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Sheriff Fountain Pens


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#1 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 19 June 2014 - 07:31 AM

Does anyone have examples of; or information about Sheriff Fountain Pens?

 

Heard about them today for the very first time ever.

 

They are from the UK I'm told, and have a long history.

 

I have found precious little, to nothing online so far.


Garth
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#2 Deb

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Posted 19 June 2014 - 08:07 AM

That's a new one on me I'm afraid.  Stephen Hull makes no reference to it either.



#3 AndyR

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Posted 19 June 2014 - 09:48 AM

I've not come across it either, and there is no mention in the WES fountain pen index that I have.

 

While there may well have been a pen sold under the name 'Sherriff' at some time in the UK, it seems unlikely they have a long history.

 

Does your informant have any examples or pictures to allow us to possibly narrow down dates or manufacturers?

 

Andy



#4 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 19 June 2014 - 10:23 AM

Hi Deb and Andy

 

I have only met this gentleman - a recent immigrant from Pakistan, via the UK - and that only when I have been at the local Library.

He told me of this pen when the librarian and I were discussing some new ink bottles I recently was gifted, and he asked why i collected, them.

I told him that I collected FP's, Dip Pens, ink bottles / wells, and other ephemera.

It was then hementioned the pen he was gifted by his father.

 

I told him that I would be very interested in seeing the pen when he was able.

He was in a rush, but nodded.  I will ask him again next time I see him - and of course, if he brings it in, I will photograph it.

 

The mission commences now ... *mission impossible music commences


Garth
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We will be forever known by the tracks we leave behind - Sitting Bull

#5 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 20 June 2014 - 07:24 AM

Well gang,  I had a look online and found a solitary URL regarding a Sheriff fountain pen.

 

Link: http://www.google.co....69411363,d.dGc

 

I have contacted the seller to see if they had any photo's / details they could share.

The owner of the pen told me he was not aware of the location of his pen, given his extensive move from the Northern hemisphere to Tasmania, but said that his grandfather gifted him with the pen when he completed / graduated Year 10 at High School.  He is 11 years my junior, but it would have been in 1979 he was given the pen.

 

He said the filling system was one that you depressed a bar in a cut-away section of the inner and then released it with the nib in the ink to fill it.  I showed him a similar filler to a Parker 51, and he smiled and said that was the same style.

 

Fingers crossed something will come forth soon.


Garth
Penguin, NW Tasmania, Australia

We will be forever known by the tracks we leave behind - Sitting Bull

#6 AndyR

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Posted 20 June 2014 - 08:17 AM

At first thought it doesn't sound like there is necessarily any direct link between the ebay pen, and the one your new friend owns.

 

Safety cap, engine turned, sounds like a description of a pen of the early 1920s, far removed from an aerometric type filler of the 1960s or 70s. If Sheriff pens had been manufactured continually by the same company during the intervening period, I'd be very surprised if the name wasn't more widely known, and the pens more common than seems to be the case. So my vote still goes for the Sheriff as an 'own brand' name, one of thousands of such names around, especially in the first third of the 20th century. It is a real pity that the later Sheriff pen is missing, because that actually sounds more interesting than the ebay example.

 

I still have in the back of my mind the possibility that your man has mis-remembered the name Sheaffer as Sheriff as it seems like it is some time since he last saw the pen. Get him to look through all those packing cases again so we can solve this mystery!

 

Andy



#7 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 20 June 2014 - 11:31 AM

Hi Andy

 

Your knowledge is always informative.

My 'friend' (maybe given time :) ) is adamant of the name Sheriff.

 

I will not be likely to see him prior to next week - Tuesday at the earliest - but hope he can find more for me (or better still, then pen itself)

 

I have yet to hear back from the seller of the eBay item.


Garth
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We will be forever known by the tracks we leave behind - Sitting Bull

#8 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 20 June 2014 - 10:14 PM

Yawning (just out of bed) :blink: ... but did get a response from the seller of the URL mentioned a message or two above during the night.

 

he / she wrote:

Dear fmrleo,

hi s o sorry all my pictures have been deleted up to October last year .yes i do remember slightly about the sheriff it was a dip pen eye dropper in bhr i hope this will help

thanks graham

- tosh510

 

Now, if any of you may recognise 'Graham' you may be able to clarify the 'dip pen / eye dropper' mention.  I take it to mean one could do either, but image i get is like the old Mabie Todd 1500 eye-dropper pen.


Garth
Penguin, NW Tasmania, Australia

We will be forever known by the tracks we leave behind - Sitting Bull

#9 Deb

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Posted 21 June 2014 - 12:31 PM

He's a well-known eBay seller who turns out good quality restorations.  What I would take from what he has written is that it is an eyedropper pen which will take dip pen nibs - not at all a common type of pen.



#10 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 21 June 2014 - 11:34 PM

He's a well-known eBay seller who turns out good quality restorations.  What I would take from what he has written is that it is an eyedropper pen which will take dip pen nibs - not at all a common type of pen.

Hi Deb

 

Thank you for this information, and on being aware of Graham (tosh510).


Garth
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We will be forever known by the tracks we leave behind - Sitting Bull

#11 A K M Adam

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Posted 28 June 2016 - 12:41 PM

I just picked up this example from eBay. Quite brassed, but looks as though it will be a very satisfactory lever-filler.

 

http://www.auctiva.c...ts=0,0&format=0


Edited by A K M Adam, 28 June 2016 - 12:41 PM.


#12 A K M Adam

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Posted 15 October 2016 - 02:03 PM

I have a little bit to add to this thread now I've drawn on the expertise of Henry Simpole.

The pen I bought cane equipped with a dip pen nib (I didn't think to look at first), which was quite dysfunctional with this lever-filler. Henry supplied a working nib, and all is now well. If this happens to be the same pen as described earlier in the thread, though, I would simply add that someone was misrepresenting the pen; it is neither an eye-dropper filler (very obvious lever) nor suitable for a dip pen nib.

 

I'd be very thankful, though, if anyone could add to what little has been turned up so far about the manufacturers of The Sheriff.

Attached Files


Edited by A K M Adam, 15 October 2016 - 02:04 PM.


#13 Peterg

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Posted 16 October 2016 - 08:52 PM

It looks very similar to what Mentmore were turning out under a myriad of different names, but equally many minor and now forgotten pen companies produced very similar products.



#14 vintage penman

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Posted 22 October 2016 - 10:22 PM

Could also be a Wyvern product.



#15 AndyR

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 01:01 PM

If you wait long enough, one will turn up!

 

See ebay lot number 174450236347. Auction finishes 30th September 2020






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