David;
I had not carefully perused your pic of the 7FT OS - not a pen I am familiar with. It is interesting that for a time the 5-30 was an OS and not a 7-30 which suggests, for a time, that the 7 nib was dropped entirely (likely '31-'32 or close that that range). I already told you the page the '35 stuff is on for the 7FT. These are either standard or short being the same diameter as the 5FT on the page and in my experience (no code indicating a large option). I'll have to keep an eye out for 7FT OS's which, likely, were offered for a short time - one of those odd late depression offerings. The '36 catalogue suggests the economy was improving sufficiently that a 7FT is no longer offered and two new colors available. The 7FT is likely in use in the 1933 ad that shows an OS non white dot though with all FT ads the nib number is not illustrated (August 26, 1933 Literary Digest).
It may be worth discussing elsewhere the caveats of written company material. Some really on it too heavily for example, if we relied too heavily on Sheaffer documentation the conclusion would be that flattops were halted in 1930. Ephemera is great stuff and I almost prefer it over the pens but, you just have to be cautious especially during periods when actual practices seem sketchy compared with company documentation. I have seen one fellow react so violently against company literature as to indicate that it was all a bunch of unreliable work and those that used it to date things optimistic in the extreme. That goes way too far to the other extreme. Ephemera should be approached with caution but, it is great stuff.
Roger W.
We might be agreeing on many things.
...Scary...
I'd like to do a comparison amongst the'34 brochure, the '35 catalogue and the paper you just printed (what is the date on that?) to compare side by side which sizes/colors were so offered.
Also, do post the 1933 piece with NWD OS Balance.
regards
david
David;
To the best of my knowledge the colors in that time period were black, grey pearl, ebonized pearl and marine green. New colors were introduced in the '36 material.
Here is the ad - August 1933. It is a non white dot and the nib is plain gold since FT nibs weren't marked such in ads until 1934 but, it is also not marked 5-30 which it would have been in late 1932. It could be a standard or an OS but, after more scrutiny I'm not sure therefore, it is an interesting transition piece - nib wise. David, look at what ads you have for 1933 - I'm missing a bunch that year.