Unusual "visulation"

[oliverob]

Has anyone seen this kind of visulated barrel? Interesting pen.
Any information would be appreciated.
Oliver

[oliverob]

Sheaffer started manufacturing vacuum-fill pens in or around 1934, right? And the radius clip was introduced in '35 or '36, correct? Isn't it a bit strange that this pen should have not only a dated patent, but two lines dedicated to patents in the imprint?

[Boiling Black Coffee]

Nice. Seems to be a Lady Sheaffer, I have a Statesman, also have an unusual spiral visualization like this one.

The imprint seems to be an early edition, I will check mine tonight.

[oliverob]

Naming started around 1938, didn't it? I am hesitant to date this pen that late due to its imprint. What do you think, Boiling Black Coffee?

[Boiling Black Coffee]

The imprint of mine is just a normal "Patented in USA".

Other Pat. Pend. imprint is usually relatively early, frequently appear on Gery Pearl and Ebonized Pearl, and the spiral visualization is also a regular match for Ebonized Pearl. So I think the barrel might be earlier than the cap?

[oliverob]

That is clearly always a possibility, but as I mentioned above, the filling system of this pen didn't come into use at Sheaffer until 1934, and this style barrel imprint would seemingly have been abandoned by that time. So, the cap isn't really the problem.

[Boiling Black Coffee]

Easy, the imprint could be considered unchangeable after it was made, so the only reasonable explanation is that Other Pat. Pend. imprint was not abandoned by the time vac-fill was introduced.

[oliverob]

I agree.

[cherylmarie]

I have a very similar pen with the spiral barrel, clip, and the same patent inscriptions, but it is not a white dot and has a feather touch nib.  Unfortunately the packing unit crumbled and then I could see that it was screwed into the back of the barrel(instead of friction fit).  I've read that this also dates the vacuum filler as one of the earliest.  Sounds like repair won't be easy.

[oliverob]

Sorry to hear about the packing unit on your pen, that will indeed be problematic to repair. But thanks for sharing what you've learned.  It's interesting to note and important. I've read about that type of packing unit too, I think on Richard Binder's site, in the article where he describes how to repair Sheaffer piston fillers. I'll try to go back and find the reference. Thanks again for sharing!