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PenHero 365 July 2019

2019 Pages:

June May

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PenHero 365 2018

PenHero 365 2017

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Sheaffer WASP fountain pen in a wavy burgundy and black marble celluloid c. 1937

his a Sheaffer WASP fountain pen in a wavy burgundy and black marble celluloid c. 1937. This 4 15/16 inch long lever filling pen features a gold nib stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A over 3. The barrel is stamped WASP PEN CO. INC. over Ft. MADISON, IOWA, U.S.A. The trim is gold plated. There are WASP Addipoint pens made very similar to this example. WASP is an easy to decipher economy sub-brand of Sheaffer as it stands for W. A. Sheaffer Pen.

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Parker Duofold Streamline Jade Juniorette c. 1930

This is a Parker Duofold Streamline Jade Juniorette c. 1930. This 4 7/16 inch long button filling pen was the smallest model, more slender than the Junior. The barrel is stamped GEO. S. PARKER next to PARKER over DUOFOLD next to MADE IN U.S.A. The nib is stamped PARKER over DUOFOLD over PEN over MADE IN over U.S.A. It’s essentially a Lady Duofold with a clip and no ringtop. It sold for $5.00 and the matching pencil was $3.25. Note the discoloration, with some areas browning.

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Diamond Point Jade flattop c. 1925

This is a Diamond Point Jade flattop c. 1925. This 5 7/16 inch pen is a lever filler and features a warranted 14 karat gold number 8 nib. Made by the New Diamond Point Pen Company of New York, NY. This model also came in red, black, and several other colors. There is no imprint. The clip is stamped NEW in a diamond over DIAMOND P. P. CO. MADE IN U.S.A. The lever tab has a D inside a diamond. A December 1925 advertisement shows these pens selling as a Christmas special for $2.50.

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Univer red with black marbled celluloid fountain pen c. 1932

This is a Univer red with black marbled celluloid fountain pen c. 1932. Univer was a Sheaffer sub-brand and advertisements for Univer pens and pencil sets can be found as early as 1931 and as late as 1940. The Sheaffer name or “made by Sheaffer” does not always appear in advertisements. This model appears to be from about 1932 and came in blue with black, red with black, green with gold, onyx, blood red, and green according to a 1932 advertisement. The trim was lightly gold plated. These were economy pens made during the Depression. There is no imprint and only the clip identifies the pen as Univer. The warranted 14 karat gold number 3 nib may be a replacement. Pens sold for one dollar. Pen and pencil sets sold for two dollars.

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Victapen Convertible fountain pen in gray green swirled marble c. 1933-1936

This is a Victapen Convertible fountain pen in gray green swirled marble c. 1933-1936. Victapen was a brand sold by the U. S. Victor Fountain Pen Company of New York, New York. This 3 13/16 inch long pen was sold as a pen and pencil set by mail order for $1.00 plus ten cents postage, including a personalized leather pen case. Advertised as a men’s vest pocket or ladies pen set, the pen’s end cap and pencil’s clip top could be unscrewed and the pen and pencil could be reassembled into a 5 ½ inch long pen and pencil combo. The pen is a bulb filler with a breather tube, activated by removing the blind cap and squeezing the exposed in sac to fill. Note the original bulb in this photo. This system was patented on July 18, 1933 by Edward Hugetz, an inventor responsible for several of the company’s designs. These small pens came in a variety of celluloids, including stripes similar to the Conklin Glider, marbled colors, and dashed stripes. At least three clip designs are observed.

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Moore lever-fill fountain pen in a green stripe marble celluloid c. 1937-1942

This is a short Moore lever-fill fountain pen in a green stripe marble celluloid c. 1937-1942. The design of the celluloid is panels of green marble divided by narrow seven and three color stripe set combinations of black, gold, silver and red. This 4 3/8 inch long pen features gold filled trim with typical plating loss and a gold nib stamped MOORE over 14K. The clip is stamped MOORE. This model pen is probably the Lady Moore model that sold for $3.00.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Pastel Gray c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Pastel Gray c. 1952-1959. The Saratoga has an open 14 karat gold nib with platinum mask (similar to earlier Feathertouch nibs), plastic cap and barrel, gold-filled clip stamped “SHEAFFER’S”, and ¼" wide gold-filled cap band. Colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. In 1955, the Snorkel Saratoga sold for $11.95 and with a matching pencil, $17.95.

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Victapen Convertible fountain pen in pearl marble c. 1933-1936

This is a Victapen Convertible fountain pen in pearl marble c. 1933-1936. Victapen was a brand sold by the U. S. Victor Fountain Pen Company of New York, New York. This 3 13/16 inch long pen was sold as a pen and pencil set by mail order for $1.00 plus ten cents postage, including a personalized leather pen case. Advertised as a men’s vest pocket or ladies pen set, the pen’s end cap and pencil’s clip top could be unscrewed and the pen and pencil could be reassembled into a 5 ½ inch long pen and pencil combo. The pen is a bulb filler with a breather tube, activated by removing the blind cap and squeezing the exposed in sac to fill. This system was patented on July 18, 1933 by Edward Hugetz, an inventor responsible for several of the company’s designs. These small pens came in a variety of celluloids, including stripes similar to the Conklin Glider, marbled colors, and dashed stripes. At least three clip designs are observed. This one unfortunately is very corroded.

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Eclipse Hooded Knight in gray c. 1940s

This is an Eclipse Hooded Knight in gray c. 1940s. This was Eclipse Canada’s response to the Parker 51 and has the same clip design as the Eclipse Streamline model, which itself may borrow from the Eversharp Skyline clip. The hooded nib is actually an ordinary open nib hidden under an extension of the section that has a V cutout for the breather hole. The 5 5/16 inch long Hooded Knight is a button filler, activated by removing the blind cap from the end of the barrel. The pen is made of injection molded plastic and gray, blue, black and burgundy examples exist. This example has no barrel or section imprint. The very firm nib is probably gold plated stainless steel.

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Eclipse Streamline fountain pen in burgundy c. early 1940s

This is an Eclipse Streamline fountain pen in burgundy c. early 1940s. The Eclipse Streamline appears to borrow design elements from the Eversharp Skyline clip. The 5 1/4 inch long lever filler has no barrel imprint. The clip is stamped with the Eclipse logo and Steamline. All trim is lightly gold plated and prone to wear, as can be seen. The very firm stainless steel nib reads ECLIPSE over OSMIRIDIUM POINTED CANADA. It is very pitted and was originally gold plated.

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Eclipse Streamline fountain pen in green c. late 1940s

This is an Eclipse Streamline fountain pen in green c. late 1940s. The Eclipse Streamline appears to borrow design elements from the Eversharp Skyline clip. The 5 5/16 inch long button filler has no barrel imprint. The Eclipse logo stamped clip and the 3/8 inch ribbed cap band are lightly gold plated. The very firm gold plated stainless steel nib is stamped with the Eclipse logo over CANADA.

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Imperial Reserve fountain pen in black c. 1952-1954

This is an Imperial Reserve fountain pen in black c. 1952-1954. Its selling feature is the spare interchangeable gold plated stainless steel point housed in a clear container at the end of the barrel. One nib is a medium and the other is a fine. They are stamped SMOOTHLINE over the nib grade over U.S.A. The replaceable nib units are threaded the same as and will fit an Esterbrook pen. Newspaper advertisements show this pen offered primarily by drugstores. They were made by the Imperial Pen and Pencil Company of Nassau, New York, founded in 1945 and operated until bankruptcy in 1956. It’s a 5 3/8 inches long lever fill fountain pen that has a short ink sac in order to make space for the spare nib at the end of the barrel. The clip is stamped USA over a crown over IMPERIAL and the lever is stamped MADE IN U.S.A. The trim is lightly gold plated and shows typical plating loss. The barrel is stamped PATENT PENDING, which is also mentioned in advertisements. A search of patents from the period shows no mention of this type of pen. They sold for $1 and came in six colors, including black, blue, and maroon.

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Esterbrook Estie Cobalt Blue with gold color trim fountain pen

This is the new Esterbrook Estie Cobalt Blue with gold color trim fountain pen. It's 5.9 inches long and features a #6 German JOWO stainless steel nib. The cap and barrel are made from a marbled translucent polished acrylic. The cap has an interesting cushion cap closure that requires a little push while twisting it on or off. The trim is gold color. It is a cartridge / converter type and with the addition of the MV adapter it can use vintage Esterbrook nibs. This same pen is available with chrome plated trim. Retail price is $195.

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Esterbrook Estie Blueberry with gold color trim fountain pen

This is the new Esterbrook Estie Blueberry with gold color trim fountain pen. It's 5.9 inches long and features a #6 German JOWO stainless steel nib. The cap and barrel are made from a marbled translucent polished acrylic. The cap has an interesting cushion cap closure that requires a little push while twisting it on or off. The trim is gold color. It is a cartridge / converter type and with the addition of the MV adapter it can use vintage Esterbrook nibs. This same pen is available with chrome plated trim. Retail price is $195.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Buckskin Tan fountain pen c. 1956-1958

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Buckskin Tan fountain pen c. 1956-1958. The fountain pen comes with a two-tone plated 14 karat gold Triumph nib, gold filled cap with a repeating pattern of four straight longitudinal engraved lines in a stepped grouping, gold-filled clip, and plastic barrel. Barrel colors produced from 1952 to 1955 were black, burgundy, pastel grey, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. A new burgundy color along with buckskin tan and fern green were added later. The Crest fountain pen is 5 ½ inches long and sold for $25.00 in 1955 and $30.00 by 1959. The matching pencil sold for $9.00 in 1955 and $10.00 by 1959.

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Stratford fountain pen and pencil combo in a solid ivory or pearl celluloid c. 1930s

This is a Stratford fountain pen and pencil combo in a solid ivory or pearl celluloid c. 1930s. Stratford was a brand of Salz Brothers Inc. It’s a 5 5/16 inches long lever filler with a twist action pencil in the base of the barrel. The ball clip is stamped Stratford at the top. There are no other markings on the pen. The trim is lightly gold plated and shows plating loss. The nib is gold plated stainless steel. Similar combos were advertised for 49 cents in 1937.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Pastel Blue fountain pen c. 1956-1958

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Pastel Blue fountain pen c. 1956-1958. The fountain pen comes with a two-tone plated 14 karat gold Triumph nib, gold filled cap with a repeating pattern of four straight longitudinal engraved lines in a stepped grouping, gold-filled clip, and plastic barrel. Barrel colors produced from 1952 to 1955 were black, burgundy, pastel grey, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. A new burgundy color along with buckskin tan and fern green were added later. The Crest fountain pen is 5 ½ inches long and sold for $25.00 in 1955 and $30.00 by 1959. The matching pencil sold for $9.00 in 1955 and $10.00 by 1959.

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Esterbrook Estie Blueberry with silver color trim fountain pen

This is the new Esterbrook Estie Blueberry with silver color trim fountain pen. It’s 5.9 inches long and features a #6 German JOWO stainless steel nib. The cap and barrel are made from a marbled translucent polished acrylic. The cap has an interesting cushion cap closure that requires a little push while twisting it on or off. The trim is silver color. It is a cartridge / converter type and with the addition of the MV adapter it can use vintage Esterbrook nibs. This same pen is available with gold plated trim. Retail price is $195.

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Artcraft black hard rubber fountain pen with gold filled cap band c. early 1920s

This is an Artcraft black hard rubber fountain pen with a hand engraved wide gold filled cap band c. early 1920s. The front of the cap band has a framed cartouche for personalization that carries around to the back with a flower and leaves design. The breather hole on the back of the cap is much larger than on other brands. This 5 5/16 inch long lever fill pen was made by the Artcraft Pen Company of Birmingham, Alabama. Advertisements from 1921 to 1925 give the company name as Cromer Artcraft, named for Ford Cromer. The barrel is stamped Cromer Pen Company Inc. over Artcraft Fountain Pens over Birmingham Alabama. Centered in the text is an artist’s palette with MAKERS OF over ARTCRAFT inside. The gold filled clip and lever have an artist’s palette logo with ART stamped inside. The gold nib is stamped with an artist’s palette logo and ARTCRAFT stamped inside over 2. This example shows browning discoloration on the cap and barrel and several cracks and a chip missing from the cap lip.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Burgundy fountain pen c. 1952-1955

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Crest Burgundy fountain pen c. 1952-1955. The fountain pen comes with a two-tone plated 14 karat gold Triumph nib, gold filled cap with a repeating pattern of four straight longitudinal engraved lines in a stepped grouping, gold-filled clip, and plastic barrel. Barrel colors produced from 1952 to 1955 were black, burgundy, pastel grey, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. A new burgundy color along with buckskin tan and fern green were added later. The Crest fountain pen is 5 ½ inches long and sold for $25.00 in 1955 and $30.00 by 1959. The matching pencil sold for $9.00 in 1955 and $10.00 by 1959.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Pastel Blue c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Pastel Blue c. 1952-1959. The Saratoga has an open 14 karat gold nib with platinum mask (similar to earlier Feathertouch nibs), plastic cap and barrel, gold-filled clip stamped “SHEAFFER’S”, and ¼" wide gold-filled cap band. Colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. In 1955, the Snorkel Saratoga sold for $11.95 and with a matching pencil, $17.95.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Autograph in Black c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Autograph in Black c. 1952-1959. It has a two-tone plated (possibly palladium) 14 karat gold Triumph nib, a 14 karat gold 19/32 inch cap band (note the hallmark), and a black plastic cap and barrel. This example is not engraved. It came in two versions: early Autographs have a 14 karat gold clip; late versions have a gold-filled clip. Customers who purchased Snorkel Autograph and Signature pens could have their personal signature copied onto the gold cap band by sending the pen to Sheaffer including an engraving certificate for the owner to supply a sample. There was no additional cost for the engraving. From 1948 until at least 1957 Sheaffer’s Maxine Shagsta had the job of freehand copying the owner’s signature onto the band. The method was to coat the band with white paint, draw the signature onto the paint, exposing the gold underneath, and then cutting the copy with a steel engraving tool. Each pen took about twenty minutes. Articles about her say she could do 20-25 pens a day. It’s 5 ½ inches long and sold for $27.50 in 1955. The matching pencil sold for $17.50.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Signature in Black c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Signature in Black c. 1952-1959. It has a two-tone plated (possibly palladium) 14 karat gold Triumph nib, 14 karat gold 3/8 inch cap band (note the hallmark), gold-filled clip, and plastic cap and barrel. Customers who purchased Snorkel Autograph and Signature pens could have their personal signature copied onto the gold cap band by sending the pen to Sheaffer including an engraving certificate for the owner to supply a sample. There was no additional cost for the engraving. From 1948 until at least 1957 Sheaffer’s Maxine Shagsta had the job of freehand copying the owner’s signature onto the band. The method was to coat the band with white paint, draw the signature onto the paint, exposing the gold underneath, and then cutting the copy with a steel engraving tool. Each pen took about twenty minutes. The Signature model came in black, burgundy and pastel green. It’s 5 ½ inches long and sold for $25.00 in 1955. The matching pencil sold for $10.00.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Sovereign in Black c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Sovereign in Black c. 1952-1959. The Sovereign has an open 14 karat gold nib with two-tone mask, possibly palladium (similar to earlier Feathertouch nibs), polished stainless steel cap with five engraved panels and plastic barrel and gold-filled clip stamped “SHEAFFER’S.” The cap panels are a set of two straight lines with a dashed and diamond line between. Original colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. Buckskin tan, vermilion, and sage green were added later. In 1955, the Snorkel Sovereign sold for $12.50 and the matching pencil was $5.25.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Sovereign in Pastel Gray c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Sovereign in Pastel Gray c. 1952-1959. The Sovereign has an open 14 karat gold nib with two-tone mask, possibly palladium (similar to earlier Feathertouch nibs), polished stainless steel cap with five engraved panels and plastic barrel and gold-filled clip stamped “SHEAFFER’S.” The cap panels are a set of two straight lines with a dashed and diamond line between. Original colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. Buckskin tan, vermilion, and sage green were added later. In 1955, the Snorkel Sovereign sold for $12.50 and the matching pencil was $5.25.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Black c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga in Black c. 1952-1959. The Saratoga has an open 14 karat gold nib with platinum mask (similar to earlier Feathertouch nibs), plastic cap and barrel, gold-filled clip stamped “SHEAFFER’S”, and ¼" wide gold-filled cap band. Colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. In 1955, the Snorkel Saratoga sold for $11.95 and with a matching pencil, $17.95.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Special in Pastel Gray c. 1956-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Special in Pastel Gray c. 1956-1959. The Special was a new entry-level model below the Admiral. It featured an open palladium silver nib, plastic cap and barrel, gold-filled clip stamped "SHEAFFER'S", and 1/4" wide gold-filled cap band. It was introduced in 1956 in black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. The Snorkel Special pen sold for US $7.95 in 1956 and the pen and pencil set sold for $13.95.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Admiral in Black c. 1952-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Admiral in Black c. 1952-1959. Black was one of the original Snorkel colors introduced in 1952. The Admiral has an open plain 14 karat gold nib, an injection molded plastic cap and barrel, and a gold-filled clip and 3/8 inch cap band. This pen has the imprint on the barrel. Colors produced were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), pastel green, buckskin tan, vermilion, and sage green. This 5 ½ inch long Snorkel Admiral has a firm fine nib and sold for $10.00 and the matching pencil, $6.00.

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Sheaffer Snorkel Valiant Buckskin Tan fountain pen c. 1956-1959

This is a Sheaffer Snorkel Valiant Buckskin Tan fountain pen c. 1956-1959. The fountain pen has a two-tone plated 14 karat gold Triumph nib, gold-filled 3/8 inch cap band, gold-filled clip, and plastic cap and barrel. Barrel colors produced from 1952 to 1955 were black, burgundy, pastel gray, pastel blue (or aqua), and pastel green. Peacock blue, buckskin tan, mandarin orange, fiesta red, fern green, and periwinkle blue were added later. Note the color match section. The Valiant fountain pen is 5 ½ inches long and sold for $19.75. The matching pencil sold for $7.25.

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Ikoma silver eight-sided Japanese fountain pen c. late 1930s

This silver eight-sided Japanese pen was made by Ikoma, a famous jeweler in Osaka. The clip is stamped Ikoma-sei, “Made By Ikoma.” Gonkichi Ikoma founded his jewelry and watch workshop in 1870 in Osaka. G. Ikoma Ltd. was established in 1923 and moved into the landmark Ikoma Building in 1930. The Ikoma building, designed by Heizo So, still stands today as an Osaka historical building. The pen has a flexible steel Falcon type nib that dates it to the late 1930s because gold nibs were not used in Japan after about 1939. The band at the base of the cap is ebonite.