Sheaffer Military Clips Revisited

[kirchh]

Just FYI, here's a post-1935 (streamlined clip with vestigial "ball" at end) golden brown striated Balance 1000 with a white feed that's either (i) losing its whiteness, or (ii) wasn't completely white to begin with. The photo doesn't capture it perfectly, but the whiteness definitely fades, toward the tip and sides of the feed, shading off into a bluish black cast.

This just looks like an ink-stained white feed; why do you think it's not?

 

Note, by the way, that the 'radius' clip is not post-1935; it appears in 1935 materials.

 

--Daniel

Edited August 2, 2006 by kirchh

[Guest PeteWK]

http://webpages.charter.net/petewk/WhiteFeed.jpg

 

This is my white feed out of the pen when I installed the new sac.

 

PeteWK

Edited August 2, 2006 by PeteWK

[Guest PeteWK]

http://webpages.charter.net/petewk/Broad1.jpghttp://webpages.charter.net/petewk/Broad2.jpg

 

These two pictures show the white feed in the pen (having it inked does change the look of the feed) and then what a broad nib from the day actually looked and wrote like. The broad nib is much rarer than the feed imho. Notice the deep cutouts on the white feed picture from my previous post. This helps the ink to pool helping to properly feed the very wet ink hungry nib. It was a pen I had slated to sell on eBay to feed other pen purchases but I just haven't been able to force myself to do it.

 

PeteWK

[Univer]

This just looks like an ink-stained white feed; why do you think it's not?

 

Note, by the way, that the 'radius' clip is not post-1935; it appears in 1935 materials.

Thank you for the date correction; I expressed myself imprecisely.

 

As for this specific feed, all I can say is that the color variation doesn't "look" like ink staining. (And as I pointed out, the photo doesn't really capture the colors perfectly.) I've seen lots of ink staining, and my initial reaction on first examining this feed was not to think 'Hmmm, ink stains.' This effect, to my eyes, looks more like a darker color beginning to "come through" a lighter color, or a darker color with a white haze on most of the surface. Also, the pattern seems to stay the same after cycles of inking and flushing the pen - although, in fairness, this pen isn't in the regular rotation, so there may not be enough data there to warrant any conclusion.

 

That said, I could readily accept that the effect is the result of ink staining, if that seems to be the consensus. No reason, I suppose, that staining couldn't produce the appearance described above.

 

In any event, an interesting pen (and a nice writer).

[Sarj]

Heres a pic of an autograph military capped sheaffer, not the best photos....

 

Has anyone else come across one of these?

Jay,

 

I have never seen an Autograph military clip pen before. I don't think that one appears in any of the catalogues either. Is the clip marked 14K?

 

It is possible, that the cap band could have been added later. However, if the clip is also 14K then, I suspect that this pen came out of the factory that way.

 

Nevertheless, your pen looks great. I collect the Autograph models (long way to go) and I certainly wouldn't mind owning yours!

 

PS - you are being too modest about your photos.

[jaytaylor]

Thanks Sarj, the clip is not marked 14k, I suspect it is rolled gold, not all autograph's had solid gold clips - the early triumph 1250 autograph 1942/4 (the thinner model with the wider band) had a rolled gold clip.

I don’t think the 14k band is a later addition, it exactly matches the Sheaffer hallmark font used at the time and looks like it is part of the cap, if it was added it was a seriously good job as there are no marks to indicate its installation.

It may have been a custom order if not a catalogue model - who knows but either way I suspect it left the factory with the gold band.

 

I have a thing for the autograph sheaffers also so sorry this is staying in NZ for a while longer.

 

Maybe we should start a new "show us your autograph sheaffers" thread????????

[kirchh]

I have recently picked up an autograph military capped sheaffer, it is in the usual black and same size as the 1000 model.

Anyone else know of this model?

Yes. This model was called the "Service Autograph", and as far as I've seen, it was only offered in black (either lever or Vacuum), for $16.50. A $8.50 pencil could also be had. The clips were gold-filled.

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

- redundant post deleted by author -

Edited December 14, 2006 by kirchh

[kirchh]

- redundant post deleted by author -

Edited December 14, 2006 by kirchh

[mholve]

I can see there being issues with rubber sourcing during the war. After all, the supply issues and concerns gave rise to Silly Putty! (and similar plastics and synthetics)

[jaytaylor]

I have recently picked up an autograph military capped sheaffer, it is in the usual black and same size as the 1000 model.

Anyone else know of this model?

Yes. This model was called the "Service Autograph", and as far as I've seen, it was only offered in black (either lever or Vacuum), for $16.50. A $8.50 pencil could also be had. The clips were gold-filled.

 

--Daniel

Many thanks Daniel.

[kirchh]

Introduced in 1941, the "OVER-THE-TOP" or military clip pen is shown in the 1941 catalog in four styles, two filler systems, and three colors.

Here's the design patent for the Sheaffer military clip:

 

Sheaffer Military Clip design patent

 

--Daniel

[david i]

Just to wade in late, i emphasize that pens exist from major makers which of course are not shown in any catalogs readily available to the hobby. Whether other company material exists not readily available to the hobby... remains to be seen.

 

Military Clip Sheaffers i've not seen in Gray, but certainly other 1940's era Sheaffer do so exist... at least i've seen plenty Balances, Triumph nibbers etd in that trim.

 

And, for the crowd what likes stuff not shown in "known" (at least to me) catalogs, here is a military clip balance with the deluxe cap-band. In maybe 50 pen shows and 8 years peeking at ebay daily, it is the only one i've seen.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheaffermilitarymilledband.jpg

 

regards

 

david i

http://www.removed.xyz

Edited December 16, 2006 by david i

[DocNib]

I don't have any catalogs after 1941, so I don't know whether or not the Marine Green model was listed in later years.  They exist and that is what made me wonder if Gray Pearl may also exist, although I've never seen one.

Good Morning Dennis & Gang!

I've got two Marine Green models, one being a 500 with a Feathertouch nib and the other a little slimmer w/no # designation and White Dot/Lifetime nib (and matching pencil too).

 

Here's a pic w/one of them in it along with a Brown one:

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/DocNib2006/militarybal-1.jpg

 

Wouldn't surprise me either if a Gray one eventually turns up...uncertainty in this hobby makes the hunt more interesting to me!

DOC