c.1932-4 Sheaffer Junior Fountain Pen Mechanical Pencil Set - SEMIFLEX/FLEX

Vintage: c.1932-4 

Make: Sheaffer

Model: Junior

Color: Red Veined Grey Pearl

Materials: Celluloid, nickel-plated trim

Filling System: Lever-filler (guaranteed to fill to factory capacity)

Length: Measures 4 7/16” capped and 5 3/4” posted. 

Nib: 14k Sheaffer Junior nib is Semiflex on the verge of full Flex. It lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.4mm) under moderate pressure. Thin hairlines, strong snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it a great choice for shaded writing. 

Condition: Juniors are not especially uncommon pens but they’re exceedingly hard to find clean, without discoloration of the plastic and brassing and corrosion of the trim. This pen comes from my personal collection; it’s the result of decades hunting the cleanest example I could find. Nickel-plated trim shows dulling of the original luster around most of the cap band but no brassing aside from the typical sliver on the clip ball. No flaws to the MP trim aside from some miscroscratches on the huge nose cone. Celluloid on both is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible. MP is fully functional, retracting, expelling, and gripping lead as designed when the metal nose cone is turned. 

Details: The 1930s Sheaffer Junior was marketed as a more affordable alternative to the Balance. It began its life as a semi-streamlined flat top of the same proportions as #3-sized Balances but with truncated ends. By 1936 the ends of the Junior were further streamlined into the recognizable Balance profile in that size. 2 sizes and 4 colors of Junior were available, all with nickel-plated trim. Lever fillers were available only in the shorter length while only vacuum fillers were available in the longer length. Early models (c.1932-4) came with round-ball hump clips, opaque HR sections, and 14k nibs stamped Junior in printed font. Later models (c.1935-6) came with flat ball clips, visulated sections, and 14k nibs stamped Junior in cursive font.