Offered for your consideration is a vintage SHEAFFER’S Balance Junior White Dot Lifetime fountain pen, manufactured in the USA c.1933. This beautiful pen features the stunning yellow nacre (mother of pearl) in black Radite (celluloid plastic) cap/barrel with gold-plated trim ring, filling lever, and humped, full ball-end clip.
It is a bit shorter than the standard Balance, but still a substantial pen. And, it is not marked Junior anywhere. That would come along with the flat ball, chromed metal clip, non-White Dot Junior models starting around 1935.
So, please have a look at the large photos and read the remaining description to decide if this handsome SHEAFFER fountain pen should join your collection.
This Balance Junior Lifetime pen is in clean, very good physical condition. It measures 4¾” long with cap on, 59/16” with cap posted on top, and a full 9/16” at its thickest. The cap and barrel are in great shape with no chips, cracks, or noteworthy scratches, just some typical light scuffs and usage marks from the decades. And there’s some darkening to the mother of pearl from the inks of the day, but that’s about it, as pictured.
Plus, the cap screws down properly, the clip rests well on the cap with no appreciable gap or lift, and the filler lever has proper motion. And, the “W.A. SHEAFFER PEN CO.” imprint on the barrel is crisp and fully legible. This old SHEAFFER was made to last by American craftsmen and last it certainly has—it presents exceptionally well to both eye and touch!
In addition, the Lifetime “Feathertouch” nib looks to be in great condition with no tip bends, tine splitting, or misalignment noted, as pictured. The nib is 14K gold with platinum-plated channel, like all of the White Dot Lifetime pens starting in 1931, but it isn't hallmarked. And, it appears to be a fine point, perhaps medium, but that’s not visibly marked either.
I gave the pen a thorough cleaning by rinsing the nib/feed and cap repeatedly in cool water to chase out the stubborn, decades-old residual ink. No bladder or remnants of one were inside the pen when it came into my possession. As is often the case with fountain pens that are stored away unused for many years, the bladder likely dried out and was evidently removed by the prior owner. Accordingly, this pen needs a new ink sac in order to function.
With the heft, girth and balance—as the model name suggests—of this old SHEAFFER, it’ll be a great writer once fitted with a new bladder by a knowledgeable collector or their pen shop!
I encourage interested parties to ask any questions they may have about this listing before committing to purchase as there are no cancellations, returns, refunds, or claims considered.
Payment is due at checkout by PayPal or other methods that eBay accepts. U.S. mailing addresses will pay $5.45 for very carefully packed shipping via U.S. Postal Service with tracking and delivery confirmation. International purchases accepted only from those who are able to pay with PayPal including shipping by U.S. Postal Service First Class Parcel Air Mail.
Thanks for looking!