a basic repair or re-sac kit? I have shellac, but nothing else.

 

My apologies for the awful phone pics.

 

 

 

http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/9514/4786/3861/3_Old_Pens-640p.jpg

[jspen765]

Hi Sailor:

 

The one on the right is a Military Clip Lever Fill Balance, more or less. Search on Sheaffer military clip and you will get many threads explaining this. 1941 to 1944/1945???. It is a lever fill, heat gently with a hair dryer and work the section our gently. It could be threaded so turning it might help. Change the sacs. I use Woodbin, www.woodbin.ca. Do a search on Google, the sacs are available many places. Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PDLm9KcNc is a youtube, www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/sac_replacement.htm is written.

 

The middle one is a triumph nibbed lever fill. A bit later since the threads are low on the section. Nice. Same advice, heat and gently unscrew the section. Section pliers help, or a rubber grip. Do NOT use ordinary pliers, they will damage things. Padded pliers only. Those are nice enough to pay to have fixed if you are not sure about it.

 

If the section is close on the one on the left you can build it up with layers of Shellac until it fits tightly. If it is a lever fill change the sac. If it is a vacuum fill you have some parts for your part box, they won't work together.

 

Have fun!

 

Jon the Eclectic Penner

[Sailor Kenshin]

Hi Sailor:

 

The one on the right is a Military Clip Lever Fill Balance, more or less. Search on Sheaffer military clip and you will get many threads explaining this. 1941 to 1944/1945???. It is a lever fill, heat gently with a hair dryer and work the section our gently. It could be threaded so turning it might help. Change the sacs. I use Woodbin, www.woodbin.ca. Do a search on Google, the sacs are available many places. Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PDLm9KcNc is a youtube, www.richardspens.com/ref/repair/sac_replacement.htm is written.

 

The middle one is a triumph nibbed lever fill. A bit later since the threads are low on the section. Nice. Same advice, heat and gently unscrew the section. Section pliers help, or a rubber grip. Do NOT use ordinary pliers, they will damage things. Padded pliers only. Those are nice enough to pay to have fixed if you are not sure about it.

 

If the section is close on the one on the left you can build it up with layers of Shellac until it fits tightly. If it is a lever fill change the sac. If it is a vacuum fill you have some parts for your part box, they won't work together.

 

Have fun!

 

Jon the Eclectic Penner

 

Thanks, Jon! I have never done a pen restoration before, so I might start with the FrankenSheaffer....and maybe send the Triumph-nibbed one to a pro. But I would at least want to buy the basic repair kit stuff and practice on cheapies. Those references are great.