{"title":"VACUUM-FIL","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"marine-green-wasp-vacuum-fil-junior","title":"Marine Green WASP VACUUM-FIL Junior","description":"\u003cp\u003eSheaffer created the sub-brand VACUUM-FIL to introduce their version of the vacuum filler. According to Richard Binder that filling system was invented by Englishman George Sweetser and sold to De La Rue who produced Onoto pens. A 1934 Sheaffer dealer brochure assures dealers that Sheaffer still believe their patented lever fill to be the best available. And that they were introducing the VACUUM-FIL brand to avoid distraction while also competing with other brands. Though it warns that may change depending upon public demand. Obviously something induced Sheaffer to soon add a vacuum filling option to the Sheaffer Balance line of pens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pen is likely a later ~1936 production when the sub-brand VACUUM-FIL was renamed WASP - Walter A. Sheaffer Pen company. Earlier pens would have been marked only VACUUM-FIL while this barrel imprint is WASP, VACUUM-FIL.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe only flaws in this little gem are a darkened ink-view barrel and some pitting of the plating on the cap band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 12 karat nib is smooth, wet and slightly bouncy - not flexible - but sweetly bouncy and fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe filler seals have been replaced with modern materials that will last decades with an occasional application of 100% pure silicone grease on the filler rod.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCapped - 122 mm (4.8”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 110 mm (4.35”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 148 mm (5.8”).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCap - 12.1 mm (0.48”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 10.4 mm (0.41”)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVacuum-Fil\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNib\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003efine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45419427725506,"sku":null,"price":223.22,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20250816_164540953.jpg?v=1755391615"},{"product_id":"1934-5-large-oversize-marine-green-vacuum-fil","title":"~1934-5 Large (Oversize) Marine Green VACUUM-FIL","description":"\u003cp\u003e In 1933 Sheaffer created a sub-brand they called VACUUM-FIL. VACUUM-FIL was intended for the initial release of the Sheaffer version of vacuum filler. The first Sheaffer Balance with a vacuum filler appeared in the 1935 catalog. VACUUM-FIL renamed the WASP Pen Co in 1936.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the largest VACUUM-FIL \/ WASP pen made; collectors call it OS or Oversize. This is probably a second generation pen. The first generation pens have fat, 1\/8\" (3.175 mm) filler rods. The second generation pens have the same 5\/64\" (2.07 mm) rods used on the later Balance pens. I have replace the original rod with a black oxide coated stainless steel rod. The original was celluloid covered carbon steel. Those often fail when moisture gets beneath the cover and the rod rusts. This stainless rod will last the life of the pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI've also replaced the packing unit at the tail end of the pen. This bit is threaded into the pen and has threads extending from the end of the pen to take the blind cap. Internally it holds the seal around the filler rod. These seals are modern synthetic. The only maintenance is an occasional application of 100% silicone grease on the filler rod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nib is soft, bouncy, wet and an amazing writer. I hesitate to describe it as semi-flex because these nibs are 12 karat gold and quite thin. They provide lovely line variation under normal writing pressure but should never be pushed like a truly flexible nib.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003epeak of the clip has some pitting to the plating. The \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ecap band and clip ball have areas of plating loss. The transparent barrel has darkened a bit from its original pale green. The celluloid has no damage at all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLength\u003cbr\u003eCapped - 128 mm (5.1”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 119 mm (4.7”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 150 mm (6”).\u003cbr\u003eDiameter\u003cbr\u003eCap - 13.3 mm (0.53”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 11.5 mm (0.44”)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFiller\u003cbr\u003eVacuum-Fil\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNib\u003cbr\u003esoft fine\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46162036654274,"sku":null,"price":505.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20251206_195101970.jpg?v=1765062024"},{"product_id":"1942-marine-green-sheaffer-triumph-fine-point","title":"1942 Marine Green Sheaffer Triumph - fine point","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003eI believe there are too few green vintage fountain pens. I have nothing against the other colors of celluloid. But, there is something special about green and it seems less common when compared to brown and black vintage pens.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003eThis is a 1st generation Sheaffer Triumph from 1942 or early 1943. It is made with a 14k gold nib and vermeil trim - 14k gold plated silver. During world war II all brass was restricted to use for defense purposes. So the underlying metal used by Sheaffer in making clips and cap bands was silver. The silver can be seen inside the cap lip or in the case of plating loss.⁣⁣\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003eThe barrel has very good clarity in order to see the ink level. There is some plating loss on the clip end that shows the above-mentioned silver base metal. There are a few, small stress fractures at the ends of the pen that will not worsen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCapped - 132.5 mm (5.2”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 113 mm (4.5”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 150 mm (5.9”).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCap - 11.5 mm (0.45”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 11.3 mm (0.44”)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eVacuum-Fil\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNib\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003efine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46565871288514,"sku":null,"price":257.52,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20260111_225249407.jpg?v=1768176363"},{"product_id":"1941-marine-green-sheaffer-balance-defender-fountain-pen-fine-point","title":"1941 Marine Green Sheaffer Balance Defender fountain pen  - fine point","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Sheaffer Balance Defender is one of 4 models (Valiant, Vigilant, Defender, and Commandant) that Sheaffer introduced in the 1941 catalog to meet the US militar  dress code. This required that anything in the breast pocket be concealed by the pocket flap without making a hump in the flap. The regular Balance models have the pocket clip low on the cap and would violate the dress code. So Sheaffer essentially flipped the clip upside down and curled its end over the cap peak so that it hides completely inside the pocket.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis pen is personalized: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarold M. Miller, Hamilton, Ill., 42. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA bit of searching turns up a Harold M. Miller that was a gunner's mate aboard the USS Iowa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCondition\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pen is in very good to excellent condition. The celluloid has no flaws. The barrel color is lightly ambered but the clarity is excellent. There is no plating loss though there are a few small depressions on the surface of the clip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eNib\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA smooth, wet Feather Touch 5 with a soft-fine point. I think the Feather Touch 5 is among the best production nibs ever made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFiller\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVacuum-Fil freshly restored\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSheaffer described this as a full size pen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLength\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCapped - 129 mm (5.1”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 114 mm (4.5”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 147 mm (5.8”).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDiameter\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCap - 13.2 mm (0.52”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 11.6 mm (0.46”)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46565971361986,"sku":null,"price":253.52,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20260111_225747195.jpg?v=1768177943"},{"product_id":"1938-41-marine-green-sheaffer-balance-admiral-xxf-xf-point","title":"1938-41 Marine Green Sheaffer Balance Admiral - XXF-XF point","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a pen for the fans of needle point nibs. I rate this one an XXF or XF. But the point is wet and smooth with that Feather Touch 5 softness to add a touch of subtle line variation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pen is in excellent condition with no plating loss and flawless celluloid. The ink view barrel has excellent color and clarity. It is as good as any pen I've seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe filling system restoration is guaranteed for at least one year provided Noodler's ink is strictly avoided. It will melt the rubber in the filler and stain the barrel. There are several small pock marks in the grip section.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCapped - 136 mm (5.4”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 114 mm (4.5”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 155 mm (6.1”).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCap - 13.2 mm (0.52”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 11.6 mm (0.46”)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eVacuum-Fil\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan title=\"Edited\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNib\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eXXF - XF\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46566207029442,"sku":null,"price":252.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20260111_230158860.jpg?v=1768178716"},{"product_id":"1934-black-full-size-vacuum-fil-fine-point","title":"~1934 Black full size VACUUM-FIL - fine point","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1934 Sheaffer introduced their version of the vacuum filler in a sub-brand they called VACUUM-FIL. This filler is a large departure from the lever filler that Walter Sheaffer patented in 1908. The first Sheaffer Balance with a vacuum filler appeared in the 1935 catalog. The only notable design change was the replacement of the blind cap and two piece filler knob with an integrated celluloid filler knob.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cap band has a bit of plating loss. The transparent barrel has darkened only slightly from its original pale green. The transparency remains remarkably good and allows viewing the ink wooshing into the barrel when the pen is filled. The nib writes a bouncy, wet, fine line with lovely line variation under normal writing pressure. Though soft, this nib should never be pushed as if it were flexible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original filler rod was celluloid covered carbon steel. Moisture tends to seep under the ends of the cover causing the rod to rust and the cover to split. I have replaced the rod with one I have custom made to the proper length and threading. The filler seals have been replaced with modern materials that will last decades with an occasional application of 100% pure silicone grease on the filler rod.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLength\u003cbr\u003eCapped - 129 mm (5.1”)\u003cbr\u003eUncapped - 120 mm (4.7”)\u003cbr\u003ePosted - 153 mm (6”).\u003cbr\u003eDiameter\u003cbr\u003eCap - 13.3 mm (0.53”)\u003cbr\u003eBarrel - 11.5 mm (0.44”)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFiller\u003cbr\u003eVacuum-Fil\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNib\u003cbr\u003efine\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Wants A Pen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47644483715266,"sku":null,"price":353.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/7055\/3441\/files\/PXL_20260509_175912725.jpg?v=1778382531"}],"url":"https:\/\/paperwantsapen.com\/collections\/vacuum-fil.oembed","provider":"Paper Wants A Pen","version":"1.0","type":"link"}