Pen Profile:
Sheaffer Balance
13791: Sheaffer Balance pencil: black and pearl, 13.35 cm long, gold filled trim, uses 1.1 mm lead, strong imprints, excellent color, no brassing.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: near mint • $120
14541: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance: oversize black lever-filler, 14.7 cm long, gold filled trim, scarce early production model with short section, long humped clip, and large White Dot, rare convertible version with screw-off barrel end piece. Some age shrinkage at barrel end, otherwise excellent.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine firm • $385
15380: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance pencil: oversize in black and pearl, 14.8 cm long, gold filled trim, long humped clip, excellent color, sharp imprints, no brassing, uses 1.1 mm lead. Early model with band set well above the mouth of the cap.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: near mint • $165
14650: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance pencil: oversize in "Marine Green" green pearl and black marbled, 14.5 cm long, gold filled trim, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • $150
13361: Sheaffer Autograph Lifetime Balance pencil: oversize black and pearl, 14.1 cm long, 14K solid gold barrel band and clip (nose cone is gold filled), uses. 1.1 mm lead. Unusually, band and clip bear London import hallmarks; test mark to clip, gouge at joint (see details), excellent color.
DATE: c. 1931 • CONDITION: fine* • $175
12137: Sheaffer Balance Lifetime: thick stubby ringtop lever-filler in red-veined grey pearl, 12 cm long, gold filled trim, clean and lustrous appearance, noting one area of age shrinkage and an internal hairline next to the large White Dot (see details).
DATE: c. 1933 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine rigid • $95
14643: Sheaffer Univer: rare oversize lever-filler in green-tinted black and pearl, 13.4 cm long, gold filled trim but only gold wash (now missing) on clip, comb feed, correct #6 Sheaffer-made warranted nib has scant tipping but is still a fine writer. Sheaffer extended the color range of their Univer sub-brand by applying tinted celluloid lacquer over black and pearl. In this case, the original overtinting has worn thin due to usage and polishing, Most Univers are small; oversize examples are seldom seen. Toothmarks to ends, small pit next to cap band (see details).
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine flex • $385
11156: Sheaffer Balance pencil: green pearl and black marbled, 13.25 cm long, gold filled trim, uncommon with twin wide patterned barrel bands; two-tone tip cone appears to be a later factory replacement, perhaps to convert this pencil to use thinner .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION: exc • $120
15471: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance set in box: full-sized lever-filler in beautifully pearlescent green and black marbled celluloid, 13.8 cm long, gold filled trim, large White Dot. Both pen and matching pencil have rare wide patterned double bands, pencil has some tooth marks at top and tool marks on the nose cone (see details), some plating wear to the pen's two-tone nib, imprints deep and crisp, trim excellent. Clips are of different form, but no doubt that this set is as originally sold.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: exc, VG-fine • NIB: medium fine firm • $650
15279: Sheaffer Balance 3-25: long slender black lever-filler, 13.7 cm long, nickel plated trim, 3-25 nib writes a nicely shaded line; strong barrel imprint but some scratches at ends, mechanically perfect.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $125
14657: Sheaffer Balance pencil: silver pearl and black marbled, 12.1 cm long, chrome plated trim, uncommon wide milled jeweler's band, unimprinted clip; bold imprint, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: fine • $60
15060: Sheaffer Balance pencil: black celluloid with inlaid genuine abalone flakes, 12 cm long, gold filled trim, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $65
13596: Sheaffer Balance pencil: grey pearl and black marbled, 12.1 cm long, chrome plated trim, uncommon with wide milled band, smooth unmarked flattened-ball clip; uses 1.1 mm lead, strong imprints.
DATE: c. 1936 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $65
14680: Sheaffer Junior set: grey pearl and black marbled semistreamlined lever-filler, 11.3 cm long, chrome plated trim, section with ink window, very flexible semistub Junior nib; matching pencil uses 1.1 mm lead, both pieces have excellent color, bold imprints, typical age roughness to trim plating.
DATE: c. 1936 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $195
14648: Sheaffer Junior Balance 200 pencil: black with inlaid abalone flakes, 12 cm long, chrome plated trim, uncommon wide milled jeweler's band, unimprinted clip; bold imprint, uses .9 mm lead. Unlike most examples of Sheaffer's "Ebonized Pearl", the material used here appears to be missing the usual clear overcoating, resulting in some surface irregularity around the edges of some of the inlaid abalone flakes.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: fine* • $45
15194: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance pencil: oversize in striated golden pearl , 14.1 cm long, gold filled trim, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $120
15204: Sheaffer WASP Crispline pencil: red pearl, 12.3 cm long, gold filled trim, uses .9 mm lead, made in USA, uncommon subbrand model, fully marked.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $105
14824: Sheaffer desk pens in box: five (5) brown No. 3 lever-fillers, 13.5 cm long, gold filled trim, new old stock with original stickers and nib protectors, as shipped from the factory to a dealer. Originally six pens in the box, which has been roughly opened but is a rare survivor. Sacs have not been replaced, are still soft though not to be relied upon.
DATE: c. 1940 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: fine • $250
15191: Sheaffer Lifetime Feathertouch Skyboy pencil: striated green pearl, 12.85 cm long, gold filled trim, wartime military clip with scarce "SKYBOY" imprint; name on barrel, uses .9 mm lead, this color does not appear in the 1941 Sheaffer catalog in which this model was introduced.
DATE: c. 1941 • CONDITION: fine • $95
14294: Sheaffer Triumph Signature pencil: black with wartime gold filled over silver trim, wide 14K solid gold barrel band, 12.5 cm long, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1944 • CONDITION: fine • $105
14777: Sheaffer Lifetime Triumph Tuckaway Crest pencil: black with wartime 1/10 14K gold filled over solid silver cap and trim, 10.4 cm long, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1945 • CONDITION: exc • $65
14552: Sheaffer Admiral II set: black lever-filler, 13 cm long, gold filled trim, short conical Triumph nib is a smooth writer; with matching .9 mm pencil, which appears to be new old stock. Pen is used, chip to cap lip right next to wire band (see details), cap appears to be a mismatch replacement as the non-Lifetime nib should not go with a White Dot cap.
DATE: c. 1945 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium fine • $95
13256: Sheaffer Lifetime Triumph Autograph: black lever-filler, 13.5 cm long, 14K solid gold trim, big smooth conical two-tone Triumph nib with turnup tip; facsimile signature on cap band, ribbed section with ink window, good barrel imprint, inlaid ivory-colored White Dot; excellent appearance, but some scratches towards end of barrel.
DATE: c. 1945 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine firm • $265
15538: Sheaffer Lifetime Sentinel DeLuxe set in box: large black lever-filler, 13.4 cm long, brushed stainless steel cap, gold filled trim, White Dot at end of barrel, big two-tone conical Triumph nib with semistub tip, section with ink window. This first model of the Sentinel was only produced for around a year, as the cap was changed to a bright polished finish in 1948.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium fine • $275
15642: Sheaffer Lifetime Sentinel DeLuxe triple set in box: large black lever-filler, 13.4 cm long, brushed stainless steel cap, gold filled trim, White Dot at end of barrel, big two-tone conical Triumph nib, section with ink window. Matching twist-action pencil uses .9 mm lead, ballpoint retains original refill (replacements no longer made but adaptors are available). This first model of the Sentinel was only produced for around a year, as the cap was changed to a bright polished finish in 1948.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine firm • $295
15386: Sheaffer Stratowriter: gold filled ballpoint, Sheaffer's first; includes original cartridge (not functional; adaptor required to use modern refills); 13.3 cm long, button is pressed and turned to operate.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • $125
12038: Sheaffer Craftsman: black lever-filler, 12.8 cm long, gold filled trim, uncommon variant with Gregg shorthand symbol on barrel; sharp imprints, very slight swelling over lever retaining spring.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine • $120
15228: Sheaffer Crest DeLuxe: black lever-filler, 1/10 14K gold filled cap, 13.3 cm long, gold filled trim, White Dot on end of barrel, section with ink window, massive conical two-tone nib is a smooth writer but more of a fine than a medium, despite what is written on the original price label on the barrel. New old stock, appears never to have been filled, no dings to cap, largest size in this series.
DATE: c. 1947 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine • $265
14611: Sheaffer Lifetime Triumph 1250: large brown plunger-filler, 13.35 cm long, gold filled trim, White Dot on cap end, two-tone Triumph nib, original sticker on barrel. Filler seals have not been replaced, pen not guaranteed functional as is.
DATE: c. 1948 • CONDITION: mint* • NIB: fine • $165
14646: Sheaffer Sentinel Deluxe Threesome set in box: black lever-filler, polished stainless steel cap with gold filled trim, 13.4 cm long, big two-tone conical Triumph nib, section with ink window; matching twist-action .9 mm pencil and Stratowriter ballpoint, all three pieces have the White Dot attached to their caps with a gold filled eyelet -- a very short-lived transitional feature, used only for a few months. Ballpoint retains its original barrel sticker, pencil is as new, fountain pen lightly used, very slight swelling over lever retaining C-spring.
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: near mint* • NIB: medium firm • $350
14778: Sheaffer Tuckaway Sentinel Deluxe pencil: "Persian Blue", 10.1 cm long, gold filled trim, stainless steel cap, uses .9 mm lead; the White Dot is mounted on the cap using a gold filled eyelet -- a method used for only a matter of months, and correspondingly uncommon.
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: exc • $115
14753: Sheaffer Sentinel Deluxe Tuckaway pencil: burgundy, chrome cap with gold filled trim, White Dot, 10 cm long, uses .9mm lead, one tiny bump to top of cap.
DATE: c. 1949 • CONDITION: fine • $40
14754: Sheaffer Lifetime Crest Tuckaway pencil: burgundy, gold filled cap and trim, White Dot, 10.45 cm long, uses .9mm lead.
DATE: c. 1951 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $50
14195: Sheaffer Lady Skipsert XVI desk set: cartridge desk pen, 14.7 cm long, small conical gold plated Triumph nib, enameled gold moire finish on both pen and holder, wear specks in finish (see detail) but overall fine appearance. Green onyx base is 9 cm (3.5 inches) square, nameplate is unengraved.
DATE: c. 1959 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine • $95
15186: Sheaffer Imperial Triumph ballpoint and mechanical pencil set in box: all gold filled, ballpoint has "Reminder" clip which automatically retracts tip when clipped into a pocket, pencil is twist-action, uses .9 mm lead. In box with instructions and guarantee.
DATE: c. 1961 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $120
14899: Sheaffer 500: blue "Dolphin" cartridge-filler, 13.3 cm long, brushed stainless steel cap, distinctive inlaid nib in white metal (palladium silver?) is a smooth writer.
DATE: c. 1963 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine • $80
14863: Sheaffer 500: black "dolphin" cartridge-filler, 13.3 cm long, brushed stainless steel cap, distinctive inlaid nib in white metal (palladium silver?) is a smooth writer.
DATE: c. 1963 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine • $80
15226: Sheaffer Imperial in box: sterling silver cartridge-filler, 13.2 cm long, gold plated trim, White Dot, inlaid 14K gold nib is a smooth writer; with squeeze-filler converter, but can also use standard Skrip cartridges. As new, but no stickers or instructions.
DATE: c. 1975 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium • $350
15245: Sheaffer Imperial ballpoint: 1/30 12K rolled gold, 12.9 cm long with tip retracted, White Dot, grapevine decoration, "Reminder" clip retracts and extends tip, insuring that it will not go into a pocket with tip extended.
DATE: c. 1975 • CONDITION: exc • $95
8076: Sheaffer Imperial Sovereign pencil: 14K gold filled, 12.75 cm long, White Dot, uses .9 mm lead, new old stock, original price sticker on back; several available.
DATE: c. 1975 • CONDITION: mint • $80
7780: Sheaffer Targa ballpoint: sterling silver, 13.3 cm long, chrome plated trim, White Dot, twist-action to extend and retract tip; new old stock but without packaging; several available.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: mint • $80
9829: Sheaffer Imperial pencil: sterling silver, 12.7 cm long, crosshatch pattern, gold plated trim, White Dot, uses .9 mm lead; new old stock, several available, original price stickers on back may vary from that shown in photo.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: mint • $85
7806: Sheaffer Targa ballpoint: sterling silver, 13.3 cm long, gold plated trim, White Dot, twist-action to extend and retract tip; new old stock but without packaging; several available.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: mint • $80
