tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post5931099081960699108..comments2024-03-24T18:57:45.174-07:00Comments on The Leadhead's Pencil Blog: An X-Seal TheoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-48088377534115378992020-05-15T15:51:01.091-07:002020-05-15T15:51:01.091-07:00There was also a series of pens with X seals that ...There was also a series of pens with X seals that are neither modified versions of the earlier ring top pens, nor close out versions of the Gold Seal flat top (including Deco Band) pens. They have a unique design (some marked Wahl-Eversharp and others Oxford) and I can find no evidence they were catalogued or advertised (just as was the case for the ring tops modified to make them into longer, more streamlined side clip pens). In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I continue to believe that the X seals had two uses: initially to signify test market models, and later for close out pens sold without warranty. Also, I posit that the modified ring tops were produced between the early Equi-Poised models that Sheaffer said violated its design patent for the Balance, and the later tapered Equi-Poised design.Cliff Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07790762216692099934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-46871549062542083522020-05-15T15:29:56.379-07:002020-05-15T15:29:56.379-07:00Agreed on both points, David. "New Pyralin P...Agreed on both points, David. "New Pyralin Pencils" might be the best, since the pens were referred to that way, I believe. It's unfortunate Eversharp left a vacuum so that a poor nickname like the one I gave them could stick. <br /><br />On the "pseudo-tapering" issue, I think the oddballs in this article were only tapered enough to get rid of the recess where the upper trim ring might otherwise have gone, rather than being any serious attempt at streamlining. Note that in the picture comparing the jade oddball to Equipoised examples, nothing matches and I ruled that possibility out. The later production flattops with Equipoised innards, however, are an exact match. Jon Veleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16324280175564551826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-14182873308815348922020-05-15T15:24:33.282-07:002020-05-15T15:24:33.282-07:00Syd, agreed and note the jade example at the end o...Syd, agreed and note the jade example at the end of the article has an Eversharp (rather than Oxford) clip. A 1939 parts cobbling would make sense, and a shortage of rings might have had them milling down the tops as noted. I'd love to see paperwork or notes that document what they were thinking, but it sounds like we agree this is XO or OX, not just an X with a ring around it? Jon Veleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16324280175564551826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-38091105296387578342020-05-15T15:23:52.472-07:002020-05-15T15:23:52.472-07:00As for the seals, Syd's observations militate ...As for the seals, Syd's observations militate against the Oxford theory. <br /><br />Note that I have long argued against identifying the flat-top pens modified into pseudostreamlined form by the addition of tapered ends as members of the Equi-Poised line. I believe they were a parallel effort to get rid of old fashioned flat-top parts -- postdating rather than predating the introduction of the earliest true Equi-Poised pens (and pencils). David Nishimurahttp://www.vintagepens.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-37693396729798855062020-05-15T15:16:21.536-07:002020-05-15T15:16:21.536-07:00I'm sure I'm repeating myself, but "T...I'm sure I'm repeating myself, but "Tempoint-style" is not a good choice of terminology. The Tempoint line was earlier and entirely different in appearance -- not least in being made in hard rubber only. "Signature-style" would be more appropriate; even though only a limited number of pre-Gold Seal flat-tops were actually part of the Signature line, in collector usage the term has expanded to become a generic tag for pens of that era.<br />David Nishimuranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7066831911322883231.post-79708654506223897402020-05-15T09:38:25.865-07:002020-05-15T09:38:25.865-07:00The X or OX seals are seen on models other than Ox...The X or OX seals are seen on models other than Oxfords; The X seals are found at least on 1927-30 DECOBAND pens, 1930-32 Equipoised pens, etc - none of which were oxfords. Another explanation is that there was a documented huge liquidation sale held by EVERSHARP inc in 1939 during their financial "reorganization". During that, a thorough housecleaning, all old stocks of pens and parts were rounded up and cobbled together to liquidate (as in turn into cash) whatever could be made from them. As the "story" goes some stock parts were found in various stages of production. Some already had double check seals installed, they got drilled, others had the hole that the seal fits into cut but no seal installed. They got X or OX ("CLOSEOUT") seals. Syd Sapersteinnoreply@blogger.com