There were many petite fountain pens in the 1920s-30s, but in my experience the nicest were the Peter Pans. They seem to have been better made, and certainly survived better than most of the others. This Peter Pan, made of marbeled red celluloid, is 3 1/4" long capped and only 1/4" across just below the cap edge. It is faceted, with 12 sides, one of which has "HARRIET" engraved in gold print. There is a little swelling in the middle, which is pushing the lever out a notch. he silver trim is in good condition, with no tarnish; the clip is engraved with "Peter Pan". The nib is a Peter Pan, and writes a wet medium fine.
Price:
$59
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This pen is most likely a 5-30, with a 3-25 nib; the 3-25s were generally smaller pens, but this pen is 4.4" long capped. For an early jade Radite pen, it is in very nice condition, has no significant scratches or nicks and is not significantly discolored, except for a deep stain around the bottom edge of the barrel that would not clean out. There is a bit of celluloid deterioration, barely visible just above the imprint. The imprint is complete and easily read. The trim, including the original ringtop, is in clean condition. The nib is a 3-25, and it writes a firm fine, a good writer.
Price:
$60
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This Sheaffer Balance is the later 1930s non-Lifetime model, in full length slender girth (price code 350), in jet black celluloid. It is in very nice user condition, with a few assorted nicks beneath the shiny exterior. It's a lever-filler, and fills well. The amber view window is clean and clear. Its probably original 3 nib has the trace of a prior bend, but it writes a smooth fine line, firm but not roofing nail rigid.
Price:
$75 $69
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This Balance is a CraftsmanVac-Fil, Sheaffer's lowest level full-length pen from the later 1930s, during Sheaffer's conversion from lever-fill to Vac-Fill (plunger) pens. It is in Grey Pearl celluloid, and is quite handsome. As for size, this pen fits the full length slender price 350 price code, at 5 3/16" long capped and .4" wide just below the cap edge. There is a smallish bit of nibbling on the cap and blind cap but no other significant marks. The trim is in nickel, used only with the Grey Pearl pens, and shows a bit of typical corrosion on the clip and cap ring. The nib is correct for the model, a Sheaffer 3 gold nib, and it is very firm and fine. With all of that said, this is a solid pen, looks great. It has a strong Vac-fill filler, so holds a substantial quantity of ink in the barrel.
Price:
$75
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This Balance is most likely a 1930 pen, the first full year of the change to Balances. and it is a 5-30 model. It is in black and pearl Radite, a full size pen at 5.3" long capped. It is a lever-filler, like all the early Balances. This pen cleaned up very nicely, and does not show as much wear as one might expect. It does have a few small nicks, and some fine nibbling on the cap, but nothing significant. There is some celluloid deterioration in the pearl pieces, but, while visible, it is generally all minor. The gold trim is clean, with some corrosion on the base of the lever that did not come off. The imprint is complete. This pen's nib is a 5-30, the appropriate nib for the pen, signifying the size 5 nib and 30 year guarantee for the pen. It writes a very nice and wet fine/medium, a good writer!
Price:
$60
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This Snorkel is a Statesman. It’s an attractive pen, with a ⅜” wide gold cap ring setting off the black cap and barrel. It’s in very nice condition, with only one barely visible scratch near the bottom of the barrel. Because of wear in the internal parts, this pen sometimes shows a little reluctance to extend and withdraw the Snorkel; this has been accommodated in the pen’s price. Its Triumph nib is fast, smooth, wet fine.
Price:
$68
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This Tip-Dip Craftsman is, like all Tip-Dips, a lower quality pen with a good Touchdown filling system. This pen is in Aqua, with a chrome cap. It's in good condition, with no significant scratches or blemishes. The chrome cap is bright and untarnished. The nib is an M1, a medium, and indeed it writes a nice medium line.
Price:
$45
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This Touchdown, from 1950-52, is in Evergreen Green, and it is a Valiant, manifest by its 3/8" wide gold-filled cap ring in a pen with plastic cap and barrel. Contrary to most Touchdowns, this one was pretty clean, without a lot of use wear. It restored very nicely, has a nice shine. The pen is 5 1/4" long capped, and .4" wide just below the cap edge. As a Valiant, this pen has a Triumph nib, so writes a firm fast fine line.
Price:
$65
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This pen is believed to be a lower level Dauntless, it's not always easy to pin down. It shows Waterman's cost-cutting efforts during those years: the rivet crown with the clip integrated into the crown, a weak clip, and thinner plastic. That said, it's a nice enough pen and its green marbled body and cap cleaned up quite nicely. There is some corrosion in the chrome clip; it should not be trusted to hold the pen. The imprint is complete, and shows the immediate post-WWII "Made in United States of America". But, one doesn't buy a late Waterman pen for these -- this pen's attraction is its nib! As with so many Waterman pens, the nib is a Waterman Ideal 14K, and it writes with a pretty substantial amount of flex; without using the flex it writes a rich fine/medium line.
Price:
$69 $62 Sold
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The Deluxe 100s stand out as perhaps the peak of Wearever quality; quite decent, inexpensive pens. They appeared in the early 1940s and sold at least through 1948. Their striped celluloid was a clear copy of the Parker Striped Duofold; the red/pink/black array is handsome. These are full-size pens, 5" long capped and .5' across just below the cap edge. Like almost all Wearevers, it is a lever-filler, and this pen fills strongly. This pen has had a repair to the barrel threads, but the cap fits well and holds. The gold plated trim is clean and intact, and complemented well by the black tassie and crown. The Deluxe 100 imprint is complete and easily read. Like most of the later Wearevers, this pen carries a gold plated nib that writes a relatively firm fine line. This is a sturdy pen that can be carried in a bag and won't be a source of worry.
Price:
$60
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Like almost all Wearevers, this is a are full-size pen, just shy of 5" long capped and .5' across just below the cap edge. It is a lever-filler, and this pen fills strongly. This pen is in grey and black marbled celluoid, and is very clean, with no significant scratches or nicks. The plated trim is clean and intact, and complemented well by the Wearever signature black tassie and crown. The Deluxe 100 imprint is complete, but thin; with effort it can be read. Like most of the later Wearevers, this pen carries a gold plated nib that writes a relatively firm fine line; note that this nib is untipped; it has a spoon depression at the very tip that acts as tipping. This is a sturdy pen that can be carried in a bag and won't be a source of worry.
Price:
$60
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This is a Wearever Pioneer, a 1930s pen, lever-filled, of blond celluloid. It is one of the medium-sized Wearevers, at 4.4" capped and .45" across just below the cap edge. so looks a bit stubby. There is one deep mark that would not polish out, and the lever's retaining ring is visible through the barrel. The cap is also discolored by old ink stains inside. The lever is quite corroded but functions well; the pen fills strongly. The cap ring is corroded as well. The clip is marked "Wearever"; there is no barrel imprint. The nib is a Supreme (a Kahn product like the pen), and writes a pretty smooth fine.
Price:
$39
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