In Praise of the Sheaffer Triumph Nib

**Suzuki** · 02-08-2012, 02:43 PM

While there's lots of discussion about vintage Parkers (especially the 51) in the NIB, there is precious little about vintage Sheaffers.

Leaving aside the whole Sheaffer vs. Parker issue (you'll often find that folks have a preference for one or the other), I think folks just getting into vintage FPs should think about trying one of the Sheaffers with the Triumph nib.

The Triumph nib was a radical departer from the traditional "open" nib in that it consted of a nib-shaped piece of metal that was rolled into a conical/circular shape and had the seam welded - effectively creating a collar that was then seated to the section. The effect was a very strong nib that could take abuse and be used to make carbon copies. In addition, the nib was slightly upturned and could be used upside down when a very fine line was desired.

As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words (this was taken from the Penhero site).

Click image for larger version.

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In addition to being a very strong, functional nib, in my view, it is also a very attractive nib.

I recently acquired two Sheaffers with the Triumph nib - a balance with a medium nib and a tuckaway with a fine nib. In addition to really liking the look of the pens, I have been completely blown away by the nibs. While the nibs are very stiff (as was intended) this is no different than the nibs on most 51s - remember, these pens were designed to withstand everyday use/abuse. This makes them as good an every day pen now as they were back in the day. Also, the durability of these nibs means that you can often find Triumph-nibbed pens in the wild that write great (same as you can often find 51s with nibs in great shape because they also have very strong nibs).

Now, the one downside to the Triumph nibs is that they are typically found on Sheaffers with the vac-fill or touchdown fill system - both of these are are more complex to service than either the Parker vac-fill or the aerometric (which is as bullet proof as you can get) and the vac-fill system is somewhat delicate due to its long thin plunger rod. That being said, when treated with the proper care, the Sheaffer systems are quite reliable, but if anything goes wrong or you find one in the wild that has a busted filler, you'll likely have to send it out for repair - which will typically run you $40 to $50 (vs. $30 to $35 for other types of vintage fill systems).

That being said, there seems to be less craziness over the price of these pens than there is over Parker 51s and good, restored examples can be had for well under $50.

From an ergonomics perspective, while the tuckaway (as its name suggests) is a small pen, the balance has very similar dimensions to the Parker 51, which I think says something about the right size of a pen for everyday use.

Overall, I give the Sheffer pens with the Trumph nibs a big thumbs up and think they're well worth seeking out if you are just getting into vintage FPs or want to add what I consider to be an iconic pen/nib that represents the best of the heyday of fountain pens to your collection.

For a much more in-depth article see the great one at Penhero.

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Sh...riumphNibs.htm

Thanks for reading and happy scribbling!

**mmack66** · 02-08-2012, 02:53 PM

Great post. I have several, including some of the Snorkel fillers, and they are fabulous.

**chuckr9** · 02-08-2012, 03:08 PM

They are excellent nibs and, at least to me, seem to have a very reliable and wet flow.

**coyotewhisper** · 02-08-2012, 03:10 PM

Sheaffer's nibs are great nibs. I enjoy Sheaffer nibs better then I do Parker's nibs.

**nemo** · 02-08-2012, 03:14 PM

Thanks for bringing this information to us. For me, some of my earliest fountain pen memories involve the beautiful Triumph nibs. I still have about a dozen (one belonged to my dear mother, her Tuckaway), so I'll make a photo of some soon and add it to this thread.

In my experience the flow is usually quite generous and the durability of the nib is top-notch since they are so rigid -- part of the Lifetime series guarantee. Someday I'll find one of those mythical Triumph semi-flexies!

**superbleu** · 02-08-2012, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by coyotewhisper

Sheaffer's nibs are great nibs. I enjoy Sheaffer nibs better then I do Parker's nibs.

Me too!!!

**Vlad** · 02-08-2012, 03:20 PM

I could definitely go for that gold on brown tortoise look.

There's a Sheaffer hole in my collection.

**Argonaut** · 02-08-2012, 03:20 PM

Love the Sheaffer's, the first pen I found in my spiral into FP's. I have 6 of them now!

**Argonaut** · 02-08-2012, 03:33 PM

Oops, 7, I lost track.

**strop** · 02-08-2012, 03:46 PM

I have one of these that belonged to my father. Thanks for reminding me about it since I need to send it our for repair. I'm hoping the white dot can be replaced since that is missing on his.

**oc_in_fw** · 02-08-2012, 03:53 PM

Those look great. I just can't get into the look of the 51s, or any other hooded nib, for that matter.

**Vlad** · 02-08-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

Those look great. I just can't get into the look of the 51s, or any other hooded nib, for that matter.

Have you seen vintage Aurora 88s? Oh man oh man oh man oh man.

**oc_in_fw** · 02-08-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Vlad

Have you seen vintage Aurora 88s? Oh man oh man oh man oh man.

For a guy on a sabbatical, you are quite the enabler, I mean consultant

**Vlad** · 02-08-2012, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

For a guy on a sabbatical, you are quite the enabler, I mean consultant

Already failed the sabbatical, twice (as of 2/8)!

**oc_in_fw** · 02-08-2012, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Vlad

Already failed the sabbatical, twice (as of 2/8)!

That's the spirit

I checked out the Aurora 88- still not digging hooded nibs for some reason.

**nemo** · 02-08-2012, 07:15 PM

Some Sheaffer Crest lever fillers

**superbleu** · 02-08-2012, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

That's the spirit

I checked out the Aurora 88- still not digging hooded nibs for some reason.

Yes, these are HORRIBLE pens, no one should look for/buy them!!!!!!!!!!! or if you do, send them to me and I will deal with them accordingly.

**nemo** · 02-08-2012, 07:36 PM

Here is a pen I inherited from my mother, her favorite Tuckaway

**Suzuki** · 02-09-2012, 03:16 AM

Great pictures!

The other thing I think is interesting to see is how much innovation and competition there was in the FP market - and how different companies tried to overcome a particular concern - for example, in response to nib durability, Sheaffer developed the triumph nib and Parker went to the small hooded nib of the 51.

**Hex** · 02-10-2012, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by oc_in_fw

That's the spirit

I checked out the Aurora 88- still not digging hooded nibs for some reason.

I'm with you OC, the nibs are part of the beauty of the pen. I like them being bold instead of hidden. I figured that I owed a Parker 51 a fair try and I did and now I am in the process of selling my hidden nib pens. They write just fine but are boring to look at. All this my opinion of course.

, Vlad are you telling me that there is a pen sabbatical going on ? Not yet, please, not yet.