Product Description
Type Vintage Mechanical Pencil
Product Name This is in the Balance family, and it is the mate to the fat oversize Balance "senior" pens.
Manufacturer and Year Sheaffer 1930s (they produced this pattern from 1929 to 1934, and used this long humped clip starting 1929, so that dates this pencil to 1930-1 at the latest)
Length 5-3/4" (tapered)
Filling System This pencil takes 1.1mm (thick) leads. A packet of leads will be included.
Color Black celluloid embedded with "floating" pieces of cream colored celluloid. Gold plated trim. The color is really close to perfect on this particular pencil (with only slight yellowing), which is unusual because the cream colored pieces do tend toward the amber color on most examples you see out there.
Condition Excellent condition with no cracks, dents, or dings. This is a sleek, shiny, beautifully colored pencil that is striking. The cap and barrel have light scratching. There is a small chip just under the point at the top of the cap portion of pencil, where Sheaffer reinforced the pointy-top with metal and an extra piece of material. The cone has moderate scratching including some small, deep marks. The clip has plating wear on the ball and primarily light scratching with a few deeper marks. The cap band looks excellent. There are a few places where you can see lines that look like under-the-surface cracks which is common for the black and pearl celluloid. The imprints are clear.