Vintage Pens

We think this was an early version of the Sheaffer Student Pens that would be better known as cartridge fillers in the 1960s-'80s. This one sports a TouchDown filler that was first introduced in 1949. We restored this 1960s' pen with a new ink sac and O-ring. You will write a medium line with its slightly scratchy steel nib. Click the headline for close-ups. Overall, the pen is in decent cosmetic condition. Only the top of the nib looks scratched up. 13cm capped.

Needing a quality pen that was also affordable to help get through the Great Depression, Parker developed the Challenger line. Our Parker Deluxe Challenger is a handsome green marble with the older Duofold-style button filler. It is an average sized pen with a small 14k gold nib. You will write a nice, firm fine line with it. A lower-tier pen they did some cheap plating over a steel clip. Most of the plating has worn away. No cracks, but the pen does have wear from use. Fully restored with a fresh ink sac. It is a nice vintage pen daily driver. 12.7cm capped.

Coral is one of the most sought-after colors in the world of vintage pens. We restored this junior-sized Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal pen in coral with a new ink sac. The coral is a little discolored, which you can see in contrast to its matching pencil. The pen has a 14k gold "Signature" nib that unscrews and is marked as a medium. You will write a nice medium line that is both smooth and has a touch of feedback. No chips or cracks. Light brassing on the cap bands and lever. The pencil has some light brassing but is otherwise stunning. We think it works and will update after tracking down our 1.1mm lead. Pen measures 12.1cm capped.

It is always difficult to tell if a Esterbrook Transition is original or a repairman's special. Whatever our vintage pen is, it has nice matching colors. Click the headline for a close-up. We restore this pen with a new ink sac. You might want to pay special attention to the cap. It has a black-plastic jewel with 3 stripes, instead of the usual circles. Also, there is not "Esterbrook" on the pocket clip. No cracks. Tight clip. Light wear from use. You will write a broad line with a little feedback with its steel 2556 nib. 12.4cm capped.

It is nearly impossible to tell if the Esterbrook Transition pen is an authentic one or a repairman's marriage. We aren't sure, ourselves, but this pen does have a rarer cap with a three-banded black "jewel" on top and no "Esterbrook" written in the clip. We restored it with a new ink sac and new 1461 steel nib. Our vintage pen has some wear from use, but there are no cracks. The clip has a little jiggle, but it doesn't spin. You will write an extra-fine to fine line that is surprisingly smooth for a 1000-series nib. Mind you, that there is still a little feedback, but this isn't a bad nib by any means. 12.6cm capped.

Sheaffer USA only made these chocolate-brown Sheaffer TouchDown-filling fountain pens with wide barrels in 1949. For now, we are going to assume the same of Sheaffer Canada, where this lovely vintage pen was made. We were surprised to find that this pen had been restored shortly before we got it. The sac is still very pliable, and the O-ring seal is strong and well lubricated. You will write an extra-fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib. If you can write without pressure, there is almost no feedback. Standard writing pressure nets a little feedback. Click the headline for photos. 13.3cm capped.

Black hard-rubber Waterman 52s are quite common, but orange hard-rubber Waterman 52s aren't quite as ubiquitous. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac and a lot of polishing. The orange hard rubber looks fairly good in the photo, but there are still traces of the schmutz from aging and ink stains. You'll see the ball of the pocket clip is brassed, along with about 30% of the cap band, which gets a little worse as you work your way to the back of the cap. No cracks! Shallow barrel imprint is still legible. We think your favorite part will be the 14k gold nib. It is NOT a wet noodle, but you will write from a fine to about 2mm wide! The nib more than makes up for any brassing and discoloration. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.5cm capped.

Don't be so quick to blow past this rather average looking Parker 51 set. More than a double-jewel set from 1946, these writing instruments offer something extra special. A very close examination will reward you with hallmarks for solid 14k gold. The caps are gold-filled, but the pocket clips, tail-jewel tassie and pencil's nose cone are all solid 14k gold! This was a special upgrade feature that is rather uncommon in the wild these days. We are selling these pens for our friend and legendary pen repairman Stuart Hawkinson who replaced the diaphragm in the vintage pen. No engravings mar the caps. The pen cap is dent free. The pencil has a small impression on the back of the cap. Under close examination the pen shows a fair amount of wear from use but no cracks or ugly scars. You will write a nice extra-fine line with the 14k gold nib of the pen. The pencil uses 1.1mm leads. Click the headline for a close-up.