Sheaffer Craftsman Set
About This Model
Sheaffer Balances appeared in 1929 and were Sheaffer’s top production lines from the early 1930’s until after WWII. They were available in numerous lengths, girths, colors and patterns, filled by lever or plunger, and were well enough made that now, with a cleaning and filling system restoration, they make excellent and durable pens. There were two distinct levels, Lifetime and non-Lifetime, and numerous models at different times. The Lifetime designation was carried over from before the Balance's appearance, and was kept to designate higher level pens. They carried Lifetime nibs and a white dot to signify the pen as a Lifetime; in addition, they came with the Lifetime guarantee, which continued for many years until the courts struck it down. After WWII the White Dot was used to denote higher level pens, and then became Sheaffer's brand identifier. Non-Lifetime pens had lower trim levels but were made of the same components; their nibs were very good and were often much softer and easier to write with than Lifetimes. Balances were also designated with numerous sub-model names after the mid-1930s, and the use of Balance was ended altogether after WWII, with the obsolescence of lever-filled pens.
About This Pen
By the end of WWII, Balance had disappeared as a Sheaffer model name, replaced by individual names for its various models. The least expensive end of the line was the Craftsman, wonderful pens with all the best attributes of the higher level models, in most of the colors. Their trim was abbreviated, using a wire around the cap edge instead of an embedded cap ring. This is a 1945-49 Craftsman pen and pencil set, in Carmine celluloid. It has evidence of wear in truly minor nicks and scratches, but both pen and pencil restored well and look very attractive. Pen and pencil are both 5 1/8″ long capped and 3/8″ thick just below the cap edge, so slightly smaller in both dimensions that the higher level Sheaffers. The pen carries the proper 33 open nib, so is a great fast writer, a smooth wet fine. These are a pen and pencil you can carry with you in a bag or together in a case and use forever without worry.
Price: $80 Sold