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What Does Engraved Number On Snorkel Mean?


HDoug

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:lol:

Well, that's as good an explanation as any....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Another numbered Snorkel and another double up of numbers

 

A numbered Snorkel has turned up on eBay: a Grey Snorkel Admiral with #0453 on the barrel.  It is being sold with a matching pencil.  The sales post is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/284590084781?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649.

 

We already have another Snorkel #0453 on the list.  That pen was mentioned in a FPN post from 21 January 2009 by Nick A.  He didn’t mention which model Snorkel it is.  The post is at: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/91892-numbers-on-a-snorkel-barrel-imprint/?_fromLogin=1#replyForm

 

So ... this is the second example of two numbered Snorkels with the same number (see also #1127). It adds some credence to Robert's idea that they might be store numbers (or something similar) rather than sequential serial numbers.  

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Here is the updated list as at 02 January 2022 (Perth, Australia time):

 

1. 0105 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Admiral
2. 0167 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Saratoga
3. 0251 Black Snorkel Crest
4. 0356 Green Snorkel Admiral F2 nib
5. 0404 Black Snorkel Valiant
6. 0424 Black Snorkel Sentinel (pen & pencil set)
7. 0453 Aqua Snorkel (Model not stated)
8. 0453 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
9. 0494 Grey Snorkel Admiral M2 nib
10. 0517 Black Snorkel Autograph
11. 0534 Black Snorkel Valiant XF nib
12. 0565 Green Snorkel Admiral
13. 0597 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral X2 nib
14. 0612 Black Snorkel Valiant
15. 0664 Burgundy Snorkel Sovereign  
16. 0731 Grey Snorkel Admiral
17. 0755 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
18. 0810 Black Snorkel Valiant X5 nib
19. 0960 Black  Snorkel Admiral
20. 0988 Black Snorkel Sentinel
21. 1045 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Valiant
22. 1127 Burgundy Snorkel Valiant
23. 1127 Green Snorkel Sentinel
24. 1137 Aqua Snorkel Admiral A2 nib
25. 1153 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral
26. 1305 Grey Snorkel Admiral
27. 1316 Aqua Snorkel Statesman
28. 1674 Grey Snorkel Clipper
29. 2183 Green Snorkel Saratoga
30. 2251 Black Snorkel Admiral
31. 2259 Green Snorkel Sentinel

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On 1/2/2022 at 1:45 PM, gmark_wa said:

Another numbered Snorkel and another double up of numbers

 

A numbered Snorkel has turned up on eBay: a Grey Snorkel Admiral with #0453 on the barrel.  It is being sold with a matching pencil.  The sales post is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/284590084781?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649.

 

We already have another Snorkel #0453 on the list.  That pen was mentioned in a FPN post from 21 January 2009 by Nick A.  He didn’t mention which model Snorkel it is.  The post is at: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/91892-numbers-on-a-snorkel-barrel-imprint/?_fromLogin=1#replyForm

 

So ... this is the second example of two numbered Snorkels with the same number (see also #1127). It adds some credence to Robert's idea that they might be store numbers (or something similar) rather than sequential serial numbers.  

 

Here's a photo:

321570380_NumberedSnorkel0453Admiral5.thumb.jpg.72835da22bafaeb84e697ceabf188feb.jpg

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Numbered Snorkel with uncommon nib

A Snorkel Clipper with barrel number 0448 is up for auction on eBay. It has a fine, right oblique Palladium Triumph (F4R) nib that you don’t see all that often. The barrel number is not clear in the sales post photos, but the seller has confirmed that it is 0448. 

The auction is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/c-1957-Sheaffer-Clipper-Snorkel-Fountain-Pen-With-Rare-Nib-Restored-/224851942356?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

B09BD236-EFB2-4956-B16A-279C0A8E7E8A.jpeg

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Numbered Snorkels (as at 14 March 2022)

  1. 0032 Black Snorkel Clipper
  2. 0105 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Admiral
  3. 0167 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Saratoga
  4. 0251 Black Snorkel Crest
  5. 0356 Green Snorkel Admiral F2 nib
  6. 0404 Black Snorkel Valiant
  7. 0424 Black Snorkel Sentinel (pen & pencil set)
  8. 0448 Black Snorkel Clipper F4R nib
  9. 0453 Aqua Snorkel (Model not stated)
  10. 0454 Black Snorkel Saratoga F3 nib
  11. 0453 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
  12. 0494 Grey Snorkel Admiral M2 nib
  13. 0517 Black Snorkel Autograph
  14. 0534 Black Snorkel Valiant XF nib
  15. 0565 Green Snorkel Admiral
  16. 0597 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral X2 nib
  17. 0612 Black Snorkel Valiant
  18. 0664 Burgundy Snorkel Sovereign
  19. 0731 Grey Snorkel Admiral
  20. 0755 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
  21. 0810 Black Snorkel Valiant X5 nib
  22. 0960 Black  Snorkel Admiral
  23. 0988 Black Snorkel Sentinel
  24. 1045 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Valiant
  25. 1127 Burgundy Snorkel Valiant
  26. 1127 Green Snorkel Sentinel
  27. 1137 Aqua Snorkel Admiral A2 nib
  28. 1153 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral
  29. 1305 Grey Snorkel Admiral
  30. 1316 Aqua Snorkel Statesman
  31. 1674 Grey Snorkel Clipper
  32. 2183 Green Snorkel Saratoga
  33. 2251 Black Snorkel Admiral
  34. 2259 Green Snorkel Sentinel
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23 hours ago, gmark_wa said:

It is a  ‘1st year’ Snorkel Sentinel with old style narrow point unit ring (nib holder)


I don’t think all first years necessarily have the narrow point holder. 

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On 3/25/2022 at 10:07 PM, gmark_wa said:

First year numbered Snorkel #0674DA66D5B5-3080-43C4-9DCA-B0D0E0C8DFC2.jpeg.17d1d03599ceba2c0f645eb624abdd75.jpeg

David Nishimura has a numbered Snorkel for sale on his vintagepens.com website at https://vintagepens.com/catill_Sheaffer_Touchdown_Snorkel.shtml. It is a  ‘1st year’ Snorkel Sentinel with old style narrow point unit ring (nib holder) and a gold filler tube (snorkel), barrel no. 0674. 

Does he have any idea about what the numbers mean?  That would be interesting to know.  (I've actually just sent him email asking if he does, so if I hear anything back one way or the other -- i.e., if he either does or does NOT know -- I'll post here if he doesn't directly himself.).  Because now I'm even MORE curious about the numbers.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Well I heard back from David Nishimura, but sadly, he didn't have any idea what the numbers mean.

There was a guy who I've run across at some pen shows who apparently used to work for Sheaffer, and who sells a lot of Sheaffers at his table.  I wish I could remember the guy's name (he used to be in the back corner of the big ballroom at the Ohio Show, IIRC).  Wondering now if he might have an idea.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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Is it possible they were worried that retailers were selling stock through alternative channels not sanctioned by the company? The numbers would allow Sheaffer to know the source of diverted pens.  I can imagine Sheaffer may not have been happy if a retailer was selling pens for below list price (like the grey market that has developed today for luxury goods).

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Numbered Snorkel Sovereign #1145

 

There is a grey numbered Snorkel Sovereign on eBay.  The number is not legible in the photo, but the description states that it has '#1145 stamped above name'.  The post is at: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234509988037?hash=item3699e270c5:g:jcMAAOSwcjhiWLPy&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338680767&customid=1&toolid=10049

1281270297_NumberedUSASnorkel1145Sovereign-11.thumb.jpg.f08ecafdb91eba85c7b7ab1b34b607f1.jpg

 

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Numbered Snorkels (as at 05 May 2022)

  1. 0032 Black Snorkel Clipper
  2. 0105 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Admiral
  3. 0167 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Saratoga
  4. 0251 Black Snorkel Crest
  5. 0356 Green Snorkel Admiral F2 nib
  6. 0387 Green Snorkel Statesman F4 nib (pen & pencil set)
  7. 0404 Black Snorkel Valiant
  8. 0424 Black Snorkel Sentinel (pen & pencil set)
  9. 0448 Black Snorkel Clipper F4R nib
  10. 0453 Aqua Snorkel (Model not stated)
  11. 0453 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
  12. 0454 Black Snorkel Saratoga F3 nib
  13. 0494 Grey Snorkel Admiral M2 nib
  14. 0517 Black Snorkel Autograph
  15. 0534 Black Snorkel Valiant XF nib
  16. 0565 Green Snorkel Admiral
  17. 0597 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral X2 nib
  18. 0612 Black Snorkel Valiant
  19. 0664 Burgundy Snorkel Sovereign
  20. 0674 Black Snorkel Sentinel (1st year gold snorkel)
  21. 0731 Grey Snorkel Admiral
  22. 0736 Grey Snorkel Statesman M4 nib
  23. 0755 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
  24. 0810 Black Snorkel Valiant X5 nib
  25. 0858 Black Snorkel Clipper
  26. 0925 Black Snorkel Admiral M2 nib
  27. 0960 Black  Snorkel Admiral
  28. 0988 Black Snorkel Sentinel
  29. 1045 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Valiant
  30. 1127 Burgundy Snorkel Valiant
  31. 1127 Green Snorkel Sentinel
  32. 1137 Aqua Snorkel Admiral A2 nib
  33. 1145 Grey Snorkel Sovereign
  34. 1153 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral
  35. 1305 Grey Snorkel Admiral
  36. 1316 Aqua Snorkel Statesman
  37. 1674 Grey Snorkel Clipper
  38. 2183 Green Snorkel Saratoga
  39. 2251 Black Snorkel Admiral
  40. 2259 Green Snorkel Sentinel
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