5 replies to this topic

[haywoody]

I just received the pen from this eBay auction. The words Sheaffer, Balance, Autograph and OS do not appear in the auction title so I don't think it attracted as much attention as it would have if listed properly. It certainly didn't go unnoticed but I feel like I got it for a pretty fair price. Can anybody tell me what the standard price range is for one of these? Did I do OK?

The pen arrived in excellent condition as described and I was surprised to find that the vac-filler works perfectly. The only flaws to mention are some minor scratches on the cap, otherwise it is super clean. It was very cool to get the original papers with the pen which show it was purchased 11/26/35.

I tried to do a bit of research before I bought the pen but could not find any pictures of black Autograph Balances with the visualated barrel. I read somewhere that this was typical of the vac-fil pens but it is the first I have seen. How common are these pens?

Thanks,
Woody

[david i]

I just received the pen from this eBay auction. The words Sheaffer, Balance, Autograph and OS do not appear in the auction title so I don't think it attracted as much attention as it would have if listed properly. It certainly didn't go unnoticed but I feel like I got it for a pretty fair price. Can anybody tell me what the standard price range is for one of these? Did I do OK?

The pen arrived in excellent condition as described and I was surprised to find that the vac-filler works perfectly. The only flaws to mention are some minor scratches on the cap, otherwise it is super clean. It was very cool to get the original papers with the pen which show it was purchased 11/26/35.

I tried to do a bit of research before I bought the pen but could not find any pictures of black Autograph Balances with the visualated barrel. I read somewhere that this was typical of the vac-fil pens but it is the first I have seen. How common are these pens?

Thanks,
Woody

Hi Woody,

My belief is you did very well indeed. Congrats!

To my eye the pen looks to be in superb shape and does look to be an OS (though pics can deceive). I don't have my Sheaffer period catalogues on hand, but it is my belief that most Balances from this era were offered in both "lever fill" and "wire fill" arrangements. Yours looks so crisp I wonder if it was mint uninked on arrival. Shame to then ink it, but I do... understand. Impressive that it fills, though if never used that might account for it. If you plan to keep it as long term user, I do suggest restoration. Ron and Richard, amongst a few others, do these the right way, which is important.

Few Sheaffers, never mind a nice OS Autograph, show up in period box with copious paperwork; this is a bonus, even if one not specific to this variant.

Value? Keep in mind there is huge range from "found in the flea market" to "dealer retail, restored with warranty", to- even- "two guys going nuts brawling on ebay driving price to triple-retail". Autograph OS Balance is drastically less common than typical OS and cost 2-3x price of typical OS back in the day. Of course, pen prices today do not follow a 1-to-1 slope relative to rarity, or any variant 1/50th as common as typical forms would sell 50x higher, which does not occur.

For context, from my own retail sales on my website...

I sell typical non-Autograph black OS Balance in near-Exc to Exc condition in the $220-250 range. Have sold Autographs (typically engraved) in the $300-375 range. Again, they don't sell in a day or two; this is retail. Your pen, after a $40 proper restoration (or sold if truly was mint as "mint unrestored") would grab higher price. While wire-fill tends to underprice lever fill, the superb clarity on this and the crisp unengraved band add major... charm.

I often find nice Balances online (have picked up a few esoteric variants of late), but I am cheerfully envious.

I admit, I'd likely keep this one as a collectable, not rushing to use it. One option too is to get a typical black barrel in so-so shape, even abused condition, and keep the superb original barrel aside.

Here are couple Autographs from website (most sold) and the collection.

Not so common Lady-size Balance Auto:

Autograph Sheaffer Snorkel set

OS Balance. Earlier style than yours, with ball clip. Note that Autograph Balance pens, even pre-radius clip, on which one would expect to see "Sheaffer's" on the clip, have smooth clips

Early color Marine Green (marlbed) OS Autograph Pencil

The following are not classic catalogue--style shots, so no longer are to scale

mid-late 1940's Sheaffer Autograph set in box

Most uncommon late Flat-Top Autograph, non-White Dot(!)

Sheaffer Pen For Men Autograph Set

I have more, but that's a nice start.



regards

David

[diplo]

I just received the pen from this eBay auction. The words Sheaffer, Balance, Autograph and OS do not appear in the auction title so I don't think it attracted as much attention as it would have if listed properly. It certainly didn't go unnoticed but I feel like I got it for a pretty fair price. Can anybody tell me what the standard price range is for one of these? Did I do OK?

The pen arrived in excellent condition as described and I was surprised to find that the vac-filler works perfectly. The only flaws to mention are some minor scratches on the cap, otherwise it is super clean. It was very cool to get the original papers with the pen which show it was purchased 11/26/35.

I tried to do a bit of research before I bought the pen but could not find any pictures of black Autograph Balances with the visualated barrel. I read somewhere that this was typical of the vac-fil pens but it is the first I have seen. How common are these pens?

Thanks,
Woody

Wow Woody, this is an exceptional find for the price, congrats!

The 1936 catalog list your pen with a 18$ price regardless of the filling mechanism. I think that the fact that now the Vac fill pens are more scarce than the lever fill of the same period is due to the higher reliability of the latter. Too bad because now new restoration techniques makes easier to repair and use them.

Ciao, Andrea

[haywoody]

Thanks for the info David and Andrea. A couple of notes... I did not ink the pen, only filled with water. It wasn't uninked because I saw some faint blue streaks coming off the nib when I filled it from a glass of water. Based on the clarity and lack of staining in the barrel I wouldn't be surprised if it was never filled, or at least filled very few times and cleaned well. It is sweet, the only flaws are some minor scratches on the left side of the cap. I couldn't get them to show on the pics, a few of which are posted below. As you can see the barrel clarity is pretty amazing...


Barrel clarity - apologies for the dust



In the box



With some fat friends



And a Touchdown Autograph set to add to David's series (didn't see these)

[david i]

Thanks for the info David and Andrea. A couple of notes... I did not ink the pen, only filled with water. It wasn't uninked because I saw some faint blue streaks coming off the nib when I filled it from a glass of water. Based on the clarity and lack of staining in the barrel I wouldn't be surprised if it was never filled, or at least filled very few times and cleaned well. It is sweet, the only flaws are some minor scratches on the left side of the cap. I couldn't get them to show on the pics, a few of which are posted below. As you can see the barrel clarity is pretty amazing...

Barrel clarity - apologies for the dust

I remain cheerfully envious. That's a grand pen and shows clearly why Sheaffer sold its fair share of pens back in the day. I also am fond of nicely engraved Autographs, and that 1940's For Your Autograph pen in your last image looks to have attractive engraving.

Don't know who scribbled "Vacumatic" all over the nice cap-band on that silver-pearl Vacumatic, but if it is taking up too much space in your collection...

regards

David

[Teej47]

That clarity is astonishing! It looks like it's been minding its own business inside its box for the last 75 years.

I notice the date on the guarantee... the week of Thanksgiving 1935. This isn't the first time I've noticed a late November date on such things. I suppose they had big sales around Thanksgiving back then as now. I wonder if the first purchaser got as good a deal as the last?

Awesome pen, congrats! Thanks for the pics, too.

Tim
(who remains the long slender size... a far cry from oversize)