Product Description
Type Vac-fil fountain pen and mechanical pencil set, restored and working well.
Product Name Lifetime Triumph 1000 and 400 set (marked on the barrels). The fountain pen has the Lifetime white dot on the top of the cap and the nib is also labeled Lifetime.
Manufacturer and Year Sheaffer, made in USA -- 1940s.
Length Both pieces are 5 inches.
Filling System The pen has the Vac-Fil system, which we've restored and tested to confirm that it's working well. The pencil takes 0.9mm (or "thin") leads, which it extends via the traditional twist mechanism.
Color Carmine striated celluloid cap and barrel, with gold-plated trim and clip. The fountain pen has a black ridged section with a greenish-amber viewing window. The cap bands are 1/4" and the pen has a white dot at the top of the cap.
Nib Fine two-tone 14k gold Lifetime Triumph conical nib. Smooth and firm.
Condition Excellent condition, in brown "alligator skin" box with a burgundy velvet and satin interior. This is a beautifully colored, shiny set that looks fantastic in its classic design patterning. The fountain pen has a few small holes along the edge where the cap lip sits -- please see photos below. This version of the Triumph vac-fil has an inner barrel that holds the ink, so these small holes do not cause a leak or a problem with the filling system. (Our educated guess is that a few small drops of MEK hit these spots during a previous restoration and ate thru the celluloid.) It has another small chip about an inch up from the blind cap. Otherwise, it has light scratching with a patch of more moderate scratches toward the end and two splotchy marks also near the end. The cap looks excellent with just some microscratches. The cap band and clip are beautiful. The white dot is excellent. The mechanical pencil is superior with just some microscratching. The imprints on both the pen and pencil are clear.