Sheaffer Touchdown Sentinel
1950s
About This Model
Sheaffer phased out its Balance during the years after the end of WWII. It had been a great, long, ride since 1929, but America demanded new technology in everything and Balances, whether lever-fillers or vacuum-fillers, were no longer sexy, no matter how well they worked. So, from 1946-48, while Balance inventory was sold off, Sheaffer developed its new technology, the Touchdown pneumatic filler. It is a simple, effective mechanism: extending the Touchdown tube brings air into the sac, compressing it pushes the air out, allowing ink to fill the sac. Although it was an emulation of a 1920s Chilton mechanism, the Touchdown filler was both an improvement and inexpensive to produce. The Touchdown appeared in 1949, with the "Fat Pen", and its TM (Thin Model), which appeared in 1950 in a range of models and features. The "Fat Pen" only lasted one year, but the TM sold well, to be discontinued just two years later with the introduction of the Snorkel and Tip-Dip, which also both used the Touchdown mechanism. The mechanism lived on, through the 1960s, in PFMs, Dolphins and Imperials, a hugely successful next act from Sheaffer.
About This Pen
The Sentinel Deluxe models were among the higher levels of Touchdown pens, sporting stainless steel caps with gold filled integrated cap rings and gold-filled inner-sprung clips, a wide range of Triumph nibs, an ink window, and multiple colors. These are handsome pens and outstanding writers, and at 5.25”, full length but, as part of the Thin Model line, a touch slimmer. This pen, in addition, is one of the “Rule of Four” salesman’s models, although since the text is only barely visible along the barrel it is not being offered as one. The pen is very clean, without noticeable blemish or scratch, and writes a very smooth and wet fine line. A fine and durable pen that will be a great daily writer.
Price: $95 Sold