What Does Engraved Number On Snorkel Mean?

[gmark_wa]

Black Snorkel Valiant #0861

 

A black Snorkel Valiant with barrel number 0861 and a fine (F5) nib is on eBay.  The post is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/125371209552

[awa54]

while examining a fat handful of snorkels for numbers (none present) I found two that have no imprint at all...

both are fitted with gold nibs (one Statesman, one Clipper) and neither shows the kind of hard/excessive wear that I'd expect to see on a pen that had even a lightly struck imprint wear off.

are there known examples with no imprint, were repair/replacement barrels not imprinted, or is this a case of two pens that just happened to slip through QC?

 

I suppose it could simply be wear, though the imprints would have had to be extremely light to have left no trace on pens with only moderate overall wear.

[3rdlakerobert]

Snorkels without imprints are uncommon but known to exist, especially on pens with stainless steel caps but also on some with plastic caps. Some late production Snorkels with plastic caps have their imprints stamped radially on the cap above the cap band, and some late production Snorkels have their imprints radially on the barrel just below the thread ring.

[awa54]

4 hours ago, 3rdlakerobert said:

Snorkels without imprints are uncommon but known to exist, especially on pens with stainless steel caps but also on some with plastic caps. Some late production Snorkels with plastic caps have their imprints stamped radially on the cap above the cap band, and some late production Snorkels have their imprints radially on the barrel just below the thread ring.

 

Thanks!

 

the Clipper of course has the standard circumferential imprint above the gold filled band, but neither has any imprint on the plastic portion.

both pens have the wide nib base, though the pastel green Clipper has the arched "Sheaffer'S ® nib imprint and the pastel blue Statesman has the flat "Sheaffer'S" reg. us. pat. office imprint.

I assume this means they're at least separated by a production run, as far as age.

 

[gmark_wa]

Aqua Snorkel Crest # 2253

 

There is an Aqua Snorkel Crest with barrel number 2253 on eBay at the moment.  The sales post includes a matching pencil.  The pen and pencil have a personalised inscription ‘Jose Ferer’.  The post is at https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225067776103.  The number is not clear in the photos, but I have confirmed it with the seller.

[gmark_wa]

Black Snorkel Admiral #1369

 

There is a black Snorkel Admiral for sale on eBay with a 4-figure number above the barrel imprint. It’s hard to read in the photos, but the seller has confirmed the number is 1369. The sale is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225114739680

 

[gmark_wa]

Grey Snorkel Admiral #0969

 

There is a grey Snorkel Admiral for sale on eBay with a 4-figure number above the barrel imprint. It looks like a very crisp number imprint in the photo: 0969. The sale is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/165628658487

 

[gmark_wa]

Two more numbered Snorkels

After a bit of a break, there are two numbered Sheaffer Snorkels up on eBay today … and the numbers are only two digits apart (what a coincidence). I’ll do a separate post for each …

[gmark_wa]

Just now, gmark_wa said:

Two more numbered Snorkels

After a bit of a break, there are two numbered Sheaffer Snorkels up on eBay today … and the numbers are only two digits apart (what a coincidence). I’ll do a separate post for each …

There is a black Snorkel Crest with barrel number 0514 at eBay post: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/125531333014

 

 

[gmark_wa]

10 minutes ago, gmark_wa said:

Two more numbered Snorkels

After a bit of a break, there are two numbered Sheaffer Snorkels up on eBay today … and the numbers are only two digits apart (what a coincidence). I’ll do a separate post for each …

Also up on eBay today is a black Snorkel Sentinel with barrel number 0516.  The post is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/265905347800

 

[gmark_wa]

A FaceBook user has put a post on the Sheaffer Pen Museum group showing their Grey Snorkel Crest with barrel number 1151.  The post is at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/109424185805322/permalink/5533786350035718/

 

 

[gmark_wa]

Aqua Snorkel Admiral #1215

 

There is an Aqua Snorkel Admiral for sale on eBay with the number 1215 above the barrel imprint (not clear in the photo but stated in the item heading and confirmed with the seller).  The sale is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225208339220

[es9]

Are we any closer to actually figuring out what these mean? 

[gmark_wa]

 

Numbered Snorkel #1055

There is a Grey Snorkel Crest with barrel no. 1055 on eBay. It is in a group of 6 pens being sold as a job lot. Note: In the photos, the seller has mixed the caps of this grey USA Crest and the black Canadian Sentinel next to it - check the barrel and cap inscriptions. The post is at: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/285032450652

[gmark_wa]

50 numbered Snorkels 

We have found 50 numbered Snorkels so far. Here’s the updated list:

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. 0514 Black Snorkel Crest 
15. 0516 Black Snorkel Sentinel
16. 0517 Black Snorkel Autograph 
17. 0534 Black Snorkel Valiant X5 nib
18. 0565 Green Snorkel Admiral
19. 0597 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral X2 nib
20. 0612 Black Snorkel Valiant 
21. 0664 Burgundy Snorkel Sovereign  
22. 0674 Black Snorkel Sentinel (gold snorkel)
23. 0731 Grey Snorkel Admiral 
24. 0736 Grey Snorkel Statesman M4 nib
25. 0755 Grey Snorkel Admiral (pen & pencil set)
26. 0810 Black Snorkel Valiant X5 nib
27. 0861 Black Snorkel  Valiant F5 nib
28. 0858 Black Snorkel Clipper
29. 0925 Black Snorkel Admiral M2 nib
30. 0960 Black  Snorkel Admiral 
31. 0969 Grey Snorkel Admiral 
32. 0988 Black Snorkel Sentinel 
33. 1045 (Colour not stated) Snorkel Valiant 
34. 1055 Grey Snorkel Crest
35. 1127 Burgundy Snorkel Valiant 
36. 1127 Green Snorkel Sentinel 
37. 1137 Aqua Snorkel Admiral A2 nib
38. 1145 Grey Snorkel Sovereign
39. 1151 Grey Snorkel Crest 
40. 1153 Burgundy Snorkel Admiral 
41. 1215 Aqua Snorkel Admiral F2 nib
42. 1305 Grey Snorkel Admiral
43. 1316 Aqua Snorkel Statesman
44. 1369 Black Snorkel Admiral
45. 1674 Grey Snorkel Clipper
46. 1852 Black Snorkel Admiral
47. 2183 Green Snorkel Saratoga
48. 2251 Black Snorkel Admiral
49. 2253 Aqua Snorkel Crest (pen & pencil set) M5 nib
50. 2259 Green Snorkel Sentinel

[gmark_wa]

Some observations and deductions about Numbered Snorkel Fountain Pens

Observations

1. Sample size: 50 pens
2. Number range: 32 to 2259
3. Duplicate numbers: 0453 (x2) 1127 (x2) – not confirmed with photos
4. Models with barrel numbers:
   1. Admiral
   2. Saratoga
   3. Sovereign
   4. Statesman
   5. Clipper
   6. Valiant
   7. Sentinel
   8. Crest 
   9. Autograph
5. Models not yet found with barrel numbers:
   1. Special
   2. Signature
   3. Demonstrator
6. Most common model: Admiral 18/50
7. Most common colour: Black 20/50
8. No numbered Snorkels in new barrel colours yet

Deductions

1. Sheaffer’s only produced a small quantity of numbered Snorkels.  We have only found 50 of them so far, among thousands of Snorkels still in circulation. The highest number we have found is 2259. If they were numbered consecutively, then this would indicate there were only a few thousand produced. Even with double-ups, the number is still very low when compared to the number of Snorkels made. 
2. The numbers may not be consecutive. We have reports of two repeated numbers (I have not seen photos, so this is not confirmed). If there are repeated numbers this would indicate that the numbers are not necessarily consecutive, but may be a reference number of some sort. One FPA member has suggested they could be Sheaffer Store numbers. 
3. Numbered Snorkels were probably produced in the earlier part of the Snorkel production period. We have not yet seen a Snorkel Special (produced c1955-1959) or Snorkels in the ‘new’ colours (produced c1956-1959) with a barrel number. This would indicate that the numbered Snorkels were produced some time in the period c1952-1955. 

[Roger W.]

6 hours ago, gmark_wa said:

Some observations and deductions about Numbered Snorkel Fountain Pens

Observations

1. Sample size: 50 pens
2. Number range: 32 to 2259
3. Duplicate numbers: 0453 (x2) 1127 (x2) – not confirmed with photos
4. Models with barrel numbers:
   1. Admiral
   2. Saratoga
   3. Sovereign
   4. Statesman
   5. Clipper
   6. Valiant
   7. Sentinel
   8. Crest 
   9. Autograph
5. Models not yet found with barrel numbers:
   1. Special
   2. Signature
   3. Demonstrator
6. Most common model: Admiral 18/50
7. Most common colour: Black 20/50
8. No numbered Snorkels in new barrel colours yet

Deductions

1. Sheaffer’s only produced a small quantity of numbered Snorkels.  We have only found 50 of them so far, among thousands of Snorkels still in circulation. The highest number we have found is 2259. If they were numbered consecutively, then this would indicate there were only a few thousand produced. Even with double-ups, the number is still very low when compared to the number of Snorkels made. 
2. The numbers may not be consecutive. We have reports of two repeated numbers (I have not seen photos, so this is not confirmed). If there are repeated numbers this would indicate that the numbers are not necessarily consecutive, but may be a reference number of some sort. One FPA member has suggested they could be Sheaffer Store numbers. 
3. Numbered Snorkels were probably produced in the earlier part of the Snorkel production period. We have not yet seen a Snorkel Special (produced c1955-1959) or Snorkels in the ‘new’ colours (produced c1956-1959) with a barrel number. This would indicate that the numbered Snorkels were produced some time in the period c1952-1955. 

Conclusion 1 is not supported as you are suggesting that the pens were a run and the codes could mean many other things.  Look at the fact that the number was always four digits so that is an important consideration.  In 2 they might be store numbers but, I think we'd have more repeats having occurred at this point.  Most every store only got a couple?  Conclusion 3 is giving some interesting data points.  Numbers were done early and relate to a reason for that.  So far I haven't found anything in the archives about the numbering but, I'll keep my eyes open.

 

Roger W.

[gmark_wa]

1 hour ago, Roger W. said:

Conclusion 1 is not supported as you are suggesting that the pens were a run and the codes could mean many other things.  Look at the fact that the number was always four digits so that is an important consideration.  In 2 they might be store numbers but, I think we'd have more repeats having occurred at this point.  Most every store only got a couple?  Conclusion 3 is giving some interesting data points.  Numbers were done early and relate to a reason for that.  So far I haven't found anything in the archives about the numbering but, I'll keep my eyes open.

 

Roger W.

Good point.  4 figure number suggests not-more-than 10 000 (unless there were a lot of repeats).  Still a small quantity relative to the overall production numbers.

[Roger W.]

11 hours ago, gmark_wa said:

Good point.  4 figure number suggests not-more-than 10 000 (unless there were a lot of repeats).  Still a small quantity relative to the overall production numbers.

It also suggest that the placement of the digits may be meaningful.

 

Roger W.

[I-am-not-really-here]

As the number appears to be always four digits, then perhaps the last four of a Social Security Number? That there are so few found merely indicative that most owners preferred to have their name inscribed.