Is This Crystallization? (Sheaffer Balance)

[Estragon]

I've handled 3-4 of these grey/red fleck 3-25 Balances in person now and all exhibit some measure of transparency at the top of the cap when backlit by and LED penlight – IIRC, some have barrel ends that are affected as well but I could be misremembering here. No other parts of the pens show any transparency (including the thin plastic around the cap opening). Am I correct in assuming that the celluloid is beginning to carze/crystaliize on these models? Has anyone ever encountered a fully opaque pen in this color (grey/red fleck as opposed to the more common grey/red vein)?

 

A couple photos by way of illustration:

 

 

[FarmBoy]

I'd call it decomposition.

[Estragon]

Thanks for the confirmation, FarmBoy. I'd always assumed it was too but began to second-guess myself after several established sellers at shows and on eBay insisted their decomposing pens were that way from the factory.

 

Really tough to find this color intact, it seems. :/

[jmccarty3]

Thank you, Estragon, for these valuable photos. I would not have know what to look for.

[FarmBoy]

Really tough to find this color intact, it seems. :/

I agree.

 

[Chrissy]

Oooh Farmboy that huge last pic goes way off my screen to the right hand side and breaks the board.

[Estragon]

What a great combo – hard to come by too! That's actually a different color, though: conventionally known as grey/red vein as opposed to grey/red fleck. As far as I know, the latter was only available on 3-25 Balances. All too easy to confuse them since the difference in the patterns is subtle.

 

The grey/red vein color comes with its own set of issues. Surface crazing, cap lip hairlines, discoloration to green then brown hues, and crystallization of the ends manifested as a distinct change in color (e.g. so-called "coffee-stirrers") are among the myriad flaws I've witnessed them having developed. My impression was that the grey/red fleck celluloid was more stable by comparison, which is partly what prompted my original question.

 

 

Thank you, Estragon, for these valuable photos. I would not have know what to look for.

 

 

Everyone seemed genuinely surprised that his pen looked like this when I pointed it out. I don't think they'd ever noticed. The transparent portions really do appear to be entirely opaque, even under natural light, unless backlit by something very bright.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Estragon

[siamackz]

Is this inevitable or will renessaince wax, etc. help prevent it(or rather slow it down)

[Estragon]

I sometimes wonder if our descendants will open our pen cases to find nothing but plastic dust and gold nibs a couple hundred years down the road. There are precautions that can be taken to slow the process, however (there've been more than a few threads on this topic in the past). These include storing the pens in a cool, dark, dry place with adequate air circulation (i.e. not an airtight container). It's also important to keep any pen with deteriorating plastic away from other celluloid pens, since crystallization/crazing can be contracted by these like an airborne disease. As an extra precaution, I personally follow David Nishimura's advice by inserting sheets of zeolite-infused paper (used for archival purposes) in my cases to absorb any fumes exuded by celluloid over time.

 

In view of the need for good air circulation, I seem to recall that waxes can actually exacerbate issues like crystallization. I don't use the stuff. But a forums search should provide a definitive answer here.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Estragon

[Ron Z]

Is this inevitable or will renessaince wax, etc. help prevent it(or rather slow it down)

 

Rennaissance wax indeed may exacerbate the problem because it seals and keeps the acetic nitric acid released from escaping. Don't wax a celluloid pen.

[siamackz]

 

Rennaissance wax indeed may exacerbate the problem because it seals and keeps the acetic acid released from escaping. Don't wax a celluloid pen.

Glad I asked!

[Tweel]

I think it's nitric acid, isn't it?

[Ron Z]

I think it's nitric acid, isn't it?

 

You're right. I had just come in from shoveling the sidewalks. Twice. I had just finished the front walk when the plow came by and I got to do the front walk all over again.

[Tweel]

Nice. I like it when they put a 3 or 4 foot thick wall of refrozen snow -- ice -- across the end of the driveway, myself.