1940 Sheaffer Balance *SOLD* ($180)

THIS PEN HAS BEEN SOLD!

Hello there! Welcome to Ink Inkquiring Minds. My name is Doug, and I’m back with another Fountain Pen Resurrection Sunday video.

Today, I have a Sheaffer balance from the early 1940s on the slab. It doesn’t belong in this box, though. This box is from the 70s or 80s, marked “Sheaffer Balance.” However, this pen was made for a Balance that used cartridges. So, we’ll remove this box and examine the actual Sheaffer Balance.

I’ve been able to identify this pen based on two features. First, the flattened tip of the clip indicates a later Balance. Second, the pen’s colour is Carmine Red, which was only produced on Sheaffer Balances between 1940 and 1942. Therefore, we can pinpoint its production between 1940 and 1942.

This pen is a Sheaffer Balance lever filler. In 1942, Sheaffer replaced the Balance line with the Triumph line. Additionally, this pen has an engraved name in gold, likely gold paint, that reads “Edson D. Ault.” It’s a nice engraving.

I’ve found Edson D. Ault in Colorado, so I’m keeping the engraving on this pen. I’ll share some information about Edson D. Ault when we discuss my thoughts on the resurrection, if and when that occurs. For now, let’s examine this pen and determine what it needs to be resurrected.

THOUGHTS

So, what are my thoughts about this resurrection? Well, I’m pleased with it. This was a lot of fun. Not only is this beautiful Sheaffer balance in this gorgeous carmine red stack celluloid, which I just love, but resurrecting these lever-filler pens is fairly simple. They’re not as complicated as they became when Sheaffer made them vacuum fillers or later filling systems like the Snorkel or the Touchdown. The lever-filler is a very simple operation. And if you can find these lever fillers in good condition, all you need is a little bit of shellac, a latex sack, and a bit of cleaning, and you’re back in business.

I was also lucky that the nib on this beautiful 14 karat gold two-tone sheer is in excellent condition and needed no adjustment whatsoever. Getting that feed out of there is a little tricky, though, because you have to watch out for that stem that extends beyond the section. But again, I lucked out getting that little plastic top to a Retro 51 ballpoint refill, and it fit exactly into the section. So, that was a little lucky accident.

And the fact that the pen writes so wonderfully now, smoothly like it’s brand new, is just icing on the cake. It’s a gorgeous fountain pen. I’m pleased. But I’m also pleased that I was able to keep the Edson D. Ault signature in there. It’s deeply engraved, so it wasn’t affected by the polishing at all. I did a little research on Edson D. Ault and found that he was born in Loveland, Colorado, on July 18th, 1884, 141 years ago. He died on November 18th, 1956, at the age of 72. And that was 69 years ago. And I was 6 months old when he passed away in Denver, Colorado.

Let’s say this is the 1940s. It might be 1942, but let’s say it’s 1940. And Edson purchased this or had it. I suspect it was probably a gift from someone since the monogram is engraved in there for him. I bet this was a gift. Edson would have been 56 years old when he received this pen in 1940. So, that’s some really interesting information. In the local Denver newspaper, Mr. Ault's death was announced. Edson Ault, a former resident of Denver and a member of a pioneering Fort Collins family, passed away on a Sunday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver after a long illness. Born on July 18, 1884, in Loveland, Mr. Ault moved to Fort Collins with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ault, as a child. He attended Fort Collins schools and graduated from Denver University before relocating to Denver approximately 20 years ago. During his time in Denver, he operated the Fort Collins laundry.

Mr. Ault's life is a fascinating story, and vintage pens often carry such stories. This pen now holds a touch of personality and history. If you’re interested in purchasing this beautiful fountain pen, I’m selling it for $180 US plus shipping. If you’re interested in buying it, please send me an email at inquiringminds@gmail.com with your name and address, and I’ll provide you with a shipping quote. Currently, shipping to North America is approximately $10. If you’re purchasing from the United States, you’ll be subject to some import tariffs. Although the pen was manufactured in the United States, I apologize for any inconvenience. I’ll provide instructions on how to pay via PayPal and send you a tracking number for your purchase.

Thank you for watching.

And that's all she wrote.