Product Description
Type Vac filler fountain pen
Product Name Balance 500 fountain pen. Circa 1938 this model would have been renamed the Balance Admiral. The barrel is marked 500.
Manufacturer and Year Sheaffer, made in USA -- Circa 1937 (The clip was only officially produced in 1935 but was made for a decade longer and the color was introduced in 1937).
Length 5-5/16"
Filling System Vac filler. This sacless filling system uses a long syringe-like plunger rod tightly fitted into the cylindrical ink chamber that on the downstroke creates a vacuum inside the ink chamber that draws ink into the pen through the feed. Sheaffer adapted this filling system to the Balance line in 1935. When we received the pen, the filling system had been restored, so we gave it thorough testing and found it filled well with no leaks. We will give it the one year filling system warranty that we give for the pens we restore ourselves.
Color The pen is a striated Rose Glow with gold plated trim.
Nib MEDIUM Feathertouch #5 nib. It's quite springy, with a tiny touch of flex. We've included a writing sample in the photos for an example of the nib's performance.
Condition Excellent condition for this prettily colored, shiny pen. No cracks or chips. The pen has light to moderate scratching with some larger individual scratches toward the end of the barrel. The clip looks very good with only some and brassing on the sides of the ball. The cap band has some tiny dents but no brassing or pitting. The barrel clarity is excellent. The imprints are crisp and clear.
Note: This pen came to us restored. We tested the filling system thoroughly and found no leaks or problems. and did not perform any additional work on it. Our usual one year guarantee on the filling system still applies to this pen.
