Sheaffer Pens

Sheaffer History

Sheaffer was one of the great fountain pen companies back in the old days and has always had a penchant for technological innovation in fountain pens.

Early Sheaffer

Sheaffer was founded by Walter A. Sheaffer (a jeweler) and his partners in 1912 to make pens built with his patented lever-fill design. The lever fill system proved to be popular and was eventually adopted by most of the major manufacturers in various slightly different forms designed to exploit loopholes in Sheaffer's patent.

In the early years, the styling of Sheaffer pens was similar to most other manufacturers. That's because there isn't all that much you can do with black hard rubber.

In the 1920s, Sheaffer introduced lifetime warranties in the appropriately named Lifetime pens. They were far more expensive than competing pens (and Sheaffer's own non-Lifetime pens) but proved to be popular anyway.

Radite and Balance

In 1924, Sheaffer introduced pens made from "Radite" (an early modern plastic), also known as celluloid or cellulose nitrate. Unlike hard rubber, which can only be produced in drab black or red, Radite can be made in many colorful colors in wild swirling patterns. Compared to hard rubber pens, they were stunning.

For modern collectors, one unfortunate and unanticipated flaw in Radite was that the gases that were slowly released by rubber ink sacs discolored the beautiful plastic from the inside. Most surviving examples of Sheaffer Radite pens are discolored to varying degrees as a result. Jade Green pens with no discoloration fetch significant prices at auction.

Among the many pens made with this new substance, the most significant in the Sheaffer line was the Balance, introduced in 1929. Prior pens were usually cylindrical in shape with squared off ends. The Balance was more torpedo-shaped, with rounded tapered ends and was marketed as a more ergonomic pen. Numerous variants on this shape were used and modern collecting nomenclature usually refers to them all as Balances.

New Filling Mechanisms

After World War II, Sheaffer introduced a new filling mechanism. The Touchdown mechanism used air pressure from a plunger tube to compress the ink sac; when the plunger reaches the end, pressure is released through tiny holes and the sac reinflates. This was vacuum filling done right; the Touchdown mechanism is longer lasting and much easier to repair than other vacuum fill mechanisms.

Numerous pens would use the Touchdown mechanism from 1949-1963, including the innumerable variants on the original Touchdown and Thin Model. The Touchdown mechanism would continue in production into the 1990s, ending with the Touchdown converter mechanism in the Sheaffer Legacy.

An important variant in the Touchdown design is the Snorkel design, which was a Touchdown mechanism with an additional retractable ink tube. Rotating the end cap extended a needle-like tube which would be dipped in ink, keeping the rest of the pen clean. The Snorkel was introduced around 1955 and at that time replaced most of the Thin Model lineup.

During the 1960s cartridges took over the fountain pen world. Although Sheaffer did not invent the cartridge, they made zillions of inexpensive cartridge pens for the school market, variants of which are still in production today.

The Inlaid Nib

The inlaid nib is a hallmark of Sheaffer design and has been in more or less continuous use since the introduction of the PFM. The inlaid nib has been used in several pen lines, grouped here loosely in chronological order:

• PFM (1959-1968)
• Imperial (1961-70s)
• Compact I and Compact II (1960-1964)
• "Dolphin" 500/800/1000 (1962-1964)
• Targa (1976-1995)
• Triumph Imperial (1995-1998)
• Legacy (1995-1998) and Legacy 2 (1999-2003)
• Legacy Heritage (2004-2006)
• Intrigue (2000-2005)
• Valor (2006-current)

The inlaid nib is a distinctive Sheaffer design; no other manufacturer has used it in the same way or on nearly as many pens.

Sheaffer Today

In 1997, Sheaffer was acquited by Bic (yes, that Bic, the maker of disposable ballpoints). Bic began moving operations overseas. In 2006, the historic plant in Fort Madison was finally shut down, and with it the last of the big pen companies ceased to be American.

We expect that Bic will keep the Sheaffer name around for luxury pens, and hope that Sheaffer keeps the same standards of quality and innovation that have distinguished it in the past.

Collecting Sheaffer

In the United States, Sheaffer is one of the easiest brands to collect. Sheaffer pens are extremely common and can be found everywhere. A quick glance at eBay and other online auction sites often shows more Sheaffer pens available than all the other major brand names put together. Doing a search is a bit trickier as nobody can actually spell Sheaffer correctly (Scheffer, Schaefer, Shaeffer, etc). This is made all the more puzzling by the fact that Sheaffer is usually printed right on the pen itself.

However, the extremely wide availability of Sheaffer pens makes most of them far less collectible. The most collectible pens are the 1929-30s vintage Balance (especially colors that are harder to find in good condition, like Jade or Pearl), the 1950s PFM (Pen For Men), and their very early and limited production models.

This lack of "collectibility" and stratospheric prices can actually be an advantage for a collector on a smaller budget. A Snorkel or Imperial can usually be had for well less than most modern fine pens. The lower end Touchdown and cartridge pens can be found quite inexpensively as well. If you intend to actively use your collection and use it hard, Sheaffer is a terrific choice.

Sheaffer Pen Gallery

WASP Addipoint 1934-1939, steel #233 (flex medium) nib, plastic, lever fill

During the Depression, Sheaffer made budget pens under the WASP name (which stands for W. A. Sheaffer Pen), allowing them to market to the lower end without diluting the high end brand name, which was busy producing expensive Lifetime Balance pens.

Sheaffer Balance Jr 275 circa 1930s, non-original Weidlich #2 14k gold nib, celluloid, vacuum plunger

The Junior Balance pens were smaller versions of the Balance, usually marketed as ladies pens or vest pocket pens. This example was apparently repaired using a non-original nib.

Sheaffer Valiant Touchdown Thin Model 1950-1952, 14k gold two tone Triumph nib, plastic, Touchdown filler

After the introduction of the Snorkel in 1952, most of the higher end TM pens were converted to the Snorkel system. The Touchdown continued on only in lower end pens.

Sheaffer Triumph Tuckaway 14k gold two-tone Triumph nib, plastic/stainless, Touchdown

The Tuckaways were smaller vest pocket or ladies pens, easily recognizable by the shorter length and stubby clip.

Sheaffer Valiant Snorkel 1952-1959, 14k gold two-tone shorthand Triumph nib, plastic, Snorkel

The Sheaffer Snorkel filling mechanism is one of the most elaborate filling mechanisms ever invented, and also one of the most entertaining to demonstrate. Turn the knob on the back to extend a needle from the center of the feed as well as release the plunger. It operates like an ordinary Touchdown filler except that only the tip of the needle (as opposed to the entire nib and feed up to the section) is in ink, eliminating the need to wipe the nib, feed, and section after filling.

The Valiant (14k gold two-tone Triumph nib with plastic cap, barrel, and white dot) is one of the archetypical Snorkel pens. Sheaffer made tons of these in various colors. The two marks on the section (barely visible in the picture) indicate that this is a Gregg shorthand nib.

Sheaffer Admiral Snorkel 1952-1959, 14k gold open M2 nib, plastic, Snorkel fill

The Admiral Snorkel was one of their lower end Snorkel pens, with no White Dot but with a 14k gold nib. This is your typical non White Dot pen with an open nib; many can be easily found today.

Sheaffer Craftsman 1953-1963?, steel G1 Gregg Shorthand nib, plastic/metal, Touchdown fill

Sheaffer made a number of pens fitted with officially approved Gregg Shorthand nibs. In practice, they are not substantially different from normal nibs.

The Craftsman and Cadet Tip-Dip Touchdown pens were revamped designs based on the Admiral introduced after the Snorkel and replaced the old TD Craftsman design. The Tip-Dip nib and feed only required the nib to be immersed to the breather hole instead of all the way to the section, making it much cleaner to fill, although not as clean as a Snorkel. They are pretty much the same pen (the Cadet has a plastic cap while the Craftsman has a chrome cap) and being low-end budget pens, use only steel nibs.

Sheaffer 500 "Dolphin Imperial" circa 1960s, steel inset nib, plastic/steel, cartridge/converter

The "Dolphin" pens superficially resemble the Imperial line, but have an inset nib instead of an inlaid nib. The "V" is decorative and is meant to resemble the inlaid nib of its more upscale counterpart. The 500 is the base version of the line and has a conventional steel nib.

Sheaffer 800 "Dolphin Imperial" 1962-1964, 14k gold nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

The Sheaffer 800 is the middle of the "Dolphin" line. It features an unhallmarked 14k gold nib instead of the steel nib in lower models.

Sheaffer Lifetime Imperial IV circa 1964, 14k gold inlaid nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

The Imperial series is a thinner version of the commercially unsuccessful PFM and remained in production for decades. For the year 1963-1964, in celebration of Sheaffer's 50th anniversary, many pen lines were renamed "Lifetime" and came with lifetime guarantees. Aside from the Lifetime markings, they are identical to the models on which they were based.

The Imperial line, sold under various names through the decades, was one of Sheaffer's longest-running lines and comes in a wide array of colors and fittings.

Sheaffer Skripsert? circa 1960, plated steel (?) nib, plastic/metal, cartridge/converter

Variants of this pen were sold by Sheaffer in low-end gift sets. It's not an Imperial I (cap is wrong) and it's not a basic Skripsert, although it looks like a dressed-up Skripsert with a gold-plated cap. I do not know if Sheaffer calls it a Skripsert anyway or if it goes under a different name. If anyone has additional supporting documentation, please let me know.

Sheaffer Cartridge 304 circa 1960s, steel nib, plastic/metal, cartridge/converter

The 304 is a typical college student fountain pen in the 1960s, before ballpoints conclusively took over. Vintage student pens can be easily found today, although their value has not grown by any appreciable amount. Some variant of the "cheap cartridge pen" has been in production at Sheaffer from introduction until a couple years after the Bic takeover.

Sheaffer Stylist brushed steel 1966-early 1970s, gold-plated steel nib, brushed steel over plastic, cartridge/converter

The Parker 180 is far from the first pen with a double-sided nib. Early Sheaffer Stylist pens like this one had a similar feature before the Stylist line was switched to the small Triumph point. These formed part of the lower end of Sheaffer's lineup n the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Sheaffer Imperial 444X circa 1975, 14k gold inlaid nib, brushed stainless over brass, cartridge/converter

Later model Imperials used a "U" shaped cutout in the inlaid nib instead of the more traditional "long diamond" shape.

Sheaffer Imperial 444? circa 1975, steel inlaid nib, brushed stainless over brass, cartridge.converter

A lower-end 1970s-vintage Imperial, with a steel nib and chrome trim. This one has the "small diamond" cutout.

Sheaffer Imperial ? circa mid 1970s, steel nib, plastic/steel, cartridge/converter

Another typical Sheaffer Imperial. The Sheaffer (as opposed to Sheaffer'S) indicates that it was made after the company was sold.

Sheaffer Imperial ? Calligraphy circa 1974, steel italic nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

Apparently Sheaffer made calligraphy versions of the Imperial before it was replaced by the Targa. I believe this to be an earlier 1970s vintage Imperial rather than a Triumph Imperial because the barrel is engraved and the clip length is shorter.

Sheaffer Targa Slim 14k 1982-1994, 14k gold inlaid nib, lacquer over brass, cartridge/converter

The Targa Slim was a slender version of the Targa marketed primarily as a ladies purse pen. Unlike almost all Sheaffer pens, it uses a different slim cartridge and converter, both of which are increasingly difficult to find. The higher end Targa Slim pens carry gold nibs and are quite elegant, if extremely slender, pens.

Sheaffer Targa Slim stainless 1982-1994, stainless steel nib, stainless steel, cartridge/converter

This is an all-stainless slim Targa, marketed as a lower end ladies purse pen or a nicer student pen.

Sheaffer Fashion II 1983-mid90s?, gold plated steel nib, lacquer over brass, cartridge/converter

The Fashion was a line of slender pens, possibly marketed towards women, that was pretty common from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. There are two variants; the Fashion I uses slim cartridges like the Targa Slim (with which it is often confused, at least until you see the nib), while the Fashion II is slightly wider and takes standard Sheaffer cartridges.

Sheaffer Cartridge circa 1990s, steel nib, plastic/metal, cartridge/converter

This is a 1990s version of the Sheaffer Cartridge pen, sold in hang cards in drugstores and university bookstores nationwide at very low prices. It is intended as an inexpensive student pen that you can afford to abuse or lose, and while the finishing isn't spectacular, it writes well enough for the job. Unfortunately, these great introductory fountain pens are no longer being made, as Sheaffer discontinued production on this line a couple years after the Bic takeover.

Sheaffer Triumph Imperial 330 1998, steel inlaid nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

The Triumph Imperial line was introduced in the mid 1990s as a revival of the older inlaid nib Imperials, but using a steel nib (possibly plated) instead of a gold nib. They were priced competitively as entry level fine pens. The ivory white finish was produced, as far as I know, only in 1998.

Sheaffer NoNonsense Calligraphy circa 1980s-1990s, steel italic nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

Sheaffer has produced inexpensive calligraphy pen sets for years, usually using some variation of their flat-top plastic school pens (Viewpoint, NoNonsense, etc). This is perhaps the most commonly available calligraphy fountain pen in the US. The NoNonsense is the opaque barrel version (except for the NoNonsense Jellies, which is transparent neon).

Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy circa 1990s, steel italic nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

Otherwise identical to the NoNonsense, the Viewpoint is the transparent version.

Sheaffer Prelude circa late 1990s, two tone gold-plated steel nib (old style), lacquer over brass, cartridge/converter

The Prelude has been Sheaffer's premier affordable "nice pen" since the Targa was discontinued. It is a very heavy pen with a traditional open nib. Other variants in the Prelude line include the MPI, a combination ballpoint and highlighter. The two pictured above are have old-style nibs with the Sheaffer name engraved, in matte black and forest green.

Sheaffer Connaisseur circa 1980s, 18k gold nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

The Connaisseur was produced during Sheaffer's retro binge in the 1990s and is clearly patterned after a 1920s style Sheaffer flat-top.

Sheaffer/Levenger Red Sea 2000, 18k gold nib, plastic, cartridge/converter

Based on the recently discontinued Connaisseur line, these were transparent Connaisseurs made by Sheaffer for Levenger (and featuring Levenger as well as Sheaffer on the cap band and nib). They came in a number of colors, named after bodies of water.