Sheaffer
Pens and Ephemera

This pen doesn't work. Just want to put that out there before we tell you how wonderful it is. Aside from the fact this Sheaffer Imperial doesn't work, it is still a lovely gold-filled vintage pen. The problem is that it only takes the skinny Sheaffer cartridges that are no longer being made. It comes with a broken converter, and Sheaffer no longer has these sized converters. Otherwise the pen is nice. There's a little wear on the metal and plastic of the cap, section and barrel. No dents. The name "Miguel Castillo B" is engraved on the barrel. The thing is that you will write a buttery smooth broad line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.1cm capped.

Abalone shells from California's kelp forests of the 1930s dapple this black cap and barrel of this classic Sheaffer Balance. We believe Sheaffer called the design Ebony and Pearl, but it was really abalone. Our slender, full-length vintage pen looks pretty good for 80-odd years. You'll see some scratches, wear and brassing, but there are no cracks. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. The ink-viewing window is ambered, but you can still see through it. You will write a nice fine line that some might think leans toward medium with its 14k gold nib. You might feel a little feedback on ascenders and descenders. 13.7cm capped.

There's nothing like writing with a junior-sized Sheaffer Lifetime. Possibly a little overlooked, these are fantastic pens with great nibs. Yes, the nibs are firm, but they also are smooth. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. It shows some wear from use and some brassing on the pocket clip and cap band. However, it remains a solid pen nearly 100 years after it was made. You will write a smooth, wet fine to extra-fine line with its thick 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. The nib photo shows a hairline crack in the nib from the section through the second 6 in the serial number and into the U of U.S.A. on the imprint. The nib seems stable and still writes well. The pen measures 11.2cm capped.

A true classic for any pen collector or writer, the Sheaffer Balance Lifetime is an unstoppable force of American manufacturing in the 1930s. Our oversized model is fully restored with a new ink sac. No cracks, no brassing, no deep scratches. Our pen only has light wear from use. Its monster 14k gold nib writes a very nice extra fine line with only the lightest of feedback for such a stiff nib. 14.2cm capped.

Almost perfect but not quite. There are a couple little dimples in the gold-plated cap band of this oversized ebony-and-pearl Sheaffer Balance Lifetime. It is a stunningly handsome pen that is actually made with abalone shell flakes, not pearl. No cracks or deep scratches. No brassing. Looks amazing. It also feels great in your hand, if you have larger hands. You will write a very nice, smooth fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib. It is a firm nib, so you will feel the paper under your pen, but we don't think it is scratchy. There is ambering in the ink viewing window. Still, it is an amazing vintage pen. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.9cm capped.

Levenger teamed up with Sheaffer to make a new series of pens for the Connaisseur line. Each color of the line was named for one of the most famous seas on the planet. This is the Sheaffer Levenger Connaisseur Mediterranean. It is a handsome sapphire blue with gold-plated trim. Our preowned pen takes modern Sheaffer cartridges and short converters. Unfortunately, we haven't any for this pen. No cracks or serious problems. Only light wear from use. You will write a very nice extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 14cm capped.

The Mediterranean Sea is the theme for this joint collaboration of the Sheaffer Levenger Connaisseur ballpoint pen. Our ballpoint pen is in good working order with a working blue refill. The tail cap and barrel have some wear from use but no cracks or deep scratches. Twist the tail cap back and forth to advance and retract the refill. 13.7cm.

Levenger teamed up with Sheaffer to make a new series of pens for the Connaisseur line. Each color of the line was named for one of the most famous seas on the planet. This is the Sheaffer Levenger Connaisseur Aegean. It is a handsome emerald green with gold-plated trim. Our preowned pen will come with a new rollerball refill. No cracks or serious problems. Only light wear from use. 14cm capped.