1937 Green Snake WASP VACUUM-FIL fountain pen & pencil

This one is very uncommon. I cannot bring myself to use the word rare though it may well apply. You may not believe me since this is the 2nd such pen I've come across in the last few months. I'm sure it's down to luck.

There are no WASP catalogs since it is a Sheaffer sub-brand (WASP == Walter A. Sheaffer Pen).  It seems as though WASP pens were meant to compete with the likes of Esterbrook. There are magazine advertisements and this pen appears in one from 1937. Most gold nib, vacuum filling WASP pens are in the circuit board pattern. A few are in mottled Marine green and even fewer are in the snakeskin or lizard skin pattern like this one. Even more uncommon are gray snake skin WASPs.

This pen is in excellent condition. The barrel has darkened only slightly compared to the cap. The transparency is very good. The celluloid and the plating are perfect. The celluloid covered rod rusted to bits and has been replace by a custom built, black oxide coated stainless steel rod that will last the life of the pen.

The pencil is perfect, too. It needs graphite and a new eraser. I do not have them but I'm told they are easily sourced.

The nib is amazing. It is a 12k generous and stubby fine point. More like a modern, western fine than a typical vintage fine.

Length
Capped - 124 mm (4.9”)
Uncapped - 111 mm (4.4”)
Posted - 152 mm (6”).
Diameter
Cap - 12.2 mm (0.48”)
Barrel - 10.6 mm (0.42”)

Filler
Vacuum-Fil

Nib
Stubby fine