1930s Sheffer Stubby Lifetime Balance Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set - REVERSE TRIM

Vintage: 1930s

Make: Sheaffer

Model: Lifetime Balance (stubby size)

Color: Grey Pearl with Red Veins

Materials: celluloid, nickel-plated trim

Filling System: lever-filler (resacced and ready to write)

Length: This short, standard girth model measures 4 3/4” capped and 5 3/4” posted. 

Nib: 14k Sheaffer Lifetime nib lays down a smooth and consistent F line

Condition: Nickel-plated trim is notoriously more prone to wear. The trim on this pen is better than most, but does show pin-sized spots of wear here and there. Looks like the pen saw more use as the trim on MP is pristine with no notable wear. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy flaws – scarcely even any micro-scratches. Great color - even between barrel and cap. Manufacturer imprints are factory deep and fully legible. MP is fully functional, expelling, retracting, and gripping lead as designed. 

Details: Less common than both the standard (later, “Statesman”) and short, slender models was this short, standard girth model that collectors have dubbed the Stubby Balance. The already uncommon Grey Pearl with red veins was the only Grey Pearl Balance color that routinely came equipped with gold-plated trim (all other Greys had NPT as a rule). But there are some uncommon exceptions in this color outfitted with what collectors call “reverse trim.” This matching FP and MP set in the stubby size has nickel-plated trim, including unusual humped clips with round balls. The FP is a white-dot model, meaning that it came with Sheaffer’s lifetime guarantee.