#vacuumfiller

[penhero]

PenHero.com Article

Parker Vacumatic vs. Sheaffer Vacuum-Fil: Sheaffer Wins

An interesting conversation at the 2023 Washington D.C. Pen Show prompted me to revisit this article, originally written in 2003. That year I discovered an undated Sheaffer sales brochure titled, “Fountain Pen Selling Facts: Helpful Information For Retail Salespeople” probably released as early as 1934. Parker got an early start in the vacuum filling game with the release in late 1932 of their new Vacuum Filler, actually the second name used for their new diaphragm filling “sacless” pen which would eventually be called the Vacumatic. Sheaffer was late by a year before offering its own vacuum filler, cautiously offering their new Vacuum-Fil pen as a sub-brand by early 1934. The Vacuum-Fil system was moved to Sheaffer's top Balance pens later that year. But how to compete with the popular Parker Vacumatic? Sheaffer armed their dealers with fact sheets and sales brochures to equip retail sales people to show why that new Sheaffer was better!

Read the story about these interesting pens here:

[thekushshcart]

Sealed Vacuum filling solution： https://lnkd.in/dVw2YVDj #VacuumFilling #sealedoilfilling

[stilograficamente]

🇬🇧 🇮🇹 🇬🇧 New video review (link in bio). The Pilot Custom 823 is a very versatile fountain pen, very famous and widespread. Think that it is one of the fountain pens, perhaps the favorite, of the famous writer Neil Gaiman, in my opinion for several reasons. 🇮🇹 Nuova videorecensione (link in bio). La Pilot Custom 823 è una stilografica molto versatile assai famosa e diffusa. Si pensi che è una delle stilografiche, forse la preferita, del famoso scrittore Neil Gaiman, a mio parere per diverse ragioni. #StilograficaMente #pilotcustom823 #fountainpen #vacuumfiller #goldnib #japanesefountainpen #stilografica #penna #pen #luxurywriter #writinginstruments #writing #italianreview #recensione https://www.instagram.com/p/CH8g4AMD9Vp/?igshid=1bw0hgl95pre7

[thepandabearmom]

#motivationalmarch March 17th @penbbs 456 with @offices_supplies_pen nib Diamine Pelham Blue Book by @take_a_note_planner #penbbs #diamine #pelhamblue #guitar #vacuumfill #tomoeriverpaper #stationery https://www.instagram.com/p/BvI2nfZB566/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ektgjs4iqejh

[cmmachineservicesltd]

CM Machine Services - HTS 150 Vacuum Filler. #cmmachineservices #brampton #foodequipment #processingequipment #butcher #butcherproducts #food #producer #packaging #meatprocessing #meat #production #HTS #foodprocessingequipment #foodservices #warehouse #vacuumfiller #former #portioner (at Brampton, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I7NETglaq/?igshid=x6qmd4t5vs6c

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Vacuum-Fil lever-fill pen in a in a spiral pattern grey/green and black striped celluloid c. 1935. Vacuum-Fil was a sub-brand for Sheaffer, introduced in 1934 and featuring a new single stroke plunger filling system before the system was applied to Sheaffer branded pens. After introduction, Sheaffer treated Vacuum-Fil as a sub-brand and introduced lever fill models, such as this 4 ¾ inch long junior size pen. The Sheaffer name does not appear on the pen. The barrel imprint reads VACUUM-FIL over FT. MADISON, IA. U.S.A. The gold plated clip is stamped VACUUM-FIL. The gold nib is stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A. over 2. WASP was also a Sheaffer sub-brand, an acronym for W. A. Sheaffer Pen. #pencollecting #fountainpen #sheaffer #sheafferpen #vacuum #vacuumfil #spiral #celluloid #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/CjJV8ynPke3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[penhero]

This is a WASP (stands for W. A. Sheaffer Pen) Clipper Junior fountain pen in Brown Pearl c. 1938. This 5 inch long pen is a vacuum-fil type where the celluloid has translucent ink view stripes running down the cap and barrel. The exceptionally interesting celluloid was probably sheet stock rolled into a tube. It has a gold plated clip and cap band. Sheaffer advertised the unhallmarked nibs as solid gold and were probably 12 karat. It’s stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A. over Junior. The barrel is stamped THE CLIPPER over WASP PEN CO. INC. over FT. MADISON IOWA, U.S.A. over PATENTED IN U.S.A. The black end cap has to be removed to access the plunger. The cap top is also black. Examples with this striped celluloid and brick pattern are known in brown pearl, green pearl and blue pearl with gold color trim or gray pearl with silver color trim. Photographed with a c. 1924 Illinois Watch Company "The Garland" movement 14 karat white gold filled case pocket watch. #fountainpen #pencollecting #sheaffer #wasp #clipper #illinoiswatch #pocketwatch #celluloid #vacuum #vacuumfill #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/B8NPYfkj_g6/?igshid=1jz3jumh3bm0m

[penhero]

This is a throwback photo from 2003. This is a Sheaffer Triumph Sentinel Deluxe in green striped celluloid c. 1945-1947. This 5 1/8 inch long pen shows in the 1951 Sheaffer Complete Service Policy priced at $15.00. The Sentinel was the first Sheaffer pen with a brushed stainless steel cap. Note that the Sheaffer White Dot is on the end of the barrel. Sheaffer solved the problem of mounting the White Dot on metal caps in 1948. Sheaffer also changed the Sentinel to a polished stainless steel cap in 1948. This example has a barrel stamping of 1500, indicating the price. #pencollecting #fountainpen #sheaffer #sheafferpen #sheaffertriumph #triumph #vacuumfil #vacuum #celluloid #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mOMJzj_Ww/?igshid=d3x9qgyqeh76

[penhero]

This is a WASP Vacuum-Fil fountain pen in burgundy and blue marble celluloid c. 1936.  The cap and barrel are made from spiral wrapped sheet celluloid and the seam can be easily seen.  Sheaffer changed the name of the Vacuum-Fil Pen Company to the WASP Pen Company in 1936, WASP being an acronym for W. A. Sheaffer Pen company.  This 5 inch long pen is a lever fill type.  All trim is gold plated, though showing a lot of wear.  The barrel is stamped WASP over VACUUM-FIL over FT. MADISON, IA, U.S.A.  The gold nib is unhallmarked and stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A over 2, the nib size.

[penhero]

This is a WASP Vacuum-Fil fountain pen in green and brown marble celluloid c. 1936.  The cap and barrel are made from spiral wrapped sheet celluloid and the seam can be easily seen.  Sheaffer changed the name of the Vacuum-Fil Pen Company to the WASP Pen Company in 1936, WASP being an acronym for W. A. Sheaffer Pen company.  This 5 inch long pen is a lever fill type.  All trim is gold plated, though showing a lot of wear.  The barrel is stamped WASP over VACUUM-FIL over FT. MADISON, IA, U.S.A.  The gold nib is unhallmarked and stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A over 2, the nib size.

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Balance Junior Ebonized Pearl fountain pen and pencil set c. 1937-1938.  Sheaffer claimed that the cap and barrel material was for the "first time in fountain pen history, genuine pearl … actually inlaid in lustrous ebony-black radite."  This 4 11/16 inch long vacuum-fil fountain pen has an unhallmarked gold nib stamped SHEAFFER’S over Junior over MADE IN U.S.A.  Vacuum-fil pens fill by unscrewing the blind cap at the end of the barrel and pulling out the plunger.  The nib is inserted in ink and the plunger is pressed down, creating a vacuum inside the pen and ink is pulled into the barrel.  Look closely to see the spiral marks on the barrel that are translucent so the user can check the ink level.  The trim is chrome plated.  The pen is model D2WS and sold for $2.75 the companion pencil sold for $2.50.   

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Vacuum-Fil lever-fill pen in grey and black striped celluloid in a spiral pattern c. 1935. Vacuum-Fil was a sub-brand for Sheaffer, introduced in 1934 and featuring a new single stroke plunger filling system before it was applied to Sheaffer branded pens. After introduction, Sheaffer treated Vacuum-Fil as a sub-brand and introduced lever fill models, such as this 4 3/4 inch long junior size pen. The Sheaffer name does not appear on the pen. The barrel imprint reads VACUUM-FIL over FT. MADISON, IA. U.S.A.  The gold plated clip is stamped VACUUM-FIL.  The gold nib is stamped WASP over MADE IN U.S.A. over 2.  WASP was also a Sheaffer sub-brand, an acronym for W. A. Sheaffer Pen. 

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Balance Sovereign Carmine Vacuum-Fil fountain pen c. 1940-1941. It’s about 5 7/16 inches long and sold for $8.75. The barrel is actually alternating color and clear celluloid strips so that the ink level can be seen by the user. It fills by unscrewing the end cap, pulling out the plunger, putting the nib in ink and pressing the plunger down once. It features a two-tone palladium or platinum masked 14 karat gold Lifetime Feathertouch nib. The Sovereign was offered in the 1941 catalog in Black, Golden Brown, Marine Green, Gray Pearl (silver color trim),  and Carmine celluloid.  The matching pencil was $4.00. 

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Sovereign vacuum-fil fountain pen in Burnt Umber Brown c. 1948. This 5 inch long White Dot pen sold for $8.75 in 1948 and is made of heat-resistant Forticel plastic, which Sheaffer used to replace the striped celluloids. It was offered as a Vacuum-Fil in Burnt Umber Brown, Persian Blue and Black or as a Lever-Fill in Black only. The trim is gold filled, including the 1/4 inch cap band. The nib is 14 karat gold with platinum or palladium two-tone plating. 

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Balance First Lady / Lady Sheaffer Marine Green Vacuum-Fil fountain pen c. 1937-1941. It’s about 4 3/4 inches long and sold for $8.75. The barrel is actually alternating color and clear celluloid strips so that the ink level can be seen by the user. It fills by unscrewing the end cap, pulling out the plunger, putting the nib in ink and pressing the plunger down once. It features a two-tone palladium or platinum masked 14 karat gold Lifetime Feathertouch nib. The First Lady was offered in the 1937 catalog in Black, Golden Brown, Ebonized Pearl, Gray Pearl (silver color trim), Rose Glow, and Marine Green celluloid. The Lady Sheaffer name first appears in the 1938 catalog. Ebonized Pearl and Rose Glow were dropped in the 1939 catalog. Carmine was added in 1940.

[penhero]

This is a Sheaffer Balance 8W / Premier Black Vacuum-Fil c. 1936-1940. It’s about 5 1/2 inches long and sold for $10.00. It has the 1000 price stamping under the imprint on the barrel. The barrel is actually alternating black and clear celluloid strips so that the ink level can be seen by the user. It fills by unscrewing the end cap, pulling out the plunger, putting the nib in ink and pressing the plunger down once. This example is very ambered, so the clear strips are hard to see.  The 8W was offered in the 1936 catalog in Black, Golden Brown, Ebonized Pearl, Gray Pearl (silver color trim), and Rose Glow celluloid. Marine Green was added in the 1937 catalog. The Premier name first appears in the 1938 catalog.  Ebonized Pearl and Rose Glow were dropped in the 1939 catalog. Carmine was added in 1940.