49 years later, I finally got my pen back.

[Fred D]

Around 1972 I had my first fountain pen taken away from me, a Sheaffer white dot. I was only 10 years old, so I'm guessing at the name "white dot", as it's been a while.

The nib is 14k, and the cap is 12k G.F.

.
I don't know if it works or much about it, just happy to have it back for sentimental reasons.

 

[Billski]

That pen is a beauty. 14 K gold for the Nib. And white dot means that it is a better pen.

 

[nemo]

OK, who took it away from you and why did it take almost 50 years to get it back?

There's some pieces of this story gone missing here.

 

[Fred D]

OK, who took it away from you and why did it take almost 50 years to get it back?

There's some pieces of this story gone missing here.

Given to me by my Father, taken away by my mother.
I had forgotten all about it over the years, but a few months ago I asked my now very elderly Mother if she remembered the pen during a conversation we were having about long ago, and she did. She had kept it in a drawer all these years, and returned it to me today.
I think the real problem was with my school teacher at the time for some reason. Other than that I don't remember.
Anyway, my Father passed away two years later so it's very special to me.

 

[nemo]

Wow, great story @Fred D and what seems to be a quite lovely Sheaffer Imperial VIII

Congrats on that!

 

[Fred D]

Wow, great story @Fred D and what seems to be a quite lovely Sheaffer Imperial VIII

Congrats on that!

Thank you, and appreciate you letting me know the name. This pen unscrews at the top to pull on a barrel to load the ink from an inkwell. I wiped the nib a little to clean it with a damp rag and there was such a beautiful color of blue ink that I don't see any more.
It really was very nice to hold that pen in my hand again so many years later,

 

[KeenDogg]

Great story. Thanks for sharing it. Glad to see it made it back into your hands.

 

[nemo]

Touchdown filling system -- it fills on the down stroke.

 

[ajkel64]

Great pen and a great story as well. Glad that your mum kept it all these years. That has made my day. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Fred D]

Touchdown filling system -- it fills on the down stroke.

View attachment 1200403

Good info for loading the pen, I would have thought the opposite when using the plunger, it's been a while since I used it.
I'm pretty sure I will have to send it out to have the bladder replaced, and any gaskets it may have inside.

 

[Legion]

That is a cool story. Glad you have it back.
All the stuff taken off me as a kid were weapons, so I doubt anyone saved them for me.

 

[kcore]

You might want to try to give the pen a good cleaning and see if it will hold water before sending it off

 

[Slivovitz]

I had a very similar model of Sheaffer restored by Danny Fudge, who does good work at affordable prices. Very nice pens, although not the largest ink capacity even when fully functional. Easy to refill, though, and very nice nibs. It's great that you got one back that had personal associations for you.

 

[Fred D]

I had a very similar model of Sheaffer restored by Danny Fudge, who does good work at affordable prices. Very nice pens, although not the largest ink capacity even when fully functional. Easy to refill, though, and very nice nibs. It's great that you got one back that had personal associations for you.

Thanks for info, I checked out his web page and it looks like a very reasonably priced and safe place to send the pen to.

 

[tankerjohn]

Beautiful pen and great story. Thanks for sharing! So you wiped the nib and ink came out? Was your mom using it all this time? Usually the ink dries up if the pen is not being used.

 

[Fred D]

Beautiful pen and great story. Thanks for sharing! So you wiped the nib and ink came out? Was your mom using it all this time? Usually the ink dries up if the pen is not being used.

No my mother didn't use the pen at all, it just sat in her desk drawer. The ink was no doubt dried, but the water I used to clean the nib is what turned a diluted version of the ink I suspect. I was able to write my name a few times.
Sorry for the poor photo, but you get the idea.

 

[KW Driver]

I’ve got a couple Imperials, but a lower grade than yours. they're great pens. Danny Fudge fixed one of mine when it sprang a leak. He does impeccable work at a great price.

 

[Fred D]

I’ve got a couple Imperials, but a lower grade than yours. they're great pens. Danny Fudge fixed one of mine when it sprang a leak. He does impeccable work at a great price.

I'm definitely planning on contacting him in the near future.

 

[Fred D]

I was just about to send off my old Sheaffer Imperial to get repaired to a usable condition, but while giving it a closer inspection I noticed a hairline small crack starting right below the the touchdown where it screws into the barrel. I figured I really only wanted it for sentimental reasons anyway, I'll just put it on the shelf so I can see it.

However, it did get me interested in fountain pens again, so I just purchased an inexpensive Pilot Metropolitan to practice with for a while.

 

[Toothpick]

Can’t go wrong with a Pilot Metro! Very versatile FP for starting out. Excellent to try all the various inks in as well. Not so expensive so if you ruin it somehow not a major loss.