22 replies to this topic

[ljwahl]

1. Thanks, David, for the link to the earlier post-- excellent information, as usual!

2. ok, wartime metal, but pre-war style? Using old tooling and stock to move items during the war?

3. white feed is wartime as well... lending credence to idea in #2?

But why the black dot?

L

[david i]

1. Thanks, David, for the link to the earlier post-- excellent information, as usual!

2. ok, wartime metal, but pre-war style? Using old tooling and stock to move items during the war?

3. white feed is wartime as well... lending credence to idea in #2?

But why the black dot?

L

 

 

1: Yer Welcome...

 

2.3:  Speculative, not done deal. Late production for one such as this is a slim possibility but not likely, even with the focused clip (not cap-band) tarnish.  White feeds tend-- based on my experience-- to be found on later issue Balances, but strong evidence  of production/issue date  seems still to be lacking. The imprint on the pen is not a late imprint. The  FT #7 nib in an OS pen is not shown in routine Sheaffer catalogues (it is shown in a 1935 catalogue for Standard pen. Roger has argued the OS is suggested there as well, but I have doubts), but it is shown in the 1934 pamphlet copied in the linked article about Non White Dot oS Balance.

 

Stretching this one to late initial production might be pushing it though I keep open mind.

 

Regarding etiologies of anomalies, as I had written in my (Must Read!) PENnant Magazine article Cap-Banditry. Collecting off-catalogue Sheaffer Cap Bands...

 

 

 

When confronted by uncatalogued and/or otherwise anomalous pens, collectors variably invoke-- or perhaps retreat to-- a series of words that taken in their entirety can account for nearly any strange finding. A rapid fire sequence passes through the gray matter: “Prototype”, “Experiment”, “Frankenpen/Mixture”, “Transitional”, “Lunchtime Special”, “Niche Market” (eg. specific promotion, store, region or season), and “Special Order”. Some terms inherently are ambiguous. Some lend themselves to grandiose use, allowing the owner of said pens to embrace undue puffery. Some are well overused today. Most-- even if ultimately accurate for specific pens-- do not lend themselves to easy proof.

 

 

The pen clearly is a non-White Dot OS Balance, but why is it Black Dot vs no dot at all?  Leftover parts blown out as a non-Lifetime to get rid of a nib, with hole already drilled for an initially planned White Dot?  Letting a pen go to an employee, or used internally within the factory, marked differently from OS's for sale in 1934-5  which either had White Dot or no dot at all?

 

Dunno.

 

Roger ducked sticking his neck out for an etiology for the pen, which is fine, as no one to date has volunteered a solid answer. But, we can speculate in reasonable fashion.

 

Note, this thread has origins in a thread about a 1930-1933-ish Marine Green Balance whose White Dot spot is occupied by  matching plastic?  Why bother drilling the hole in the first place?

 

Link--Marine Green Sheaffer with Matching Dot--Link

 

regards

 

david

[PatM]

Interesting pen and interesting thread.  Not sure I can add much except wonder why someone would want to have a black dot and a tarnished clip.  Could it be to limit what might reflect light when clipped into a pocket? -- Nothing more than speculation.

 

While on the subject of black dots, attached is a 3.5" jade set with black dots that I picked up years ago with the understanding that they were Sheaffer knock-offs.  The pen has a Warranted 14K nib. These are the only writing instruments I've seen - until David posted his - with black dots.  Would be interested in seeing others.

 

Best,

Pat