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Anyone ever seen a Wahl like this before?


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#1 Norm

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Posted 26 December 2013 - 11:21 PM

Here is a pen I found in an antique store today.  I have shown it next to a standard (small) Sheaffer for size and color comparison. I have never seen a 'balance' Wahl before. It is common?

DSCN1097_zpsf5ec040f.jpg



#2 Procyon

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Posted 26 December 2013 - 11:31 PM

That is the first version of Wahl's Equipoised pens.  They were produced in response to Sheaffer's balance pens.  Several of the manufacturers felt the need to "streamline" their pens after the balance came out.  There were several versions of the Equipoised pens.  The one you have is the first and was produced for only about a year.  Because of this, you see fewer of these than many of the other Wahls.



Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar.  And doesn't.

 

 

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Allan


#3 Norm

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 12:17 AM

Thanks for the information. I just cleaned and re-sac-ed it.  It section has a metal band around it on the inside of the barrel and and the inside of the barrel is lined with a soft metal -Zinc? The feed screwed in and out of the section.  Good thing I didn't try to knock it out.  The nib has a very nice flex to it. 



#4 Procyon

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 01:07 AM

Yes, some of the Wahl-Eversharps had the threaded nib/feed.  They called it the "personal point".  When you bought the pen, you could get the type of nib you liked best.  The metal on metal of the section and barrel often gives problems because they essentially become chemically "welded" together.  Apparently, you didn't have too much trouble getting the section out.  I have a Deco band that I have been trying to open for about 2 years now.



Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar.  And doesn't.

 

 

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Allan


#5 David Nishimura

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 02:03 AM

That is the first version of Wahl's Equipoised pens.  They were produced in response to Sheaffer's balance pens.  Several of the manufacturers felt the need to "streamline" their pens after the balance came out.  There were several versions of the Equipoised pens.  The one you have is the first and was produced for only about a year.  Because of this, you see fewer of these than many of the other Wahls.

 

This is an area where different collectors have different opinions.

I believe that the OP's pen is actually the second version of the Equi-Poised, the first being the one illustrated in Wahl's catalog #298 of 1929, which differs in having pointed ends that make for an even more Balance-like profile.

 

1929_Equi-Poised_set.jpg

 

More detailed discussion of the evidence can be read here.


Edited by David Nishimura, 27 December 2013 - 02:05 AM.


#6 Procyon

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 02:37 AM

Oops, you are absolutely right David. Now I remember seeing the pointy-ended ones.  Did Sheaffer apply legal pressure to Wahl to change the design?  Seems I have heard different versions of that story.



Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar.  And doesn't.

 

 

Regards,
Allan


#7 david i

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 02:43 AM

The image below is old and is due for some tweaks.  The Type 1 offers two subtypes, one with more pointy cap than the other. In the setting of Sheaffer's suit against Safer and Eagle, we believe Wahl was warned off regarding pens shapes like Sheaffer's Balance.  I've found info regarding this since shooting the image.  There is debate regarding what many call  the "Transitional"  regarding its role and construction. As has been pointed out by others, this off-catalogue variant appears to be a modded flat-top pen

 

I did an article on the Equi-Poised Purse Pen for Stylus Magazine a few years ago. We are due for a heftier review of Equi-Poised.

 

 

wahlequipoised4types.jpg

 

regards

 

David


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#8 david i

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 02:45 AM

Mint condition set in black and pearl

 

wahlequipoisedmintset.jpg

 

 

regards

 

-d


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#9 david i

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 02:46 AM

The pointier of the Type 1 subtypes

 

wahlequipoisepointy50per.jpg

 

regards

 

David


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#10 Norm

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 03:37 AM

Thanks everyone for the education. I only have 4 or 5 pre-Skyline Wahl's. I seldom see them since most of my collecting is at antique stores. 

 

David i, thanks for showing the pens.  When i saw the lever on mine I had a fear that it was not original. It didn't look like the same quality as the rest of the pen,  but I see mine is the same as your pictures.

 



Yes, some of the Wahl-Eversharps had the threaded nib/feed.  They called it the "personal point".  When you bought the pen, you could get the type of nib you liked best.  The metal on metal of the section and barrel often gives problems because they essentially become chemically "welded" together.  Apparently, you didn't have too much trouble getting the section out.  I have a Deco band that I have been trying to open for about 2 years now.

 

The section did not come out easily. It took some heat and several slight movements until it finally came loose. I was beginning to wonder it had been glued in but when it started to move, I was able to heat and wiggle it a little at a time until it came out.  The nib is a Gold Seal Signature.

 

DSCN1100_zpsfb75fd51.jpg


Edited by Norm, 27 December 2013 - 03:49 AM.


#11 Rocco P

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 05:02 AM

Threads like this are the reason I like this board. Thanks to everyone for the info and photos.

Edited by Paolino, 27 December 2013 - 05:02 AM.

--

Rocco


#12 Norm

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 06:21 PM

I thought I'd just add that removing the remains of the sac from the nipple was tougher than usual. It didn't flake off like it normally does. It was so hard It made me wonder if they used some adherent other than shellac... laqueur maybe. 



#13 George

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 06:56 PM

The image below is old and is due for some tweaks.  The Type 1 offers two subtypes, one with more pointy cap than the other. In the setting of Sheaffer's suit against Safer and Eagle, we believe Wahl was warned off regarding pens shapes like Sheaffer's Balance.  I've found info regarding this since shooting the image.  There is debate regarding what many call  the "Transitional"  regarding its role and construction. As has been pointed out by others, this off-catalogue variant appears to be a modded flat-top pen

 

 

We know Wahl was warned by Sheaffer regarding the design of their Equi-Poised from page 12 of Daniel's article, Featherweight vs. Heavyweight:

 

“After the issuance of said Design Letters Patent No. 78,795, 
plaintiff sent notice of infringement thereof to certain manufacturers 
of pens throughout the United States, and many of these, upon receipt 
of said notice, desisted from the further manufacture of pens in 
infringement of said letters patent and changed the design of their 
pens. Among such companies are the following: 
 
The Wahl Company, Chicago, Illinois, 
D. W. Beaumel & Co., Inc., New York, NY 
C. E. Barrett & Co., Chicago, Illinois, 
Townsend Pen Company, New York, N. Y.” 
 
EDIT: Link to Daniel's article:
 

Edited by George, 27 December 2013 - 07:55 PM.


#14 david i

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Posted 27 December 2013 - 07:20 PM

Yeah, I had  the lawsuit (I sort of forced Daniel to publish by virtue of my having it),  and Roger had confirmed the warn off even earlier, but I didn't have printout of the desist note. Though despite the claim of "article",that  bit reads more like "chapter" ;)

 

BTW, Philadelphia has become suddenly at least a possibility.

 

regards

 

david


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