Photo Credit: PalsterPro
1950s Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set
Asking Price: $90 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Mid Century elegance is on full display with this vintage Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen and mechanical pencil set, produced sometime between 1952 and 1959.
-The Sheaffer Snorkel line of fountain pens took their named from the pen’s long, thin ink refill tube. Vintage Sheaffer Snorkels are considered to be very robust pens and work wonderfully as daily writers if you are so inclined.
-The body of both pieces is made from jet black resin accented with gold-filled trim. This gives a streamlined, understated look that conveys the best aspects of Mid Century design.
-The Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman was a mid-range pen in the Snorkel line. Even so, it still sold for the not insubstantial sum of $15.50 in 1956, which is equivalent to about $139 in 2017 dollars. The Statesman pen and pencil set was even more expensive; it would have cost you $22.75 in 1956, or around $205 today.
-This Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman pen and pencil set has the classic White Dot of excellence near the top of the cap. After its introduction in the 1920s and through the 1930s, the Sheaffer White Dot meant that the pen had a lifetime warranty. However, in the 1940s, Sheaffer changed it to a marketing symbol that indicated a “symbol of satisfaction” or a “mark of luxury”.
-This Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen has a palladium-silver (F4) nib. Most nibs on high quality vintage fountain pens are made from 14 or 18 karat gold. Palladium-silver alloy nibs were a reaction by the 1940s fountain pen industry to wartime rationing. By the 1950s, these special alloy nibs were used in some mid-range models to reduce costs. Of course, right now palladium is just as expensive as platinum! What a difference 60 years makes!
–Vintage fountain pens are eminently accessible to the antique collector or investor working on a tight budget. Many different excellent models can be found in the $100 range, or even a little bit lower.
-This vintage Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen and mechanical pencil set comes with its original box, which is always a nice bonus. Considering its great condition and classic styling, I would say this set is well priced at $90.
Cons:
-The seller does not disclose if this fountain pen and mechanical pencil set has been serviced recently. I think the safe assumption is that is hasn’t. Therefore, a prudent buyer would set aside funds to replace the rubber ink sac and seals in the pen, which are prone to degrade over long periods of time. In addition, new leads should be sourced for the pencil. This would drive up the total cost of the set.
-The Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman was, ultimately, a mid range pen. The highest end model in the Snorkel line, the Masterpiece, had either a 9 or 14 karat solid gold cap and body, coupled with a solid 14 karat gold nib. The Snorkel Masterpiece is a much more desirable fountain pen than the Statesman, all else being equal. Of course, it also costs a lot more money as well, provided you can find one.
-If you purchase this beautiful pen and pencil set, you are left with the conundrum of whether to use it on a regular basis or stash it away to keep it pristine. If you choose to use it, you may end up reducing its value slightly over time due to wear and tear.
