If you have ever picked up the sheaffer snorkel , you know immediately that you're holding some thing a bit distinctive from your average water fountain pen. It's not merely the weight or even the way the particular cap clicks; it's the sense that there is a few serious 1950s engineering hidden under that plastic barrel. Within an era where everything is throw-away and digital, right now there is something deeply satisfying about the pen that utilizes a literal retractable straw to imbibe printer ink.
I remember the particular first time I actually saw one of these brilliant in action at the local estate purchase. The vendor called it a "fancy pen, " but as soon as I unscrewed the blind cap plus watched that small metal tube extend from under the particular nib, I was connected. It seemed viewing a gadget out of a Mission impossible movie, even though it predates 007's motion picture debut by a decade.
The Most Over-Engineered Pen Ever Made (In a Good Way)
The sheaffer snorkel was released in 1952, best at the elevation of the "pen wars. " Back then, companies such as Parker and Sheaffer were constantly trying to outdo each other. The big issue they were trying in order to solve? Messy fingers. In those times, filling a water feature pen meant dunking the whole nib straight into an ink container, which inevitably supposed you had to clean off the excess along with a tissue.
Sheaffer's solution has been the Snorkel system. It's essentially the "Touchdown" filler—a pneumatic system that uses air pressure in order to compress a silicone sac—but with an added twist. When you turn the particular knob in late the particular pen, a thin stainless steel pipe (the snorkel) extends past the nib. You simply dip that will tiny tube in to the ink. A person pull the plunger out, push it down, as well as the dog pen sucks in the ink without an one drop ever coming in contact with the nib or the grip section.
It will be, to be honest, a work of art of over-engineering. Does a pen need a retracting snorkel to work? No. But does it make the particular whole process sense incredibly cool? Absolutely.
Choosing the particular Right Model
If you begin looking for a sheaffer snorkel nowadays, you'll realize fairly quickly that Sheaffer didn't simply make one particular version. They made a whole navy of them, ranging from entry-level versions to high-end variations with solid platinum caps.
One of the most popular is definitely the "Sentinel, " which usually features a stainless steel cap plus a gold-filled cut. It has that will classic mid-century cosmetic that looks just like good in the shirt pocket today as it did in 1955. If a person prefer something a bit more elegant, the "Statesman" or even the "Admiral" are great choices. The usually comes lower to the nib. Some possess the well-known "Triumph" nib—the conical, wraparound style that will looks like the particular nose of the rocket ship—while other people possess a more conventional open nib.
For the serious collectors, the "PFM" (Pen For Men) is the ay grail. It's a beefed-up, oversized version of the Snorkel. It's thicker, heavier, and has an inlaid nib that will looks incredibly modern. It had been marketed in order to men who wished a "man-sized" dog pen, and even though that marketing and advertising is dated now, the pen itself is a dream in order to write with.
The Writing Experience
Utilizing a sheaffer snorkel isn't just about the filling gimmick; it's a fantastic writer. Many of these pens arrive with 14k platinum nibs or "Palladium Silver" nibs. They tend to be for the firmer aspect, that is perfect in the event that you're someone that normally uses ballpoints and isn't utilized to the "flex" of some vintage pens.
The Triumph nib, in particular, is legendary for the smoothness. Because associated with its shape, it's incredibly rigid, meaning you get the very consistent collection. I've found that my Snorkels are some of the most reliable vintage pens in my collection. These people don't dry away easily, and they will start writing the particular second the tip touches the papers.
There's also something to be said with regard to the "hiss. " When you force the plunger lower to fill the particular pen, you can listen to the air escaping through the feed. It's a tactile, mechanical sound that will reminds you that will you're using the tool made of metal, rubber, and suspension systems, rather than the molded piece associated with cheap plastic.
The Reality of Maintenance
Today, I won't lay to you—owning a sheaffer snorkel isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Because the mechanism is therefore complex, they may be a bit of a pain to repair. In case you buy one particular at an antique store, chances are the rubber sac inside has hardened into a crusty mess over the particular last seventy many years.
As opposed to a simple lever-filler where you can just play a new sac and call it the day, the Snorkel has O-rings plus point gaskets that need to become airtight for the pneumatic system to work. If there's even a small leak, the pencil won't suck upward ink.
If you aren't comfy taking apart tiny mechanical parts, I'd highly recommend buying the "restored" model through a reputable dealer. It might price a bit more upfront, but it saves you the particular headache of attempting to source specialized gaskets or accidentally bending the snorkel tube. Once they are properly refurbished, though, they are likely to stay working for decades.
Precisely why They Still Issue Today
You may wonder why anybody would bother with a 70-year-old pen that requires special upkeep when you are able buy the pack of disposable rollers for five bucks. For me, it comes down in order to the connection to the particular past.
When I compose with my sheaffer snorkel , I'm using the same technology that engineers and doctors used in the particular fifties. It symbolizes a moment when companies weren't trying in order to make things simply because cheap as you possibly can; these people were trying to get them to as good as achievable. They were looking to solve problems with clever physics and precision machining.
Plus, there's the environmental aspect. A vintage Sheaffer is the ultimate "buy this for life" product. Instead of tossing away plastic cartridges or entire writing instruments, you're using a refillable tool which has currently outlasted its authentic owner and will possibly outlast me, as well.
Finding Your own Own
In case you're looking to get in to the pastime, the sheaffer snorkel is a superb admittance point into the particular world of "serious" vintage pens. A person can usually find them in great colors like Burgundy, Pastel Blue, or even the rarer Sage Green if you're lucky.
Don't be intimidated with the "collector" status. All in all, these were meant to be utilized. They were every day drivers for learners, clerks, and professionals. They thrive when they have printer ink in them and therefore are being moved throughout a page.
Whether you're a fountain pencil veteran or someone who just desires a cool discussion piece for your desk, give the particular Snorkel a look. There's just something magical about that small straw extending to be able to take a beverage, and honestly, We don't think I'll ever get exhausted of watching this. It's a tip that sometimes, the "complicated" method of performing things is really the particular most fun.