1930s Sheaffer Balance Junior Vacuum Filler Fountain Pen Mechanical Pencil Set - EBONIZED PEARL

Vintage: 1930s

Make: Sheaffer

Model: Balance Junior

Color: Ebonized Pearl

Materials: celluloid with rhodium-plated trim

Filling System: vacuum (Fully restored by a professional. Fills and writes as designed without leaks.)

Length: This short model measures 4 13/16” capped and 5 5/8” posted. 

Nib: 14k Sheaffer Jr nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line.

Condition: Barrel transparency is near mint with a light yellow color. Nickel-plated trim on both is virtually pristine, retaining its original bright luster and having no brassing or other notable flaws apart from a couple short scratches on the clips. Celluloid surface of both has a smooth lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Due to its wrapped construction, a couple of the original factory seams where the celluloid meets are visible on the FP but none show signs of instability or cracking. MP has a small gap between the cap and barrel that does not impair function. It's fully functional, propelling, retracting, and gripping lead as designed. Manufacturer imprints on both are factory deep and fully legible. 

Details: This is a matching FP and MP set in Ebonized Pearl with rhodium-plated trim. Ebonized Pearl is one of the scarcer, more eye-catching catalogued Balance colors. Genuine abalone chips embedded in the celluloid. This example shows no discoloration, so that the chips retain their vibrant, chatoyant appearance. Pen is a vacuum filler with a partly transparent barrel for viewing the ink level. More efficient, capacious, and more durable than sacced pens, it wasn’t uncommon to find 1930s vacuum-filling Sheaffers that still filled somewhat into the early 2000s after 70 years of service! These pens are filled by submersing the nib, unscrewing the blind cap and extending the plunger, then driving the plunger home in one steady stroke.